Gxnnxr’s has helped keep the hard dance vibe alive on the East Coast for a few years now. But how many of you know anything about him other than standing in the middle of one of his ripping sets? We got his head out of range of the near-field monitors for a second to get a little background for the THD faithful!
Where are you from?
I’m from Harrisburg, PA, but you can usually find me at events in Philly, DC, and Baltimore because there isn’t a scene in Harrisburg. I think the biggest way that those areas have influenced me is to be more open minded about all genres. The scenes are pretty eclectic and the parties will have a huge variety of music. I think that reflects in my music because I sometimes include different styles and samples that wouldn’t be considered techno by some traditional techno lovers.
What’s the story behind your DJ Name?
My real name is Gunnar. When I started my solo project, I wanted a name which was more similar to my own name. X’s looked better than vowels, so I just ran with it.
Who or what events in your life are responsible for you being the artist you are today?
I think the biggest influence on me has been my experience running East Coast Hard Dance and Audio Havok with Eugene and the rest of the crew. All the traveling, meeting new people, and exchanging ideas have help shape me as a person, not just an artist.
There’s a theory that says experiencing new things helps connect neurons in the brain, which unleashes creativity because you see the world in a slightly different way. My experience in ECHD has for sure made me a believer. I’ve seen my musical creativity explode since we’ve been having all these new experiences traveling and running events.
What moment so far in your career do you cherish the most?
The best moment for me was the first big party that I ever played. Epic Adventure 2 in DC back in 2012. That was back when I was playing Hardstyle with my DJ partner Derick as The Qontrollers.
I remember the max capacity of the club was about 1,500 people, but 3,000 showed up. Most of the people crammed in to the room that we were playing in never heard Hardstyle before. It must’ve been over 120 degrees, you couldn’t breathe, and everyone was dressed in Adventure Time costumes, but the place was just bouncing. Anyone who was there still talks about that party. We went on to play bigger and crazier parties, but no party has been able to match the incredible vibe.
What’s the idea behind your music?
My music is meant to be fun for the crowd. I see a lot of artists who make music that is super technical and is hard to appreciate if you’re not a producer. That kind of stuff is great to listen to at home, but doesn’t always translate to a crowd. I just try to create something that is dancefloor ready and makes people want to move. That’s what dance music is all about for me.
What specifically are you planning to give to the audience at Hard Electronic?
I’m going to be warming up the techno stage, so I’ll be bringing some darker and some harder techno. Come out to Hard Electronic this weekend and have a good time with us!