1. Growing Up
My dad was an amazing drummer, and pretty much constantly tapping away practising on his drum pad. So my child hood was spent listening to rhythms and drum patterns. The legendary Scottish jazz drummer George McGowan actually taught him how to play the drums, and my dad was that good that he used to fill in for him.
2. Inspirations
Jimi Hendrix. Not sure about the first time I heard him but the memory that sticks in my head the most is this one time when I was 15 and I worked with my dad (we used to work together back then). We were on a job, it was shop refit, and there were about 20 different tradesmen on the job. Purple Haze came on the radio and my dad said “Wow, what a track! Everyone knows this,” and as soon as the track stopped at that famous part “Excuse me while I kiss the sky”, every single person in the room stopped what they were doing and sang that phrase. He looked at me with a big grin and said “Told you”. My father recently passed away and that it is a very fond memory of him for me. It was an amazing moment.
3. Your Crew
I got into techno when I was ten with mates who are still in my life (but I don’t see them that often anymore). My days of shit jobs seem to be over for now (thankfully)! Though sometimes I do miss the thought of going out and doing a shift and getting a laugh with workmates – but not enough to actually go out and do one!
4. The Music You Make And Play
I always play deep and chunky to start with, and then I get into energetic party techno. But no matter how tough it gets later on I always go for music with a groove and that party vibe. Upcoming I’ve got a new EP on Intec in July called Wrong Turn which I’m excited about, and I’m also playing at Intec’s Sonar party in June – they always throw a good party. As for top tracks, always a tough one but a track I’ve had on repeat recently is KiNK’s Cloud Generator. It’s ridiculously brilliant!
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
I think it’s pretty healthy, I think EDM can be a distraction from a lot of good music out there, but it will also introduce a lot of people who will eventually hunt down some quality underground music. The scene in Glasgow is amazing, though right now the police are pointlessly trying to close down one of the city most amazing clubs and venues, The Arches, but the people are really fighting it, so finger’s crossed we can beat the man!
Catch Harvey McKay at The Royal Melbourne Hotel on Friday June 5.
