Similar to other good House musicians, information on Gregori Klosman is difficult to find. His biographies are short or non-existent, and most of his online presence consists only of track lists and downloads, not that we’re complaining. Klosman is a man of mystery, but one who makes damn good beats that appeal to the masses, and it turns out, there is an actual human behind all of that talent. One who texts his girlfriend and likes Michael Jackson, just like the rest of us.
Klosman is Parisian by birth, so he takes a good chunk of his influence from the French house scene of the 90’s. That era, featuring Daft Punk’s Homework, Cassius and a plethora of other artists, has been referred to by a variety of terms, but Klosman’s preferred descriptor is “French touch.”
“The FRENCH TOUCH scene is a pretty legit influence. Going out to Parisian clubs was a good way to learn this culture. It's a great feeling to have a great legacy when producing music.”
A great legacy may be an understatement. Klosman certainly has years of experience and mastered music to draw from in making his own mark on the music industry. In fact, he’s paved quite a way for himself, so much so that even he didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of his career until it had reached relatively massive proportions.
“It just happened. One day you are in your bedroom, the other you are in front of 50,000 people and what happened in between is unreal.”
It may be that sense of surprise and wonderment that helps Klosman in maintaining dedication to his fans, whether he’s in the booth or behind the decks. In fact, that commitment to keeping his audience happy helps Klosman’s music as well, bleeding over into his work on albums and remixes.
“Playing a DJ set is a big influence on producing music. As a DJ my goal is to make people dance and enjoy their night. So I'm using that experience behind the decks to [elaborate] music that fits my standards.”
This purity of influence and enthusiasm for the true music experience doesn’t stop at his own expression of talent. As a producer and record label owner, Klosman has a significant influence on up and coming musicians and their delivery to the music industry. Similar to the way he focuses on his fans when spinning, Klosman aims to keep the emphasis on music within his label. Essentially, he’s not looking to just make money. He’s looking to enhance the world’s music collection with real, quality products.
“I need to find honesty/creativity in their music. It's important to shed the light on the new talent who are trying to push boundaries of music, and not just follow what is bankable.”
Klosman owes this mindset to his own growing experience as a DJ and the memory of what it’s like to come from small means to an empire. Oh, and he’s careful not to let producers rule it all, even though he is one.
“Some of them remind me [of me] when I started my career. I also try (as much as possible) to sign real DJs, not only producers.”
No doubt the fans at his GURU shows are grateful for this caveat.
He may have started in his bedroom, but over the past few years, Klosman has performed for significantly larger audiences and worked on music for some of the biggest names in music. He’s quick to clarify that he’s never worked with some of them, but he has added his own touch, at their requests, to the likes of Ne-Yo, Lady Gaga and more. Not surprisingly, the artist he most admires musically is one we can all identify with.
“Michael Jackson, without any hesitation. Do I really need to tell you why? He had the best grooves, the best melodies.”
He may never get to work with Jackson, but Klosman’s crowds are no small feat. He’s played the likes of TomorrowWorld, Tomorrowland, Governor’s Island, and the list goes on. Refreshingly, what he takes from such enormous festivals is the energy of the music and of the people.
“Tomorrowland is a highlight! The emphasis people have, and the energy driven there is beyond imagination. All those flags from different countries also prove that House music / Electronic music is a great way to gather people, whether its unity is the music itself or the will of a World at peace.”
It’s clear Klosman thoroughly enjoys his time and experience at these main events, but he has no intention of stopping there. For the upcoming year, his goals seem centered on branching out and opening new doors, both personally and with his career.
“I'm producing a lot of new music at the moment, and it's out of my comfort zone. More GURU shows obviously. I also have other side projects apart from music. And I'm going to run the Marathon.”
Hopefully all the hotels near his shows and the marathon have minibars, because,
"Who doesn’t need one in his hotel room?"
Keep up with Gregori Klosman on his website, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. You can support his latest release HERE!
Shanna Gibbs writes stuff, watches Netflix and dreams about her triumphant return to New York. And she's on Twitter: @BananaintheCity.