Off The Record returns with its semi-centennial mix from Dublin born, London residing guitarist, producer and DJ Glimmerman.
Real name Ethan Begley Hughes, Glimmerman has found himself as a producer following two paths as of late. Firstly his three large sounding 2-step 12″s on Dublin’s First Second Label as well being featured on EMA’s powerhouse Woozy imprint compilations. Or secondly finding him taking centre stage as the lead guitarist in his most recent venture: post-rock band Better Living. Listening to his latest release “Temple Sublet” it definitely feels like these two crossroads meet somewhere in the middle (not to mention the excellent track featuring London wordsmith Old Brother). Aside from all of that Hughes has been known to be a solid pair of hands behind the ones and twos having this year alone taken to Berlin’s Paloma as well as touching down in the usual London hotspots MOT, Avalon Cafe and Ormside projects. For this mix Glimmerman ventures into more techno inspired roots as well as letting rip with some guitar related influences while still showcasing his knowledge bassy and D&B sounds and of course all harmoniously mixed to perfection.
Hey Ethan, thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was?
This mix features a lot of what I’ve been playing at gigs over the summer, leaning heavily into techno—more than ever before. I’ve been exploring high-tempo, rhythmic tracks around 140 BPM and blending them with dubstep to keep things dynamic and unpredictable. I’ve also been really enjoying the Didgeridoo reissue, and it’s the 10th anniversary of Syro so I’ve bookended the mix with some Aphex for good measure!
Can you tell us a bit about how you usually approach recording a mix or a set?
It varies. For live sets, I tend to bat off the vibe of the room, but if it’s a big occasion, I might have a folder of fresh, more tailored tracks to dip into. I used to plan meticulously when it comes to radio, but lately, I’ve been treating mixes like live gigs, which adds a bit more energy to the process.
What are your preferred methods for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
I prefer crate digging but don’t always have the time, so I end up checking online stores like Phonica to see what’s new or reissued. That said, I definitely want to get back into physical digging, as I’m definitely trending to more towards older music these days.
What are five records you couldn’t live without 👀?
Loveless – My Bloody Valentine
A New Place to Drown – Archy Marshall
Dogrel – Fontaines DC
Still Slippin Vol.1 – Joy Orbsion
Glimmerman – Temple Sublet
What has been one of your most memorable sets over your career?
It’s hard to pick one, but some major highlights this year include Paloma Bar in Berlin with the FSL family, NAR in Utrecht with 030.radio (Seminal B2B with Sputnik One) and Midsummer Festival in Cork with ELLLL— all such open, welcoming crowd’s with great sound system’s and crew. What do you have up your sleeve for 2024? I recently released my record *Temple Sublet* on First Second Label, and I’ve really enjoyed the response. FSL is my favourite label to work with—it perfectly fits the sonic aesthetic of my music and has a great ethos for supporting younger artists and giving more off-kilter sounds a chance. I always look forward to seeing who they bring out next. As for new material I’ve been heavily influenced by guitar music the last few years and have been working on a new project, *Better Living*, a four-piece band exploring dark “shoegazey-techno” territories. We’ve had some great debut shows and are excited to release some tracks soon. After 10 years of working solo, collaborating with other musicians has been super refreshing. I believe the music scene in general could benefit from more collaborations beyond the usual B2Bs, it definitely sparks new ideas and keeps the energy up!
Thanks Ethan 🙂
