MICHAEL GRAY: “I JUST PUT OUT THE MUSIC THAT’S INSIDE ME.”

We caught up with house music legend Michael Gray ahead of his first-ever Zagreb show at Dobar House, talking about Full Intention, Glitterbox, the enduring legacy of “The Weekend”, staying true to his sound, and what keeps him making house music after decades in the game.

 

You’ve been part of the house music scene for several decades, from your early work with Full Intention to your solo career today. When you look back at that journey, what do you think has kept you connected to house music for so long?

MICHAEL GRAY: I have always been passionate about music from a very young age. Growing up with 4 older sisters and listening to the music they played. Then starting my school discos at the age of 12. I’ve always tried to stay in my lane and produce the music that I love. I think that when people try to follow the trends and they go down an avenue that doesn’t fulfil their soul, that’s when they start to lose the connection.

You were one half of Full Intention, a project that became hugely influential in house music. Looking back, what do you think Full Intention gave you as an artist that you might not have developed working alone?

MICHAEL GRAY: Working with Jon Pearn as Full Intention was a great experience and learning curve for both of us. We worked well as a team and learnt from each other. It was also easy working together. We both really appreciated a good bass line and loved working on songs, whether writing or remixing.

Full Intention’s remixes became almost as iconic as some of the original records themselves. What was the secret behind making a Full Intention remix immediately recognizable while still respecting the original track?

MICHAEL GRAY: We always tried to keep the integrity of the song when remixing. Always thinking of the dance floor first before radio play. When arranging, I would like to tease the chorus vocal for some time as if it was a Dub, then hit people about 2 minutes later with the full song. This worked well when trying to get DJs who didn’t really like to play vocals sucked into the intro groove, then we got them!

You’ve become closely associated with the Glitterbox sound and have released music on the label as well as played their parties. What is it about the Glitterbox philosophy that connects so naturally with the music you make?

MICHAEL GRAY: The Glitterbox philosophy is about inclusivity and freedom of expression. I love that I can play anything I want to at a Glitterbox event, and I will have a knowledgeable crowd in front of me who are up for something new. I’m all for playing some classics now and then and a bit of nostalgia, but if we don’t play the new music, we don’t move the scene forward. So I love that I can play all my new tunes at Glitterbox and still drop some Full Intention classics too. I also love the carefree and friendly crowds where everyone feels welcomed.

“The Weekend” has now existed for more than 20 years and somehow still works on a dance floor with people who weren’t even born when it came out. When you play it today, do you hear it differently from when you first made it — and is there anything about the track that still surprises you?

MICHAEL GRAY: I actually went through a period where I got sick of “The Weekend” and I stopped playing it in my sets. I’ve found a newfound love for it and I’ve started playing it again in some of my sets, especially if I play a new venue for the first time. I’m now incredibly proud of it.

There are very few house tracks that have genuinely crossed generations the way “The Weekend” has. Why do you think that particular record has had such a long life?

MICHAEL GRAY: That’s a hard one to answer. All I can say is that when I started making records, I always wanted to make a record that might get played 10 years later... luckily that has become over 20 years later!

How much of the Michael Gray we know today was already there during the Full Intention years, and how much did you discover about yourself as a producer after going solo?

MICHAEL GRAY: It was the same back then, as I still produce in the same way as I did then, apart from now the equipment is so much better. I love writing and producing and remixing songs for the dance floor. It’s a big part of who I am and I don’t think I will ever retire from it. I realise that when I take a break away from the studio I don’t feel as fulfilled. I also realise how driven I am and that I always had great ideas for Full Intention and took comfort in working with Jon to expand them. However, I still have all of the ideas and the ability to expand them on my own. That’s given me a newfound confidence, and, if anything, it’s given me more freedom to work as a solo artist, and I’ve been able to take my music in more directions. “The Weekend” was only the second track I made as a solo artist, so that in itself was a huge boost to me! I still value the days of working with Jon as part of Full Intention, and I am proud of everything we achieved together.

You were named Traxsource’s #1 artist for 2024. At a time when the way people discover and consume music has changed so much, what does that kind of recognition from the house-music community mean to you?

MICHAEL GRAY: Any award means a lot. To receive recognition for the music I have produced is, for me, the highest accolade. I definitely don’t take success for granted. I just put out the music that’s inside me. I constantly hear melody lines in my head and come up with ideas and have to get them down onto a track.

Your music has always had a strong connection to disco, soul and classic house, but your recent work still feels contemporary. How do you balance staying true to your sound without simply trying to recreate the past?

MICHAEL GRAY: I guess I’m very passionate about coming up with new ideas. I still get a buzz producing uplifting tracks but keeping it cool enough at the same time so it doesn’t become cheesy.

You’ve released several solo albums, with You & Me following Optimism. What does an album allow you to express that you can’t necessarily communicate through individual singles?

MICHAEL GRAY: With an album, I can produce a wider range of tracks than I can when simply producing for the dance floor and my DJ sets. It allows me to bring out my more soulful side like “I Like the Way” right through to a heavier side for me, like “Universe”, which both featured on my most recent album, “You & Me”.

You’ve played in Croatia before, but this is your first time playing in Zagreb. What has your experience of the Croatian crowd been like so far, and are there any differences you notice between playing here and elsewhere?

MICHAEL GRAY: I played in Croatia last year for Glitterbox at the Defected Festival on both a boat party and the main stage. It was a great event, and the crowd was fantastic. I’ve never been to Zagreb before, but my fiancée, Mel, has, and she tells me it has a great atmosphere and feel about it. If it’s anything like the crowds I’ve experienced in Croatia before, I’m incredibly excited.

You’ve been making and playing house music for decades, but you’re still releasing new music, touring and reaching new audiences. What keeps you excited about the scene after all these years?

MICHAEL GRAY: When you make music like I do, you do it to entertain people and make them dance. As long as I can keep doing that and people have a passion for the music that I make, I don’t think I’ll ever give up.

A message for your fans in Zagreb?

MICHAEL GRAY: Can’t wait to play for you! Expect House & Disco, some Full Intention as well as tracks from my last three albums, including “The Weekend”.

Tickets are available at Entrio.hr