One of the initial Perth DJs who has been there since the early nineties. He gained his first DJ spot at one of Perth’s original niteclubs Freezer and has played at almost every club and for every promoter since. He has also played at events in the UK working alongside MCs such as Stevie Hyper D. Packer has also toured the eastern states and spun for Triple J’s Mixup where he was one of the first to play a jungle set for the program. Greg has more recently setup a studio and began dabling in production. He currently has releases on UK label Hardleaders with the AA side “We Hear Drumz’ and ‘Touch Me’ out on LTJ Bukem’s imprint Good Looking.
Locally Packer has setup his own record label Interphase recordings which was launched in 2000. Packer has two albums ‘Raw Elements’ and ‘Interphase Sessions 1’ and a 12” released with more forthcoming. Greg Packer is Perth’s number one drumnbass DJ and has supported most internationals arriving in Perth. He regularly plays sets for Point of View, DrumClub, Loaded Dice, MFI, Roller. You can catch him next @ Blue, the Inglewood on Wednesday or at Wet & Wild @ Kalamunda water park this Saturday 23rd.
Is it “just a fucking phase”? Or, do you think that you will always be involved in dance music in some way?
Its definitely not a phase for me as this is my 13th year behind the decks, I Also have built my own recording studio & record label so i have something To roll onto after i decide to stop DJing , so it will keep me involved in music.
How did you get yourself into this mess anyway: what was your path to DJing?
I was already a vinyl junkie, I was collecting hip hop and had 6 crates of vinyl already, friends had hasseled me for 2 years saying ‘you should DJ with all these records etc…’ My first years tax return when I was 17 enabled me to buy a set up and have a go.
Who are your favourite local DJ’s and producers?
For DJ’s: Adrian Sardi, Muller, Elle Rollo, Mike L & Klay for DJ’s
For Producers: Sardi ‘when he writes tunes that is’ , Static , B Jam & Gusto has been giving me some nice stuff.
What are the current labels you favour?
Soul R, Creative Source, Good Looking, Hospital, Virus, Tangent, Interphase ‘of course’ amoungst others.
What is your favourite food and beverage?
Chinese food and Crownies!
Some artists that influence your style, sound and records you choose?
Marcus Intalex , Makoto , Matrix , Carlito & Addiction, John B, Calibre , LTJ Bukem , Optical & J Majik.
What do you do in your spare time, or the time that
you have when you aren’t DJ’ing?
Producing when ever I can, work at RMX Music, keep fit ‘jogging & swiming down the beach’, chill with my girlfriend, talk crap on Teknoscape, watch videos & keep 3 tropical fish tanks.
How do you think the Perth scene compares to others
in Australia?
For my music ‘d&b’ I think it’s up there with Melbourne definatley, as for other genres I cant really comment.
What do you think of Perth’s strong predilection for certain genres, like deep house and drum’n’bass?
I was the first DJ to play Jungle/drum & bass in Perth so I’ve watched it develop from scratch basically and it’s nice to see how big it has become. Certain internationals comment that Perth’s scene is the best in Australia. A lot of hard work and a large Amount of DJ’s pushing a certain genre is always gonna create something big.
Who, if anyone, would you drop all your records for a night and go and see if they were playing in Perth and why?
Fabio, Bukem. These 2 have always done it for me since day dot! And they have never let me down once! Tunes & mixing are spot on and you hear it all first via those guys. Maybe Andy C! as well for a dose of some harder beats.
Is it more of a challenge to play to the same crowd every week and have to maintain variation or to have to work a different crowd and venue week in week out? Which would you prefer?
I dont do residencies, I never have for that reason, I like to spread myself out and play to different crowds for more variety.
Have you played anywhere besides Perth? If so where and when?
Dance Planet & Club Diehard uk ‘94’ , Adelaide ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 & Melbourne @ SoulR ‘01.
How would you describe the music you play? Is there anything you won’t play?
Right now the drum & bass what I’m concentrating on is themore ‘liquid funk’ style strong dancefloor beats & soulful funky rhythms. Obviously there is music I wouldnt play like, hard house & trance etc.. Cos its not my thing but im not gonna knock it.
How long have you been playing? How has the sound of what you’ve been playing developed since you started out as a DJ?
I’ve been playing out for 12 years & dj ing for 13. The first set I ever played was in 1990 and it was hip house, early techno rave tunes & up tempo hip hop all mixed up and the bpm was around 120 – 130 and now the music I play is 175 – 180 so its definitely got faster gradually so for example when I was playing early jungle in 94-95 it would have been around 150 – 160 a slow progression if you like over 12 years. So i have seen some changes but when your in it you don’t notice, its when you look back over the years.
Are you interested in music outside the style that you play?
Yes I listen to everything you can never know enough , I listen to breaks, funky house, old soul & jazz funk, old & new hip hop, electro, ragga all sorts.
What have been your top 5 tracks of the past year?
1. 4 HERO – 9 BY 9 ‘MARCUS INTALEX REMIX
2. UN CUT – MIDNITE ’ MARCUS INTALEX REMIX’
3. MAKOTO – TAKE MY SOUL BABY
4. J MAJIK – SPACED INVADER
5. GREG PACKER – MOMENTS
What are some of the most memorable nights/events you have played in the past year?
Adelaide rocked ‘01 I played an old school set that blew up! Warming up LTJ Bukem @ Gatecrasher was special, there’s loads.
What makes a good DJ?
Good tune selection & tight mixing & playing from the heart & being in it for the right reasons not for fame & money.
Do you dance when you are not playing?
I’ve been known to but very rarely , I do have a little shuffle & bop now & then but not really dancing I guess.
Other Perth DJ Profiles can be found with the following links;
Kriece – MRW – Nic Tan –
href=”http://www.inthemix.com.au/p/np/viewnews.php?newsid=1012457049,46436,”>Elhornet –
href=”http://www.inthemix.com.au/p/np/viewnews.php?newsid=1013042628,40433,”>Cee – Declan – Essex
