Glitch Happens

From David Holmes to Boxcutter; Phil Kieran to Agnelli and Nelson – electronic music has always been well served in the North.

Portadown boy (but Liverpool resident) Gareth McAlinden looks set to become the newest recruit to a sparkling lineage. Melding experimental hip-hop, moody electronica and everything in-between, SertOne (the name Gareth operates under) is gaining a reputation (helped in no small way by his remixing work for the likes of Crystal Castles) as one of the most promising new artists around.
His debut EP, The View From Above is an abrasive and atmospheric introduction to his talents – made doubly interesting in this manor, by dint of its release on new Belfast label Melted Music.
We caught up with Gareth on a recent trip home to launch the EP.
 
HP: Growing up in Portadown, most of your contemporaries were buying guitars and joining bands. What led you into electronica?
GMcA: My grandfather could play any instrument you handed him, my sister is a classically trained harpist and pianist. I’ve always been surrounded by musical instruments and attribute a lot of my melodic tendencies to them. However, when it came time for me to pick up an instrument like a guitar, bass or drumkit, they didn’t do it for me. I’ve always been interested in technology and electronics, so DJing with all its sliders, knobs and flashing lights, instantly attracted me. Sometimes I regret not being classically trained, but I think in the genre of music I see myself in that could have hampered me rather than helped. It’s all about what sounds right to you, which aren’t always the correct notes in a particular chord or key. My electronic influences came in a roundabout way through hip hop. Acts such as Portishead and the whole ‘trip hop, Bristol-sound’ took the idea of sampling and started to introduce electronic elements. Another electronic influence on my music was the early dubstep sound from acts such as Kode9 and Burial, who took it right back to the basics of heavy drums, heavy thick bass and beautiful sonics.
In the past there has been a certain cringe factor with Irish hip-hop. Do you think that’s changing? Do you think you could have an important role to play in that change?
Us Irish have a different approach to accepting things. It’s much easier to come along and be seen as a novelty in hip-hop in Ireland because the majority of the general public don’t appreciate or take it very seriously at all. People find it hard to grasp the idea that people here can relate to stories, experiences, and the lifestyle portrayed within hip-hop. People like The Rubberbandits are helping the scene. While a comedy act, they are great MCs and have been in the Irish hip hop scene for a long time, and are opening doors for others to follow through. Other acts like Maverick Sabre are showing we can be the serious side of it and still sound amazing.
Tell us about Melted Music.
Melted Music is a new indie label based in Belfast, run by two Antrim guys, Matt Agnew and Jee4ce, the former being an all-round industry power house and the latter being one of Ireland’s best rappers, producers and promoters. They’re focused on showcasing the great electronica and hip-hop being made around them. All three of us have been involved in the music industry to some degree for a while now and using their extensive knowledge we have finally been able to create and promote music we love. My EP has been the debut release on the label, soon to be followed by Belfast rapper Sketch Nine and then a project by Jee4ce’s production alias Father Jack, and then, who knows? Considering other labels like Ninja Tunes and Stones Throw have been around for 10, 20 years now, the label is only a newborn finding its feet.
Your debut release – The View From Above – is nominally an EP, but it’s as long as some albums. Would you say it’s an accurate summation of what you’re all about?
I started with the idea of making an EP and got to five tracks and called it a day and sent it to the label. A few days later I finished a sixth track and a few hours later a seventh. I really had to stop myself from making more as it was a very creative time for me. That’s why I have released so many remixes recently, just to express myself. I could have easily made 12 tracks and called it an album. I wanted the EP to be my introduction, and wanted it to be brief and fleeting, so that people would be hungry for more. I don’t think the EP shows all my sides. It’s very laidback and chilled out, and my recent remixes for Crystal Castles and Nouveau Palais have been much more aggressive and in-your-face. Maybe the album will be a true reflection of what my sound is.
What are your plans for the future?
More music, more releases, hopefully more touring. Just more. I want to do as much as I can – remixes, collaborations, everything. I try not to do music for anyone but myself, so I may make 100 more tracks and you may only ever to get to hear a handful of them. But I’m gonna keep doing my best to get my music out there, however I choose to do it.
 
The View From Above is out now on Melted Music.