Chris DeLine

When did you start making mashups?

G3RSt: When I was younger, I used to make a lot of tunes and remixes using tracker software on the PC (ScreamTracker, ImpulseTracker, that kind of stuff). Most of it was very experimental and not very good. Ha! After a few years, my interest in that waned, so I pursued other things. I went into art school and started working in web design and such. At that time I thought the whole mixing scene was as good as dead, but a few years ago I noticed some DJs were starting to make mixes in a very specific format: mashups. In the summer of 2006 I was in a bit of a funk—I had just come out of a long term relationship and I had a lot of time to myself. At that time I had been listening to mashups for about a year. By then I had already registered to GYBO and downloaded songs like crazy. All of a sudden it occurred to me: I should try making mixes myself. So I installed Reaper, and some other sound editing software, and so it started. And yes—it did help putting my mind on other things; talk about therapeutic. 😉

Was there any other mashup producer, or producers, that inspired you to get started?

G3RSt: Of course, as I said, I listened to a lot of stuff in that period, but the mixes that struck me as the most original were those done by the likes of DJ Schmolli, DJ Moulé, Wax Audio and PartyBen. A lot of people will say they were inspired by 2 Many DJs, but since they only did long mixes, it didn’t really interest me at that time. It was only until I heard rounded off songs that I really began taking interest in mashups and the mashups scene.

Have you had any legal threats or issues arise surrounding any of your bootlegs?

G3RSt: No, never. I do think it’s an interesting topic though. I can’t deny that I partly got interested in doing mashups because of the illegal aspect of it. It’s a form of music that is not condoned by the music industry in any way, and the anarchistic nature of it alone is reason enough for me to participate. But to get back on subject… I understand there are producers that have received “cease and desist” mails and letters, but I reckon those are either people that have tried selling their material or who are living in the US… or both. The reason I’m saying this, is because European legislation (or in my case: Dutch) is less restrictive than in America. Here we have the right to sample (8 seconds if I’m correct) and the right to download (though not spread) online music. So er… as long as I’m staying in this country, I’m good.

What is the last mashup you listened to that wasn’t yours?

G3RSt: That would be FM24‘s “Might Like Your Wonderlust” (Gogol Bordello versus Amanda Blank), an excellent genre clash!

Who are your favorite bastard-pop producers?

G3RSt: There are a lot of producers out there that make excellent stuff, but the ones that keep churning out quality material on a regular basis are Schmolli, Phil Retrospector, DJ Not-I, Wax Audio, Aggro1, DJ Moulé and ToToM. I must admit that if you ask me this next week, the list will be different. 😉

How many mashups do you think you’ve made in your life?

G3RSt: Real mashups? 67… and I’m not taking into account the ones that I half finished, or tried mixing and threw away, et cetera…

What is your favorite mashup of all time?

G3RSt: That’s a hard question… but if I really have to choose, it would be Dysfunctional DJ’s “You’re the One That I Want in the Next Episode” (Grease versus Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg) – that shit’s awesome!

[This article first appeared on Mashuptown.]