INTERVIEW W/ FAGIN’S REJECT – On the Way to Ozora, one of our favorite villains, London born Phil Getty, a true Fagin’s Reject joined us for a bit of a talk. Serve it, in no way chilled but spiced, with his special mix for radiOzora this afternoon at 4pm CET.

– So what hooks someone coming from a psychedelic rock and metal background to Goa?

– It was a natural progression for me to go from metal to psychedelic rock, especially after I got into Led Zeppelin and Hendrix. Then from bands like Ozrics, Hawkwind and Gong to goa trance. I think this was because of the synthesisers used for the trippy stuff, I could never work out how they made those sounds. But the thing that sticks out most in my mind was seeing Eat Static live in 1992. I was already into techno and acid music, so discovering psychedelic dance music brought my tastes together. Also my friend’s older brothers had been visiting Goa since the mid 80’s, so that was our gateway into the scene. If you compared the 1992’s London based Goa parties to the psytrance today, what are the greatest differences (sound, vibe, people), what has stayed the same? It was new and It really was something special. I was 17 so it all seemed very magical to me. Everyone was on the same vibe, certain things were free as you walked in and you were free to do as you wished. These days it’s essentially the same, but there are less spandex fluoro leggings and UV cannons, also the way people danced back then was way more freaky. It’s a lot more money-oriented these days, and of course more difficult in terms of getting around authorities for proper free parties, but when it’s good, it’s still special, and that’s why I still do it. In terms of sound, it’s definitely been an improvement though! No more DAT tapes and crap quality, now it’s all about the crystal-clear sound systems that will do justice to the more complex music.

– You have a collection of limited vinyl releases dating back to those early 90’s. What is/are the greatest vinyl treasure/s you have?

– All of it. It’s a journey through my life in musical form. But If I had to pick something it would be Jungle High by Juno Reactor as it was the first track I recognised as Goa trance in a record shop, back in 1992.

– You can count as a Goa veteran as well, how do you see the Goa-psy-trance scene change in Goa throughout the years compared to your first experiences in the early 90’s? How influential is it on the rest of the scene around the world?

– The Goa I first visited in 1994 is gone. When I went back in 2008 after some years away I didn’t recognise much at all. Now it’s mosly commercial music and tourists. But, if you know where to go you can still find the old school parties and decent music. As for the rest of the world? Goa is a great place to see everyone from around the world that you may have met at a festival, or to meet friends you know from the scene in your country. It’s a meeting place for sure, kind of like a 6 month long festival with motorbikes, only you eat more and it’s not raining all the time.

– Lost Sector? Main highlights? How did it eventually lead to producing psytrance from around 2003?

– My friends, Bill and Ben, kindly let me into their techno project to help write an album. This was done using all analogue gear over a period of about 2 months (I think). After this I put myself through university to study Sculpture. That musical process really stayed with me so I had to try it for myself, then it became a healthy addiction. I bought my first computer in 2003, along with monitors, midi controller and soundcard and started making my own version of psytrance. Eventually I decided to do a course in music technology which took things to another level.

– How have your music technology studies played a role in forming your sound, how big a role did it (does it) play in creating Fagin’s Reject in 2008? And what’s your relationship with Oliver Twist:)?

– My studies directly influenced my sound because I learned synthesis on a Nord Modular and was taught by an amazing tutor who loved what he did. There was another tutor there who didn’t have a nice approach so I didn’t learn much from him, well from him I learned that making music has to be a fun and happy experience for it to work, so thank you, whatever your name was, heheh.

– So, Oliver Twist…

Fagin [( fay -gin)] A villain in the novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. The unscrupulous, miserly Fagin teaches Oliver Twist and other orphaned boys to pick pockets and steal for him

– His Reject is the child who isn’t good at anything, so bad that even Fagin rejected him. Better for me to be called something like that than anything to do with enlightenment, spirituality or wisdom as im neither enlightened, spritual or wise. Let’s say It’s the antithesis of calling myself anything too grand, because I know nothing and humility is important to me

– Fagin’s Reject 2008-2015 milestones and challenges, evolution in sound, main inspirations, muses along the way… The most memorable creation process, release so far?

– I’m currently working 6 days a week and that’s a big challenge when it comes to writing music, but I always find a way. My biggest milestone was to release my album Dirty Protest, also being signed to Wildthings and playing at big festivals were only distant dreams. The UK underground scene has been the biggest influence on me, but listening to Rock and Funk music are also very important in construction and mood in my music.

– How do you think Fagin’s Reject shapes psytrance, how would you like it to shape it?

– I’m trying to make psytrance more interesting for myself as I’ve been listening to it for so long. The fact that other people like it is a huge bonus. It would be great to influence other producers so there’s more psytrance that I’m interested by, for purely selfish reasons, of course!

– Psytrance scene next level? Where is it heading, where should it be heading in soundscapes? And where’s goa trance today?

– I want to see full energy dance floors, not too slow, not too fast! Just a decent stomping speed. Also more funk in darker styles and more risks being taken. You only get originality by taking risks and experimenting. Goa trance today is all about the headliners of the 90’s and early 2000’s, it kind of became full-on. Neo Goa is a thing that Goa fans are into now.

– Side projects, collaborations, experiments in progress or in the future? More psychedelic rock-propped bass funk infiltration?

– No collaborations yet but something is on the horizon, maybe after the summer. As for psychedelic rock-propped bass funk infiltration? I’m finally playing a funk dj set at a festival this year, under the name Funkin Reject, so free your mind and your ass will follow!

– Ozora past experiences, expectations for this year?

– Last year was my first Ozora so my experiences are limited, but my expectations are for it to be bigger, more people and some seriously sweaty nights

– New releases? Anything I have forgotten to ask you:)?

– My new EP Skullduggery will be out soon on Wildthings Records. I have a track coming out on Psynon Records at the beginning of June called Razed By Wolves. I have a track called Cosmic Relief coming out on the next MoDem VA. And I have a track called Old Red coming out on an EP put together by Robert Radioactive Cake. Expect no nonsense funky, dark and dirty psychedelic trance! Cheers