GOA GILL

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Real names: Gil and Ariane United States of America
Biography: Biography:Goa Gil is the man credited for popularizing the original "Goa Trance" sound, which today has evolved into psychedelic trance. Gil began his journey in San Francisco, but primarily lived in Goa from the early 1970s. Today, Gil and his partner (professional drummer and dancer) Ariane divide their time between Goa, the Bay Area and the international trance circuit. In the midst of their tight schedule they still manage to find time to work on their new project "Nommos". In 1969, the situation on Haight Street had taken a turn for the worse. Gil had lost his job as the equipment man for the Sons of Champlin and was also facing trouble for too many driving violations. These circumstances led him to Amsterdam from where he travelled through Europe, Afghanistan and on to India. In India he hooked up with a guy named Eight Finger Eddie, a traveller buddy from his days in Afghanistan. He stayed with Eddie at his place in Colva Beach, hosting small gatherings of people playing the guitar, singing and relaxing. Later they moved to Anjuna where they created a lifestyle combining the best from both East and the West. Goa Gil describes Goa as an island somewhat like Hawaii but more spiritual. While living the simple village life they imported in their art, ideas and music. They had the simple village life and spiritual traditions of the east, yet they were extremely western in terms of their art, ideas and music. By the mid-seventies, Goa Gil had also managed to get his hands on enough equipment to throw parties at his house which he referred to as the "Music House". Along with this they also turned the neighboring house into a little pub. In 1977, they threw their first Christmas to New Year party, they played tapes during the day and had live music at night. They partied like this, creating jam sessions and having different DJs till the end of the 70s. By this time Goa Gil started tiring of the scene, so when his room was broken into and ransacked at a party right before 79-80 New Years, Gil decided that it was time to move on. He sold all his equipment and started looking for another place. In 1983, he decided that there was no place like Goa and returned for Christmas. He started to get turned on to the tribal and psychedelic potential of the music being churned out at the time. In those days records had really great music but usually also had some horrible sections, so they started recording the good parts on tapes and arranging them in different sequences. This is how they began mixing and creating a steady flow and rhythm for all night parties. Goa Gill met Ariane in Goa in 1985. They have been together ever since. Arianes keen interest in African "Djembe" drumming and West African Traditional Dance has also had a big influence on the development and direction of Gils musical tastes and concepts. Gil & Arianes current musical project is "The Nommos". Their goal is to combine Psychedelic Trance with West African drumming in the "True Spirit of the Ancients" (as exemplified in the track "Djembe"). Gil and Ariane continue to travel all over the planet to bring to people "The True Goa Spirit" in the form of their marathon "Trance Dance" events.