Interview with GROUND9

Exploring the grooves of vinyl with GROUND9

In the universe of electronic music, there are artists whose commitment to the art of DJing goes beyond simply mixing tracks: it is a passion that is rooted deep in the grooves of vinyl. One such artist is GROUND9, whose dedication to techno and vinyl has led him to explore unique sonic territories and establish himself as an emerging figure in the Portuguese music scene.

From humble beginnings to future projects, GROUND9 takes us on a journey through his career, sharing his reflections on the value of vinyl, the importance of authenticity in the underground scene and his exciting journey to recognition as an artist and DJ.

1. How did you get started in DJing and what particularly attracted you to vinyl?

Well, from a very young age I was always connected to music. When I was younger, I used to listen to a lot of alternative music, metal, punk, and I remember getting into electronic music with The Prodigy, Aphex Twin, The Chemical Brothers, among others. I immersed myself deeply in the global electronic scene with my first festivals I attended, and the little worm The DJ thing started to grow on me. In 2019, I bought my first small controller, but I felt like I was missing some fundamentals. I decided to enroll in a DJ school, and from there, I started my project as the artist GROUND9, focusing on techno. I became interested in vinyl because of the craftsmanship it requires, the physical and emotional connection created with each record, and I was also influenced by a great friend of mine who continues to teach me a lot about this form of DJing. (Thanks, André!)

2. What is your process for selecting the songs you include in your sets?

First of all, I try to understand what kind of festival, club or time slot I'm going to play. Then, when I'm looking for records, I always look for material with energy, rhythm and progression. Basically, that's how I like to build my sets, even when I was mixing digitally, with progression. I already have a few labels in mind like Molekul, Mutual Rhythm, Key, among others, and I end up playing the most energetic tracks from each album. Lately, I've been leaning towards the deeper side, with groove and some breakbeat, but the "energy" factor remains unchanged when I perform live. (At least I try! hahaha)

3. Do you have any favorite vinyl in your collection? Why is it special to you?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I'll pick a disc that I've used several times in different situations because of its versatility. «Stuck in the Loop» of Molekul. In fact, it's 2 LPs, but the sound is very solid on all the tracks, suitable for both intense and powerful vibes, as well as a more danceable and groovy touch with influences from the 90s. Yes, Stuck in the Loop is the chosen one.

4. How do you think vinyl differs from other music formats in terms of sound quality and listening experience?

Even before I bought techno vinyl, I used to buy albums from other musical styles, and I end up remembering the phase of life I was in, what I felt that day, and that store that led me to buy that record. That affection for a physical piece of art is special with vinyl in my opinion. It makes the scene real and genuine, as well as draining my finances, hahaha. I think it automatically gives me a different feeling when I put it on to play. Streaming services end up trivializing music a bit; it’s too easy, and the listener doesn’t give the artist the proper value, besides what the artist receives from that source… I don’t think it sounds better in terms of quality, at least I don’t have that audiophile ability yet to understand it, but I think it makes the whole experience and involvement with the music incomparable.

5. What is your opinion about the music scene in Portugal compared to other countries? Do you consider yourself part of the underground scene? What does it really mean to you to belong to this scene?

I think it is still underdeveloped. Portugal is a small country, and in the end, everyone knows each other. I feel that it operates in closed cycles, and that ends up not being beneficial for the scene. I also feel that the Portuguese artist is not valued, and we have numerous cases of DJs who are successful outside the country, and only then Portugal starts to give them the recognition they deserve. I think this is not just about the electronic scene; it happens in other genres as well.

Do I feel part of the underground scene? Quite honestly, I think I haven't done enough to prove myself in the Portuguese electronic scene to be considered part of the culture yet. I'm working every day towards that, and we'll get there! I think that to be part of an underground culture, it's not enough to have an agency representing us or to have a label under our name. I think we have to add to and develop the culture in some way. As I said, I'm working towards that, hahaha.

6. What are your favorite music festivals in Portugal and which one would you recommend to someone interested in experiencing the country’s music scene?

Well, as far as electronic music festivals go, I think we have strong festivals like Lisb-ON Jardim Sonoro, Waking Life and Neopop in the north of the country. Speaking of alternative music festivals, I think we have more options to choose from like Paredes de Coura, Vilar de Mouros, Sonic Blast, among others. In terms of festivals, I can't complain because I've already seen most of my favorite bands and DJs here.

7. What inspires you when creating a new mix or selecting tracks for a particular event?

I like dense tracks, ones that have layers, progression and things going on, that’s how I prepare my sets. I want to transmit my frenetic energy to the audience, but not in a “mainstream” way. I feel that the tracks should also have a touch of groove. I notice a big difference in the music selection I have to make in digital format with CDJs compared to a vinyl format. It requires more careful selection, really knowing the songs well and the story we are creating for the listeners. It’s a super enjoyable process in my opinion.

8. Who are some artists that you consider references in your career as a vinyl DJ? Why?

In the vinyl realm, the DJs that influence me daily to work harder and better are Freddy K (I think it needs no introduction, hahaha), Slin and Tarkno They are also two names I follow closely for their skill and the way they make DJing look so easy. Alexandre Laeddis It has also influenced me a lot in this area of vinyl; after seeing it in Razzmatazz in Barcelona with an extremely good set, I've been following his work quite closely ever since. And lastly, André Pina, a great friend and Portuguese techno DJ who has taught me a lot about the aspects of vinyl and is a partner in our project dedicated to vinyl, Side B Gatherings.

9. What genres of music do you enjoy listening to both inside and outside of electronic music? Could you mention some artists, groups or songs that inspire you?

I think I have a pretty versatile taste in music, although I have been heavily influenced by the metal, hardcore and punk scenes. In recent years, I've been listening to albums by Deftones, Thom Yorke, Massive Attack and IDLES, for example. Within the electronic spectrum, I can't single out just one style, although I mainly play techno. Names like NOISIA, Ivy Lab, Modeselektor, Alarico, Clouds and X Club They help me stay motivated and open doors to new soundscapes. As you can see, I'm a musical fruit salad, hahaha.

10. Do you admire any electronic music record labels or do you think any are doing outstanding work in the industry right now?

Yes, I have a few labels that I tend to follow. I really admire the curation they do and the work they publish. Especially Molekül, Perfusion, Tripalium Records, Mutual Rytm, Arts, Key, among others. Whenever I go to look for records in a record store, if I see the artwork for any of these labels, I will probably choose it.

11. Could you share some details about your future projects as a vinyl DJ? Is there anything exciting you are currently working on or plans you are considering for the future?

Yes, I feel like I'm in an extremely exciting phase of my career. Since I started playing vinyl, I've changed my sound to something deeper and groovy, but still intense, and that's opened some doors for me. I can say that I'm one of the founders of Side B Gatherings, a promoter and event organizer dedicated to vinyl DJing. We had our first event in early May, and it turned out much better than we expected. The intimate atmosphere, the sound system, the attendance of the public, the good work of the DJs who played at the event: it was special, and we are already excitedly planning the second edition.

I've also been producing music on the side, with some releases planned for next year, some gigs for this summer, but right now, my focus is really on DJing and improving my craft as much as I can. From here, I think it'll always be upwards, and I hope to one day become a reference as an artist and DJ.