Hi Vangelis, tell us about you
I am 38 years old currently living in the sound part of Athens in Greece producing cool beats for the last 17 good years while djing 20 🙂
What made you get in to dance music?
I was always been fascinated by electronic music. Looking at mighty Vangelis or JMZ manipulating sounds on their big analog synths, creating atmospheres while stimulating my brain drove my curiosity to explore this craft. However getting into dance music itself, i owe it to a couple underground radio shows in the mid 90s which played techno and breaks.
Where was your first gig?
In the age of 15 at the stage of my high school with a couple hundred pumped up sweaty teenagers (lol)
How difficult was learning to produce for you in the beginning?
My first ever producing experience was on a Roland MC303 my parents bought me when i was 16. On it i learned how to sequence, create beats, basses and in general how to setup a track. I must say that it wasnt a difficult task, being a DJ helps a lot understanding the structure of a track. Producing a proper track though is an endless procedure of experimentation choosing the rights instruments and sounds which im still learning.
Talk to us about your latest release and the inspiration behind it.
My latest release is coming up on Food Records. Its a 3 track EP which is heavy on jacking beats and bass. Usually my inspiration comes from my gear. I’m a synth junkie and at the time i did the tracks i had just purchased an amazing mono synth made by a small company in Berlin called MFB which they tend to create quite raw machines. Perhaps that’s why the tracks are a bit edgy.
https://soundcloud.com/changeunder/vangelis-kostoxenakis-talkback-food-music
What’s the music scene like where you live and how often are you playing?
Oh my its terrible, i think it couldn’t be worse. The people are completely uneducated regardless the internet and mass info. They only go out to a couple hyped parties to check in their facebooks and shoot selfies. That bad! Last couple of years i slowed down my gigs due to the birth of my first child and stayed more home but produced more music than ever. Nowadays im travelling across Greece to selected venues and with the new season the world. I just joined My Favourite Freaks dj agency and things are looking very promising.
Which other DJs or producers are you liking right now?
I literally dig anything that comes out from my fellow Greeks, Detlef and Mihalis but also love the stuff by Twin State, Sidney Charles, Max Chapman, Andrea Oliva, i constantly drop their music and always goes down big!
What are your go to labels?
Hot Creations, Material, Toolroom, Food, Moon Harbour, Snatch, Talk of the Town, Sola, Solid Grooves, Relief.
Tell us about your DJ setup
2xSL1200/1210 MK2+2nexus and any mixer ill deliver bigtime.
What can we expect from you soon
Lots of new music in top labels and shows are coming/announced soon. Stay tuned.