29/05/2021
New Set and interview by is online!
soundcloud.com/fjordfest/fjordcast-no32-by-arkadiusz
Interview:
How and when did you get into music and which artist has always fascinated you?
I got into electronic music at the age of 14 through my older cousin. He gave me Prodigy and Moby on the good old mixtape. I listened to that for years until I got bored with it. After times of rock, new metal and rap, I only came back to electronic music when I moved to Offenbach am Main. I lived within walking distance of the Robert Johnson Club, which I visited almost every weekend. I was fascinated by the versatility and variability of the music. I quickly started to get to know the different subgenres and to collect music myself. I didn't actually start djing until years later during my studies in Würzburg. An acquaintance from my old home gave me two turntables and a mixer. I also bought a tractor toy from Native Instruments. From then on, I rehearsed on both almost every day, much to the chagrin of my housemates at the time. After a while, I started uploading my mixes to Soundcloud. In 2010-2012, the scene was still quite small and manageable. I quickly met Uwe aka Elektro Uwe who pushed me and my sound. I also met an old companion at a seminar. The two of us joined forces with another person and started to organise the legendary picnic events in Würzburg. After that, everything went quite fast and I got bookings from all over Germany and abroad.
Was there a key experience in your musical career that shaped you, if so which one?
One of my key experiences that got me into DJing was about 13 years ago at the Nation Of Gondwana during Mano Le Tough's performance. His sound was truly unique for that time and literally fit like a glove there and at that moment. Sunshine, Sunday afternoon and lots of relaxed, dancing people. Add to that his bass-heavy, super spherical sound. One goosebump moment followed the next. And that for over 3 hours. Wow. In retrospect, I have to admit that not only this performance, but his sound and his set conception in general have influenced me quite strongly in my own style.
What will be the first thing you do when the pandemic is over and normal life is back?
Pandemic...hach how I love that word. From a musical perspective, I obviously wish for a quick end to the measures by the German government. Not only for egoistic reasons, so that I can play again. No, but of course also for the whole scene itself. I would wish a quick resumption for everyone involved, no matter if club owners, bouncers, bar staff, technicians, bookers, etc.. The only thing I lack is the belief in it. Even despite the vaccine. If the German government continues to stick rigidly to the incidence value and the related testing strategy as the only constant for assessing the pandemic situation, logically nothing will change quickly. As things stand at present, there will be no mass events. Neither will there be performances, etc. Perhaps the next government will come up with something better, more freedom- and culture-friendly. That is the only glimmer of hope I have for germany. Otherwise, I see no hope for the majority of the current German club scene.
However, I will already be playing festivals abroad this summer. The next festival is the LAZ Festival 2021 in Poland. I'm particularly looking forward to that. Besides the festival and playing in front of people, I can finally see my family again, which I've been missing since the beginning of the pandemic.
What is your favourite recipe and what is the secret ingredient that must not be missing?
To be honest, I don't really have a favourite recipe. I love to cook almost every day, but I haven't really stuck to recipes for a long time. And most vegan recipes don't really blow me away, to be honest, or are either quite similar or unhealthy in the long run (burgers etc.).
Secret ingredient? Phew, depends on the dish. With vegan sausages, for example, cooked rice is a must, along with many other ingredients. It makes the sausages quite fluffy and juicy in combination with saitan etc. For salad dressings, I swear by the cumin, coriander and nutmeg spice mix. It really adds that certain something to the sauce that blows everyone away. I won't tell you more about my secret kitchen weapons here. Just come by and let me surprise you.
Thank you Arkadiusz!
