Cream’s Gareth Wynn - New DJs shouldn’t expect superstar DJ success
19/07/2006

With his main room residency at Cream’s Ibiza parties at Amnesia and regular UK slots for the Gallery and his own London monthly House Rules, 27 year old house/ trance DJ Gareth Wynn is perfectly placed for mainstream success, though chatting to Skrufff this week, he’s adamant about knowing his place.

“It's wrong for breakthrough DJ's to expect prime billing and massive fees straight away, like any career you have to stick with it and progress year on year,” he explains, “I'm in it for the long run, and I'm a firm believer of you get back what you put in - it's a karma thing. There's always exciting new talent breaking though but there's enough shows to go round, particularly as DJing has gone worldwide in recent years.”

Having been snapped up by Cream soon after Mixmag made him one of their ‘Future Hero’ tips, he’s since toured the world and much of the UK, though, as his approach to surviving Ibiza’s legendary partying potential shows, remaining level headed at all times.

“This is my third year now as Cream resident, so I've learnt to pace myself in Ibiza, you can't go out there and tear it up too much, and do a decent job in the club,” he says, “You'd soon get found out if your performances were under par, and playing a big main room like Amnesia there's no hiding place. You're also DJing alongside fellow jocks who are right at the top of their game, so that in itself raises standards.”

“Gone are the days when DJs can bounce up to a club smashed and do a decent job, the technical side of things has developed enormously, I use 3 CDJs and an effects unit now, there's too many flashing lights you need to understand to be in a state,” he continues, “Also, the punters are more demanding with their standards, and rightly so. They know if a mix is mini cooper, or if you're not doing the business, so you need to stay switched on.”


Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What's your assessment of Ibiza so far?

Gareth Wynn: “Ibiza's looking healthy this year. Cream had one of their biggest ever openings and although I don't set foot on the island until a few weeks ago, I'm hearing really encouraging reports already. Over the last few years I think Ibiza has re-invented itself, almost going full circle. It’s definitely a lot less mainstream out there now, and it's more international than ever. The crowds are fantastic, up for it and get into the spirit of the place.

In music terms, I've definitely seen the influence of rock in trance and house. Fat electric synths and loads of percussion is producing a really dirty, pumping trance sound which I love. The electro explosion has helped this process too- trance producers are using more bass lines and creating music with wider influences. From a house perspective, the quality of music has never been higher too.”

Skrufff: Manumission's rock and Circo Loco's minimal seem to be getting all the press in recent years: is it fair to say Ibiza's musical axis is shifting?

Gareth Wynn: “Rock music in Ibiza is fantastic, I love live music and I'll be checking out as much of it as I can over the summer. It also attracts a different crowd to Ibiza so that can only be positive. I was worried when I heard rumours that Manumission was not happening this year, Ibiza needs Manumission,, it's such a big part of the island's attraction. Friday is a good move for them, more people do long weekends now rather that a seven day trip so they can take in the joys of Manumission on a Friday.”

“As regards Ibiza's musical axis, it's been shifting ever since dance music first hit the island, each summer there's a new sound, last year was electro, this summer we'll have to wait and see. I'm definitely spinning a different sound now to two years ago, but change is good – it keeps things fresh. There's so much good new music around at the moment, it's hard not to vary styles. Genre-wise, I push tough house right through to upbeat, pumping trance. As main room resident, my sets will take in a variety of sounds - one week I'll be alongside Marco V and Paul van Dyk, the following week Groove Armada and Steve Angello - that's what I love about Cream in Ibiza. The main thing I never want to be is pigeon holed as a particular type of genre DJ. I spin right across the board, house to trance and this reflects in my sets. Variety is good.”

Skrufff: You're 27, do you feel any sense that the old guard of big name DJs are starting to finally step, or be pushed, aside?

Gareth Wynn: “I don't think so, it's still extremely hard to break into that big name bracket. When house and trance blew, the names that exploded with it are still around today. They were associated with dance music right from the beginning, and it's hard to break that mould. Paul van Dyk was there from day one, he was playing for Cream ten years ago in Liverpool, so he's put the time in and deserves to be where he is now.”

Skrufff: I read on Ibiza-Spotlight that Cream's DJ fees can sometimes be £50,000 for one night, is it fair to assume you can buy a car each week from your usual main room resident earnings?

Gareth Wynn: “Cream have always looked after their DJs, they're fantastic to work with and have been very supportive of my career. I was thrown in at the deep end with Cream and given a summer residency in Ibiza as an unknown. As regards DJs fees, I have no idea what the other DJs get, it's something I don't have a right to know or comment on. Having worked with Cream though, I can see they're got their heads screwed on, so I imagine they pay DJs their market value, relative to the punters they can get through the door. They're very good at business, you can't survive eleven years in Ibiza and not be.”

Skrufff: How much is your goal to reach Tiesto level success?

Gareth Wynn: “Tiesto has set the benchmark, taking the DJ to superstar status worldwide. He sells out American baseball stadiums and 20,000 seater convention centres, and everywhere I've been in the world people know of him. Tiesto's a phenomenon. I'd love to reach his heights - I'm ambitious, but at the same time realistic. There's only one Tiesto. Paul van Dyk's the same - these guys are huge right across the world.”

Skrufff: Judge Jules said on his website diary a few weeks ago on arriving at Ibiza airport ‘The first thing I saw was a girl being sick on the grass verge opposite the terminal building. How very Ibiza’, fair comment?

Gareth Wynn: “Jules has lived in Ibiza for years, so he knows it better than anyone. I haven't seen that, and I do get a bit frustrated with the general public's perception of the place. It is at times still wrongly branded a one stop West End all dayer - far from it. Anyone who goes there properly and regularly, and gets out and about around the island's restaurants, beaches, bars and clubs can see that isn't the case. If you love clubs and dance music, there is not better holiday destination in the world than Ibiza - it has it all - the best venues, genre breaking music, world class DJ's and a cosmopolitan party atmosphere, what more could you want?”

Skrufff: Ibiza also certainly has a dark side with an abundance of shadier characters and is a very small place, how easy to avoid trouble when you're there long term?

Gareth Wynn: “I've always stayed out of trouble, I just go over, do my thing for Cream have a good after show party and come home. I doubt gangsters and shady characters would have much interest in me to be honest. I also have a good crew that come out there on holiday throughout the summer and we love Ibiza's beaches. It's pretty easy to stay out of trouble if you're on a beach all day.”

Skrufff: How much of a divide is there between season workers and tourists?

Gareth Wynn: “The workers are a tight group, who are bang into their music. Not all tourists are as switched on with their appreciation of the music as workers. I've got friends who go to Ibiza and work each summer and the workers form a tight group out there. They're vital to the success of the clubs and I know Cream value their work force extremely highly. People always want to work for Cream in Ibiza, I get asked about jobs out there all the time.”

http://www.garethwyn.net

http://www.cream.co.uk