Josh Garrett

How was 2019 for you?
Josh Garrett: 2019 was good. It was a bit of a year of recalibration and renewal for me. Between 2015 and 2018 I was pretty nose to the grindstone across a number of projects and activities. In 2019, I took some time to take a look at all of that and refocused my energy a bit. I released EPs this year with Dirty Minds and SubSensory, both of which got really solid support, but mostly 2019 was about remixes.

After my appearance on Perc Trax last year on the digital edition of Forever 1 and Dax J playing my track “Malediction” a bunch this year, I’ve been getting a consistent stream of remix requests. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some really cool tracks and reach some new audiences through that. In between that, I’ve put together several more releases that will be seeing light next year on Gobsmacked, Mindburn, and Omen… and I’ve got a bunch of other requests for release from other labels that I’m working on. Feels like I’m getting a solid foundation together for where I’m heading next.

Highlights?
January was pretty great between Dax J playing my track Malediction in a high profile set at the Monnom Black NYE event and then I opened for I Hate Models in LA a few days later. That was a great night and the crowd in LA was fantastic. Movement in Detroit was pretty special this year. I played the Perc Trax showcase party put on by Omen, SubDivision, and Aerotek. It was great to catch up with folks there and get to meet a number of people in person for the first time.

I also played Detroit Promo TV’s The Bassment backyard BBQ broadcast again this year, which was a lot of fun. I did a little versus session with DJ Disc at the end of my set, which was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. Suburban Knight closed out that night … and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital dropped by with an entourage. Butcher and Body Mechanic are family, so it’s always good to drop in on those guys. I was back in Michigan for some family stuff in the summer, and I met up with some friends while I was there and took Claude Young up to check out The Bassment. That was a killer afternoon.

Lowlights?
The venue situation in Vancouver keeps getting tighter and while there are some alternatives starting to pop up in response, I think most of the promoters that work outside of club spaces are feeling the pinch.

Song of the year?
Uun – Between the Lines

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Keep things fun and keep everything in perspective.

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.

@Josh Garrett