Q+A with DJ Dragnet
DJ Dragnet digs deep for obscure and underrated post-punk, goth, new wave and indie bands
Visiting Amsterdam’s most well known record store, Concerto, you might just come across Gene Teysse. With hair hinting at Robert Smith or Ian McCulloch and a style all his own, Gene, knows a thing or two about music. Also known as DJ Dragnet, Gene has, in particular, deep knowledge of goth, dark wave and post-punk bands. As you’ll read, he is dedicated to unearthing obscure and little-known gems in these genres from across the globe.
I met Gene for the first time at the Automatic Noise Festival in Amsterdam back in April 2023. Good at what he does, Gene is a regular contributor to the Automatic Noise Festival and many other festivals and events focussed on showcasing independent alternative bands and artists. Gene’s quiet, positive and friendly energy clearly indicates that he loves what he does in music - discovery and sharing - so I decided to ask him about DJing and for a few tips within his favoured genres.
When did your interest in post-punk, goth and new wave start? Was there a defining moment, like an event, experience, song or album?
I discovered post-punk, goth, and new wave music on my own via YouTube. It was a great platform for finding this type of music, especially underrated and obscure bands. When I was young, I was still developing my music taste and went through many musical phases during my pre-teen and early teenage years. My deeper and more meaningful music exploration began when I turned 14. I discovered genres like 90s gothic rock and French coldwave, which became some of my favorites. I started collecting and buying both well-known and underrated 90s goth CDs and cassettes. By the time I was 16, I began exploring more 80s bands like Echo and The Bunnymen, The Cure, Joy Division and many more. As a result, I started teasing my hair and dressing differently to express the music I was into, but in my own style and class. That was also when I began collecting records.
Why the name “DJ Dragnet”?
I like the name—it’s a reference to one of my favorite albums, Dragnet (1979) by The Fall, and also my favorite album artwork.
You support "obscure, underrated, new and upcoming post-punk, goth, new wave and indie bands" - do new bands get in touch with you to promote their music or do you mostly pick what you like for your sets and shows?
Yes, new bands do contact me to promote their recent music (albums, EPs, and singles). Almost every promotion I receive, preferably vinyl, I try to play and promote at an upcoming gig if it fits the event or theme.
Do you have any competitors in your field of expertise? Or is there a friendly community of dark post-punk DJs?
The community within the post-punk/goth DJ scene is friendly and supportive of one another. I can imagine that some DJs may have competitors, but that’s just how it works sometimes.
You've put together several sets/shows that focus on bands from particular countries - can you tell us a bit about your research process? What is the most challenging part of that process?
The idea came about when I realized that some countries have their own unique twists and flair when it comes to music. There’s a lot of 80s new wave and post-punk from all around the world, often sung in different languages, which I found fascinating. This sparked an even bigger expansion of my vinyl collection. I now have enough records to create mixes from specific countries like the Netherlands, France, Germany and Sweden.
Are there any unique defining characteristics about bands from the countries you've researched or do they tend to be similar to other bands within a certain musical genre? For example, would you say there is something that sounds very 'Dutch' about certain 80s new wave bands or is Swedish goth defined by a particular sound or style?
That’s a very good question and it deserves a long answer. Honestly, I could write a book about it! Here are some examples:
French post-punk and coldwave often have a romantic and melancholic tone in their songs.
Spanish new wave is often glamorous and uplifting.
Swedish gothic rock tends to have the edginess of punk rock and speed.
Describing the Dutch new wave, post-punk, or goth sound is hard to pin down. Generally, I think the Dutch wave is quite diverse, making it difficult to describe in just a few words.
What are some of your favorite new bands at the moment?
Noktva, Deceits, and Pilgrims of Yearning.
What are some lesser-known artists that you think more people should know about?
There are too many to name, but here are a few bands I think deserve more recognition: Sixtieth Parallel, Go Flamingo, My Dad Is Dead, and Girls Names.
How do you find new 'hidden gems'?
I have multiple ways of finding hidden gems. I go to as many record shops as possible, searching for records that I don’t know and listening to them. If the band is relatively unknown or only released a few albums through an independent label or self-released, I take note. I also spend a lot of time scrolling through Discogs, discovering new bands and releases, and sometimes ordering records from there. YouTube is another great resource for finding hidden gems.
What is the most exciting hidden gem you've ever found?
I’ve found many hidden gems by accident. Here are some titles I’d like to share:
Comrad – Periods Of Excitement (1988)
The Gentry – Fragments Of Truth (1984)
Poison Ivy – Decadence (1981)
The Burning Skies Of Elysium – The Last Revolving Door (1987)
You travel to DJ, both around The Netherlands and abroad. How easy (or difficult) is it to travel as a DJ - especially with a precious collection of vinyl?!
In most cases, I take my car, which makes it the perfect way to carry both my records and DJ gear. When I DJ in the United Kingdom, I take the train with a bag of records. For the United States, I DJ using a controller and an iPad, since most of my records are digitized. If I can’t bring my physical records, I still have my vinyl collection saved on a USB stick. So, traveling as a DJ is relatively easy for me.
What have you learned from DJing abroad? Are the goth or dark wave scenes different or similar in various countries? Do you ever have to adjust your set based on a city or country you're playing in?
What I’ve learned from DJing abroad is that every place feels unique, and people react to music in different ways. It’s always refreshing, yet similar in many aspects. I don’t adjust my set much based on the city or country. I find that goth and dark wave fans are usually open to hearing whatever the DJ is playing and enjoy dancing and having a good time.
You've DJ'ed at Dark Spring Boston, a dark post-punk festival near my home region in the US - what's special about this festival?
Dark Spring Boston is really well-organized. I like the audience there, and the lineup of bands is great!
What's the best feedback you've received from a listener? What's the weirdest feedback you've ever received?
Best feedback: “I don’t know all of these bands. How do you find all of these amazing bands?”
Weirdest feedback: “Why don’t you play famous songs or bands?”
Is there music or certain festivals you're looking forward to in 2025?
Reformation Club (London, UK)
Dark Spring Boston Festival 2025 (Boston, MA USA)
WaveFest (NL)
Follow DJ Dragnet on Mixcloud, where you can listen to all of his live sets and vinyl mixes, and Instagram for photos and news about sets at upcoming festivals and events.
Thanks, Gene!
//wendy