Name: Igor O. Vlasov
Age: 22
Sex: Male
Born: Volgograd/Russian Federation
Location: Moscow

1: Who or what had the greatest influence on what you listen to today?

1(a) Was through listen to your parents (Did they have an artists or performer that they constantly kept going on about that influenced you?) 1(b) Was it through listening at a early age to the Radio to a particular sound or artist that stirred you up?. 1(c) Was through going to the church (being part of a choir?) 1(d) Or was it by being forced to take musical lessons that influenced your choice?

For my musical influence I was effected by several sources.The first electronic sounds that I listed to was via a radio station called Maximum FM radio, which I concentrated on listening into Dj Fonar's Saturday mixes. It must have been about 1993 time. It was old dance/house/trancey music, that he played. I listened to him and record some mixes from time that he did.

And in that same moment in time I said - "This house music is a cool thing".After that I began to accamulating some records on tapes/cds and listened to it for my own interest.

2. Who was your first musical hero? Was it artists from the: Soul area, Hiphop scene, HeavyRock or Heavy Metal scene, Motown, The Sound of Philadelphia, or Stax Records artists, Jazz artists, Hip Hop Artist/s. Michael Jackson or Prince even? Who did you look up to musically when you were young?

The first audio cds that I bought, was a variety of old house/pop records. From commercial to underground records. It was on these compilations albums of these various artists from around the world that got me interested as well. But the artists that I've listened too, and I was found their sound really interesting was:

Green velvet, Paul van Dyak, Dj Westbam and of course '2 Unlimited' - which is collective, but is known by many Electronic listeners in Russia.

3. I have only really learnt that you have just become a DJ/Producer. However, have you been a "DJ" before all the "producing side of things" took over. If that was the case. What was the first club or event that you Dj-jayed at, that allow you to gain vital experience to that is invaluable now! Is the club still there now?; If it is still there, have you gone back to play there from time to time?

In 1997, when I succesfully played my first professional house set in a number of various Moscow night clubs. I started to think about Djing, and started applying all the different variants of this type of dance music in my sets. This included in playing my own tracks alongside the different styles of House music on Cds/Vinyl in these clubs as well.

4.What was the first major musical style that got you started up when you started Djing. Was it Soul, Funk music, or was it a different of style of music other than House and Garage music?

It was the various number of electronic dance music selection that was available at the time:

From, House/Trance/Light Techno/Synth and pop music. These styles were popular during the years of 1993 to 1996 in Moscow.

But I'm interested in House music as style, and maybe in some of the artists who are also involved within Techno/Happy hardcore music, which takes place at the Love parade, at Mayday.

But the House music is my main style, which I'm most interesting in.

5. Djing again - when you do it. Record mixing. Your technique when playing out. Do you use a style of "blending" when you playing out; or are you a person who likes to jump straight in and out of a track without warning! What styles do you like to use?

I love to 'blend' as you say in your country, from 4-4 blocks. As the block comes to the end of track, I began to turn crossfader to another track, but I don't turn it to the end and wait several vaulable seconds until it becomes needed.

When I turn the crossfader to the end, the track that was previously playing has faded to 0 db, and I don't return to play it afterwards.

6. Trying to gaining a Dj spot within clubs to play out to these days is always a difficult. How did you manage it, and especially in Moscow, Russia. The music of House isn't that accessible yet to many of your countrymen and women so far. Or has this changed? Is House and Garage music being listened t oby many peoples in Moscow??

Many people(*Clubbers) coming to dance clubs within Moscow have one purpose - to dance. And these people (*Clubbers) are not really interested musically in what the dj will be playing in that particular night-club.

These people (*Clubbers), that I mentioned about are not really listening to the music, and I am not interested in that.

However the Club movement and the Electronic music fans, particularly in Moscow also exists in within the whole of Russia.

For many, this love of Club Electronic music started in Russian since 1990 - where the first legendary parties and djs such as Dj Salmaksov, Dj Oleg Ojo etc....where playing this type of music.

The popularity of Electronic music and E-music listeners in Russia is up to scratch with the opening of new nightclubs, accamulating in the newiest sounds to come from leading Dance/House music labels around the world.

7. As Soulful House and Garage is now your chosen style of music. Who was it that got you hooked to the music. Was it Smack Productions, Terry Terry, Kerri Chandler, Masters at Work, Blaze, Larry Heard, Ron Trent, Anthony Nicholson. Or was it the English producers such as Grant Nelson, Joey Nergo, Smokin Beats or Tuff Jam??

