Interview
(by Benz at Frantic)

Benz - When did you come over to the UK from South Africa? How did you find London initially? Did you know many people here?

George-E – I arrived in London on Friday, 13 August 1999. I initially found London tough going, like anyone coming from a different country can most probably relate, it was hard settling down – finding a suitable job, finding a place to call ‘home’, but luckily all worked out fine for me in the end. At first I didn’t know a lot of people in London - very few of my friends from back in SA came over here as most of them were either getting married or settling down in a career over there – that wasn’t really an issue as I get along with people fairly easily and soon got to know a lot of people around London – that’s what it’s all about; meeting new people or is it…?

Benz - When and where was your first club gig? Take us back to that night…how do you remember the whole experience?

George-E - It was at the Piano Lounge (where I held my first residency) in Cape Town about 6 months after I started playing (way back in 1997). I can remember that I was very nervous and not use to a Club PA at all – I mean, I remember looking at the mixer when I walked into the booth and thinkin ‘my good gawd look at all them channels and silly knobs on that’ (referring to the massive old mixer they had in the booth) …what I can remember of that night is that it didn’t go too ‘shabby’ or at least I don’t think so - I soon was offered a residency there after my first gig. All in all it was a great start and I am ever so thankful to the promoters who gave me the chance.
I think it’s important that promoters give ‘true’ fresh talent a chance e.g. I remember the young Steve Maynard giving me his first demo after I met him at a Convergence I played at. I stuck it on the following week and thought he was good enough to play out, so we gave him his 1st ever set @ Byte (Purple Turtle) and he shined…look where he is now! In the same breath we have found and going to ‘nurse’ a new talent in Richard Toomz at Insekt:AM…

Benz - Have you been producing any tracks of late? Do you find inspiration in other people’s music or do you tend to stick with your own ideas?

George-E – Yep, I have done a few new tracks, most of them in collaboration with other producers. The most recent releases have been ‘Never Turn Ya Back’ on Dan Madams’ Feersum Records, ‘Freakin It’ (Hardsounds) with rising star, Steve Maynard – this track also got caned by the likes of Ian M who tipped it his Hard House track of ’05. Ian liked the track so much that he featured it on his latest Mix for ‘Tidy Weekender 8’.
Forthcoming I have my track with DMF ‘Hardache’ on Hardsounds and I am delighted that I have just secured my first track (in collaboration with WMD aka Alex Calver) to be signed to a foreign label, ‘I know You’re Scared ‘ (Infectious Records). Infectious is the sensational new Hard House/NRG label set up by two American Lads based in San Fran’…they got some awesome releases/remixes lined up from the likes of Dave The Drummer, Mik Cree (aka Dynamic Intervention), Defective Audio and Marc Johnson.
Overall I do listen to what other producers are doing and maybe sometimes you hear some interesting ‘formulas’/ideas and you try to adapt your ideas and sound in accordance. Saying that, I am always true to my sound and my tracks are very much a mirror image of what you can expect of me when I am playing out.

Benz - You are a resident for Torture Garden…what have been the most bizarre experiences you’ve had there?

George-E - Well over the years I have met many an ‘out-there’ character and experienced some amazing and even a lil obscure ‘events’ at TG. In the same breath I can also say that I have met some of the nicest, intelligent clubbers at TG and ‘til this day it’s one of my favourite events to play at. I have a pretty twisted mind-set so what is fairly ‘normal’ for me might shock another individual so it’s hard to say what the most bizarre experiences were if that makes sense.
One of the experiences that will stick in my mind is seeing this gorgeous blonde girl with an amazing figure incl. her exposed bust…it turned out our fair she was actually a he…it’s maybe not shocking but it definitely taught me once again to never judge a book by it’s cover – haha!

Benz - What have been your most enjoyable and exciting sets over the years? Which hold special memories for you?

George-E - There have been so many memorable/enjoyable events & Clubs I have played at over the years.
However I must say it’s a flip of a coin between the Purple Turtle on Sunday Evenings and Torture Garden…it’s maybe just that I have special sentiment towards these clubs/events as Allen TG really took me under his wing when I came over to the UK and he really pushed and supported me over the years – these clubs very much nursed my sound into what it is today.
The Purple Turtle on a Sunday has an atmosphere which can’t be forged or re-created anywhere I know of…when it goes off (which it does most Sundays) it goes off in an ever so large way. We have a good merge of Antipodeans, English, Brazilian & East European crowd in there that really kick a true party atmosphere…once experienced never will it be forgotten. Very cosmopolitan Vibe you can say!
As for TG, well maybe it’s a combination of factors that make it so ‘memorable’ but I suppose I know what the dance floor wants at TG - there is so much ‘energy’ on a TG dance floor and my sound just seems to merge well with this …TG always leaves me in a state of ‘wow’!

Benz - Tell us some interesting facts about George E we do not know…?

George-E - There are a few things people don’t know about me I suppose. The fact that I am trained in the classical piano to grade 6 level – I also sang in a boys choir until university level. There was a phase in during my ‘teen years’ where I despised House Music (I was into Metal/Industrial and Punk Music). I was educated at the university of Stellenbosch (Cape Town) to Masters Degree level in Economics (specialising in Financial Mgt.).

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