Thursday evening at the Blue Marlin. People are lounging around on smart couches, sipping champagne or mojitos and gazing out to sea. And providing the obligatory chill sounds are Goldfish. This highly-rated band is headed up by David Poole and Dominic Peters, both of whom trained as jazz musicians. And they are a truly exceptional duo who blend classical instrumental with electronic to create their own unique afro-jazz-house style based on sax, flute, double bass and keyboard – all performed live.
Goldfish
You trained as jazz musicians. So how come you made the switch to electronic music?
Hardly anyone listens to jazz any more. When we were still playing classic jazz, very few of our friends came to our gigs. When you’re young, you just want to have fun. And for young people, rock groups simply have more allure than jazz bands. Kruder and Dorfmeister were amongst the first to underpin jazz with electronic beats, and when we heard them for the first time, it was like WOW! Mixing jazz with electronic is like mixing vodka with champagne (laughter).
How did you make the breakthrough with your new style?
We shut ourselves away in our student pad one day. It was Dave’s bedroom where we self-recorded our first track. A friend of ours took it to a house party. Afterwards, she told us that the people there flipped out when they heard it. That’s how it all began.
Hardly anyone listens to jazz any more. When we were still playing classic jazz, very few of our friends came to our gigs. When you’re young, you just want to have fun. And for young people, rock groups simply have more allure than jazz bands. Kruder and Dorfmeister were amongst the first to underpin jazz with electronic beats, and when we heard them for the first time, it was like WOW! Mixing jazz with electronic is like mixing vodka with champagne (laughter).
How did you make the breakthrough with your new style?
We shut ourselves away in our student pad one day. It was Dave’s bedroom where we self-recorded our first track. A friend of ours took it to a house party. Afterwards, she told us that the people there flipped out when they heard it. That’s how it all began.
Goldfish in Blue Marlin Ibiza
What happened next?
In the beginning, we played relaxed chill stuff – sort of à la Cafe del Mar. But that doesn’t really work for parties. Then we discovered house music. House and jazz go well together. They have a similar tempo and build-up. On the other hand, we were always frustrated by purely electronic music because we felt it was too mechanical. But when you put it together with the saxophone and all the other instruments that we play, that really brings the music to life. Pure electronic is like it’s been generated by robots. We aim to give the whole thing a human touch – more personality.
Do you improvise a lot when you’re performing live or is there a set programme?
Not at all. Obviously we always improvise on a spontaneous basis. If we played the same thing every time, we would get sooo bored. Often, we turn an old song into a new song. We make some minor adjustment, look at what we’ve done and then say to ourselves: “Oh, that’s so much cooler...”
In the beginning, we played relaxed chill stuff – sort of à la Cafe del Mar. But that doesn’t really work for parties. Then we discovered house music. House and jazz go well together. They have a similar tempo and build-up. On the other hand, we were always frustrated by purely electronic music because we felt it was too mechanical. But when you put it together with the saxophone and all the other instruments that we play, that really brings the music to life. Pure electronic is like it’s been generated by robots. We aim to give the whole thing a human touch – more personality.
Do you improvise a lot when you’re performing live or is there a set programme?
Not at all. Obviously we always improvise on a spontaneous basis. If we played the same thing every time, we would get sooo bored. Often, we turn an old song into a new song. We make some minor adjustment, look at what we’ve done and then say to ourselves: “Oh, that’s so much cooler...”
Goldfish
It’s often been said that your music has a lot of African influences. How does this show through?
We think that’s something of a cliché. Not all of our music has this sound. What influences us most is probably the country we are living in and the environment in which we were brought up. The most important thing about our music is that it should express a sense of optimism. South Africa has emerged from a terrible period in its history. We are part of a new, younger generation. Most of our generation was born after Nelson Mandela was released from prison. That was the start of a new era. The football World Cup was a big success and that’s made a positive contribution. But South Africa is still lacking in self-confidence. People there – especially many of the artists – don’t have enough self-belief.
Where are you performing here in Ibiza?
Apart from a few private parties, we’re mainly appearing at the Blue Marlin and at Pachá
We think that’s something of a cliché. Not all of our music has this sound. What influences us most is probably the country we are living in and the environment in which we were brought up. The most important thing about our music is that it should express a sense of optimism. South Africa has emerged from a terrible period in its history. We are part of a new, younger generation. Most of our generation was born after Nelson Mandela was released from prison. That was the start of a new era. The football World Cup was a big success and that’s made a positive contribution. But South Africa is still lacking in self-confidence. People there – especially many of the artists – don’t have enough self-belief.
Where are you performing here in Ibiza?
Apart from a few private parties, we’re mainly appearing at the Blue Marlin and at Pachá
Goldfish
Is there a difference between doing a gig at one of the clubs and performing on the beach?
Oh yes! Pachá is very nice with its VIP lounge. They give you a table for your friends and so on. But the people there are more reserved. What we like about the Blue Marlin is that we play there during the daytime, the people are more relaxed, the kids can play around to their heart’s content and the public turn up in shorts and flip-flops. We also get into interesting conversations with them.
Is there a big difference between Ibiza and South Africa?
Not really. We have the good fortune to be here in Ibiza during the northern summer. And when you’re having winter here, it’s summer for us in South Africa. That’s why we get through such quantities of sun blocker (laughter). Seriously though, Ibiza is unique. Where else in the world would you find so many new things on offer each day to watch and to listen to? We feel inspired and it makes us very happy.
What other events have you got planned?
Well, Ibiza is our base for everything we do here in Europe. In the near future, we’ll be touring Holland, France, the UK and probably Germany as well. You can find out more by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GOLDFISHLIVE. But we have one very special event on the horizon:
Oh yes! Pachá is very nice with its VIP lounge. They give you a table for your friends and so on. But the people there are more reserved. What we like about the Blue Marlin is that we play there during the daytime, the people are more relaxed, the kids can play around to their heart’s content and the public turn up in shorts and flip-flops. We also get into interesting conversations with them.
Is there a big difference between Ibiza and South Africa?
Not really. We have the good fortune to be here in Ibiza during the northern summer. And when you’re having winter here, it’s summer for us in South Africa. That’s why we get through such quantities of sun blocker (laughter). Seriously though, Ibiza is unique. Where else in the world would you find so many new things on offer each day to watch and to listen to? We feel inspired and it makes us very happy.
What other events have you got planned?
Well, Ibiza is our base for everything we do here in Europe. In the near future, we’ll be touring Holland, France, the UK and probably Germany as well. You can find out more by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GOLDFISHLIVE. But we have one very special event on the horizon:
IBIZA STYLE PRESENTS GOLDFISH. This will take place on 25th August on the rooftop terrace of THE GEE, above the Casino. It’s going to be an unforgettable ‘Full Moon’ party.
© 2012 PITIUSA MEDIA GROUP S.L.U.
