Cromby
DJ | Producer | Artist
If you haven’t listened to a set from Cromby, head over to his @crombypaints account and see if his artwork mirrors what you think he might sound like as a DJ and producer. Otherwise, if you know him already but have yet to discover his vibrant paintings, see if you think the two creative outlets are connected. You may also be tempted to buy one…
The Berlin-based DJ, producer and artist — in every sense of the word — is better known for his bouncy mixes and thumping tracks on Sulta Selects Silver Service, Feel My Bicep and Unknown To The Unknown, with more recent releases coming through on Rekids and his own imprint, Potency Records. Having helmed a six-year residency at Belfast’s beloved Shine space during the early days of his trajectory, Cromby is now a well-tuned selector with a record collection covering euphoric house to squelchy techno.
This year, Cromby is filling the festival-and-events void in his diary with residencies on Refuge Worldwide and HÖR Radio, as well as curating the next batch of releases on Potency. There’s more to come from the Belfast native but for now, Cromby shares a memory from 2019 and talks about life in Berlin, as well as showing an insight into his current art-studio set-up…
Tunnel booth 🖤 Photo: Eryn Niamh
Where was this photo taken and why did you choose it? What was the music vibe at the time?
This was taken at the Tunnel club in Hull. The reason I chose it is because it was a young group of promoters coming together from their university society and doing the gig for all the right reasons. Was refreshing to see! The vibe was pretty banging if I can remember rightly.
How have you been over the last while and what is life currently like in Berlin?
I’ve been good thank you, trying to keep busy with music and my new found love, painting. Berlin’s been strange, it’s weird to see the streets so empty. We’ve been in lockdown for so long now it’s just become kind of normal in a strange way.
Your latest release 'Twisted Future’ just came out via Radio Slave's Rekids imprint. Was the EP a product of lockdown over the last year?
It was made a few years back actually, I expected it originally to come out last summer. But I guess the pandemic put a hold on things for a while. That's not been a bad thing though, I’ve got so much new music since then that I’m excited to share what was made over that period.
You also launched your label ‘Potency Records’ in 2020 and judging by the artwork of the first release on the imprint, ‘Potency 001', by your good self, it looks like your label will be all about colourful, ravey releases. What's your vision for the label?
I have a lot of new music to share, the first 5 EPs are written and finished, all from me. The bold trippy art theme will continue also from my friend Chris Martin. I’m getting my first peek at the art for 002 this week and I’m really excited! I’m open to other artists releasing music also of course, so hit me with your demos!
Speaking of colours, you recently started an IG account @crombypaints, where you've been sharing and selling a range of your abstract creations. What's your thought process behind each painting? Does the colour palette reflect the mood you're in at the time?
Hmm good question, I think it does. But it's been more subliminal than meaningful. I’ve definitely tried not to think about the colours or process before diving in as it then becomes a bit more complicated, I prefer to try find a fluid state. Kind of similar to how I make music, I guess!
Back to the present moment. Tell us how the photo below is something that brings you happiness or comfort in your day-to-day life right now?
This is my little makeshift painting studio in my kitchen at the minute. I’ve kind of wrecked the place, there's paint everywhere haha. But there's something about splashing paint that brings some colour and joy into my life whilst Berlin has been so grey!
Kitchen studio 🎨 Photo: Cromby