Gerd Janson is the original Endor blender, touched with the ability to unearth treasured discs that make music lovers’ eyebrows arch and hips dip. Janson has kept it consistently bubblin’ over the years at his Liquid party at Robert Johnson in Offenbach when he isn’t putting out records by Move D, Radio Slave, Tensnake and the like on his own Running Back label.
Together with Phillip Lauer they are Tuff City kids & this Saturday they are making their Subculture debut.
This “Turning Tables” feature is a bit of a role reversal vibe, where we are asking Gerd some questions similar to those he asked other music artists in his earlier days as a music journalist. Luckily we caught up with the man himself whilst he was touring in Asia and chatted over, “Tekkno” Parties, RBMA, Crosswords & Herpes….
1. Your love for house music was fed back in the early 90s at Milk Club. What did you find there in the small hours? Was it your first proper clubbing experience?
It wasn’t the first. My “first time” was at an indoor swimming pool on a Friday night. A “Tekkno” party. My mom drove me there and picked me up. I remember that we still had school every second Saturday of the month. Good times. Milk! was something else though. House, jungle, techno, Stüssy beanies, fog machines and bare chested concrete surfers.
2. The term “house music”. There are almost as many stories about its genesis as there are records that fall into that “genre”. What are your thoughts on where it came from? What does it meant to you?
I guess, it’s a different canvas to everyone. Plausibly, the term derives from Frankie Knuckles’ Warehouse tenure in Chicago. To me, it was always a good way to avoid the term “freestyle” with a kick drum.
3. Over the last few years you have been plying you trade at Frankfurt’s Robert Johnson. Can you please describe a typical party at Liquid? They way you programme it and the dynamics of the night?
Starts slow, stays like that and goes out with a bang – or the other way round.
4. After all this time in the industry how do you keep motivated? Do you ever feel you have “been there, seen that, done that” by now? Are you still fortunate to have a passion for it?
I have a passion for the fortune!
5. Someone in the know linked us up to your ‘Music for Autobahns Compilation Mix’ there are some top-level artists and tracks on here, How did you come across these and was it a difficult selection process?
If you don’t ask, you don’t get and I just took what I could get.
6. Tell us a bit about Running Back, how did it come about?
Too much time, not enough brains and delusions of grandeur.
7. From a label perspective, how much are you and Thomas still involved in the A & R?
Thomas (Hammann) runs the errands and I am responsible for the A&R errors..
8. Away from making and playing music, how did you become in involved in the writing and music journalism?
Writing came first. As you can tell from my sentences, we are all glad that it’s finally over.
9. We recently came across your rather touching obituary to the late Romanthony, How big an influence was he on your music and career? Do you expect to see lots of remixes and edit’s of his work in the years to come?
Oh yes, the Prince of house music. At least, he was among the very few who sounded good, made some (sometimes dubious) sense in his words and had a lo-fi production aesthetic to die for – and he loved Tony Humphries.
10. What does being part of the RBMA mean to you? Any particular highlights?
Every day at the RBMA is a highlight. Living the dream.
CHECK OUT GERD’S RBMA ACCREDITATIONS HERE.
11. Do you have any thoughts on the relevance and impact of dance music platforms such as RBMA, Boiler Room etc.? Have these marketing concepts changed the game at all? Did you get the chance to watch the Subbie one?
I guess, they make things accessible for people outside of the big hubs and bring them inside their homes. The internet changed the “game”. I missed the Sub Club one as I wasn’t home when they streamed it.
12. Usually, the Superstar Dj lifestyle is imagined as this great thing, you get business class flights, the free dinners, great parties, everyone wants to kiss you – is it really like that? You don’t seem like a guy who enjoys the Ibiza/Miami image of it all?
If everyone kisses you, you’ll end up with herpes.
13. How did your collaboration with Phillip for Tuff City Kids come about. Are you quite similar on tour? Who is more Rock n Roll? ;)
Ill fate: I read the name on a toilet wall and then Phillip invited me to his studio. We like to read books and solve crosswords. Phillip used to be a drummer. So much for rock n roll.
14. What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry right now?
That herpes thing from above.
15. As a club venue Robert Johnson has established a reputation that’s the envy of the best clubs in the world. What is it that keeps its special for the regulars? How does it remain on the underground spectrum for those in the know?
It’s like perfect pizza or proper pasta. Always special, even if you have it on the regular. Great rooms make for great dancing. That will never change and it’s not underground, but on the first floor.
16.It’s been a year since your last visit to Sub Club. What was your last/first impression of our Glasgow Basement? What are your expectations of returning to the city?
See the pizza/pasta allegory. Those clubs are like brothers from different mothers. My expectation this time is, that I’ll do the talking’, while Phillip does the walking’.
AHEAD OF THE EVENT HERE ARE SOME MIXES FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE. ONE IS FROM GERD RECORDED AS PART OF THE TROUW AMSTERDAM PODCAST SERIES, THE OTHER IS AN EXLUSIVE SUBCULTURE MIX WHICH LAUER RECORDED AHEAD OF THEIR SUBCULTURE DEBIT…
Thanks Gerd!
TICKETS TO CATCH TUFF CITY KIDS AT SUBCULTURE THIS SATURDAY ARE AVAILABLE FROM RA AND TICKETS SCOTLAND.
MORE WILL ALSO BE ON SALE AT THE DOOR FROM 11PM.