Gasz Mask takes on EDM
Dancehall deejay Gasz Mask aspires to be the first major dancehall artiste to explode in the world of EDM.
“Right now, people are really getting into the Gasz Mask thing. They love the look of the mask, my energy live onstage, and how I mix in the dancehall with the EDM, and give it a Jamaican flavour. Requests for shows are coming in from all over, especially China and Europe,” he said.
Born Trevor Spence, he lived in the Homestead community of Spanish Town and attended Spanish Town High before migrating to the US at age 15. After completing high school in New York, he got plugged into the hip hop and grunge scene.
“I got into the whole EDM scene and I began to listen to the early dub music of King Tubbys and Lee Scratch Perry, then I began to deejay on beats made by producers who were into EDM,” he said.
Gasz Mask eventually moved to live in California where he landed a recording contract with Beverly Hills Boys, an EDM-reggae-pop fusion company based in Los Angeles, and created by record producer Chris Goldfinga and his Golden Cartel label.
“I am doing a new kind of dancehall-EDM fusion created by Beverly Hills Boys. I was introduced to a member of the Beverly Hills Boys squad at the Coachella Music Festival two years ago, and I am now part of the crew, which includes a turntable DJ, and sound engineers, the whole thing,” he said.
Gasz Mask worked on Beverly Hills Boys’ breakthrough album, Electric Rasta. His vocals are on popular singles including: Bam Bam Slam, featuring Vybz Kartel; Drape Who?, featuring Vybz Kartel; and Ganja (Mota), featuring Vybz Kartel and the Grammy-winning Shabba Ranks. The album was produced by fellow Jamaican Chris Goldfinga.
He has continued to release singles, including Firing Squad and Happy P-Party, songs featuring Vybz Kartel.
In 2015, the EDM industry was estimated to be a £5.5 billion industry worldwide.The count included music sales, events revenue including nightclubs and festivals, the sale of DJ equipment and software, and other sources of revenue.
He believes that the modified gas mask he wears adds an air of mystery to his act.
“I feel more comfortable with the mask on, it adds an element of danger and mystery to the whole set,” he said.
“Right now, the EDM crowds ah love the Jamaican flavour we bring to the thing… Remember, dub music influenced EDM so ah really our thing, so mi just a bring it back to the roots,” he added.