QWhat’s does your djing set up consist of?
AAs usual I have 2 Pioneer CD decks, mixer DJM 800, 900 or 2000, NI sound card, Traktor controller and laptop in my setup. The most interesting thing is that I used to play with Macbook Pro. But now I am really happy cause I changed it to the new generation of Macbook Air. Really powerful and small tool! Also if my gig is not so far away I can play with my Pioneer DDJ-T1. But I really miss hard mixer while i'm using this device. Frequences, filters are not so bright as in external mixer. This is a big minus of All-In-One type controllers.
QHow has digital technology changed your dj sets?
AAt the beginning i didn't want to work with digital stuff. I was a big fan of classic CD mixing. But it's really hard to take care of all your CDs. Scratches, alcohol, dust and time destroyed your collection. Almost every week I had to re-burn CD folders again, just to be sure that I will have no problems and everything will work in correct way. Another big problem was to find the track you want to play. So how I finally changed the way I play? Promoters asked me to play with laptop During my very first Brazilian tour, cause they wanted to add the word (LIVE) to advertisement of my gig. I tried and enjoyed it! Finally I could mix everything, absolutely each track with each other. I don't need to waste time digging my music collection, trying to find that one track. Now I can recognize track by it's artwork! Like memories from vinyl times! Also I can take care about effects, loops and mix construction cause I have much more time to do this during mixing.
QWhat midi controller/s do you use and what do you like about it/them?
AThe main feature of controller for me is size and ergonomics. As usual I take Traktor X1 in tour with myself. It is pretty small and I have many free space with it in my bag. Also it works very good with Native Instruments software. But for local parties I have my DDJ-T1 cause I don't need anything with this device. I don't need any mixer, deck, laptop only. Also ergonomics: I have the same feelings as mixing with Pioneer DJing setup. This is the very important feature for me.
QDo you have a piece of DJ kit that you can’t live without?
AYes, Pioneer DJM mixers, especially effects. I really love to play with these toys. I use Traktor FXes and Pioneer's Low-Cut Hi Res Filter together if I want to destroy dance floor during the breakdowns. Of corse sometimes I play using another equipment and I feel myself really uncomfortable. Feels like I missed something…
QYou’ve been producing and releasing tracks quite frequently over the past two years, how would you describe your sound at the moment and where do you see it heading in the future?
AI think that the best name for my stuff is "Commercial Techno". Some times people call this genre Minimal-Techno, and I think that they are right also. By the way, I really love to include progressive melodies in breakdowns of my tracks. But I always in experimental mode when I produce something. So I never know what will I have at the end of work. :) And I really happy cause I produce and play music that I like indeed. Anyway its easy to hear: my music changes during these 2 years. I was a bit minimalistic but now I prefer much groovy and intensive stuff. Probably my sound will continue to mutate in 2012. Let's take a look. The only one this I know is that I will not stay at the same place and will go forward for sure.
QCan you give any advice to any up and coming producers on how to get their music heard and signed to a successful label like 1605 and your label I Am Techno?
AThe first thing you need to do is to take care about your sound, quality and actuality. You need to do a dance floor test of your demo, share your track with friends DJs and check out the crowd reactions and artist feedbacks. You have to be 101% sure that your product is good and ready to be released. There is no reason to be sad if "good" label refused your first demo application. You can easily send it to another imprints. But please never forget about good and big labels. Don't loose the hope. Your release at 1605 (for example) it's just a question of time and a question of your demo's quality.
