In 2002, Gripper’s experience was called to hand , joining long time associates, Woody and Craig Nelson, to form Upskirt Records, a small indie, dedicated to rediscovering the true ideals of house music. Starting life in London with first release, East Beach Project’s ‘Maya’s Groove/Go With Me’ , label HQ moved to the mediterranean island of Ibiza in the summer of 2002. Having first Djed on the island in the early 90’s, Gripper found himself playing regularly on Spannish soil, at venues such as Es Paradis, Café Mambo, Kanya, Play 2, The Orange Corner, SunSea, Savannah, as an Upskirt reprasentative at many of the big label pre parties (DefMix, Perfecto, Release Yourself, Defected).
2003 saw Gripper begin a monthly residency at Upskirt’s weekly label night at Café Paradis, Ibiza.. a night which attracted a lot of the deep house scene’s leading DJ to play and socialise at a small gathering a lot more in tune with the real vibe of Ibiza than the big ‘corporate’ gigs which abound.
Gripper’s tracks for Upskirt under the guises of East Beach Project, Los Fantasticos, Hugo Madrid and Triple Daddy formed an important part of summer 2003’s Ibiza soundtrack, both EBP releases being extensively championed on Roger Sanchez’s world wide ‘Release Yourself’ radio show, including the prestigious ‘Hot New Tune’ slot. With 4 releases to date, Upskirt are finding a quiet little niche in the record boxes of those that know house music. From David Harness to Hippie Toralles, from
Tedd Patterson to Kenny Carpenter, thanks to Gripper’s tireless dedication to supporting and promoting the grassroots ideals of black dance music.
Gripper’s forthcoming projects will be backed by his new company, ‘East Beach Productions’ and include production and mixing for new Upskirt signings,’Black Moss’; a forthcoming release on Upskirt as ‘Los Fantasticos’; and UK jazz singer, Kirsten Taylor’s ‘Pay No Mind’.
Gripper is currently preparing his latest deep house LP under the alias Hugo Madrid, including forthcoming collaborations with a host of New Jersey based artists, songwriters and producers.
Gripper is just as at home locking down a set of rare groove, latin jazz, or hip hop as he is playing those deep ibiza sets of soulful NY house and deep afro-cuban beats, as alter ego, Hugo Madrid. The philosophy has always been the same, to play music from the fringes, rather than the mainstream, always supporting the cause of the underdog, the small label, or the non-commercial club night.
Recent gigs have included the WMC 2004 showcase alongside Ron Trent, Eric Kupper and Tortured Soul at Miami’s legendary ‘Tantra’ which led to a US tour in late 2004 to promote Gripper’s Hugo Madrid album. End.