Giulio Erasmus :: Low-tech electronic music

Son of Alan Erasmus—Factory Records co-founder—Giulio carries forward a legacy of boundary-pushing sound, drawing deep inspiration from the raw energy of early ’80s UK counterculture and the immersive spirit of sound-system culture, blending both in a uniquely modern way.

A legacy of boundary-pushing sound

Giulio Erasmus, a dynamic force in the music scene, is both a member of the influential D.U.D.S and Handle. In 2021, he unveiled his debut solo album Re-Adjustment, followed by his sophomore release Second Attempt in 2024, available through Mangel. Son of Alan Erasmus—Factory Records co-founder—Giulio carries forward a legacy of boundary-pushing sound, drawing deep inspiration from the raw energy of early ’80s UK counterculture and the immersive spirit of sound-system culture, blending both in a uniquely modern way.

Igloo :: Can you start by telling me a bit about yourself: Where do you live right now—Brussels? Where did you grow up—Manchester? Why did you move from Manchester to Brussels?

Giulio Erasmus :: In late 2019 I moved to Brussels, I’m still connected to Manchester but it became less so over time. I suppose Brussels felt like a place to explore new ideas. The atmosphere is to me shambolic and unpretentious and allows people to get away with a lot. It doesn’t particularly feel like there is one scene, people seem fairly open minded and dip in and out of the various musical soups. Up until now I’ve felt at home here. I’m part of a collective called RATTUS. We organize shows—which is I guess is my way of contributing to the musical microcosm here. There’s no doubt I’ve lifted a lot from English musical heritage, but I suppose my moods and influences have mutated from exposure to the low tech electronic music I’ve found here. However it’s not all whimsical, there’s a lot of quite serious experimental music around to keep the chin strokers happy!

Your live band you play with now is Ex-Worm 3000. I saw you at the Meakusma festival with The End Of The Worm. What’s the difference between these two bands?

Giulio Erasmus :: Ex-Worm 3000 is basically another name for the same group, although this time it packs a slightly drowsier thump. We’re trying to move away from names with Worm in them but it’s proving difficult.

The Live at Meakusma Festival 2024 tape is great (link). How do you remember that concert yourself?

Giulio Erasmus :: I don’t remember much from the Meakusma concert apart from the room’s heat, lights and eyes burning down on us. I’d had a few drinks beforehand and was just trying to focus on playing adequately.

Was it from the start the plan to release this concert as a live record?

Giulio Erasmus :: It wasn’t the plan to release it as a live album, actually I wasn’t into the idea when I listened to the digital copy but having listened to it on tape I think it sounds quite acceptable!

Why do you play solo on record and live with a band?

Giulio Erasmus :: I find it difficult to compose all of the music with the band, it can be a long and intimate process so I prefer to take my own time and not engulf others.

Having said that, the next record (HARD SELL) does have the group playing all together on it.

Giulio Erasmus :: Playing live alone became a bit tricky because of all the elements. When I started playing with Lola, Paul, Fiona, Quentin, Romain etc the energy in the music felt revived!

What I also would like to know: what attracts you to dub?

Giulio Erasmus :: Well some of the first CDs I stole from my dad (apart from the Factory catalogue) were King Tubby and Yabby U compilations. The bass and the rhythm stuck with me, also it’s simply very fun to play. Sometimes I feel like I’m part of the people who are slightly exhausting the genre though​, which is why I tend to stay away from labelling it dub.

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Live at Meakusma Festival 2024 — This recording of the amazing live performance by Giulio Erasmus & The End Of The Worm beautifully captures the investigative and unforgiving nature of all the instrumentalists that were on stage on that warm night last August in Eupen, Belgium. Through spirals of ideas, fragments, and experiment, they built a vaporous yet focused suggestion of openness and endless possibilities. ~Bandcamp

Live at Meakusma Festival 2024 is available on Bandcamp.