Browse Aricles
Category: All Articles
>> Music, Event & Popular Culture
Ralph Gum (South African Music Conference 09) Interview by Smalz. Published in BPM Magazine
Ask any house music pundit about the German dance scene; you’ll get an uninspiring response of hard house to rave party scene, however the hallmarks of this native German DJ/Producer are far too distinctive not to notice.
His use of live instrumentation and funky harmonies coupled with wicked house beats and crisp percussions are just some of the distinctiveness that can only earn Ralf Gum a rare title of being a “Deep/soulful house activist” For his second trip with his wife to sunny South African shores for the annual South African Music Conference ’09, I had an opportunity share a conversation with him and what a delightful contrast from popular knowledge about Germany to see how much his passion and love for all things soulful shines through. “I wasn’t that much in to house music” he points out in his heavy German intonation. I immediately suppressed an urge to blurt out - ACHTUNG! “However when I was still playing tennis in the 90’s; I was taken by the seamless and blended luscious tapestry of soulful, afro-Latin, house and jazz inspired textures in the mix-tapes a friend of mine used to bring for me at practice sessions.” I can understand why since then Ralf’s become an unequivocally respected producer in the house music scene worldwide; he simply creates irresistible grooves each and every time he emerges from the studio. Ralf has culled together some of the most in-demand acclaimed vocalists of different scenes including Inaya Day (who recorded with artists such as Missy Elliott, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and gained the “best female vocalist” title at the “House Music Awards“), Beate S. Lech aka “Beady Belle” (who toured with Jamie Callum), Monique Bingham on “Kissing Strangers” and Dennis Legree (NYC/Cologne). After composing the basic tracks with songwriter CrisP he finally spiced up the record with guest performances of some of Germany’s top-musicians including the Raw Artistic Soul Brass Section or Oliver Leicht on flute “I like to experiment with productions to uplift the senses high and tickle the imagination with deep emotions” he asserts. Now his creativity and curiosity helped him to deliver an awesome remix of a tune by a South African group Shana “Uyangichomela” under his very own imprint GOGO music. “It’s encapsulating my spirit and I feel it’s my very personal vision of music” he says. Established in 2001 GOGO music provides an active platform for innovative club-music and artists. “I describe the sound as contemporary club music with soul”. “The output concentrates on timeless songs instead of putting out a huge quantity of records following the latest ephemeral trend” he points out. Deep house is definitely the main influence on GOGOs’ music, but limiting the label to only this misses the point, as its open minded to various danceable musical styles from around the world. “The ‘quality not quantity’ philosophy has been fruitful to us” he says, as the constantly growing and specific interest in and vast feedback on GOGO Music’s work shows. As of late GOGO Music is dubbed “one of the hottest imprints around” by the leading magazine Blues & Soul and in Germany’s Subculture you could read that “GOGO Music is one of the prime German house labels”. “Even though the music industry may seem to be stuck - mostly because of old fashioned ways of thinking - we‘re not worried about the future; as the label was born out of the true love towards music and music will never die” As a DJ for Ralf; straight-up beats against graceful, ethereal melodies, charming piano and sweeping, bracing chords are some of the elements that collude to dispense a thoroughly persuasive incitement to feel good. As a person; crazy not only about music, but also about good food, red wine, faithfulness & his woman.  Views: 1124 views
 Report this Article
|
