Gammer gets ready to Riot!

This article is about Riot! @ matter in London (UK), tomorrow (Fri)

Matt Lee AKA Gammer is one half of Hardcore duo Dougal & Gammer and Essential Platinum's second in command. Making his first appearance in the hardcore scene in 2002, Gammer became part of the genre’s top tier in a very small amount of time. A very successful DJ, his status has been confirmed through winning various awards including Best Breakthru DJ in 2005, and Best Hardcore DJ in 2008. Also famed for his intelligent writing and well-produced tracks, Matt’s productions have featured on numerous albums including the highly successful Bonkers series.

His own label Muffin Music was launched in 2007 and continues to go from strength to strength. Next month Gammer will be taking to the decks for Riot Presents Goodgreef at London’s biggest nightclub, matter. Playing in room two, hosted by Storm, Gammer will be joined by the likes of Mark EG, Organ Donors, Lisa Lashes, Yoji, Showtek, BK and Anne Savage amongst others. We caught up with Gammer ahead of the event to chat about the hardcore scene, Riot! and his renowned productions with DJ Dougal.

Hi Gammer! Can you please introduce yourself to those who aren’t so familiar with you and your sound?

Hello…my name is Gammer and I produce hardcore music!

When did you first get into the hardcore scene? Can you remember the point you realized you had a serious career in it?

I always wanted to go down the hard dance route but it wasn’t until I met Dougal that I decided to get into the hardcore scene. I met him by complete chance and he showed me what hardcore was like at the time; it really excited me and that’s when I knew that it was where I wanted to be.

What do you think of the hardcore scene at the moment? Is it healthy?

Although the economy has affected clubland in general with numbers dipping, hardcore is showing that it’s arguably the strongest underground scene going at the moment with chart topping albums and a –hit-after-hit- policy - fillers just don’t cut it!

Do you feel there are enough new producers coming through that are doing something different?

Yeah definitely, Technikore (who is obviously smashing hard dance with his Technikal guise) has just been signed to Raverbaby and is producing some really exciting stuff! There are lots of producers trying to come through at the moment but with hardcore it is often hard to get the balance right as your track can’t be too different or out there and at the same time it can’t be 100 percent the same as everything else.

How did you originally hook up with DJ Dougal?

He snatched me from the playground!

Tell us a little bit about your studio with DJ Dougal and your Essential Platinum project?

Me and Dougal have been a production team for years now, since around 2001-2002ish…..we just seem to flow together. I have a real passion for making noises and trying different techniques, where as Dougal has an amazing vision and just knows how things should go. Essential Platinum was always Dougal’s project after he parted ways with Hixxy, but we decided to run the label together a few years ago because to be honest, we just flow!

Last year you were crowned best hardcore DJ at the Hardcore Heaven Awards. What do awards like this mean to you and how do they affect the scene in general?

This award meant the absolute world to me, I never even saw it coming! I’m not sure it affects the scene so much but I think the last few years have shook things up, there has been a lot of different awards going different places and I think it makes the awards a lot less predictable and more exciting.

Next month you will be playing at matter for the Riot! Presents Goodgreef party. Have you been to or played at matter before? What can the Riot! crew expect?

No I have never played there! As the only hardcore DJ playing I’m a little nervous to say the least but I’ve always tried to make my sets a hybrid of both scenes - with the anthem power of hardcore but the fun dancyness of hard dance. So yeah…the night should be interesting and I’m very excited to be playing!

Out of the line-up who do you rate most as performers? Anyone you are looking forward to seeing on the night?

I would check out Showtek as I know they smash it wherever they go!

What’s your DJ set up like?

I’ve got a DJM-800, two CDJ-1000s (mk2/3) and of course the trusty old Technics, which I still muck around on quite a lot when I’m at home. I’m also looking at working a laptop or third deck into that to keep me on my toes!

As summer and festival season is well and truly over can you tell us some of your highlights?

Global Gathering…..simple!

Hardcore aside what music will we find on your iPod?

Lots of hard dance, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel and Scrobius Pip and Dan Le Sac.