Harry Romero - Gangstercast 10

05/09/13 • 59 min

I'm A House Gangster presents The Gangstercast

Harry Romero: "What does house music mean to me? How do you describe something that is in your DNA? It's my first language."

And with that fine introduction, we are honoured and rather excited to welcome undisputed House legend Harry Romero to the Gangstercast. Harry has been at the top of his game for more than 15 years - as one of the founding fathers and most prolific artists on Subliminal Records, as well as the creator too many cross-over and underground hits to mention, he has raised the bar for prime time dance floor anthems again and again. He also just released the awesome 3 tracks EP 'Back From Saturn' on our very own I'm A House Gangster label.

We asked Harry about his Gangstercast: "This mix represents me as an artist because at the root of me is Chicago, NY, NJ, London, and Paris. The music I play can be attributed in one way or another to these seminal places that have been a huge part of the development of me and house music. The tracks chosen were to showcase the "BACK FROM SATURN" EP. Two of the three tracks are in the mix and it was important for me to paint a picture of what I would want to hear on a night out. It's not about hands in the air here, but it's more about getting back to dancing - isn't that part of the reason we go to night clubs?"

This ethos reflects the Harry Romero that can be found behind the decks all over the world every weekend: "The best form of flattery for me as a DJ is to have the people dancing. yes, hands in the air are cool too but it's all about sweating on the dancefloor."

Onto matters of what being a House Gangster is all about and Harry is down with the cause: "What House Gangster means to me is standing behind what you believe and staying the course no matter what. It means not selling yourself short or following the status quo. It means staying true to the essence of house music... the vibe and not the fashion. I would describe the House Gangster sound as pure groove. Not overdone. The few basic sounds the music contains is all you need to get your point across - it could be just a kick and a high hat but that kick and high hat is all you need to get that vibe across. It adheres to no formula and evokes a vibe from the days when this music was new and cutting edge. Everything is based around the beats. It's the antithesis to what is now called EDM, which is basically repackaged trance."

Harry Romero: "What does house music mean to me? How do you describe something that is in your DNA? It's my first language."

Previous Episode

Riki Inocente - Gangstercast 09

Born in 1977 in the UK town of Sheffield, Riki Inocente discovered House music after moving to London. After a few years of religious record buying he was playing the best underground parties in London - at Ministry of Sound, The Arches, The Aquarium, Limelight, The Gas Club and Bagley’s, as well as starting his own BIG parties. A spell in France led him to Phil Weeks and Robsoul Recordings who signed the track'Soultrain' for a sampler, which in turn led to hook-ups back in London with Hector Moralez, Chris Simmonds and Jordan Peak. Producing music with Darren Roach of EBM under the moniker Bluntz & Roachez, the duo have signed music to Sneak's Magnetic Recordings, remixed for DJ Sneak Classics and will release an EP for our very own I'm A House Gangster imprint.

Riki's Gangstercast saw him selecting tracks that best represent his own sound: "Deep, tribal, underground house with heavy b'lines and solid drums; Music that makes you move, and messes with your mind." Speaking of the House Gangster movement he says: "We are a family, I've met HG fam all over the world and the link between all of them is their love for good house music. It doesn't matter if you make, play, or just listen to it, too many people have devoted there lives to this scene through the years to let men in suits and their puppets take the name of our culture and try and cross brand it with a commercial euro pop sound. I ain't goin' to roll like that. And that's why I do what I do, and why House Gangsters all over the world are doin' it to." Amen to that!

Next Episode

Hector Moralez - Gangstercast 11

Gangstercast 11 comes from one of the closest House Gangster's we've had since the movement started - Hector Moralez. Rising from Oakland, California, Hector Moralez has paid his dues by working tirelessly from the bottom up. Now in demand at clubs and events throughout the world, he is renowned for his intelligent and soul awakening house music. His music has been found on many stellar labels including Robsoul, Music For Freaks, Nightshift, Detour, Vista, Brique Rouge, Magnetic, Doubledown and Lowdown Music. His collaboration with Phil Weeks as Fries & Bridges caused a big stir in underground house circles and his latest collaboration with Chris Carrier as Lotus Seven was released earlier this year on hyped French imprint Apollonia. Hector also manages his own distinguished underground labels, Minority Music and The Factory.

Gangstercast 11 is a live recording of Hector in Northern Ireland: "I just played what I thought would keep the people on the floor non stop. The people were well up for it! They were ready to have a belter of a night. I played a couple of my own productions, tested some new tracks out and played one of the tracks off of the "Lotus Seven" album with Chris Carrier as well. It was a really great night, and I'm happy to be able to share it to everyone now through this podcast. I think people should listen to this mix, burn it for a house party with your best friends, at your mom's house, whatever, maybe even an after party, and just DANCE. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Just get down, and move, people!!"

A bonafide House Gangster from the start, Hector is well placed to give his take on how the movement has developed: It started out small and keeps on growing and growing! It's a way to support the people behind the brand, and show some love. We're all part of this dance music community and supporting each other, is the only way to keep it really alive. House is a minority in the big picture of EDM, Dance Music, whatever you wanna call it, so I think the HG sound is something you don't have to think about, it's always gonna be HOUSE. And hopefully the wide range of audiences will take the chance and see whats up with the soul and vibe that makes House Music one of the BEST."