| TG:
Tell us about your history within the Toronto club scene.
Todd: It all started some time back in
1992. I was taken on a tour of TO clubs by a couple of friends, and wound up at
Catch-22. The first track I heard was "James Brown is Dead" being
spun by Craig Beezack. Over the years I regularly drank brain cells away at
places like The Abyss, Catch, Club Time, Klub Maxx, Savage Garden, and of
course, Sanctuary.
TG: What's your fondest
Sanctuary memory?
Todd: My fondest memory really is the whole
thing. It was a large part of my life for what seems like an eternity. I met so
many amazing people, met my first wife, played and listened to so many amazing
tracks. I wouldn't trade it for anything. That being said, the most bizarre
night ever was a Saturday during one of the bike courier conventions. Imagine
75+ bike couriers showing up buck naked. Not to mention the fact you almost
couldn't see the front of the club for all the bikes.
TG: How did you feel
about it closing?
Todd: Sanctuary's time was done. I mean, I
was sad to see it go, but it had been spiralling downwards for about a year
beforehand. Without airing any dirty laundry, I think a lot of mistakes were
made from a management perspective, and at the end nothing short of an act of
god could have saved it. You can get a damn good cappuccino there now
though.
TG: Didn't you retire a
long time ago?
Todd: Sigh. yes. But much like a heroin
addict, you keep getting drawn back. I initially "retired" in 1999 in
an attempt to save my marriage at the time. Unfortunately, that didn't exactly
work out, so I went back a few months later after the separation. When
Sanctuary closed in the summer of 2001, I swore off ever doing a regular club
night, as it does tend to drag you down. People don't think much about how much
hard work is put into a good night. Now I'm winding down even the sporadic
appearances, as I find myself wanting to be on the "customer" side of
the DJ booth. I've had my fun, now lets see what other people can do to
entertain *me* for a change.
TG: What events have you
dj'd at recently?
Todd: I've done the side room at a couple
of Dark Raves, and headlined a Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia. I'll be
headlining the Saturday night in Montreal at Convergence 8 in a few weeks, as
well as my final gig ever (seriously this time!) on the first night at Synthpop
Goes The World. That night in particular should be... Interesting.
TG: Help out the
legions of DJ Todd stalkers. What clubs/nights/events do you go to and what's
your favourite drink?
Todd: I tend to hang out at Savage Garden
these days. It's like a cleaner, smaller, Sanctuary. It's not the same, but I
certainly enjoy myself there. I also like going to the Dark Raves occasionally,
mostly to talk with Phink, my mortal enemy. My favourite drink has changed a
number of times, but I've settled on Green Rev's for now. Basically anything
with Vodka.
TG: How do you feel
about the current state of the scene in Toronto? Complaints, kudos, thoughts,
improvements etc..
Todd: The scene sure has shrunk over the
past 8 years or so. Used to be you had several choices on a Saturday night, and
they were all packed. My only complaint is that the music is a little same-ish
from place to place. Overall, I think the Dark Raves are well organised, and a
nice change of pace from time to time. The trance does tend to get monotonous
unless I've been seriously imbibing. It's hard for me to really complain,
criticize, or even complement anything. These days I go out to talk with my
friends and the club/rave is merely the background.
TG: Synthetic
Audio:
TG: What is it?
Todd: Real Synthetic Audio (RSA) is a
net-radio show that I've been doing for the past 4 and a half years. It mainly
showcases new music from whatever EBM/Synthpop/etc. cds I've picked up
recently.
TG: Why do you do
it?
Todd: There is a lot of stuff you just
can't play in a club environment, mostly because people are generally
un-receptive to new stuff. This was a way for me to play the things that I
wanted to without fear of clearing a dance floor. These days, it's also my one
last claim to fame. Gotta be famous for something...
TG: Why should people
listen?
Todd: Try something new. Sure beats
listening to commercial radio when you're at work. Besides, I generally act
like a goof and mispronounce words left right and centre. You should hear me
mangle German song titles.
