Hip-Hop and Live Acts, Destructo's New Focus

It's not very often that you get to speak with an artist who expresses deep, genuine love for the city you're from. It was quite a relief going into the conversation knowing I had 20 minutes to speak with Gary Richards, AKA Destructo, whose been in the music industry before I was an embryo.

To shed light on his affection, Destructo was quick to talk about his most recent visit to Toronto for Digital Dreams and its official after party at the Guvernment. For anyone who caught either of his sets, the next few words will explain where that West Coast hip-hop vibe came from.

Toronto allows for what he understands as "future hearing" and how the crowd doesn't process music like the typical radio listener. With the city's ever growing knowledge of music, it is one of the reasons why Destructo so comfortable with taking risks when he's in town.

They loved it in Paris, and the loved it in Toronto. Bringing forth the dark techno tracks off his Technology EP and slowly incorporating some classic West Coast tracks from Dr. Dre.

"G-house is the easiest way to call it," Gary explains and he's been trying to formulate the sound within his sets without making it boring, still leaving space for big room house. This new tip will stretch beyond Destructo's DJ sets and his newest single "Party Up" is just a tease of what we can look forward to off his forthcoming West Coast EP.

Even though electronic music has always been Destructo's passion, his roots lead to hip-hop among other genres. "I've always tried to find a rapper or produce with one who could be a Snoop Dogg or an Andre 3000, but in the techno world. When I used to work with rappers they were never really able to figure out how to do that. And now it's organically coming together on my records. I love hip-hop and I feel that it goes pretty well with electronic dance music at a party. I try to always mix in some of that to make HARD different and unique. To give it a little bit of flavour."

Since the early '90s, Destructo has used a basic formula: straight electronic music and a party. From producing RAVEAMERICA and Mickey's Haunted Mansion to the most recent HARD events, the procedure remains the same. But what has come of it is something he would have never expected. He provides the music and party and the people who attend his events bring the culture. "Especially with Holy Ship, they have the Ship Fam and people make friendships around the globe who are tied together through this event, it's the most rewarding outcome."

Diversity is key for the father of HARD. As his events continue to grow, from one stage to four or five, he has been able to program each stage for a unique vibe—exactly what he wanted to see at a festival. He admits, "This was the first year we brought forward people like Tiesto and Axwell that normally wouldn't have been in the HARD program. But as it keeps getting bigger, I feel that we need a bit of that sound too. I'm trying to pick the ones that I've been told are the best in those genres."

And then there's acts like A$AP MOB and Rudimental live on the agenda. Coming from an assorted musical background, Gary always wanted to have live instruments involved with his events. "I think it's important for fans to see people playing instruments. That is the root of everything. I think we might be in trouble if everything we do is just computers."

Finding artists who incorporate instruments into the electronic element are rare, given his foundation, he respects the skill and talent that it takes to do so. "When you DJ, sonically it sounds so good. It's kind of hard to be terrible. But when you're in a band, it is really hard to be halfway decent let alone be amazing. It's a way different thing and it's tough these days to capture that energy. Anytime I can find stuff like that I'll put it in the event."

I had to ask him if he would ever bring HARD to Canada of this capacity. Destructo has brought his events to Toronto on smaller scale in the past with acts like M83 and Justice. But having something of this volume would be a dream come true. "I would love to do more HARD events in Canada, but you just have so many great events already. With the guys at INK, Electronic Nation Canada and Embrace, it just seems like a lot of traffic. I don't ever want to go into other cities where people have been doing things forever and try to ruffle their feathers. It's more about doing something there that compliments what's going on. I want to do something different that people aren't already doing. Not just to do it to piss anyone off, like 'fuck you, were coming in here!'"

That doesn't mean HARD will never come back to Canada. Let's just hope Destructo can find a proper date and location without disturbing the shit load of other events going on.

Follow Nicole on Twitter: @DownTwoMars

Related links:
Destructo Threw A Rave at Knott's Berry Farm
Experience Festival Life Through Destructo's Eyes
Destructo Signs to Insomniac Records, Continues Bid to Take Over Earth