Girl Talk interview

Gregg Gillis is the man behind the craze. Girl Talk is his on stage ego, and what an ego it is. Renowned for cramming all of our favourite hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s into 3 minute mash-ups, it is safe to say he is one of the leading artists in the world ruining our childhood music. After releasing a brand new album, Feed The Animals, he was able to chat with us about being naked, fantasy football, and tips on how to get him into the sack.


Patrick Collins: Why do you get naked, or nearly naked, on stage rather than just wearing more breathable clothing?
Girl Talk: (laughs) I think it changes for the shows, I mean back in the day I used to take off my clothes almost as a way to physically display the energy I wanted. I would play these underground shows and just take things off to loosen the other people up. And anymore, the shows evolved to where they're mostly parties and people know the vibe. Now I try to keep my clothes on, and just let other people take theirs off. I have a little bit of a reputation and stuff, but if I see other people getting naked then I feel like a chump.

PC: What types of copyright issues do you run into? It seems like there would be quite a few.
GT: I have actually had no issues yet. There is a doctrine in the United States copyright law called ‘Fair Use' and we believe that my work should fall under that category. Thusfar we have not been challenged though.

PC: Do you ever have a fantasy football dream of people you mash up performing together?
GT: (laughs) That would be good. For me, part of the appeal of making it and getting into it was that fantasy of like having action figures of everyone and making them hang out. Yeah I would love for someone to have a couple of these artists actually play together. I mean, there are so many different worlds of music, I would love to see people come together and just communicate like that.

PC: Why do you think that people caught on with your 3rd album (Night Ripper) instead of your first? I felt like the idea was as solid the whole way through.
GT: I think there were a few factors. I think the third album was a bit more accessible, but the big thing was the timing of it. Ya know, people had warmed up and gotten sort of used to the idea of mashups and that sound. Just hearing that amount of samples in one cohesive work that was still kind of challenging but still danceable and a party album just hit the spot for people and what they wanted out of sample based music.

PC: I have a friend back in Colorado who wanted to make out with you after you were performing there. She never heard back to her flirtatious myspace message, how else would a fan get to make out with you?
GT: (laughs) I have to call BS on that. I mean, I usually get back to all of my myspace messages. But I can't imagine not responding back in some way. I mean, the next level would be like stalking me and finding out where I live.

PC: Oh okay, well we will recommend that.
GT: Just appear in my room. No words, wear some camo, maybe have a knife on you, you know.

PC: What camo would work best for your room?
GT: Oh just the normal, I have a camouflage bedset and everything.

By Patrick Collins

Release: Tour

To Cure: An empty dancefloor

Keywords: Girl Talk, Laneway Festival, DJs