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Biography
Gillis choice of moniker appears odd, but at the time of him first venturing into the industry he found himself situated within the experimental music community and the name came about as a form of rebellion. The juxtaposition of the name implying a young pop girl band and the reality of Gillis not limiting himself to the confines of underground electronic music and instead shook up the conventions through his early sampling through the use of The Spice Girls and Jurassic Park which set him apart.
Before assuming the stage name in 2001, Gillis worked full time as a biomedical engineer which to some appears to be a far cry from his position as an artist but he cites similarities between the two in regards to the meticulous nature involved in engineering and applying it to his rhythm calculations.
In 2002 came the release of Girl Talk’s debut album “Secret Diary” through the sampling label Illegal Art. The album featured on the labels website and was on sale through the pay-what-you-want model. The album featured his distinctive and signature mash-ups as he played with the post-modern approach to making music.
It was the release of his third album “Night Ripper” in 2006 which led to his commercial breakthrough, highly praised by critics and fans alike. The album featured in many publication charts including number 22 position on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2006.
Not one to shy away from controversy, Gillis has been the subject to many a licensing and copyright debate about his use of unauthorised samples using up to as many as 150 per album. In turn, all of Gillis’ releases fall under the Creative Commons license which means fans are able to use his work for derivative purposes.
To support the release of his fifth album “All Day” in 2010 (another free release via the Illegal Art website) Gillis began his nationwide tour with two sold out shows in his hometown of Pittsburgh, US. As a mark of honour, the town officially declared 7 December 2010 as “Greg Gillis Day”.
So as you might have already guessed Girl Talk is unlike many electronic producers especially when it comes to a live setting. Inviting fans on stage makes the atmosphere more like a house party with the explosive and energetic performance providing a real sense of involvement from all aspects as he breaks genre coding, creating unique and exciting soundtracks to last a lifetime.
Live reviews
Going to a Girl Talk concert is like going to a concert with about a billion different artists performing.
Greg Gillis, the man behind the music, samples various pieces of already existing music and makes something altogether new and unique. The man is incredible to watch live. While most musicians that use laptops and turntables simply perform their music and never really engage their audience, Girl Talk does the complete opposite. While Gillis performs, he gets the audience pumped up, going so far as to join in on the antics of the crowd.
If you see a mosh pit, Gillis is sure to join in at some point. Sometimes, the stage set-up allows for the man to be surrounded by the audience for whom he is performing, making the entire event not only intimate, but a few degrees cooler. Because the music Girl Talk makes always has a fun beat, you can always expect to see people dancing around.
When going to a Girl Talk live show, you aren't just going to a concert. You are also going to a club and a house party. The whole event really is reminiscent of a college party. If Girl Talk is ever playing near you, it is an obligation to go. Whether you like dance music or not, it is definitely an experience you will never forget.
Gregg Michael Gillis known by the stage name Girl Talk is one of the most complex, genre hopping performers on the live circuit. He is known for his mashups and mixes and when performing live you get a sense that the artist has total freedom to play and do whatever he should please.
He has been touring relentlessly since his very first album 'Secret Diary' was released in 2002 and has gained something of a cult status on the live circuit. Fans flock to his shows due to the unpredictable nature of what they will hear and what they will see. Accompanied by a huge light show that makes the atmosphere even more surreal, the crowd cheers at the sight of the DJ and he begins his show with a mash up of M.I.A's 'Paper Planes' and Lorde's 'Royals'.
The audience instantly begins to dance under the hazy smoke and Gillis cheers them on throughout, remaining completely involved with the audience. This is one thing that makes the gig so entertaining, the actual performer's interaction with his fans means there is never a dip in the atmosphere.
sean-ward
