With multiple songs on Soundcloud hitting well over 1 million plays, 2 EPs, flips, and collaborations with artists like Alison Wonderland and Mr. Carmack, GANZ has gained a lot of attention both in and outside of the U.S. The 25 year-old Dutch producer, Jordy, is now adding record label owner to his title. The Hard Headed, a label founded by GANZ and his brother, is getting ready to release its first single, Cold Fire, on July 31. From there, he starts his second North American tour in less than a year and he’s hitting cities such as San Francisco, Miami and Denver. GANZ is also on the roster for some huge music festivals including Shambhala in Canada and Hard Summer in Los Angeles.

Although incredibly busy in Amsterdam and getting ready to start his touring, Jordy was kind enough to do an interview with me and discuss festivals and what its like to tour around the world.

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Steph: Your sound has progressed a lot over the years and Purple Cwtch sounds different than your latest EP, Dino War. What has inspired the change?

GANZ: After I made that EP, I made “Hyperparadise” which did a big thing for me with some kinda same vibes. I got bored of that sound because I also saw a lot of people were making same kinda vibes and they expected me to make more and more of such tracks. And that got me bored, so decided to grow in sounds and experimented a lot.

 

Steph: You’ve said in the past you do not like genres. So rather than classify your music to one genre, how would you describe the sound and style of your music? 

GANZ: I think it’s a bridge between hip hop and electronica. I don’t like to put my stuff in a box. I’d like to make music between those two genres and switch to more hip hop or electronic stuff whenever I want.

 

Steph: You’ve been in the scene for a while, but when did you first begin traveling outside the Netherlands for shows?

GANZ: I did a few shows outside the country during the drop of the Purple Cwtch EP, but since all the flips cam, I  got more busy and I started touring a lot.

 

Steph: Do you prefer playing festivals or small Shows? Why?

GANZ: Depends on what kinda vibes there are. Sometimes smaller venues with 700 people can be better when they know all your stuff than playing on a festival with 10,000 and nobody understands what you’re doing. But festivals with dedicated people can be as nice as those 700 in that smaller venue.

 

Steph: What has been your favorite festival to date and why?

GANZ: I think Down The Rabbit Hole here in the Netherlands. It was a show with a lot of new material and I invited a rapper on stage I did a collab with a bit ago. Everybody, including myself, were so super excited about it.

 

Steph: Tell me a little about your upcoming North America trip. What festivals are you playing and what cities are you hitting?

GANZ: I called the tour ‘Cold Fire’ after the release on my own label, ‘The Hard Headed”, which is what I run together with my brother. And the song drops on July 31st. It’s gonna be a new single with the Dutch female vocalist Gia Koka and the first release of the label. I’m playing Shambhala in Canada and Hard Summer as two festivals this US/CA tour which I’m super stoked for. But also playing a lot cool club shows with friends like Djemba Djemba, Carmada, etc.

 

Steph: What festival or city are you most looking forward to?

GANZ: Definitely looking forward to the two festivals because I heard a lot of it and really excited to play all the new material there. To be honest, I’m actually looking forward to play all the other gigs too. I’ve seen some cities already during the last tour but every time it can be different.

 

Steph: If you could could play any festival worldwide, what would it be and why? 

GANZ: I don’t really have a festival in mind I really want to play at but appreciate the fact that I get to opportunity to play somewhere with the stuff i do love to do the most.

 

Steph: When you travel for different festivals or tours, do you have time to explore the cities there? What is the most exciting city you’ve visited while on tour?

GANZ: I wish I could see a lot more. Sometimes I get a massive jet lag or I’m just too tired to explore cities. I’ve seen a bit of a few but when I go back I will definitely try to see more. Like San Francisco. I’ve been there less then a day last time and this time I’m there also less then a day so that’s probably not gonna work. I’d love it when I got some days off to just chill and hang around cities. 

 

Steph: What are the best parts about being an international producer/dj?

GANZ: You meet a lot of new crowds, people, and see a lot of cities which can be really inspiring. Also to accidentally find perfect combinations of tracks in sets…Seeing different places in the world I normally would never go to. What inspires me the most is when you play older or new stuff and people get really crazy about it.

Thanks Jordy for agreeing to interview with me, even in the midst of so much travel and lots of projects!

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