How was 2017 for you?
Josh Garrett: Crazy productive. Hit the five-year mark on Subspec and have been pretty head down in the studio as well this year. Did some original releases and remixes that have received some great support. Subspec’s been getting some really strong material coming in from a wide variety of artists and we’re continuing to grow. Also co-founded a new event production company in Vancouver called Proper, our first event series featured Steve Rachmad, Chris Liebing, and Perc. Lots on the go there.
Highlights?
Getting to play the warm-up spot for Sterac at our Proper kick-off event might be the main highlight of the year, but lots of other great stuff went on. I spent a few days in Berlin at the end of 2016 and came back to Vancouver recharged and refocused. I’ve got some stuff signed to other labels and in progress that came out of those sessions that I’m really excited about. The Subspec five-year anniversary parties were a lot of fun, we did a club night and an after hours featuring The Automatic Message, Symplx, Tanya Leigh, Jay Zoney, T Y, and myself. Movement in Detroit really hit the nail square on the head this year too, lots of great sets and after parties … really spoiled for choice this year. New Forms 2017 in Vancouver was extra special too, because I got to reconnect with some of my fellow Michigan/Ohio diaspora over a great Cambodian lunch.
Lowlights?
Blowing out two tires on I-5 on the way down to Seattle when I’m supposed to be picking up a friend at the airport before a gig and discovering that the service department hadn’t put the lug lock key back in my car after rotating the tires, and then discovering that the US and Canadian versions of my car have different size wheels, so I couldn’t get new tires same day at the dealership. Always an adventure.
Song of the year?
Rebekah’s “1997 Reprise” (JoeFarr FLR Remix). It takes Rebekah’s excellent, moody original and transforms it into a pointed, industrial chugger. It hits that sweet spot for me between techno and industrial and fits where at least my head is at right now.
New Year’s resolution?
Nose to the grindstone.