Chewin’ the fat with the Sensu crew

Over the weekend the Sub Rosa clan sat down for a brew and a chit chat with the men behind one of Glasgow’s longest running and most respected club nights – SENSU. After three years running their weekly Wednesday night affairs in Sub Club, it has admittedly taken them to long to coax the Sensu mob down to their midweek party. But this week see’s the long wait come to an end as SENSU’s Barry Price and Junior join Sub Rosa’s Spittal & Nowicki for a right old knee’s up. In between their hectic 5 part, 10th birthday bonanza, Sensu sat down with Sub Rosa and divulged some tricks of the trade.

Sub Rosa: First up, give us a heads up on how it all began?

“It’s all really came from very simple beginnings. There was a small basement club called Q club on Ingram Street that held maybe 120 people. We printed up loads of flyers (I mean loads), rounded up all our friends and had a party. It’s a common story, but we enjoyed it so much we really didn’t want to stop. It’s very hard to establish yourself as a Dj and when your 20 years old, no one is knocking down your door to play records for them so the best way is to do your own party and make your own decisions. We then continued from there to our second home The Liquid Lounge. At this point we started booking guests and getting more emotionally and financially involved in Sensu. But it’s always the same idea regardless.

Put on the best party possible with guest and soundtrack for the night that excites us. And then we moved to Sub Club………..”

Sub Rosa: Even though we have ran our night for three years and it seems like forever to us, we can hardly imagine what it must be like nursing your baby that is Sensu for 10.. What do you think the secret to your longevity is?

“Who knows. It’s fun. So we tend to put more of ourselves in to it, so it still feels like quite a personal night, kind of like Cheers (if anyone is old enough to remember the programme), everybody knows everybody’s name. That way everyone feels part of the night. As if they themselves have as much of a say as the promoters. Dj’s, club owners. And they do. Without the crowd you’re nothing. Basically just some guys that like electronic music. I also think we have been cautious not to over extend ourselves. We will do roughly 12 parties a year and try to make each one more of an event in order to give people something to look forward to.”

Sub Rosa: Over the years you’ve had some seriously interesting and respected guests. The two that stand out for us would be Ricardo Villalobos & Loco Dice. Who’s been your favourite guest? And what was Ricardo like? We all know he has a bit of a reputation for going heavy on the shandy’s…

“First off, it would be impossible to name a favourite guest. We could write a book about each artist and the good time had with each. As for Ricardo, it always special when he’s played for us. What’s he like? He is a total music head. He will talk to you for long time about music and always be interested in what you are saying. As a DJ he has absolutely no fear. He’ll play what he feels and he rarely ever gets it wrong. He is a massive influence. He is always very complimentary and kind. A true innovator in our eyes.”

Sub Rosa: Sensu is also known for its great secret parties around the city. We remember one of the first nights we brought all our pals down to Sensu and it was Guy Gerber & Mott Tolfrey. The atmosphere, crowd and the afters perhaps made it one of the most special nights we’ve ever experienced in Glasgow or anywhere for that matter. I think we were all a bit in awe after that one. Do you boys have anything else like that planned soon? Or is that in a top secret document in Sensu HQ?

“That was an amazing party. It Was also one of those after parties that you didn’t want to end (b2b with Matt Tolfrey went on and on). I’m going to have to avoid this questions, but yes have something big planned for the last of our 10th birthday celebrations. We shall announce it in the coming weeks.”

Sub Rosa: Finally, here’s one to get you thinking. As your celebrating your tenth birthday, could we trouble you for a tune for each year that you feel was fitting for the SENSU sound and how its evolved?

It would be hard to give it 1 track for each year as all the music and years have basically merged in to one. Plus my memory is abhorrent. But I’ll list some older “unclassics”. Some tracks that are maybe a little less obvious for people that come to Sensu, but definites for all the residents.

This song is just supreme.

Trentemoller was out first ever guest. He’d only released a few records and we jumped straight on him. This was the one that done it for us. It sounded like nothing else being made at the time.