Basic strategy

New York trendsetter Morgan Geist
considers the merits of simplicity

FLEXING WHAT HE’S GOOD AT: Morgan Geist

by JACK OATMON

Whether or not you agree with a recent Resident Advisor poll of the top 100 tracks of the decade, placing Metro Area’s “Muira,” a cosmic house reprise of “Funky Town,” at number one, Morgan Geist is irrefutably amongst the true tastemakers of the times. But Geist, half of Metro Area with partner Darshan Jesrani, proclaims himself relatively ignorant of the trends.

“Despite running a label [Environ] and making records and DJing, I consider myself fairly out of the loop with dance music,” admits Geist over the phone from his New York apartment. “Part of why I started my own label, and definitely why I started doing Metro Area, is because I was completely disappointed with what dance music was doing in the late ’90s. I felt alienated at the time. The decade didn’t start out on the most positive note.

“So I’m really not that informed, and I never thought that was a bad idea. People I really respect sometimes consciously try and block out what’s going on elsewhere. There are benefits to that.”

In the RA interview about “Muira,” Geist stated, “I really enjoy when there’s no virtuosity involved, but it still comes across as expressive.” Aside from being a perfect description of Geist’s subtle, simple, enchanting production style, the statement also brings up questions about the value of sonic nuance as opposed to technical prowess.

“I come from a background where I’m not really trained,” explains Geist. “Nuance is where some of the most emotionally satisfying stuff will reside. Something subtle that you’re not even picking up on and it maybe takes many listens to discover what it is that’s moving you. Someone else might agonize and make something technically incredible. A lot of Western classical is like that—incredibly complex, beautiful and emotional stuff. And you start thinking that it’s not possible without being trained or virtuosic on an instrument. And when you do something and find out it is possible with your limited knowledge, flexing what you’re good at, it really makes you feel good about yourself.”

WITH FRANÇOIS LEBARON AT SALON
DAOMÉ ON FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 10 P.M., $9