Greg Packer (musician)

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Greg Packer
Birth nameGreg Packer
Also known asDr. Packer, DJ Greg Packer
Born
Northampton, United Kingdom
OriginPerth, Western Australia, Australia
GenresDrum and bass, hard dance, nu-disco, funk, soul
Occupation(s)DJ, producer, remixer
Years active1989–present
LabelsInterphase Music, Mastermix, Traxsource, Defected, Glitterbox
Website drpacker.com

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Greg Packer was born in Northampton, United Kingdom, and moved to Perth, Western Australia, in the early 1990s. He began collecting vinyl records in 1982, spanning hip hop, electro, soul, and jazz funk. By 1989, he was DJing and won the Western Australia Mixing Championships in 1991 and 1992. He was among the first DJs in Western Australia to play drum and bass/jungle music. In 1994, Packer toured the UK with DJs such as Carl Cox, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Seduction, and Sy. In 1995, he won the 'Most Popular Rave DJ' award at the Perth Dance Music Awards. Over the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won multiple awards including 'Best Mixing DJ' and 'Best Drum & Bass DJ'. [1]

Contents

Career in Drum and Bass and Hard Dance

In the early 1990s, Packer emerged as a prominent figure in Perth's drum and bass scene. He also experimented with hard dance genres, releasing mixes that incorporated hardcore, happy hardcore, and jungle elements. Notably, his 1994 promo mix "Volume 18" showcased this blend of styles. [2] He toured the UK alongside DJs such as Carl Cox, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Seduction, and Sy. In 1995, he won the 'Most Popular Rave DJ' award at the Perth Dance Music Awards. Over the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won multiple awards including 'Best Mixing DJ' and 'Best Drum & Bass DJ'. [3] He also performed sets featuring hard breaks and stompers, reflecting his engagement with the harder edges of dance music. [4]

Perth Music Scene

Packer has been a central figure in shaping Perth's electronic music culture. He regularly performed at events across the city, including jungle, rave classics, hard dance, and special drum and bass events. He was recognized multiple times at the Perth Dance Music Awards, cementing his influence on the local scene. He also hosted live sets and DJ mixes on platforms such as Mixcloud and SoundCloud, preserving the city's electronic music legacy. [5] [6]

Transition to Nu Disco as Dr. Packer

In 2013, Packer shifted focus to soul, funk, and disco, adopting the alias Dr. Packer. He began creating edits and remixes of classic tracks, leading to the creation of his own label. His work was featured by DJs such as Greg Wilson, Dimitri from Paris, and Joey Negro. He became Traxsource’s #1 Nu Disco / Indie Dance Artist for 2017, 2018, and 2021, and was named Australian Producer of the Year in 2020. [7] [8] [9]

Other Global Work

Packer has performed internationally, including the UK and Europe, collaborating with prominent DJs and participating in major electronic music events. His remixes and edits have gained global recognition and have been played on international radio shows, including his monthly resident program on Street Sounds Radio, featuring disco, house, electro, and re-edits. [10] [11] [12]

Career Timeline

Awards and Recognition

Major awards and recognitions for Greg Packer / Dr. Packer
YearAwardCategoryResultNotes
1991Western Australia Mixing ChampionshipsWinnerGold MedalFirst major DJ competition win
1992Western Australia Mixing ChampionshipsWinnerGold MedalBack-to-back champion
1995Perth Dance Music AwardsMost Popular Rave DJWinnerRecognized in Perth electronic music scene
Late 1990sPerth Dance Music AwardsBest Mixing DJWinnerMultiple wins
Early 2000sPerth Dance Music AwardsBest Drum & Bass DJWinnerMultiple wins
2017Traxsource Nu Disco / Indie Dance#1 ArtistWinnerInternational recognition under Dr. Packer alias
2018Traxsource Nu Disco / Indie Dance#1 ArtistWinner
2020Australian Producer of the YearProducer of the YearWinnerUnder Dr. Packer alias
2021Traxsource Nu Disco / Indie Dance#1 ArtistWinner

Discography Highlights

Albums

- "Dr Packer’s Different Strokes" (2018)

– Reworks of soulful house favourites, disco standards, and groove-laden floorfillers. Released on Glitterbox Recordings. [13]

- "The DJ Set: Dr Packer Volume 1" (2022)

– A DJ mix compilation showcasing Dr Packer's signature style. Released by Mastermix. [14]

Singles and EPs

- "I Want To Thank You" (Dr Packer Re Edit)

– Rework of LaTrece's classic track, released on Glitterbox Recordings. [15]

- "Dr Beat" (Dr Packer Remix)

– Remix of Gloria Estefan's hit, featured in the Glitterbox Virtual Festival. [16]

- "Keep It Coming" – Nu-disco release under Dr Packer alias. [17]

- "People's Music" – Featured on LTJ Bukem's FabricLive.46 compilation. [18]

- "Elusive" (Greg Packer Remix)

– Drum and bass remix. [19] - "Volume 18" (1994)

– Hard dance/happy hardcore/jungle promo mix. [20]

Compilations

- "Glitterbox: Dr Packer's Different Strokes Vol. 2" (2019)

– Compilation of Dr Packer's reworks and remixes, released on Defected Records. [21]

- Last.fm Artist Wiki – Overview of career highlights and discography. [22]

Greg Packer (DJ/Producer)

- Official SoundCloud

- Resident Advisor Profile

- Discogs Artist Page

- Mastermix Producer Page

- Street Sounds Radio Show

- Facebook page

Dr. Packer (Nu Disco)

- TMRW Agency Profile

- Onit Bookings Profile

- Defected Spotlight Feature

- Traxsource Artist Profile

- Beatport Artist Page

- MixesDB Profile

- Skiddle Artist Profile

- Respect Music Artist Profile

- Last.fm Artist Wiki

- Facebook page

References

  1. Decoded Magazine
  2. MixesDB
  3. Decoded Magazine
  4. DJ Hutcho's Perth Revue Page V2.0
  5. SUB/Stance020 – Greg Packer Event
  6. Perth Dance Music Awards
  7. Promobile
  8. Defected Spotlight
  9. TMRW Agency Profile
  10. Promobile
  11. Resident Advisor
  12. Onit Bookings
  13. Traxsource
  14. Mastermix
  15. SoundCloud
  16. YouTube
  17. SoundCloud
  18. FabricLive.46
  19. Discogs
  20. MixesDB
  21. Grooves Inc
  22. Last.fm