Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?

In the beginning, I was just a regular music consumer. I devoured music. I wasn’t interested in track titles or artists; I just enjoyed the fact that at a house party, the music never stopped. It would start at 9 p.m. and end at 6 a.m. I would stare at the DJs all night, always dancing by the DJ booth. At first, I only had cassette tapes with mixes, and when the CD era arrived, I became a conscious buyer.

Due to the slow flow of information, I only had local heroes. I followed Hungarian DJs. I admired them for their precision, seamlessly blending transitions between tracks in a harmony that nowadays is often overlooked. Transitions always excited me at parties. I anticipated hearing a new sound in a DJ set, signaling the start of the next track. Actually, they were my local heroes. It was more the work of the DJs that enchanted me, and of course, the music they played and how they put it together.

Initially, I looked at the covers of the records and associated the music with them, but I couldn’t tell who the artist was for each track. Later, when I was allowed closer to the DJ booth, I cautiously read what was written on them. I did this so as not to appear rude. It was through these records that I got to know the producers.

Cevin Fisher‘s house tracks quickly captivated me. But I was never a conscious collector based on the performers; it was always my ears and the feeling that guided me during music listening. Like many of my colleagues who started with vinyl, I also knew the covers better than the information written on them. A Laurent Garnier album was the first CD I bought – don’t remember for the title. He was interesting, but he didn’t inspire me. But I stuck on the vinyls and started to collect them.

The Sharp Tools series was big favorite of me. I had to wait for many years to hear a foreign guest DJ – 1999. The one who had a huge impact on me was Kevin Yost – he showed something completely different in music than anyone I had heard before. I represented this style in Hungary for a long time, but unfortunately, people in this country were not open to it.

What was the last album that you downloaded/purchased?

Good question, I actually visited a record store today (22 March) where they have all old stuff, cassettes, CDs, and vinyl records. I was looking for a pop album that wasn’t in stock, and in the end, I bought the Daft Punk ‘Homework‘ (1996) album on vinyl.

I don’t remember which was the last one on digital format, but it was either Bob Moses, Jan Blomqvist, or WhoMadeWho that I bought and downloaded instead of streaming.

What is your current production and DJ set up like?

This is a very good question because nowadays it’s a sensitive topic on forums about ‘when can someone claim that a piece of music is theirs’ or ‘what makes someone a producer’ and also ‘how individuals experience the music-making process’. For me, the constant pressure fueled by social media to prove oneself, to showcase ‘yes, I made this’ is somewhat off-putting. I’m glad I can talk about this on a credible international platform.

My story of: I’ve been working night shifts for 31 years, 26 of which have been an active DJ career, while managing 3 record labels, building 2 brands, and launching 6-8 talents into the music scene. I organize parties and I’m also a dad. So, I’ve never lived the life of producers behind the machines. However, I’ve never been interested in the detailed technical depths of this area. I belong to the ‘last Mohicans’ of DJs and selectors.

To sustain a living, I’ve mostly gone from one party to another – so never had much time for studio work. Analog machines never sucked me in, even though I’ve been in many studios and seen people working with them. I admire them, but they feel alien to me. I got closer to production work through software.

Since the beginning, I’ve been working with sound engineers. This means that in the beginnings I was there directing them verbally. Later I sort out the sound set at home, every element of it, and sketch projects. The refinement, however, is the work of the sound engineer, but even then, I don’t leave them alone; I’m always there in the creative process because many new ideas come to my mind that need to be tested immediately.

This is one of a classic form of music making and accepted and credible. Nothing to hide. Every track or remix that ultimately comes to fruition is 100% of my creative musical expression. Of course, it’s obligatory to write ‘DJ and Producer,’ but this this way is also honest. I’m interested in every segment of the music industry, but when you spend your time managing 10-12 people and paying salaries, you have to admit that the universe didn’t intend for me to live the life of a ‘houseplant’ behind the machines.

Ahhh and the answer is: Ableton + VST plugins only. I am a big Omnisphere fan.

As for DJing: I still collect vinyl records to this day. Very soon I will play a vinyl set. When the digital era arrived, I also switched to CD players. The digital era accelerated the testing of promo music, so the vinyl sets disappeared from me too. I’ve never tried the laptop and controller setup. For me, the live mixing and using the creative part of the mind are the most important.

I only use techniques that allow me to walk my chosen path and utilize the knowledge I’ve acquired through difficult but practiced learning – the capacity of my brain to independently engage both the right and left hemispheres, thereby constructing sets mentally beforehand. I’ve never used playlists. I improvise every time, wherever I am.

