WE ARE THE GOU SQUAD AND WE’RE COMING TO TOWN
DJ and producer Peggy Gou originally hails from Seoul in the South Korea but spent much of her youth both studying and working in the United Kingdom. Having initially found herself working in the fashion industry, both as a correspondent for Harper’s Bazaar and as a stylist in her own right, she undertook a Damascene conversion to the world of sound which saw her career drastically change path.
After spending time learning the ropes with her friend Esa Williams (of the Highlife World Series) she found herself in Berlin in late 2014 and has since gone from strength to strength. 2016 has been a banner year for Gou, with the release of her first solo productions on Art of War and Art of War II (both via Rekids), another 12” (on Phonica), as well as a string of much heralded mixes online which playfully skirt the spaces between house and techno. Totally Dublin caught up with this rising star ahead of her first Irish appearance at the Out To Lunch Weekender to find out more.
You’ve worked across a variety of creative disciplines from previous work in the fashion industry (as stylist and journalist) to your own releases on Rekids and Phonica to DJing as well as having a background in classical piano – do you treat each of them as very different disciplines? Or do you see a large amount of similarity or interaction between them?
They are different disciplines, yes, however all the steps I’ve taken and everything I’ve learnt in both fashion and art have contributed immensely to my creative input and to discovery in my music development. It’s through these channels that I came to realise that my true passion was music.
What was the catalyst for you switch careers from working in fashion to focusing on making electronic music?
I just realised I have more passion in music after my first production lesson. I could spend 24 hours trying to make some music and never once get bored. I don’t even check the time. My instinct and my heart told me this is what I wanted to do for my career. Sometimes in life we have to make choices and it came a point in my life when I had to make some. Music came first and although I still do some fashion work, being a DJ and producer is my full-time job at present, but I still love keeping myself busy with all the artistic opportunities that come to me.
When people ask you what kind of music you make, what do you tell them typically?
In the beginning I used to think a lot about genres, define them, categorise and divide them, but then I realised it doesn’t really matter. Nowadays there are too many new genres and most of my favourite DJs play all kinds and don’t really think about it, so I try not to think what genre I make. But when somebody asks what I make right now I would say that it’s kind of house music but has techno elements, while my previous releases are also influenced by African music.
Do you have any specific reflections on what it is like for a woman to work as an electronic music producer and as a DJ, in an area that is traditionally dominated by men? Have you had to deal with any bullshit or have people been supportive – or a mix of both?
I totally understand the question, but for me I haven’t felt disadvantages or advantages yet. But of course, some intolerant people sometimes are surprised when a female DJ kicks ass. Sometimes it’s a lil’ sad to think about it. I think as a globalised, educated people we would have passed these gender issues.
Tell us some records that have been getting played on Peggy Gou’s turntable’s lately and what we can expect to hear in Tengu? And is there anyone else on the line-up that you are particularly excited to see play?
I really like Omar S ‘s new EP Desert Eagle. I’ve been listening to it a lot and his productions also. I would say it influenced me a lot as I was listening to all of his music when I slowly started learning at the beginning – I still do of course – by trying to also play same bass-line or chords and try to listen to every different layouts separately, and so on.
I’m super excited to see DJ Sprinkles at Out to Lunch. Last time I heard her was more than a year ago. She’s a great producer and also I like the music she plays out, it always has nice flow vibe from start ’til end.
Peggy Gou plays the Main Room on Saturday 13th August as part of the Out to Lunch Weekender.
Tickets are for the Out To Lunch Weekender are €65 for the three full days, or €35 for Saturday or Sunday and are available through Eventbrite and Resident Advisor. You can find links to those, plus all the information about the event at outtolunch.ie
Words: Ian Lamont
Check out our interview with Laurel Halo here.
