One of the strongest emerging electronic music artists comes from Lithuania and releases as Gardens of God. Maceo Plex’s Ellum, tours around the globe and a happy family to support – that’s what made Gardens of God the BBC Radio One’s debut artist to head the new Future 12 mix series with 5 DJ mixes.
Gardens of God Interview.
Thanks for finding time to talk to us. And first things first – Gardens of God? Why?
Thank you!
I was looking for the name to reflect the music I do. The one giving more questions than the answers. Gardens of God sounds mysterious and inexplicable as my music most of the times, so I guess I did the right job with the name.
You’ve been making music for television and radio and then you suddenly found your dark alter ego by the name of Gardens of God and started making techno, how did that happen?
The other day I found my boyhood cd’s collection with all those drum&bass, deep house and progressive house albums, what shows I’m quite old dark stuff lover.
15 years in studio gave me experience and flexibility technically and stylistically, so it’s not that hard to jump from one to the other. I guess just the time came to do what I need to do. First tracks came natural and then I decided to start ‘Gardens of God’.
I’m getting old I guess, cause I’m thinking about meaning of making art more and more.
It’s amazing when you express your emotions and people can feel it as well. Or even more, they can feel different emotions, see other visions through your creation work.
Also, music is the international language.
We know that you have kids, how does it work now, when you travel a lot? Do you miss them?
And I have wonderful wife who helps me a lot…
I’m super happy about how it is. I’m touring, living in a musical world surrounded by people like me when I’m out, but I have calm family living when I’m back. It’s perfect balance for me.
What’s the best thing in the ability to give your music to other people through releases and DJ sets?
I’m getting old I guess, cause I’m thinking about meaning of making art more and more.
It’s amazing when you express your emotions and people can feel it as well. Or even more, they can feel different emotions, see other visions through your creation work.
Also, music is the international language. Often people come to thank me after gig and they don’t speak English, but you can understand they’re feeling what you do, they’re living emotions you live. It’s a blessing for me!
How do you fight the urge to fix and add to a track, when it’s sort of ready, but there is something missing? How do you stop at the point when it’s not too much?
I’m never happy with the final result…
You need to keep the excitement on the track you do. When you do it too long or you stuck on some elements it’s better to leave it for some time or forget about it. Too much fixing and polishing takes to boredom, which is bad.
Do you throw out a lot of tracks or do you keep them for later and then, maybe in a year, go back to them and put them together?
I release maybe 1 of 15/20.
I try to keep them, but after a year or so, when I clean my computer they sound old or I don’t like them anymore… So it goes into the trash.
Gardens Of God ‘Ghost/River EP’ is out now on his new label Sodai. You can purchase it HERE.
If you don’t think of music, what do you think of?
There are so many things in this world besides music.
I think about my family, summer, good food, books I read, movies I saw, paintings I’ve seen etc…
First track you listened to this morning was ?
Tom Szirtes – Entering Valhalla
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