He wrote his name in the Rio night. Bold, performative and a lot of fun. The São Paulo native from Mogi Mirim, former lead singer of a rock band, started his career by chance. He received an invitation from a friend, owner of an extinct bar called Blue Angel, to play on New Year's Eve 96/97. Nervous, "with his legs shaking", he played until half past seven in the morning of the first day of that year. He was pleased and stayed as a resident. Greg was already working in music video production and it didn't take long for him to start using the big screen at Blue Angel to give a new color to his – until then – DJ work.
A new door opened at the then super trendy The Copa, a pub in the Copacabana neighborhood that had its heyday in the first years of this decade. "The owner of The Copa frequented the Blue Angel and asked me to get a cable for a television, since I understood the technical aspects. When I was there, I asked if he wanted me to play. He said he wasn't looking for anything like the Blue Angel. I convinced him that it wouldn't be and he agreed to test my work for a month. Then the house started to fill up and success happened."
At The Copa, Greg felt motivated to work with more and more music videos until they were definitive on his soundboard. The DJ became a VJ. And the rocker became pop. In tune with the audience that was watching him, Greg prepared his musical cauldron. The ingredients range from hits from the 70s like ABBA and Carpenters, the 80s by Cindy Lauper, the 90s by Gloria Estefan, the early 2000s of boy bands like N'Sync and the current pop of Britney, Rihanna and Beyoncé. And to spice it up, Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams, Mika, Paula Lima, John Travolta at the height of his brilliant days and Elisângela are also allowed; most of the time in the original versions, without remixes.
For those who are not associating a name with the person, Elisângela is the actress who played the pimp Cilene, stepmother of Halley, Cauã Reymond's character in the soap opera A Favorita. The actress ventured as a singer in the 70s and the sweet video "Pertinho de Você" was produced in 1978. The singer-actress appears in an amusement park with a sweet and romantic air, having fun on the roller coaster, cable car and Ferris wheel, among other toys. All very cute.
Funny clips are essential for the recipe to work. Another great success is that of Ronaldo Resedá, singer and dancer in a joyful and priceless performance in the opening theme song of the soap opera Marrom Glacê, from 1979. Ronaldo gives a dance show with several twirls and pirouettes; as well as a peculiar interpretation of the lyrics that are beyond festive. Both Elisângela's and Ronaldo's clips were produced by Fantástico and are now available on YouTube (they're worth it for fun).
Searching for rarities is a characteristic of the VJ's work and are the surprise ingredients of each night: "Elisângela's video was managed by a cousin of mine who used to record videos since video cassettes were still a thing for few. Pure luck. I usually search on websites, stores in Brazil and abroad, as well as friends who help me by sending clips and giving tips". Those who go to parties hosted by the VJ have fun with the look of music videos from the 70s and 80s and notice how yesterday's fashion becomes today's tacky.
Greg has gained a loyal audience that accompanies him in the venues where he plays. He is a fixture at Galeria Café, in Ipanema, on Thursdays and at Boy Bar, in Copacabana, on Saturdays. It really appeals to people over 30 who relive the sound of their adolescence and to younger people who enjoy music from the 70s and 80s, but also want to dance to what is done today in the pop industry. "My party is a game, as if I were at home enjoying my friends, dancing and watching hilarious videos. Entertainment." It is no coincidence that Galeria and Boy Bar are spaces for a maximum of 200 people, which facilitates interaction between video, VJ and public.
Exploring this mix of audio and video sensations to the fullest sets you apart. But Greg is more. Always accompanied by a cane with a lighted tip and a small flashlight, Greg lets loose and performs by accompanying or creating choreographies for the videos he plays. "My performances come from my time as a lead singer in a rock band. At The Copa, I started doing them, but I was hidden, few people saw me. At Boy Bar, I asked to be on stage and people liked it. At Galeria , to do something different, I started using the cane. I created a character. People tell me that they don't just come for the music, but for me too."
Greg didn't just create a character, he went to school. There are already several venues in Rio that rely on VJs: "They started watching my work. I think that's really cool. There are a lot of good people playing out there. It's a trend for music to always come with a video. I can't go back to playing again. CD, I don't think it's funny at all. I only play music videos."
