Boom Merchant is a dynamic techno artist known for his dark and raw style which has been released by record labels ranging from T78’s Autektone Dark, to his own imprint Tribal Pulse. He was born in Ireland but spent many years living in Glasgow (Scotland). He has an international fanbase leading to gigs everywhere from Japan to Germany, and he recently relocated to Mexico. We caught up with Boom Merchant to learn more about his new EP titled The Takeback, and he told us about his musical background, plus forthcoming plans…
Hi Boom Merchant, it’s great to be talking with you today, can you start by running us through your background in music?
I’ve had an obsession with music that is either slamming or euphoric from a very young age, and I guess that developed into a career over the years. I always needed to find that next big track, and so I was rapidly assembling a record collection full of Detroit stuff, Balearic stuff, jungle and UK sounds. This naturally led to DJing, but also to an interest in who and what makes the music I love. From then, everything got dropped. All my money went on drum machines, and I started to play parties around Glasgow, then eventually started to release some tracks. Releasing music helped me start to get DJ bookings in different countries, and things have continued to grow from there.
Tell us about where you live, and how the local scene has influenced your own music?
I’ve actually just relocated to Mexico City, so ask me again in 6 months, and I’ll have a whole different perspective. I was born in Ireland, but spent most my adult life in Glasgow (Scotland), and that’s had more of an influence on my makeup as an artist than anywhere else. It’s where I saw a lot of the great DJs for the first time, where I first played at raves, where I put on my first parties, and where I launched my label. Glasgow has a harsh, post-industrial landscape where you have to work hard to make things happen, so I learned a lot there. But I was in Germany for a while pre-Covid, and that also massively affected how I do things. Everywhere I’ve lived has taught me something.
At what point in your life did you decide to become a DJ and start producing music?
I took the conscientious decision to have a crack at making this my career when I was 22 years old, but of course I’d been spinning tracks and experimenting with music production for at least a couple of years before that. From then on it’s been a mission to learn new things every day, being open to new ideas and techniques, while staying true to the vision of the sound I set out to create.
Talk us through your new release The Takeback, and what inspired the tracks?
“I think the theme here is dark energy. There’s a really nice funky, but intense feeling throughout, and the ingredients for each track are quite different. I think a lot of the general atmosphere is created from the grooves I made using my MPC sampler which triggers the drums. I also used my Elektron Heat distortion unit to rough up the sound and add a bit of grit. Apart from that, there are some vocals chopped up and sprinkled in different places, and I chose to sample lyrics that summarise the vibe of each track. I always spend a lot of time mixing and balancing the different parts so the tracks become one unique moving organism, and they have all been generating a big reaction on the dance floor as a result.
How are things going with your record label Tribal Pulse, as I understand that’s the imprint releasing The Takeback?
I think Tribal Pulse has been a story of hard work, excellent music, crazy parties, a tight family operating as a team, and that’s just how I aim to keep it. I’ve got a release schedule that really excites me for the remainder of the year, including some banging breaks on the way from Hockins. Also, music from iluna who is making big waves in the DJ world, and a whole new generation of Glasgow-based talent that I’ve been helping develop.
I spotted on your SoundCloud page that you recently posted a bootleg edit of DB Boulevard’s “Point of View,” and I wanted to ask what inspired you to rework that track?
My edit samples the Lange remix of the track, but I’ve added a load of new drums and other elements. That vocal, and in particular what Lange did by layering the euphoric chords underneath, was a very special moment in music for me when I first heard it many years ago. I needed something chunky and modern happening around that vocal so I could play it in my DJ sets. So, I used the Lange remix as a basis for inspiration, and put together a nice palette of sounds to compliment the vocal and his chords. I made sure my version had a thumping low end, and every time I’ve played it, the crowd response has been wild!
What other record labels have you worked with, and what’s coming up in your release schedule?
I’ve released music on a lot of great techno labels. I recently released my second EP on T78’s Autektone Dark, and I’ve got releases coming up soon on La La’s Brand New Records, then one on Sisko Elektrofantik’s Gain Records. I’ve also got loads of my own stuff coming out on Tribal Pulse over the next few months.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, is there anything you would like to add before we finish?
First of all, thanks for talking to me! I’m taking some time to build an excellent new studio here in Mexico, and the project has been massive, and it’s meant I’ve taken a short break from DJing. Although, I’ll be back playing again soon, and will soon be announcing some dates in Colombia, then I’ll be back to Europe in the Autumn. I’ve also got some things happening here in Mexico City, so stay tuned for further announcements.
