Celebrating 10 years of existence with a statement, Berlin’s Gegen is releasing a solid 3-part compilation, grounding their work of the past decade into the newly founded label’s sonic aesthetic by showcasing the artists that have been at the heart of the infamous party series. This VA is a bundle of 30 tracks hailing from the true ride-or-die residents at the core of the project to the headliners whose support have propelled the collective from day one as well as up-and-coming artists that Gegen takes to heart to support. Multidisciplinary artist Bombardier continues the celebratory series with the rough and ready ‘Generation Gegen’ as part of GEGEN DECADE II.
KALTBLUT: What is your connection to Gegen? Do you have a favourite memory over the 10 years?
Bombardier: I’ve known Gio, the sound engineer at Gegen, for several years via his work on Stroboscopic Artefacts. He connected me to the Gegen crew and I played a live hard techno set in the summer of 2018. I hadn’t been to KitKat before and certainly was overdressed (I was wearing way more clothes than everyone else). At the door, I told him “I’m one of the performers” and he looked me up and down and said “Oh, really?” and I realized perhaps he thought I meant a different kind of “performance” than playing music. I clarified that I was there to play music. He looked a little disappointed in my answer but let me in haha Once inside, it was phenomenal. Really excited crowd, amazing sound system, and lots of talent playing in all the rooms.
KALTBLUT: Could you tell us a little about your track contribution to the compilation?
Bombardier: Recently I’ve returned to producing all my sound on analog gear, maxing it out through an old mixer, and recording on all sound modulations in live takes. This step away from a DAW and programmed automation has helped me recapture the drive and passion of the tracks I produced in the 90’s. I’m more in tune with signal chain processing through outboard gear and pedals than a chain of plugins.
KALTBLUT: What is your feeling on the shifting of club culture right now as we head toward an (almost) post-pandemic phase?
Bombardier: I haven’t been to a large show yet, but some smaller shows. The shows I went to were full of people hungry for hugs and bass. Most of us were a little out of practice with small talk, but the language of music and dance come back quickly. During the isolation of the pandemic I was able to do a lot of R&D and recording, so I feel considerably prepared for our mutual reemergence.
KALTBLUT: What would you like to see change/happen when it’s all over?
Bombardier: The only changes I focus on are within myself, and the biggest shift is gratitude for every show. Particular with the ebb and flows of the pandemic, when I’m at a show, really internalizing that each night, with the people and music there, is unique and special; to not take for granted that access to this scene is ongoing and permanent.
GEGEN DECADE II will be released October 1st, 2021 on Gegen Records:
https://gegenberlin.bandcamp.com/album/gegen-decade-ii
Socials
@gegenberlin
@jasonjsnell
