Guy Gerber

Attack caught up with Guy Gerber at Eastern Electrics and hit him with our quick-fire Q&A

If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?

I used to be a soccer player, so… a professional soccer player. I’m pretty bad at everything else beside music. Maybe I would be a fashion photographer, I think that’s a good job. You always get invited to the parties and meet all the beautiful girls.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Digweed once told me if you play in a club always play only the music that you like. Maybe half of the people will hate it but the half that like it will stay with you forever, so don’t always fit yourself completely to the situation. But my advice in general, it’s a bit of a cliche but it works: It’s better to regret something that you have done, than to regret something that you haven’t done.

What inspires you?

Situations in life that I always get myself into. Weird, awkward situations. Sometimes they’re painful, sometimes they’re hilarious. I would say I live my life in a way that means I bring myself into a lot of situations where I’m living on the edge.

Best club experience?

It’s always hard to choose the best one. I think my best show was in Miami a few years ago at the Conference, at the Pawn Shop – Sunday School for Degenerates. Yeah, I would say it was my most amazing show ever. I loved that one.

What inspires me? Situations in life that I always get myself into. Weird, awkward situations.

When did you realise you could give up your day job?

Ah, ha, that’s a good story. I did a lot of stupid jobs, I was very bad at everything. In the last one, I was just the guy collecting the dishes from the table and somehow the restaurant decided to promote me to be a waiter. I was like, “Guys, I’m not good”, but they insisted and said the next day, “We’re gonna open for the first time for lunch and not many people know about it so it’s going to be empty, you can practice.” I only had two tables but I made so many mistakes. At one point I got lost on my way to the kitchen. One of the customers said in Hebrew, “Hey waiter, why don’t you grab a guitar, this is not for you”. I looked at him and said, “You know what? You’re damn right”. I left the restaurant and the chef said, “Where the fuck are you going?” I replied, “I’m done”.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

‘Fool To Cry’ by the Stones, ‘A Day in the Life’ by the Beatles… maybe something by Bowie. There are many songs I wish I’d written, they’re mainly from the 60s and 70s. Maybe something by Depeche Mode, what do you call it? ‘Blaf over Rumours’ by Depeche Mode? You know it? Something with “rumours” by Depeche Mode.

What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?

To be fucking amazing. I think you have to be great but you also have to be a freak. When all my friends would go out I would stay in the studio. You can’t just choose it, you have to be really addicted and obsessed with music.

What or who is underrated?

Let me think. I would say my friend from Israel, Chaim, is great. He is a great producer and makes really emotional music. He is rated, but he should be bigger.

What or who is overrated?

The list is very long. People that go against commercial music in public. Their comments are overrated because it’s so easy to be against something that my nieces like. Some people write bad comments about… whatever, Swedish House Mafia. Comments are overrated.

What are you addicted to?

Self-destruction. Not only with parties; there are many ways you can self-destruct yourself.

What do you lust over?

I lust for peace of mind.

What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?

One gig in Israel, back back back in the day, when the promoter decided to make an afterparty but his concept was, “We’re not going to tell anyone. It’s gonna be so secret and so hard to get in that I will basically tell no one“. It was only me and him. Literally only me and him, and the guy who worked there. And on top, the sound was very bad. I wanted to retire after this gig.

Strangest place you ever wrote a track?

In the toilet of the Guggenheim.

What’s the worst thing about making music?

That it’s very frustrating and it’s a constant struggle to reach something that is beyond. Sometimes you think you’re there and you wake up the next day and you realise you’re not there yet.

Strangest place I ever wrote a track? In the toilet of the Guggenheim.

Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?

I see it more as sculpturing. I do it without thinking and keep on changing until I get myself out of the chair. If I make myself dance and make myself move, that means it’s working.

Guy is currently running his Wisdom of the Glove residency at Pacha Ibiza with a host of guests including Sasha, Four Tet, John Talabot, Craig Richards and Actress.