Jesse Saunders, regarded as one of the founding fathers of house, once described the genre in the following way: “Some say house music is a feeling that can’t really be defined. It takes you there…” There is much truth in that statement; beyond the four on the floor beat, melodic bassline and syncopated hi-hat, there is nothing that really defines house beyond the emotion that it delivers.
One man steeped in the tradition of that statement is Johnny Gleeson. A product of the Sutherland Shire, he’s gone on to become a resident DJ at Pacha in Ibiza, and he’s had a host of hit records across Europe. Gleeson, who has spent his northern winter in Australia, by his own standards has remained rather low-key. However, as is always the way, he was extremely generous with his time, and we covered ground that extended from his humble beginnings to his current position as Sydney’s ‘Godfather of House’; A title bestowed upon him by those DJs that have benefited from the groundwork he has laid for them.
I first asked why he had been so quiet this year and what was in the pipeline. “Well, basically I wanted to remain true to my music and I have been spending a lot of time in the studio. The electro movement also hasn’t been my thing. After spending some time in Europe and seeing electro fade away it was a surprise to see it still going strong in Sydney. I had missed out on that evolution in our local scene and I really don’t have that much in common with it. I prefer music that moves my soul.”
What he is really getting into these days, however, is the progressive main room sound that he plays at his residency at Favela. It is a bit darker and fuller, accompanied by huge grinding beats. More importantly, it gets the crowd moving and is giving them an alternative to the minimal or electro sound that is flooding the dance community at the moment. He is once again building the foundations of a solid fan base in a genre that is gaining more and more dedicated fans.
Gleeson was offered a five track, five remix deal with global heavyweight label Pacha at the back end of last year. It’s a contract that is still under negotiation, but it will result in a new single being released in the coming months. He also has a five track EP coming out on Carl Kennedy’s new label Wasted Youth, which he describes as tribal main room house. His long association with Carl was one of the reasons why he didn’t attend the Winter Music Conference in Miami this year. “Carl is promoting my music over there this year, so I could concentrate on stuff back here”.
Talking of concentrating, unlike most DJ and producers, Gleeson constructs most of his tunes from scratch. Many may not know that he is an accomplished musician and studio engineer, having studied the latter here in Sydney before his DJ career took off. This means that rather than use samples and loops, every single tune he creates is a true original. He also gave a sneak peak into a tune that will surely be a big smash this European summer, featuring the powerful voice of Peyton of the Hed Kandi label, Gleeson has come up with a massive cross over tune that fills all the requirements of soul shaking house. He has managed to create a song that remains true to his roots without selling out to many of the pop tendencies. It is still in production but stands on its own merits even at this early stage.
Another form of release for his creative bent is the formation of a live electronica act called Pointdexta, whose work could be heard as the final track of his DJ set at Home on New Year’s Eve. This track has a huge thumping bottom end, and word has it that the Swedish Mafia and David Guetta were going off to it on that eventful Pacha night. It is this kind of respect that is regularly bestowed upon him by some of the best DJs in the world. If you haven’t been to Ibiza, then you might not know just how big house music has become once again.
Many also wouldn’t realise how much Gleeson’s reputation has blossomed on the Balearic Island. Gleeson plays The Terrace at Pacha, which is THE club that represents uplifting house in Ibiza. It’s the spot where DJs come to party. He plays to the best in the world, to those who understand what makes an incredible DJ, and they enjoy his six or seven hour sets precisely because of how he plays, not just what he plays. He understands the nuances of mixing in key. He paints a picture that just doesn’t assault the aural senses, but takes pride in giving you a complete sensory experience.
He uses the term ‘emotional packets’ when describing his sets and also, like many of the best DJs in the business, talks about ‘the journey’. “You must take the people on a journey. They may not know the songs they are listening to but if you build the set right, they are happy to go along. The vibe you are constructing is vitally important”. He cites Norman Jay and Fatboy Slim as two who fall into this department. “Jay and Fatboy Slim are not particularly good mixers, but they create a huge vibe when they play.”
Gleeson also plays at The Ivy every Thursday and Friday, and this represents a return to his roots and re-acquaintance with vinyl. Like all old school DJs, the feel and sound of vinyl has not yet been recreated by the digital format, and venues like The Ivy give him the freedom to revisit some long lost friends. He flits between hip hop, 80s, acid house and the more up to date tunes with consummate ease. The journey that he is so passionate about is just as enjoyable for him as those that flock there to see him. He will also be playing along with his DJ brethren at Yu on April 19thfor US & YU. This is also a return home for him, it’s where his title of Godfather of House was forged. I can still remember him driving the floor into frenzied delirium and look forward to seeing him do it all.again at the old stomping ground.
This European summer will see Gleeson once again pursue his dreams of delivering quality house to an audience who share his passion for the music. He will definitely have one, if not two, house slammers on his hands this year, and when they hit the marketplace look for his career to take off once again. From his humble beginnings at Blackmarket and Byblos, Johnny Gleeson – along with his partner in crime Nathan Steel – introduced the concept of funky uplifting house to Sydney. He has remained forever true to his art and is once again reclaiming the throne that is rightly his.
After hearing the songs that he has in production, you can bet your bottom dollar that when released Johnny Gleeson will be a name that will be once again on people’s lips. He will probably be hailed in the mainstream media as an overnight success, but to those who are familiar with his work, it will be the culmination of one man’s dedication to stay true to himself and the music he loves. That will make his success all the more deserved. Just treat these last few months as the calm before the storm.
Adomixface says...
ripping jonny!
discomagoo says...