TG: How can your
listeners show their support?
Todd: Just by listening for one thing. It's
incredibly gratifying to know that so many people enjoy RSA. That's really the
reason I do it.
TG: How do you select
what songs you play?
Todd: It's fairly random, really. Depends
on what is sent to me by labels (not a lot these days) what I've bought over
the past little while, what friends lend me to listen to, and what other gems
spring to mind. I also get a fair number of demos from unsigned acts, and I try
and play as many as I possibly can.
TG: Name your current
top 5 bands, and tell us why you listen to them.
Todd: SPOCK - They've always been one of my
favourite bands. Quirky, fun, and a real catchy pop sensibility. They're also
some of the nicest people on the face of the earth. Or, from out of this world.
Take your pick.
Assemblage 23 - I'm proud to say that Tom is a good friend of mine, and I've
supported him in any way I could since we first crossed paths back in '96. With
each thing he does, I'm more and more amazed. Plus he has a really comfortable
couch. It just sucks you in and forces you to sleep.
Girls Under Glass - Their latest disc is absolutely unreal. Pseudo coldwave,
with a smattering of straight up electro and EBM, I can't get this one out of
my CD player.
Negative Format - Just enough Industrial feel thrown into some hard dark
trance. Alex can do no wrong in my books, unless of course he drops the vocals
and the futuristic feel to his music.
Seabound - My reasons are personal, but they wrote the right song at the right
time.
TG: What's your
involvement with Convergence 8 in Montreal (May 31 - June 2) and how did you
get on the bill?
Todd: I was asked by the organizers back at
the beginning of the year. I'm doing it for free booze as a favour for friends.
Also, given the chance to torment goths with Synthpop-ish stuff is far too good
to resist.
TG: Are you expecting a
large Toronto crowd to converge (haha) on Montreal for it?
I really have no idea what to expect. I hope to
see some familiar faces there, other than the few yanks that I'm looking
forward to seeing again.
TG: DJ Lazarus has
recently announced that you'll be the Friday night DJ at Synthpop Goes the
World (June 28-30) at Palais Royale. What can we expect from you that
night?
Todd: Expect the unexpected. I have a
captive audience until 3am, and I plan on exposing as much good Synthpop as I
can. I also plan to throw in a good "good-bye" track as well. I'm
still roughing out what I plan on doing.
TG: Give me the top 5
reasons why DJ Todd sucks.
Todd: Only 5 reasons? I'm sure that many
people out there could think of far more than 5.
TG: Anything else you'd
like to add?
Todd: Yeah, I'd like to thank DJ Live Evil
(Sean) for giving me the opportunity to sink or swim on this whole thing. The
people who came out week after week to the Sanctuary, and the people who listen
to RSA. Without you and the friends I've met along the way I'm sure I would
have quit a long time ago.
TG: Thanks Todd
!
Todd: Sure. Now where's my money for doing
this? :)
interview by dementia
[May 2002]
relevant links;
www.synthetic.org
- Real Synthetic Audio
www.synthpopgoestheworld.com - June 28-30
altgothic.com/c8montreal - May 31- June 2
Wolf writes: Todd's for
sure one of the nicest people I've ever "met" on internet. And the
music he plays on Real Synthetic Audio is (mostly) really fine, even if you
don't know the artist at first time. (August 6 2002)
Nate writes: RSA has introduced me to so much good music, it's amazing.
It has been my #1 source for new music. I appreciate the interview and knowing
more about the freak we all love! (June 3 2002)
DJ Phink writes: Hey where are
the % reasons that Dj Todd sucks? Do you need a little help from your mortal
enemy to start you off. #5 You can't hold your booze. #4 your name isn't Greg.
There is a start for you. Hahahahahahahaha. Good interview I think I may make
the hike to Montreal to hear you spin. Only if I don't have to pay to get in
though,wink,wink,nudge,nudge (May 15 2002)
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