An Israeli Dubstep DJ/Producer Borgore visited Japan for his show last year and he continues to go wild with his fans this year. His collab release “Phenomena” from Steve Aoki’s label Dim Mak Records has become one of festival anthems we all love and rave to. His own label, BUYGORE is also doing well and has become one of the essentials in the Dubstep scene always trying to step up. A big player in the scene, Borgore has mentioned the behind the scenes of his recent release “Big Bad” and his future plans to create nothing but a bigger influence in the scene.
Q1. Last Friday you released your new track ‘Big Bad’. Can you talk a bit more about the initial inspiration and producing process for this track?
Nero’s older tracks inspired me and for this track, I wanted to create a Nero vibe with a modern touch. The topline I got was much slower than it is now. I thought it was great topline. It was very sexy and also on a subject we are all familiar with.. being a booty call basically.
Right now, I am really in my dubstep vibe, so I felt like taking it out from 115 or 120 BPM and boost it up to 150 BPM. Sounded a bit weird but in a very cool way.
Afterwards, we tried to record Rachel’s voice to 150 BPM to see how it would sound, but we ended up liking the original vibe better.
Q2. Why did you feel Rachel’s voice was a good fit for “Big Bad”? What stands out most to you about her voice?
I really liked her voice on this topline. The lyrics, the melody, the harmony.. I felt this topline was amazing! I think what we did with it is pretty unique and I am very happy with the result.
Q3. What has you excited for 2017? Any big projects/collaborations coming up that you can share with us?
I can’t really share anything specific yet, but 2017 is going to be a very exciting year for me! I already finished the music that I am about to release this year and think 2017 is a very interesting year for me music-wise.. I feel like I’ve been more productive lately than I’ve been last year, so you can expect a lot of really good tunes coming out this year!
Q4. Where do you usually find your inspiration for music?
Honestly, I really do find my inspiration by listening to other music. Lately, I’ve encountered a lot of really interesting music that makes me want to go and write interesting new music myself. I also wrote my first jazz-album. That was a good switch-in-the-head for me as well, to take a couple of weeks’ break from everything. Now that I am back, I can tell I have a lot of new energy and inspiration to use in my work.
Q5. What track do you feel really shined most throughout your career so far?
I think there’s a good battle between three of them: ‘Wild Out’, ‘Decisions’ and ‘Forbes’, three of my biggest tracks till date. For me personally, there’s one other track that has not really been paid attention to by public. It’s called ‘Sick & Tired’ and I do not think I ever officially released this track. It just sits there on Youtube. I don’t know what I was on that day, but that shit is insane! Haha
Q6. Do you have some specific routines before gjgs?
100% not. No specific routines whatsoever. The only thing I do is prepare my set about half an hour before show time. The thing is, and I keep saying it, I don’t really see myself as a DJ but more as a producer. I put most of my effort into producing, so whenever I am home I don’t necessarily practice DJing and stuff like that. I just sit there writing music. So the only times that I actually go through my set and figure out what I’m doing is like half an hour before my set starts.
Q7. As someone who has been a producer of electronic music for so many years, what’s your take on the current state of electronic music? Any ideas of what the future might hold?
Electronic music right now is the biggest it’s ever been! I mean, guys like The Chainsmokers Billboarding every release is huge! But at the same time, I think the core of electronic music is actually getting weaker. Nowadays, when people go to electronic music shows, they don’t necessarily want to listen to electronic music. Instead, they want to listen to pop. I remember going out to electronic music events, listening to the stuff that I do not necessarily hear on the radio. Right now, it is in a weird position where electronic music almost grew too big. I am really happy electronic music is so recognized, but this year, I’m actually trying to go away from it a bit. My recent releases are all very aggressive dubstep, which is more where I started than me trying to write the next pop chart song. When big room turned really big all of a sudden, I tried my take on it and did a lot of tracks that went really well. It was something that I was down with.. But I don’t know if I’m down with this whole pop-move right now.. still sitting here trying to figure it out.
Q8. What does DJ MAG mean to you as a DJ and producer?
It puts you in perspective as an artist. It’s nice to see what other people are working on and what other people are thinking of different sounds.. It is a good outlet for sure! But at the same time, you cannot have that thing bothering you too much. What your place is on the list should not be controlling your creativity. When I am sitting in my studio, I am not sitting here trying to make it to the list. I am simply trying to figure out my emotions through music.
I had this conversation with my lawyer when he asked me what I wanted to do in the next couple of years. I told him that I am not trying to make money from music, so my music will not be affected by money. This way, my music will be as genuine as possible, because it does not have to generate income. The second there is no money involved in music, it becomes pure. Or art. In the beginning of my career, my music was fucking weird because I was not bothered by all the different things. Right now, I am back to the point where I am trying not to think of these things and create whatever I feel like.
Q9. Is there a project or something else you are planning to work on this year that isn't music related?
The other day, I was sitting with my friends and we had a conversation where I was like: you know what? My ears really hurt! I just came back from a gig, flight and working in the studio, which made my ears hurt like hell. I told my friends I cannot work with music right now and got really bored! Music is pretty much the only thing I do in my life! When it is not electronic music, I am busy writing jazz. When it is not jazz, I write lyrics and so on. Music is part of everything I do.
Maybe I will become a professional computer game streamer one day, but I don’t think I will be good at that. Haha!
Q10. What has been your favorite Japan experience so far? And finally, please leave a message to your fans in Japan.
Japan in general was a great experience! Last year was actually the first time I’ve been there and it is everything I thought it was going to be and more. I don’t know, your whole culture is very interesting. Going there and to actually see everything with my own eyes was a great experience. It is very different in a good way! Going there and absorbing stuff you are not used to makes you think of things in a different perspective. Besides that, the gigs were incredible. I love the fact that they were cooking BBQ for us inside the club. I was like: “YES, this place is LIT!” Also, Japanese people are just the nicest people. I don’t know dude, Japan is just fucking amazing! I hope to be back soon!! どうもありがとうございます!!
Borgore is one the greatest producers in the scene who is still very eager to learn and acquire new skills and techniques to create his original sound, which we all love. Borgore is of course seen at world class festivals such as Tomorrowland, TomorrowWorld, UMF and many more. He is definitely one of the players in the scene who has engraved his name in this industry’s history. His name is consecutively seen on DJ Mag Top 100 DJs ranking since 2014 and not only the Japanese fans but we all will be paying attention to his name for this year’s ranking.
