Ergon
We caught up with Ergon on how he DJing for a living has helped him become a better producer, his views on the original purpose of the creative act and some of the tools he uses when sitting down to craft a tune.
From the vibrant scene of Greece, with an illustrious career spanning over 25 years. Ergon has become a synonym for unforgettable musical journeys, blending genres and generations with his dynamic sets filled with his signature beats and timeless classics.releasing music since 2017, playing at bars and parties...enjoying his life in all good ways. His sound production and performances touch on the realms of deep, techy and seductive vocals, infused with disco and a lot of funk & soul sounds
If you could go back in time and give guidance to your younger self, what would you say that would impact your career the most?
If I could go back in time and give guidance to myself concerning music production wouldn’t be much, I would have started making music way earlier…
For my DJ career is a different story though I would definitely not stay in places that I wasn’t appreciated and picked some of my partners more carefully.
How is making a living from music affecting your creative output? Do you feel as free as when you started?
Making a living out of making music is not the goal but it’s not easy as well.
DJing is how I have supported myself financially for at least the last 20 of the 30+ years in total. I chose to do it professionally and to not have a day job.
(to make money) the way I see it is you have to be a prolific producer and constantly making tracks with a risk of repeating yourself or make a good deal with a well known label.
How do you feel about music producers having to DJ in order to bring in an income? What would you need to be fully dedicated to music production? Do you think it’s still possible to make a living strictly from production?
Having to DJ is essential for my income and in some sense helps you be a better producer by understanding the audience in a much better way. Although dedication to your craft is essential I personally don’t think it is possible to have a steady income solely making music .
Gate keeping is one of the main obstacles for up and coming artists. Promoters book the same dj’s over and over, and labels are more receptive to established names, making it hard for lesser known artists to get a chance to shine. How long did it take you to breakthrough and what strategies would you recommend for up and coming producers?
Unfortunately that is very true since we call it “the music industry " you can understand that everything is about profit , which is fine. I get it. But it loses its original purpose… the whole electronic scene is based on new things, your music, new DJs bringing something fresh and different to the scene.
It’s been a huge transformation of the dance music scene into a corporate-driven industry that shifts its character and values and the transformation of DJ culture into a brand-driven “social media-first” experience.
When producing, are you more in the box or do you use Outboard too? Could you share with us a single unit or tool that is a true game changer for you, and why?
I work mostly in the box although I have some hardware in my studio… one of my first pieces of gear I bought is the Roland JD-Xi. The reason I bought this unit is to get my hands on hardware, its a machine that you can use to produce an entire track with. It was an easy way to learn and understand how synths and synthesis works.