The people you mentioned about above. But with regards to my first experience within Soulful House it begins with Larry Heard, and of course the legendary Frankie Knuckles works via his mixes and tracks from 1995 to present day. But now I've listen to all popular peoples who produce this music within the world.

Currently in England this takes the shape of 20-20 Vision, and Ralf Lawson, some AM:PM records, some records from , Toko recordings.

8.I take it that you are more of a Dj Producer, then a Dj nowadays? Was it easy for you to learn all the tricks of the trade in making music to be released as singles? Or was it hard for you to grasp at first.

I tried to learn how to market work from of some people(*Dj/producers) that I know, who works on record labels. I want to say, that it is hard work to release tracks - but nothing is impossible, and every music producer who is interested in selling your music may want to learn some rules of marketing.

Begin by forming your own music label to releasing your and tracks of other producers.

9.Have you tried your hand at running a few of your ownclubs nights or club events of your own to highlight this music in the city of Moscow? if so were they successful?

I'm sucessfully made some events at begining of my work ( when making my own tracks!!), it was from 1997 to 1998, where I'm played from 2 to 3 hours per night.

Now I'm so busy, and nowadays my only concern is with producing new material in my studio for record labels, working with promoters and radio stations.

I do some live acts if I receieve invitation from various club/s and radio promoters etc. During 2002, I prepared a big promo collection of deep house for Squid Project Communications and some underground techno tracks for my parallel my project that I am working on as well, which is specializing in writing a detroit, minimal and deep techno style and some experimental sounds.

But the live events is something that I have in my plans for 2003.

10.I've posed this question to quite a few dj's and dj/producers for more than a couple of years now, and I'm going to pose it to you. We in England, have a network of station that operate illegally to highlight, or to offer different musical styles of dance music that are not considered commerically viable on legal running stations. Do you have such a net-work of stations operating like the ones in England, in your country?

We have only local radio stations here. These radio stations are translating to your waves only in small local regions from various times (eg. from 1:30AM to 2:10AM), and and have only friendly association of listeners (private listeners). There is no pirated radio stations of FM range in Moscow.

11.I have listened to your style of music, and it seems that you have a love for the style known as "Deep House". How long have you been listening to Deep House music. Do you manage to hold of labels such as "Large, 20-20 Vision, AM:PM, Naked music, Deep4life, Smugg, Soma" in your city? Is Deep House music, your favourite style of House to listen to and to make???

The first records I listened regarding Deep House music was when I began to listen to that music in 1995, to certain Larry Heard from various tapes I have.

Me and some other djs, who play Deep house, and Underground house here in Moscow, Russia have releases from some of the labels that you have mentioned above. I also like productions from labels such as:

Track mode recordings, Stricly records, Soma, Sunflowers, Under the counter and more.

When the Squid Project was formed (in 1998). The base direction of the music styles that I wanted was is deep house, and this is basis of the style music coming from S.P.C. to date.

12. From some research that I have done on you. It is not clear to me whether or not if you are doing any "remixing work". For example you are asked to provide brand new mixes to other musical projects that you may have been given to do. Are you in the future, thinking of doing work like this?

I have been offered to make some remixes of artists from certain promoter. I am in plans to receive tracks from a certain producer to remix some remixes from artists. But we are waiting on new tracks from him.

13. What was the first track that you ever "made", or produced on your own? Were you happy with it?

The first track that I produced was called "Miniral mine" - a nasty deep house sound with melodic instruments. This track was produced, using analog synths and modules. "Miniral mine" was released on Citadel records.

14.You known as "S.P.C". Who gave you this name? Was this something that you came up with yourself. Was it always only you in the begining of S.P.C?

At beginning of S.P.C. (Squid Project Communications) project my time with them started since 1998 to 2002; it was then named as "Squid project".But not so long after that in September 2002 its has been renamed to Squid Project Communications (S.P.C.). I received this name from a person that works at a Internet network organisation. We first met whilst I was speaking to him in a Internet chat room.

15. What's your latest release from S.P.C for instance? Please give us some information here. Who does it feature - vocalists, etc, etc....

The latest release of S.P.C. is called "The quiet dance" album and was released by Citadel records in August 1999, including jazzy/deep house tracks of my own project. The second album is prepared, and it is be released on same label at end of 2002. Also, you may find out that many of my tracks are to be found on various dance music compilations out of Moscow.

