We caught up with rising star Basti Grub to chat about his Destiny EP on Crosstown Rebels, his creative process and the perfect pizza…
For the people reading this who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your style, and the key elements that define it?
Hmm… it used to be quite easy to pin out Basti Grub tracks, because of the African sound I constantly incorporated in my music. These days I actually find it harder to define my style not because I don’t have one but because I became so involved in my music that I can no longer look at it from an objective angle. I would say that my music is very atmospheric and each tracks tells a story that listeners should let themselves fall into.
Your most recent release was a solid two tracker on Crosstown Rebels. Was there any specific concept or idea behind this EP?
The release on Crosstown Rebels did not stem from a concept I had but really came together in the making. I worked with Patrick and Julian, who both came up with strong lyrics about desire for someone or something. Destiny is about a love story that could easily turn into obsession like the love for drugs, Julian sings about, does. When I work with other artists I do prepare but in the end you have to go with the flow and connect musically.
Could you talk us through your creative process and list any specific equipment used to bring sounds to life?
As I mentioned before I am very intuitive, a bit like a children who explore sound in an unconventional way by letting there imagination lead them. I go into the studio and just play around until I get into the groove. I use a lot of modular systems, analog machines and a variety of plugins. However you‘ll always find Dave Smith hardware such as the OB-6.
Could you give some advice or words of wisdom to any aspiring producers who would look to your music for inspiration?
There is a time for everyone so don’t give up and be patient. Stay true to your style and don’t let fashion lead you.
Do you have any other big projects you are currently working on, or exciting shows coming up?
I am currently working on a collaborative record with many other artists, some well known and some new ones. The album will definitely be worth listening to.
What can people expect from you when they come to one of your gigs?
Expect nothing, come with an open mind and let me take you on a trip that does not require any substances.
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today, we like to finish our interviews with a couple of questions that are a little bit light hearted… without getting too personal, could you tell us something most people won’t know about you?
I am obsessed with preparing home made pizza and strictly follow a recipe that does not allow even a slice of tomato too much or I‘ll consider it ruined.
You don’t need to mention names, but what’s the most “outrageous” thing you have ever seen in a club… was it something outrageously brilliant, like a blindfolded DJ mixing seamlessly and scratching with their elbows, or something outrageously cringe-worthy, like some embarrassing drunken raver urinating on the dance floor?
How much time do you have 😉 There a so many stories worth telling. I once played in Russia and at a certain hour people just started to undress that felt a little awkward at first but I guess you can experience worse.
Buy the Destiny EP HERE.
