Dominating the Dutch club scene for over a decade, Netherlands native Gregor Salto has become a household name amongst dance music lovers all across the world. Having mastered his distinct and versatile sound over the years, Gregor emanates a truly global and exciting blend that fuses elements of soul, Latin-funk and African-grooves laid over a solid base of house and electro four-to-the-floor. Headlining some of the most revered festivals and clubs around, Gregor has spun at the likes of Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, Ultra Music Festival Miami, Pacha NYC, Privilege Ibiza and countless performances in his homeland, the Netherlands.
At the young age of 14, Gregor fell in love with house music at a high school dance when he heard Royal House’s classic ‘Can You Party’. “It was so different to anything else I’d heard before”, he recalls, and it was there and then that he became determined to produce his own music. After a few years experimenting on his father’s Commodore Amiga computer, he made his record debut at 18 years old with ‘Pangaea’ on a sub-label of Amsterdam’s legendary Outland Records. Finding inspiration from musical movements in the United States and France, Gregor experimented with African beats, Soulful House, and elements of Disco. In 2001, he founded his own label G-Rex Music, a part of Dadadam Records, as a way of sourcing and releasing the finest fusion house music to the masses. After a decade of hard work, his big break came in 2004 when his track ‘Can’t Stop Playing’ with Dr Kucho! rocketed up to the Dutch Top 40, and remained there for two months. Fast forward to 2015, and ‘Can’t Stop Playing’ is still making colossal waves in the world of dance music after receiving a new-age makeover from Oliver Heldens and Salto himself. Since its release in August 2014, the track has been Shazamed over 570,000 times and it peaked at #4 in the UK Singles Charts.
Investing hours on end in the studio, Gregor has built up an extensive back catalogue of stellar releases. Teaming up with some of the biggest names in the electronic music game, he has collaborated with the likes of Afrojack, Chocolate Puma, Chuckie, Laidback Luke, Wiwek and Fat Boy Slim. In 2012, his track ‘Echa Pa’lla’ with Pitbull lead to a Grammy nomination, and won him a coveted ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) Award. Not only is he praised for his masterful originals; he is renowned for his adept remixing ability. Seamlessly bridging the gap between pop and house music, he has crafted official remixes for A-List artists including Rihanna, JLO, Rita Ora, Mariah Carey, Skunk Anansie, Ariana Grande, T-Pain & Iggy Azalea. Delivering his monthly Salto Sounds podcast since 2012, Gregor stays true to his innovative style, emitting an hour long sensual blend of traditional house with a deep tropical flare, available for free download via his SoundCloud.
With tour dates scheduled at an array of venues scattered all around the globe, and with a slew of original productions and collaborations set for release on Spinnin’ Records and Dadadam over the upcoming months, Gregor is all geared up to make 2015 one of his most productive years to date. A true veteran of the house music scene, he has demonstrated that his style is timeless, so stay tuned for the energetic sounds of Gregor Salto!
Hi Gregor, tell us about you?
I’m Gregor and I like music!
When did you start DJing?
18 years ago more or less.
When were you first introduced to Electronic Music?
At a high school party when I heard ‘Can You Party’ by Royal House (Todd Terry)
What advice do you live by?
Love and Happiness for all!
Do you play any instrument?
Yes I play piano and a little bit of percussion.
If you could choose one artist to work with in the future, who would it be and why?
Rihanna cause I like her voice, her flow and she would just rock my song for sure 🙂
Five years from now you will be….
Hopefully happy and healthy, making nice music, travelling the world and being a good father to my kids.
What are 3 things you can’t live without?
My family, friends and music (water, air and food not to be underestimated! :))
Who do you would love to work with?
Missy Elliot
Tell us something your fans don’t know about you.
I like to take pictures of random places. Want to become a reasonable photographer one day
Funniest thing that ever happened at an event?
I said: “Hello Cape Town”, but I was in Johannesburg…
Any future plans you want to share with us?
Heavy releases coming up this year, watch out!
What did you buy with your first big check?
Nothing really. I’m not really a big spender.
Favorite 3 festivals?
Amsterdam Open Air, Latin Village, Mysteryland
How do you see the EDM scene in 5 years?
Hopefully more open to music and dancing than to (only) noize and jumping.
