When Anjunabeats Worldwide 07 came out, I was blown away with the release. The album is filled with names like Lane 8, Dirty South, Seven Lions, Jason Ross and Spencer Brown and was mixed by Grum. I knew the name, but wasn’t familiar with his catalog. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Grum released his first album in May 2010. Since he’s released a myriad list of singles, has toured the world, and has been compared Daft Punk. He’s also worked with a lot of different labels and is currently set to release Deep State on Anjunabeats in 2018. The album’s first single “Never Have To Be Alone” was released in September, and is the perfect tease to just how good this album is going to be. In an effort to learn more about Anjunabeats Worldwide 07 and Deep State, I reached out for an interview. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Grum.
Your new single “Never Have To Be Alone” is out now. Tell me more about that release.
“Never Have To Be Alone” is the first single from the album campaign. It’s probably the most accessible and pop influenced track I’ve come up with since my first album, Heartbeats. The singer, Chris, started sending me vocal demos a couple of years ago and this was an early one. It took a long time to get this track to where I wanted it to be, but I’m stubborn like that. I think the message in the chorus perfectly encapsulates the Anjuna family message.
That is a single off your new album Deep State. Tell me more about the album and your experience working with Anjunabeats?
Towards the end of last year I felt that it was getting to be the right time to do an album again. I actually prefer doing albums than having to run after a constant single release schedule, and they allow a bit more creativity and narrative behind the whole package. The album title started off as a bit of a tongue in cheek thing after hearing the phrase so often on the news. Everyone I bounced it off loved it though so I ran with it.
Anjunabeats have been fantastic to work with over the last 3 years. They have a lovely team based in London and it’s been great working on this album with them.
Your debut album was released in 2010. How has your sound changed over the last 8 years?
My older sound was very influenced by classic 80s synthesizer and disco music, mixed with modern electro from the time. Producers like Jellybean, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Martin Rushent, etc. plus more contemporary stuff like Justice and Soulwax. There was a really great period of about 3 years from 2007 to 2010 where this sort of music was really fresh and there were some great parties. Unfortunately, it never really quite blew up and seemed to fizzle out a bit. The momentum behind that sound seemed to be gone and so I started looking for some new inspiration. Before producing that music I had been really into trance and progressive – Ferry Corsten was a major inspiration in getting into music production in the first place. It just seemed to feel “right” to look back to some of those ideas of what electronic music could be, and come up with this new direction.
You have released a lot of singles over the years, but only 2 studio albums. Will we see more studio albums from you in the future, or are you focused on singles?
Actually I’ve only had one full artist album out. There was a second but the label never released it, other than a few singles from it.
As I said above, I much prefer working on albums, so hopefully there will be more to come!
You mixed Anjunabeats Worldwide 07. I LOVE that release. You worked with guys like Spencer Brown, Oliver Smith and Lane 8 on that album. Tell me more about the album and what it was like working with so many talented artists.
Glad you like it. That mix album was a real labour of love and I was honored that so many great artists had submitted tracks to be on there. I put the mix together while staying in LA, and I think that sunshine and easy going feel has really come through on how it turned out.
I was in Glasgow, Scotland last year and in Islay earlier this year. Tell me more about the scene in Scotland. What are some of your favorite clubs in Scotland and around Europe?
The UK scene seems to be based upon whatever national specialist radio is backing. At the moment its tech house and techno so that’s the sort of thing that is packing out clubs. Trance and progressive is a smaller scene there without so many nights, although there is still plenty going on. For example, 13,000+ people turned up to the Above & Beyond Steel Yard show in London where I was support. In terms of Europe, I don’t play there too much – but I would really like to do more! I am putting on a couple of my own shows in Paris and Amsterdam later this month. Hopefully if they go well we can do it again.
It seems like every DJ has a podcast. Do you have plans to produce a podcast?
It’s something I have thought about for a while. From speaking to other DJs who actually produce one themselves, it becomes a lot of work and can be hard to juggle whilst touring constantly. I’ve never been comfortable with the idea of getting a company to produce a podcast for me (as a lot of DJs do). I want it to be a real reflection of me and so I’d have to produce it myself. Maybe it’s something I could do in-between albums.
There are a lot of great DJs out there. Who do you like listening to? Who are some of your biggest influences?
In terms of putting a DJ set together definitely guys like Sasha, John Digweed and Eric Prydz. One of my favorites ever is a 4 hour set from Sasha in Florida in the late 90s. He brings in house, deep house, techno, progressive and trance and it all flows beautifully. That’s something I really try to bring to my sets, too.
What’s next for Grum?
Next is single number 2 from the album which I don’t think has been announced yet…
I played it for the first time at a day party in LA this weekend and it really went off, so I’m pretty excited to get this one out there.
Thank you for doing this, man. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
“You never have to be alone.”
Connect with Grum:
Website: https://www.grum.tv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grummmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grummmusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grummusic
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