Groove Terminator
{{Short description|Australian electronic music artist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = person
| name = Groove Terminator
| image =
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| image_size =
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| birth_name = Simon Jude Lewicki
| alias = GT
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date | 8 | 1980 | 07 | 11 }}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| origin =
| death_date =
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| genre = Electronic
| occupation = DJ, musician, producer
| instrument = {{Hlist|keyboards|backing vocals|bongo|cowbell}}
| discography =
| years_active =
| label = Virgin
| current_member_of = *Jump Jump Dance Dance
| past_member_of = *Hoops Inc.
| spouse =
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| website =
}}
Simon Jude Lewicki (born {{birth based on age as of date | 8 | 1980 | 07 | 11 |noage=1 }}), who performs as Groove Terminator or GT, is an Australian electronic artist.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/27/1040511166606.html|title=It's a groove thing|work=The Age|last=Drever|first=Andrew|date=27 December 2002|access-date=3 December 2009}} Originally a hip-hop DJ, Lewicki began spinning house music. He was featured on the 2000 Australian edition of Ministry of Sound's Club Nation series. His song "Here Comes Another One" was the theme of the popular Australian reality TV-show The Block (2003). Groove Terminator's debut studio album, Road Kill (February 2000), reached the ARIA albums chart top 40. It provided the single, "One More Time (The Sunshine Song)" (2000), which peaked at No. 25 on the related singles chart.
Career
Simon Jude Lewicki was born in {{birth based on age as of date | 8 | 1980 | 07 | 11 |noage=1 }} in Adelaide.{{cite web | publisher = APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) | title = Song Catalogue Search Results for 'One More Time' | url = https://www.apraamcos.com.au/works-search?works=true&title=One%20More%20Time&writer=&performer=Groove%20Terminator | access-date = 13 March 2025 }} His parents helped found Adelaide's first community radio station, where his mother was a presenter. His first concert attendance was Ramones at Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, as an eight-year-old in July 1980.{{cite web |url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en3/grooveterminator/grooveterminator.htm |title=Groove Terminator |first=Ed |last=Nimmervoll|author-link=Ed Nimmervoll |website=HowlSpace |via=National Library of Australia |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120322082108/http://www.howlspace.com.au/en3/grooveterminator/grooveterminator.htm |archive-date=22 March 2012 |access-date=12 March 2025 }} Lewicki's DJing began from age 13, with the creation of mix-tapes on weekends for community radio. He later recalled, "Mum was doing a radio show. That's how I fell into the whole thing. I was doing a high school radio show and from then on it snowballed really." He had been a fan of punk rock prior to discovering electronic and dance music.
Lewicki first performed as a scratch turntablist in the Adelaide-based hip hop duo, Major Rhyme Squad ({{floruit}} 1990), with MC Say.{{Cite web |url=https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/groove-terminator-adelaide-dance-music-history/ |title=Groove Terminator's hot take on Adelaide's dance music history |date=28 November 2019 |website=CityMag |access-date=19 December 2019 }} In the early 1990s he was part of an Adelaide hip-hop group, Finger Lickin' Good, alongside DJ Madcap and Quro. Their sole release was a 1993 vinyl extended play, Illegitimate Sons of the Bastard Funk.{{cite web |url=https://aushiphop.com.au/finger-lickin-good/ |title=Finger Lickin Good |website=Australian Hip Hop Directory |via=National Library of Australia |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20221117212726/https://aushiphop.com.au/finger-lickin-good/ |archive-date=18 November 2022 |access-date=13 March 2025 }} Also in that year Lewicki issued two solo extended plays, Jump (January) and Predator (July).{{cite book | author1 = McFarlane, Ian | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | others = Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) | title = The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Groove Terminator' | publication-date = 2017 | location = Gisborne, VIC | publisher = Third Stone Press | edition = 2nd | pages = 202–203 | isbn = 978-0-9953856-0-3 }} In 1995, Lewicki formed Hoops Inc. with Steven Hooper and they released two singles. During the mid-1990s Lewicki relocated to Sydney.{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/groove-terminator-mn0000646220#biography |title=Groove Terminator Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio ... |publisher=AllMusic |first=Jason |last=Birchmeier |access-date=13 March 2025 }}
Groove Terminator began releasing solo singles, "It's On" (1996) and "Losing Ground" (1997). His debut album, Road Kill followed in February 2000 via Virgin Records. To promote the album he toured in support of the rock band, Grinspoon. Road Kill peaked at No. 39 on the ARIA albums chart.{{Cite web |url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Groove+Terminator |title=Discography Groove Terminator |first=Steffen |last=Hung |publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien |access-date=13 March 2025 }} It provided four charting singles, with the second one, "Here Comes Another One", used as the theme of the popular Australian reality TV-show The Block (2003) and had previously featured in the cult spoof-slasher film, Cut (1999). It was followed by "One More Time (The Sunshine Song)" (May 2000), which reached No. 25 on the ARIA singles chart.
Groove Terminator, alongside fellow DJs Nick Skitz and Bexta, is credited with breaking electronic and dance music into regional Australian venues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/groove-terminator-dj-ministry-of-sound-orchestrated/10469328|title=How Groove Terminator brought electronic music to regional Australia|date=6 November 2018|website=Double J |access-date=19 December 2019}} He was featured on the 2000 Australian edition of Ministry of Sound's Club Nation series, which Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic described, "[it] showcases the U.K. style of club-orientated disco and garage-influenced house that he favors." In 2002, Groove Terminator began releasing music as GT. A second album, Electrifyin' Mojo, was issued in November 2002, which did not reach the top 100 but did provide two charting singles.
