ids005: T – Polar

Gary Spence has been playing and releasing records as T-Polar for nearly eight years.
As part Belfast’s Ecker Crew, he has been responsible for some big nights and big names in the town over the last few years. Most recently he’s put tracks out on Digital Distortions, Whisla’s garage label L2S and ‘Crab people‘ will be featuring on Surgeon’s forthcoming fabric mix.

Can you tell us abit about yourself and how you got into the music and djing ?

I’ve always had a passion for music but got even more passionate when I started getting to hear electronic stuff in 1993. I’ve been seriously into it ever since, starting with The Orb and early Warp releases. Somehow felt like I might be able to construct my own version if I had the right tools.

You have been releasing music since 2002, Whats your set up been like over the years ?
Do you want to talk about some of your tracks and how has your music progressed ?

My set up doesn’t change much, I started with a 16 track sequencing synth then moved on to a PC based studio. Ive made music that could fit into various sub genres over the years, microhouse, minimal, hiphop, ambient, soul, garage, etc etc. I think it keeps things fun and interesting making different shapes and sizes of tracks and satisfies the need to be creative. I would never stick to one style religiously, I listen to a wide range of music so am influenced to make a wide range. The only common thread might be that its all a little bit leftfield or surreal sounding. I’ve just finished a soul electronics series which is quite different to the previous releases on Digital Distortions and L2S.

Ecker has just finished up in the Menagerie.
Can you tell us abit about the night for those Who don’t get to Belfast ?

We were running for nearly three years and built up quite a following in the city, Theres Terry Keeley (Bloom), Paul McCarthy (De-Twist), Paul Shiels and myself and we play in and around garage, house, 2step, techno, bassline. We managed to build up a great atmosphere and following with guests like Submerse, Brackles, Gemmy, Warlock and Cutlass Supreme and there was always a great party vibe to everything. A lot of the night Terry Paul and myself would finish with a back to back to back half hour which always seemed to add to the night.

Who would win in a fight ? A Dozen of partially blind marmosets brandishing crossbows Vs.
72 megabats who are being assisted by a Tibetan sand fox.
Note: the monkeys only have 50 arrows

The megabats i think. Depends on a lot of other factors though. One Honey Badger would probably do well against either.

Any plans for the rest of the Summer ?

I’m playing at !Kaboogie on 30th July, its a launch night for the Defiance ep featuring Kansas City Prophets and myself. Theres a few releases to come out and the Surgeon Fabric mix featuring a track I put out at the end of last year. Also Ill be remixing Mothboy for Acroplane and working with the Ecker guys on our next step.

Whats you favourite kind of cheese ?

Anything but Gouda.

ids005: T-Polar

Tolcha vs Soom T – Send dem kids to war (Eva Be Remix)
Crookerz ft Kid Cudi – Embrace the Martian (Seiji Booty Mix)
Gremino – Problem
Hot City – Another Girl
Baobinga & Cosmin TRG – I Get Ruff
Jackal Youth – Bruk
T-Polar – Ghosts of Eckerville
T-Polar – Meet Rico (Ecker Bump remix)
T-Polar – Smokey and the Bandit
Para – Future
L-Vis 1990 – Change the Game
T-Polar – Down in Dingely Dell
Tolcha vs Soom T – Send dem kids to war (white dress fuck up)
Milanese – So Malleable (Cold Remix)
Altered Natives – Phantom Skank
Submerse – 2RU Groove
Ms Dynamite – It Takes More (Zed Bias Vocal Mix)
Rooflight – Harlem Power
Mandelbrot – Nervous-delay