In 2016 Marcinkiewicz finally honed in on the unique stripped-down, percussive, eccentric style of warehouse techno that has come to define The GOAT. It’s a style that was inspired by his early days as a punk and thrash drummer, travels to Berlin and Eastern Europe, and the rapidly burgeoning techno scene of the Canadian west.It was his experiences as a live musician, in particular, that shaped his focus on texture. Bands like Minor Threat, At The Drive-In, and The Locust captivated Marcinkiewicz with their ability to harmonize what many would perceive as noise, elements like distorted chords, seemingly chaotic drumming, and the coarseness of a scream.This philosophy of using dissonance as an instrument was on full display in the Flout EP, Marcinkiewicz’s first release as The GOAT. Released on Calgary-basedSubstation Recordings, It foreshadowed the shape of things to come by fusing warped percussive-like synth stabs, smoky ambiances, and richly diverse drums into an offering that still felt decidedly house.Shortly after its release, the Flout EP entered Beatport’s Top 100 Techno Releases chart, and climbed to the top 10 on the Top 100 Minimal Releases. In November Marcinkiewicz followed it up with the Activate EP on Techno.Black, an exploration into the minimalist, yet energized, world of warehouse techno.Marcinkiewicz carries the same atmosphere of these two releases into his DJ sets, which will increasingly incorporate more live performance aspects. He moves the floor into unfamiliar territory by shying away from overt melodies in favour of more primal sounds. An air of continuous surprise is created that stretches the limits of what people thought dance music could be.