Lewicki has worked in several other bands and formed Tonite Only with Sam La More in 2005 in Sydney – they were signed to Ministry of Sound's sub-label Hussle Black. In 2007, Lewicki relocated to Los Angeles where he continued production and DJ work.{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/dancing-to-the-beat-of-own-drum-20110707-1h31n.html |title=Dancing to the beat of own drum |first=Annabel |last=Ross |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 July 2011 |access-date=14 March 2025 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711125505/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/dancing-to-the-beat-of-own-drum-20110707-1h31n.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/simon-lewicki-gets-grooving-on-home/news-story/58d7d12f1205313872366f53b7333a2c |title=Tonite Only gets Grooving on home |date=27 August 2011 |website=www.adelaidenow.com.au |access-date=19 December 2019 }} In 2009, Lewicki started the electronic rock duo, Jump Jump Dance Dance, with American singer-guitarist Chris Carter (DJ Snakepanther). Jump Jump Dance Dance's self-titled, debut album was released in July 2011. In 2012 GT began releasing collaborative singles with various artists. In 2017 and 2018, Groove Terminator toured with Ministry of Sound: Orchestrated, which brought a set of house, rave and club classics arranged for orchestral performance to major venues around Australia. Lewicki is co-creator of the music festival Block Rocking Beats, which premiered at McLaren Vale, South Australia in December 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://glamadelaide.com.au/groove-terminators-guide-to-the-new-house-music-festival-hitting-mclaren-vale/|title=Groove Terminator's Guide to the New House Music Festival Hitting McLaren Vale • Glam Adelaide|date=28 November 2019|website=Glam Adelaide|language=en-AU|access-date=19 December 2019}}
The artist collaborated with Soweto Gospel Choir to periodically perform History of House in the 2020s.{{cite web |url=https://theclothesline.com.au/groove-terminator-adelaide-fringe-interview-2020/ |title=Groove Terminator & The Soweto Gospel Choir: I Wanna Tell You a Little Story ‘Bout House ~ Adelaide Fringe Interview 2020 |website=The Clothesline - Digital Arts Magazine |author=Bell, Ian |date=5 March 2020 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20221110103416/https://theclothesline.com.au/groove-terminator-adelaide-fringe-interview-2020/ |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=13 March 2025 }}{{Cite web |url=https://hifiway.live/2023/03/06/history-of-house-the-fantail-at-gluttony-adelaide-5-3-2023/ |title=History of House @ The Fantail at Gluttony, Adelaide 5/3/2023 |website=Hi Fi Way |first=Kim |last=Burley |date=6 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2025 }} Hi Fi Way{{'}}s Kim Burley rated their performance at Adelaide Fringe Festival in March 2023 at five stars and explained, "Taking us on a journey through the latter decades of the last millennium, GT showed that even for us devotees who have attended every new performance in the past few years, that house music remains relevant, vibrant, and a passion for many... a truly remarkable performance. Shine bright like the music SWG and GT!" An album of that name was issued in August 2024, which was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 2024 ARIA Music Awards.
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| AUS {{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Road Kill
|
| 39 |
| scope="row"| Electrifyin' Mojo {{Small|(by GT)}}
|
| - |
| scope="row"| History of House {{Small|(with Soweto Gospel Choir)}}
|
| - |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|AUS |
|---|
| scope="row"| "It's On"
| 1996 | - | {{n/a|non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Losing Ground"
| 1997 | 64 | rowspan="4"|Road Kill |
| scope="row"| "Here Comes Another One" {{small|(featuring Basshoppa)}}
| 1999 | 73 |
| scope="row"| "One More Time"
| rowspan="2"| 2000 | 25 |
| scope="row"| "You Can't See" {{small|(featuring Kool Keith)}}
| 74 |
| scope="row"| "This Is Not a Love Song"
| rowspan="2"| 2002 | 73 | rowspan="3"|Electrifyin' Mojo |
| scope="row"| "Brand New Day"
| 94 |
| scope="row"| "Kid Dynamite"
| 2003 | - |
| scope="row"| "Begin" {{small|(with Christian Luke & Mr Wilson)}}
| 2012 | - | rowspan="6" {{n/a|non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Feels Like It Should" {{small|(with Wildfire featuring Freaks in Love)}}
| rowspan="2"| 2015 | - |
| scope="row"| "This Is My Love " {{small|(with Wildfire featuring NickClow)}}
| - |
| scope="row"| "Not Alone" {{small|(with Wildfire)}}
| 2016 | - |
| scope="row"| "Little Dance" {{small|(with Wildfire featuring Pamp Le Mousse)}}
| rowspan="2"| 2017 | - |
| scope="row"| "I'm Telling You " {{small|(with Wildfire & Olsen)}}
| - |
Awards
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Groove Terminator has been nominated for four awards.{{cite web|url = https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/search/?text=groove%20terminator|title = ARIA Awards Search Results – Groove Terminator|publisher=ARIA Awards|access-date = 25 July 2020}}
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1998
| rowspan="2"| "Losing Ground"
| {{nom}}
|-
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| rowspan="2"| Road Kill
| {{nom}}
|-
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2024{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-26/aria-awards-2024-nominations-royel-otis-kylie-minogue-dom-dolla/104398174|title= ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 September 2024|access-date=29 September 2024}}
| History of House (with Soweto Gospel Choir)
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
Associated acts
- Hoops Inc. (c.1995)
- Chili Hi Fly (2000–2002)
- Tonite Only (2005–2006, 2008, 2011–2012, 2014)
- Jump Jump Dance Dance (2007–present)