Simon Gregory (Ten Questions with...) Exclusive Interview

Simon Gregory is an English DJ and producer who has released tracks and remixes on labels such as Anjunabeats, Mondo Records, Enhanced Progressive, Camouflage, Addictive Sounds, and others. He has collaborated with other artists in the trance scene. Simon shares a few things about trance music. Check out this exclusive interview with Visions of Trance.

1. What Is Trance Music To You?

Trance music is a feeling, a journey from start to finish which builds an emotional connection.

2. How do you perceive the state of the current trance music scene?

At the moment, the trance music scene is strong. I have seen a resurgence of faster paced trance (Nitrous Oxide – Stardust is a perfect example and absolutely banging!) and also a welcome return of the trance 2.0 sound with those searing basslines and huge impactful drops! Farius has championed that sound in two of his more recent Anjunabeats releases and it has all the feels of the 2010-2016 era with some modern twists! I am excited to see where this all heads from here.

3. What are your goals in producing trance music?

My goal has always been first and foremost to make people smile, and to know that something I have created is being enjoyed.

4. Who was your inspiration to start producing trance music?

My inspiration in the early years (during my clubbing days) were the likes of Ferry Corsten and PvD, but then I got heavily into Anjuna style trance and at that point my inspiration to produce in that style came from artists like Nitrous Oxide, Above & Beyond, Ilan Bluestone to name a few!

5. Which song are you most proud of and why?

My first ever collaboration with my now partner in crime, Nitrous Oxide. Fusion was a collaboration with one of my heroes in the scene and my first signing to Anjunabeats, so it was a huge achievement and the beginning of a great friendship!!

6. Will your future releases be collaborations with other artists? Are you more into solo productions

I will always do both, I enjoy the solo experience, but equally I thrive on the input of others when collaborating. I am of course one half of Digital Drift along with Nitrous Oxide, and we have a tremendous amount of fun in his studio in Poland crafting our tracks. So many times I have gone to Poland to perform, and the night before we have put together a track to play at the event the next day!

I have also been blessed with opportunities to collaborate with many great artists along the way, most recently Darren Tate who is of course a trance legend…and there is more to come in that space. 😊

7. What inspires you to create trance music?

I would probably say events, especially those I have played at. There is something incredibly inspirational about being in that crowd (or in front of them) and seeing just what works on a dance floor. Fusion was born following ABGT 450, having heard so many incredible tracks that packed a huge punch, I was inspired immediately to try and write something like that!

8. What hardware and software do you use to create trance music?

My primary DAW is Ableton, and I have been using that for probably over 20 years now. In there I have all the usual VST Synth offenders; Spire, Serum, Diva, Nexus, Omnisphere 2&3…and some less known ones like Low and quake for really nasty bass! There are more software synths in my collection but really the ones here are my go-to plugins.

Also have all the usual processing plugins like the soundtoys suite, fabfilter EQ and limiters, soothe2, and a variety of reverbs, delays etc!

Hardware wise, I have my trusty Moog Subsequent 37, a Prophet Rev2, a Behringer Model-D, a TB03 clone, and my wonderful HEDD type 07 Mk2 monitors that I will never part with!

9. How do you perceive the influence of social media on the career development of a trance artist?

I come from a time where social media really wasn’t a thing, and as such have never really been all that great with it! I have no doubt that it is a fantastic promotional platform and a great way to engage with your fan base, providing a means of gaining visibility globally. I don’t think however that it is specifically important where labels are concerned in the selection and signing of music.

I have a relatively small footprint on platforms like Instagram for instance, but it hasn’t been looked on as a negative point…and when I A&R for Mondo Records, I don’t select an artists demo purely because they have thousands of followers on social media, I select the tracks based purely on how they make me feel.

I have and do use social media platforms now to promote music, but being a bit of a dinosaur I don’t think I really used it well! Lol!

10. Finally, what would you like to say to your fans?

All I can really say is thank you, to all of you for your love and support throughout my musical journey. This is what makes it so worthwhile to me and it truly does mean the world.

Watch this space, I have lots more to bring over the coming year. 😊