Now I begin to work with European labels and US labels.

16. When it comes to making up a new tune what tends to come first. Do you write up the lyrics first, then come along with a "groove". Or is it the other around?

At first, I write the base of the track. Next comes the bass lines and rhythm sections. I also prepare to write pads and improvisations...

Some strings, samples comes up next. At the end, I begin to make remixing work, by experimented with channels, effects, etc - of track that I have prepared.

16a. Do you like working with vocalists via your productions? Or do you just like beats? Are vocalists generally hard to work with and find where you are - in respect of coming up with a good track?

I'm always experimenting with music, including vocal samples in tracks.

17. I listen to one track from you recently called "Sometimes in the Wood". I loved that record. Is this the style of Deep House that you enjoy making the most?? How long did it take to make such a track??

That track I wrote in 1999, and recently finished towards the end of August -2002. Now I have a remixed version of this tracks with some rhythms, accords and pads in the new version. I'm pleased that you like sounds of "Sometimes in the wood", I certainly liked that track too.

It takes time in making up one track. But the base of most tracks takes from upto usually, 6 to 10 hours, sometimes - up to one day. But mixing and re-mastering work can take up to, for one track, days!!.

18. Is there any chance of setting up your own record label in the future?

Maybe after I releasing more albums on other record labels, then maybe getting into remixing work. I will be write some special for me - and, I think, it will be the first release for my future label...

19. As you take producing more seriously in the future. Is there anyone in the world that you would like to work with?? Who are you musical House heroes at the moment?

At the moment I do listen to famous house artists like: Larry Heard, Roger Sanches, Masters at work, Kerri Chandler, Cassius, Kevin Yost, Bob Sinclair.

20. You are more known for your work within the Deep House music. Is this something that might change in the future? Or are you happy with the styles of Deep House music that you are making at the moment?

In the future I plan to work in other genres of House and Techno music. From Minimal house with deep elemens (such German Minimal House style), Detroit/minimal Techno. And of course experiments with sounds by using crossfading with djing, Techno styles and other elements, such Trance, Industrial elements, all in one track.

21. Changing the subject slightly. What are your thoughts for the music called Uk Garage /2-Step Garage music coming out of England. Has the music been heard in Moscow?? Is this a music that you like or dislike??

We have some djs in Russia who play this this style of House and Garaage music. The record labels or artists that get played are Pure Silk records, Mj Cole etc, Artful Dodger and many more. The people (*Clubbers!!), who go to parties in Moscow, love this music. The UK 2-Step garage scene is more popular and commercial in Moscow, then that of Deep house and Underground house.

22. Are there other producers in Russia, in your opinion that we should keep an eye on that are making good Deep House music. Is House music getting bigger in Russia?

There are many projects, collectives and djs that are trying to making House music in Russia. Also via various genres, and trying to put some thing personal to the world House music. Some of collectives, have released their own tracks on various record labels.

I think the producing side of House music within Russia, is now at the beginning. And, I think, many people around the world, will be listening to Russian artists soon in the future!!

23. Within the field of music. Have you travelled aboard? If so where. Please let me know where you have travelled with regards to either Djing. Or remixing or production duties!!

No, I haven't had time to travel with my own music material for Djing etc. This is because I have no time for this, and or do I have big studio work. But, I think, it is temporary...

24. What are your ambitions and goals within this business. You must have some?

I just want to show to people, who listen House and Techno music, my approach towards electronic music, and something of me.

25. What do you think of interviews. Do you like doing them. Yes, I know that you are doing one as we speak. But in general do you like doing them?

I receive questions from other people who want to hear about myself from time to time. I answered all their questions; and after sending them all the information which they wanted to receive from me. I would like for more for people to read these information about me.

26. Lastly but not least. Have you got any advice for any aspiring record label producer, DJ or club owner within the world of House and Garage. Any rules that he should adhere to!

More and more great sounds of the artists for House music labels, more great vinyl for djs, and good promoters for clubs. Carl, thanks for this interview. I hope that garage-music.com gives to people, more house music news in future..

Interview conducted by Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Igor Vlasov - S.P.C., Moscow, Russian Federation

All rights of the text and the images belong to Carl Brown, Ipswich, England and Igor Vlasov, Moscow, Russia
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