With Spillage Geve, the hyperactive and ‘good-sound’ soul of the Bang Bang crew based in Colombo has just released a long awaited mix. This dark and at times even spooky mix takes the listener on an extremely groovy sonic walk through a carefully kept psy-fi forest of clearly defined beats somehow overgrown with wild and abstract atmospheric textures.
BM: You are one of the few Sri Lankan DJs with a very distinctive sound. This has brought you loyal fans as well as rejection from some part of the EDM scene. What is your current sound like and how have you come across it?
GV: I’ve always found great inspiration in music that seems psychedelic to me. When I say ‘psychedelic’ I’m referring to music that in some indefinable manner aids the process of challenging one’s psychological limitations or perceptions. The fact that the music I choose posses the ability to induce dance through the great power of groove is also vital to me. Often my music is referred to as sounding ‘dark’ and although I don’t by any means oppose this reference I like to think of the sound more as ‘deep’.
To me the tunes I play are compositions that connect with multiple levels of our conscious being. The underlying reasons for the rejection as well as the loyalty is, I think, the basis for my choice of sound. I like to think that my music is not just merely celebratory or jolly but insightful, challenging and versatile.
BM: You’ve been around since the early days of the local scene. Where do you see the EDM hype heading in the next years?
GV: Well as far as I’ve looked into it, the majority of the scene seems to be taking quite a singularized direction in terms of sound, atmosphere, performance mediums, promotions and events among many other aspects. On the bright side though, the minority of the scene that includes others like myself, somehow seems to stay connected with the rest of it. It remains undivided and mutually appreciative of one another. I feel that in the coming years, the scene will expand and diversify..I think this diversity would be ideal as it would result the creation of a positive space for innovation, creativity and experimentation.
BM: You hail from Gal Kissa/ Mount Lavinya, can you describe the charms and special role to the EDM scene, of this costal suburb of Colombo?
GV: I’ve lived here all my life and for a number of reasons, Mount has become very popular with the party scene in the past decade or so. This is because it is the only beach area in Colombo that meets the requirements for a party zone, namely, that there are very few residents close to the beach area which means that being loud is not really an issue, and that most of the beach front businesses seem to be supportive of the scene, probably because it benefits them with both direct and indirect finances and that it improves the tourism culture in the area thus providing their businesses with some security for the future.
It’s location is also a large benefit, being so close to the heart of Colombo city yet far enough to feel like you might have escaped it in some way, allows people quick access to a beach party, which would otherwise have to be much further away. It is also nice to see that the locals from the very area have become interested in electronic music and have come to accept a movement that at some point seemed unacceptable to them.
BM: Looking at last month´s Border Movement news from Mumbai what are the factors that keep Sri Lanka from developing similar festivals?
GV: This is a very interesting topic because it speaks of taking music beyond a particular demographic. This may result in achieving, what is possibly one of the greatest outcomes of the music experience: Bringing people together inspite of perceivable differences, for the single, highest purpose of realizing the underlying oneness of being through the collective celebration of life. To me, this is wonderful.
It would be tremendous to take the dance music that is currently being enjoyed by a very small group of people to a wider audience. I think that the music has a great chance of being well received and enjoyed by many different types of people across the island. Unfortunately, in a place like Sri Lanka, I think it would need to start relatively small due to religious biases that i myself have witnessed.
It would have to be built up by taking the music to the people of this land in all remote corners for free and presenting it to them with the sole purpose of them enjoying it openly and free from preconceptions. Sri Lankans love to dance, so this shouldn’t be too hard. It is my hope and dream that such possibilities get realized in the near future.
BM: Your 5 things that would be criminal for any visitor to Sri Lanka to miss?
GV: If anyone were to visit Sri Lanka and had interests similar to those of mine, probably:
1. A wild party organized by the ‘Bang Bang’ crew.
2. A traditional Sri Lankan home cooked rice and curry meal.
3. A love affair with a Sri Lankan girl and/or boy with whom one must take a dip in the ocean.
4. A visit to an abandoned historic ‘Buddha zone’.
5. A visit to a lovely tropical forest zone for tea with the elephants.