Interview With DJ Umek
UMEK is a legend in the EDM scene, and has been producing and spinning for almost 20 years now. He’s Slovenian born and is the owner of several techno house record labels. This year at Digital Dreams he was the closer at the echo beach stage and absolutely killed it! I had the honor to ask him about his set at Digital Dreams, what he likes about Canadians, and what’s next in his career. Here is what he had to say:
Q: How was your set at Digital Dreams? Describe what the Toronto crowd is like!
A: It was lots of fun as it always is in Canada. Two years ago when I was booked to play at Digital Dreams for the first time I’ve got a day slot. It was cool playing on that sandy venue under the sun. I like that kind of stuff as well, but that kind of party has a bit different vibe than the ones taking off during the night. So, this time was a bit different experience as I was closing the festival. I could play a bit darker and harder set, so we’ve created an intense energy on the dance floor and gone out with the bang!
Q: What do you like best about coming to Canada/Canadians?
Umek: I like the whole vibe I get spending time in your country. Although Canada is a big cultural melting pot and you can see people of many races walking in the streets I find Canadians very tolerant and open-minded people. I always feel totally safe there. I also like that everything is clean. By my experience Canadians are tidy and organized people, so everything goes smoothly whenever I’m visiting. And you know how to get crazy when it’s time for it as well!
Q: Any big news or big things planned for the rest of the year?
Umek: The biggest project I’m involved right now is Viberate.com. I’m actually one of the founders, together with members of my management. Through the years technology has turned many industries upside down, but music business somehow got left out. I’m not talking about consumer services. Here we witnessed some major changes. I’m talking about decision-making tools and business intelligence for music professionals. Although there’re piles of data out there, we still rely on personal taste and gut feeling when deciding about who to book, who to sign to a label or which venue to do an event in. With Viberate we are tapping into data from social media, streaming and multimedia sites, music stores and other relevant channels and with the help of big-data analysis we will offer insightful information and a set of sexy tools for musicians, labels, promoters, venues and all other music business professionals. We like to joke that we’re calculating people’s taste. I love being a part of the vibrant startup culture and I can’t wait to be there when we launch around ADE this October.
Regarding music: I’m currently releasing my production under various aliases almost exclusively on my 1605 label. The only major exception to this rule will be my new remix of Dave Clarke’s classic techno track “Red 2 / Wisdom to the Wise” that will be released on his label later this year.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment you’ve experienced as a DJ so far?
Umek: I don’t like this particular question (which I get asked frequently), as it’s really hard for me to pick out just one or two highlights. I am experiencing this kind of moments, mostly good ones, on a weekly basis – I’m touring all the time, travelling from one side of the world to another and being on the road all the time, seeing interesting stuff, experiencing different cultures, meeting tens if not hundreds of new people each week brings a lot of nice moments – so please don’t hold it against me if I don’t want to pick up just one or two. It wouldn’t be fair to all the others.
Q: What’s your favorite song right now? Who do you listen to?
Umek: The easiest way to hear what I like is to listen to my DJ-sets and my weekly Behind The Iron Curtain radio show. That changes fast as I get bored of listening to same tracks over and over. Though when it comes to leisure, I really enjoy moments of silence – which I find normal if you take in account I work with music all the time: in the studio, selecting music for my label and radio show or playing it. So, while on tour I not so rarely enjoy chilling out in the silent hotel room or when I get back home I get on the bike and ride it to some quiet place in the nature for the whole afternoon to clear my head a bit from all the noise I’m surrounded.
Q: What made you get into this scene?
Umek: In the least words: passion for music. I was hooked on electronic sound even before I became a teenager and when I discovered there are certain people in charge of music at school dances I was pretty much hooked. Not so long after that I got into pirate satellite radios, I’ve discovered Carl Cox and experienced my first raves … so I decided to drop high school and basketball (as a candidate for a national junior team) determined to become a successful international DJ. I was 17 then and you might imagine how my mother felt when I did that. But she gave me a year to show that I’m capable of taking care of myself and contributing to the household and as I made it she supported me all the way. And neither her nor me regret I did that – especially as I still feel great passion for music and making people dance.
Q: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Umek: I actually don’t expect much to change for me in this time. In any case I can’t imagine not working in music and with it in one or other capacity. Even if I decided to quit touring I’ll probably find something to do with music.
To see the latest with UMEK follow him on:
