Five - A Sensu-ble Number

This month, Sensu joins only a handful of similar Glasgow nights who’ve accomplished this milestone. “I’d been DJing for quite a while and decided it was time I started organising a regular event to play at” says co-promoter/resident DJ, Barry Price, explaining the origins of the house and techno bi-monthly. “Gio Ferri, Ralph Turner and I booked out the now defunct Q Club; filling it mainly with friends but after a while, others who wanted to check out the night”. “I played firstly as a guest; then got more involved”, adds fellow promoter/resident DJ, Junior Ingram. “It made more sense than doing my own thing which was what I’d been considering”.

In September 2005, they moved to the larger, Liquid Lounge, with Ralph bowing out of involvement shortly before. “Our first event there was a Wee Chill After-Party, with Trentemøller”, says Junior. “We wanted to build on what we’d already achieved and get more guests new to Scotland. We followed him with Todd Bodine, Troy Pierce, Marc Houle and Two Dollar Egg, but ultimately we knew we’d have to broaden our booking policy if we wanted to attract a regular, mixed crowd to our nights”.

Two years later, Sensu again changed home, this time upping sticks to the Sub Club. By this point Gio had moved on, leaving Barry and Junior as co-promoters. “I think we impressed them with the enthusiasm and ideas we presented, but they were also aware of our past bookings and how well we’d been doing”, admits Junior. “Our first event at the club took place between Christmas and New Year 2006”, follows Barry. “We booked Lawrence from Germany’s Dial Records to play live and Mr C to DJ and though it probably wasn’t the best time of year to attract a crowd, we managed to fill the place”.

“That was probably my favourite ever Sensu night”; Junior reveals. ”I’m a big Lawrence fan; like all things deep when it comes to house and techno and by 1am, when he was still playing this type of stuff at a time when you might not hear it in a club, I felt we’d truly succeeded…we’d built up a definite following, allowing us total control over what was being played rather than having to give in to what a crowd might normally demand”.

The following February they returned with Cocoon-label affiliate, Andre Galluzi guesting, with Tobi Neumann coming next. “Since he played, we’ve become really good friends, which is great, as Tobi’s helped spread the word about Sensu to other DJs and producers on the scene”, says Barry. By this point, they’d become a bi-monthly fixture at the Sub, appearing on the third Friday and it's remained this way since. Over time, they’ve welcomed, amongst others, Raresh, Octave One, Tiefschwarz, Josh Wink and Italoboyz to the decks, not to mention Loco Dice, who’ll be returning this month, as part of their Fifth Birthday celebratory double-header, having enjoyed himself making his Sub debut last year, as Junior’s keen to point out. “We’ve had great feedback from all those who’ve played Sensu, but especially from Loco…almost immediately after his set he told us he wanted to come back”.

However, because they usually hold just six events a year, they’re forced to be persistent with agents to finally get the DJs they want to appear, confirmed. “It’s often hard to match their availability with our dates, so we have to wait our turn…it’s all about staying in regular contact, being proactive. It took us three years to book Loco Dice”, concedes Junior.

Aside from organising and playing at the night, (alongside fellow residents, Junior’s brother, Christopher, Chesco and Alan Belshaw, who play on rotation), the pair are also involved in a Sensu ‘live’ project, as Junior explains. “Barry, a fellow DJ/producer called Esa and I, all perform together using a pair of laptops, a sampler and a drum machine; merging elements of various tracks together, but also playing complete tracks and our own stuff too” As well as playing various club nights, including their own, they’ve appeared at The Wee Chill, T In The Park and Rockness and want to build on this, with the possibility of ‘Sensu’ productions in the future.

So, having successfully completed five years, what’s next? “To keep on doing what we’re doing”, concludes Barry. ”We’ve got some exciting guests lined up and we’re keen to push the live thing further too”.