GG Magree photo by ND MEDIA
Positive, confident and creative are three words that come to mind after interviewing Australian DJ/singer/super woman GG Magree. The Sydney native recently premiered her singing debut on “Frontlines” with NGHTMRE and Zeds Dead adding new depth to her already impressive list of talents.
GG will be appearing with Zeds Dead, Space Jesus and more at the Central Florida Fairgrounds for Life in Color Orlando on Saturday, September 2nd where we will get a live look at her new single “One by One.” We chatted with the energetic entrepreneur about her experiences performing internationally and where her latest business ventures are heading. Read more below:
This interview is for your show at Life in Color Orlando. What do you have planned for the set?
Doing a Life in Color show has been on my bucket list. I’m definitely going to perform my new single, “One by One”, live. I’ve made some new edits. I’ve definitely been inspired by traveling. I’ve been in China; now I’m in Japan. I always to try make every set special and different.
Did you produce your new single?
I wrote it and I co-produced it.
How long will you be in the States?
I live in L.A. now. I’m based here for the next couple of years.
When you perform in other countries, like China and Japan for instance, how do you know what the audience will want to hear?
I always try to keep my own style, which is a pretty hard and dubby, trappy, hip-hop sound. I do a little bit of research on what music is current in every country I go to. I make my edits for them, and I still try to keep my own GG-way on every set. I never want to change that style to adapt to where I am. I always want to make sure people come see a show because they love what I do.
The singing role is somewhat new for you. Do you plan to develop it more?
I’m not a trained singer. I definitely think people like me because of my tonality. I love it. It’s something I’ve kinda become obsessed with. I write a lot as well so that goes hand-in-hand. It’s something I didn’t really know I could do until last year. I’m definitely developing it and pushing myself.
All my sets are starting to lead into live sets where I perform. I’m really lucky to have been able to do that with Zeds Dead. I keep pushing my benchmark every show. I never want to be complacent – I always want to be bigger and better.
Have you done any more songs with NGHTMRE and Zeds Dead?
We haven’t done any more songs together but Zed’s Dead is definitely my family. I released “One by One” on their label Deadbeats. That’s where it all started. They kind of took me under their wing. They’re like big brothers to me. They take really good care of me and I’m really blessed. I’m also working with other people at the moment and we’ll always be family.
You DJ, sing, write and produce – do you have any other hidden talents?
I dance as well. I do t.v. presenting and acting. I also draw and paint. Being a creative, you want to express things so they all go hand-in-hand. I have an obsessive personality when it comes to being creative. If I pick up a guitar I’m like, ‘I’m gonna get really good at this.’ I spend a lot of time making sure I’m capable of doing it.
With singing, the first time I ever sang was “Frontlines” with Zed’s Dead and NGHTMRE. As soon as the boys heard it they said it was amazing. Since then, I’ve written a lot of music, sang and made sure I’m really confident and comfortable singing live.
I read in an interview you used to be in rap battles. Were you good at it?
Oh my God! [laughs] I used to want to be a rap artist. I would sit in my room listening to Eminem who I was obsessed with as a child. That’s how I started writing in school. As I got older there were always rap battles and I’d be the first one putting my hand up to go in.
We were somewhere recently and someone said, ‘Yo GG, drop a freestyle.’ It’s something I love and I don’t think it’s ever going to take me anywhere as a career, but I have fun with it.
What type of equipment do you use at the moment? Give us the gear run down.
To produce I use Ableton. To record vocals I use Logic. When I play a show I use CDJs. I can do vinyl, but it’s hard to carry around records. I used to play Serato and Serato Vinyl but I don’t do that anymore.
The easiest way for me to keep all my playlists is on USBs. It’s easy – you can just jump into a club and pop that in. Being a DJ these days you have to put on such a performance I want to make sure my set flows perfectly. I’m taking the crowd from 80bpm to 120 and moving it around a lot. I’m making sure everyone stays entertained and can catch their breath at times. Everyone can get crazy at times and everyone can sing at times.
What is your view on being a female performer in a male-dominated industry? Is it more or less challenging?
I really just think it’s hard being an artist. I don’t think it’s a male or female thing. As females we are meant to look a certain type of way or doing certain things, but if you stay true to what you actually love and who you are people will love you for that.
I’m a tomboy. I go with the boys and the boys treat me like any other artist. It’s definitely more male-dominated at the moment, but I feel like we should break down the idea of being a female in the industry. It’s more about what it’s like to be an artist in an industry that’s hard. I think that’s a better way to approach it.
That’s a great attitude to have. That’s all the questions I have for you – is there anything else you want to let people know about?
I’m keeping busy with a lot of touring. I’ve got a lot of shows coming up in the States and back in Australia. I have a label I’m launching called Yeah Pussy which is really exciting. It’s a clothing brand. We’re in Asia at the moment working with some really cool Asian artists, rappers, models and other DJs. That should be up and running within the next month.
Facebook.com/GGMagree
@GGMagree