It’s incredibly frustrating when the DJ booth isn’t good, and the monitor speakers are bad, and you can’t mix smoothly. I’ve never been able to mix two tracks in headphones. I never understood this technique: okay, you can find the beginning and end of tracks and even set the speed correctly, with the help of various digital aids (reading the display or using the Sync button) – I never understood why people don’t truly want to learn or understand and feel what they’re doing.

You might succeed this way and live a life as a successful DJ, but it’s not worth dying without experiencing the transcendent state of mixing at least once! I actually feel sorry for all the people who don’t take the effort to learn how to use both sides of their brain separately. It’s a huge meditation and a very tiring thing at the same time. It’s one of the wonders of the human mind.

What releases do you have on the horizon?

In recent years, I’ve achieved some old dreams in the realm of releases. My music is now on excellent labels like The Soundgarden,Tale & Tone, Hoomidaas, Einmusika, Sound Of Sirin, Where The Heart Is. This allows me to focus more calmly on supporting my own labels – Zenebona Records and Truesounds Music. Additionally, I’m delighted to have received a remix request from Circle Of Life label – still hot news.

As I mentioned before, music is a ‘state’ for me, a life-saving thing. I’m not in a hurry, there’s no pressure to perform. I’m happy when I’m dealing with music. I would note that the digital market has disrupted music sales in the digital world, which is why my focus is on my own labels, because if there happens to be a success, it may generate some income that help my family’s life as well. After the pandemic the whole scene changed so every penny counts because there is bigger gap between the A and B categories. And I am not a young guy.

My latest remix was done for a very talented Argentine guy, Bran Baigo‘s music. It’s also on my own label – Truesounds Music (22 March 2024). Othala EP has 4 great tracks, 1 original and 3 remixes. Mine is passionate prog, filled with emotions, great for morning moments. Hernan Cattaneo, has also included it in his radio show a few weeks back. The next original is also upcoming on a 10 years anniversary VA on Truesounds Music.

Where can we hear you perform?

Lately, most of my performances are in Hungary, but there are some exciting plans for the summer – festival season is almost here. Croatia is already confirmed, and there will definitely be DJing in Ibiza as well. We are also planning gigs in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. I hope it all works out – still not confirmed. I have a monthly show on Ibiza Global Radio called the Covenant Radio Show – every episode is uploaded to my SoundCloud page. I do this show with my dear friend Matias Velazco. And you can find the other side of my art at Balatonica Chill Radio – I have a monthly show call ‘Chakra Boogie’ where I play more sophisticated and tasteful tracks a little slower.

Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?

I created the mix using Ableton software. I only record mixes in the studio that I can perform live anytime; this is an important rule for me – it’s authentic this way. It’s a huge thing in my life and it is a big responsibility I can represent a very small country in the electronic music sphere, so I let my emotions and happiness guide me during creation, focusing only on being myself.

I didn’t even listen to others’ mixes, not out of disrespect, but to avoid being influenced by them. Obviously, the greatest thing is that some of my own tracks are in it, which can provide listeners with a mature and refined sound, giving a clear picture of the body and soul behind the music.

I believe in fate and in the laws of the universe always prevailing, so I think it’s no coincidence that the ‘BALANCE’ podcast invitation came just when I finally feel closest to myself and truly in balance for teh first time in a while. I want to express my happiness and gratitude for this opportunity to you. On December 3rd, 2023, I received the email about this opportunity.

Since then, my mind has been consumed by it. I was nervous, filled with adrenaline for weeks, getting tuned in for production. I doubted myself, then the Jedi force came and cleared my mind; I emptied every thought and sat on it for 4 days, and suddenly it was done. One of the biggest professional milestones of my DJ career. I dreamed of so many things in my life, but I didn’t expect this. The opportunity just presented itself to me. At 46, I’m as happy as a little boy with his first toy car or anything he loves! I am very happy!

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

The top track in my DJ set currently is:

If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:

It wasn’t a very successful production but this one is the most emotional one that’s come from our studio.

If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:

As a DJ and selector, I always seek out fresh and surprising music. I love it when other people’s creations positively shock and impress. When I find something like that, it’s an indescribably good feeling. If it fits into my sets, even better. Right now, my favorite is a track called ‘Dnl Mike & Kniagna – Lovers,’ although I’m not sure where I’ll be playing it yet.

The last movie I watched that I really liked:
Poor Things from Yorgos Lanthimos @ cinema

My favourite TV show:
No TV at all, sometimes Formula1.

My favourite holiday destination/hotel:

I have a deep affection for Ibiza: the rooms, hotels, apartments, and even crashing on friends’ sofas – all in. However, my absolute favorite spot for unwinding and doing nothing is a small lake in Hungary called JADE Beach. Here, I can peacefully sleep under the stars in a tent with my daughter.