Oscar Allsion, also known as Grouch, is a dub and reggae producer hailing from New Zealand.
After spending the majority of the last few years travelling and playing international festivals, Grouch has settled in Melbourne where he is ready to continue his creative endeavours.
The producer and part-time vocalist, who dabbles in hip hop as well as drum & bass, is playing Mushroom Valley, a music festival situated in a scenic stretch between Mackay and Airlie Beach. The festival focusses on progressive and broken beats and offers extracurricular activities including market stalls, workshops and family areas. Other acts playing Mushroom Valley include Zen Mechanics, Whitebear and Chesire.
Which musical influences are your greatest inspiration when creating?
I guess all the music I love inspires me in some way while I’m writing, although I’m not consciously thinking about anything else in particular except for what I am writing at the time.
What have been some highlights of touring the world?
Meeting amazing, likeminded people and getting to see and explore this beautiful world have to be at the top of the list. But in terms of events Burning Man was absolutely insane, definitely one of the most epic experiences of my life. Also playing to huge crowds at festivals like Ozora in Hungary, Boom Festival in Portugal and Universo Parelello in Brazil have been out of this world.
Where would you love to tour in the future?
I have heard the scene in Antarctica is very vibrant... no but seriously getting to visit strange, exotic locations is always a bonus!
If you had to choose only one genre for your music, including hyphens, what would it be?
Haha... really? That's a tough one. I write so many totally different styles of music, so it's pretty much impossible to choose just one.
What productions are you working on?
The studio is really coming alive at the moment. I have just finished a few midtempo and dub tracks and I’m working on a new, dub collaboration with some great, acoustic musicians; also working on a techno collab with Knobs from Italy, which is coming along really well. Evil Oil Man, Urchin and myself just finished a psy-tech track for Zenon Records. Also, the big plan is to set-up an electronic/ acoustic band with Isaac Chambers and a bunch of acoustic musicians and I’m slowly chipping away at my long, overdue Zenon Records album.
What was your time like in Mauritius from a creative point of view?
My time in Mauritius was amazing; it's such a beautiful country and I have so many wonderful friends there. It was the inspiration behind my tracks 'Mehndimoller' and 'Ride The Snake' and my EP 'Organic Mechanic Part 2'. Also, it was where I started learning tabla from a local master.
During your travels, which part of the world in most in tune with your music?
Even though the countries and languages might be different, festival culture is really similar all around the world and I have had such great responses from them which has been very humbling for me.
Do you feel Australia is receptive to your music?
Ken oath, Straya hooo :) I love playing in Australia.
Why are you excited to play at Mushroom Valley Festival?
I had a great time last year, it was amazing working with the crew and I will be seeing a bunch of my friends there this year.
Why should people travel north to attend Mushroom Valley?
What is it about this event that has you most jacked? I reckon people should be travelling north, south, east and west to come to Mushroom Valley, it's got such a friendly vibe, great music and production and the location is super lush.
What's next for Grouch?
Well now that I have a solid homebase and a sick-ass studio I intend to keep writing music; also very interested to see what becomes of the band idea with Isaac Chambers!
GrouchThe most embarrassing time you've had on stage was?
Ohhh damn... there have been quite a few; mostly related to computer fails. But probably the worst was in Mexico in 2014. I was the headlining act playing main stage to around 6,000 people and during my first track the computer started overheating and the audio was unbearable; I forgot my backup, so I had about 15 minutes of silence trying in vain to sort out my laptop.
The previous DJ had to come save me and play more tunes, so I literally put my computer on ice until the next act had finished and then went to play again... three tracks in it happened again! There is a happy ending to the story though; as I waited till the sun had set and the temperature had come down and ended up playing a great set as the last act.
Zen Mechanics play the three-day Mushroom Valley event, to be staged at a secret location near the Whitsundays, 9-11 October.
