We talked with Grum about his Deep State label launch and much more! Enjoy reading!
TranceAttack: Hey Grum, nice that you’ve found some time to have a little conversation with TranceAttack. Where do we catch you right now?
Grum: I’m at home near Glasgow, after having just returned from Amsterdam/ASOT950.
TranceAttack: You have started your very own label, called after your last artist album, DEEP STATE. Congrats for the launch and the first two releases. What makes the difference to other labels?
Grum: Thank you. I find it quite hard to find music I want to play in my sets, other than my own stuff. I figured there is a gap there so the label is really just about releasing music I love and want to play, and hopefully helping artists I am a fan of and giving them a bit of a leg up.
TranceAttack: Which kind of music and which artist do you wanna see on your imprint?
Grum: The label will be grounded in progressive music just like I produce and play, but it will be open to other sounds too – really just anything I really like. We already have Kane and Dylhen’s EP was just announced – coming up there are more EPs from other artists I’m a fan of.
TranceAttack: Will DEEP STATE keep the contact with the Anjuna family or will it be something totally separated?
Grum: At the moment the label is totally independent and is just run by my manager and me, however, we have had some nice support on ABGT radio so far.
TranceAttack: What else do you plan with your brand DEEP STATE?
Grum: We also have a bunch of events coming up under the Deep State brand – really looking forward to what we have lined up for Miami Music Week this year.
TranceAttack: You are very busy at the moment to play live. What were the highlights so far on the DEEP STATE REWIRED Tour? What is still to come?
Grum: I really enjoyed that tour and played many great shows, although I think LA Academy takes the prize. They have incredible production in there with LED walls covering the ceiling, and this worked really well with the bespoke visuals I had made for the tour. Probably the best LA show I’ve ever played.
TranceAttack: What will be your position at DEEP STATE. Do you see yourself more as a label boss or are you also looking forward to releasing your own stuff?
Grum: Both really, it’s just two of us running it so we tend to get involved with everything however we can. Eventually, I’ll be releasing some music on the label, but for now, I’m exclusively signed to Anjunabeats.
TranceAttack: What is your biggest inspiration offside music?
Grum: I find politics and philosophy very interesting – the question of ‘why’ is always inspiring.
TranceAttack: What are your hobbies, that have nothing to do with music?
Grum: The same as most other people – movies, video games, reading, etc.. Not travel, I do enough of that for work.
TranceAttack: When do you think about the end of the year 2020. Where do you want to see yourself and DEEP STATE?
Grum: We are doing one release per month, so at the end of the year I would like to look back on having released 12 awesome EPs. And looking forward to doing even bigger and better things in 2021.
TranceAttack: Thank you for the interview and we wish you all the best for the future!
You can catch Grum alongside with Trance Wax, Anden, and others on March 06th at Fabric London and March 07th at Kabel Club Manchester!
Read all about the label launch here:
Talking about Deep State Music with… Grum
