Robotoronto

>> Hogtown's Kenny Glasgow reboots the 'bots

by KRISTA

Despite admitting to initial mixed emotions about working with someone from Montreal, Toronto's techno maven Kenny Glasgow says his decision to represent for Turbo Recordings' new Toronto Mix Sessions series comes down to a very basic yet important factor: "I am Canadian, they are Canadian." But it didn't hurt to discover that he and Turbo frontman Tiga share a special love for German electro synth-pop techno.



Mirror: I was really impressed to see you doing a mix for Tiga and the Turbo label, but I was also surprised. How you come to work together?

Kenny Glasgow: We were booked to play the same party a while back. I had the set before Tiga's and when I was done he introduced himself and told me that he had brought a crate of very similar tracks. I had never met anyone who played the same kind of music as me, let alone someone from Montreal--I didn't even think there was that kind of scene there. I stayed to hear him play and we totally had the same thing going on.

M: I always thought you were going to be one of the first guys in Toronto to start producing. What has held you back?

KG: (laughs) I think I always thought I was going to be out there first, too. I'm getting ready to launch two labels, Robot Music and New Wave Music, which is exactly what they'll sound like. My studio is finally at a level now where I'm more comfortable with everything. It took me a long time to develop my DJ style to the point where I knew what I wanted to hear and make.

M: What's your take on the whole '80s-ish electro synth-pop revival that seems to be getting under way?

KG: Well, it's a revival of sorts, but only in North America. Here it's even something new to a point, but there are places in Germany and Europe where that sound never went away. There is a lot of not-so-good "electro revival" out there. But guys like Tiga and [German DJ] Hell are doing stuff that's really solid. It's just harder to find.

CD launch with Tiga at Sona on Friday, Sept. 28, 2am, $20