One of Russia’s biggest producers returns with his massive new album ‘Same Difference’
Dmitry welcome to DMCWORLD and congratulations on your fourth artist album ‘Same Difference’. Where in the world are you right now?
“Right now Dan I’m answering the interview whilst packing my bags to get home from Singapore!”
I interviewed Arty this week, a fellow Russian superstar. He admitted that although there are some good Russian clubs, there is a severe lack of big festival style events – something we found baffling with the amount of millions Russian investors are ploughing into nightlife all around the world. Why is that?
“Well in Russia there a lot of great nightclubs – that’s true. It all depends on the country politically I think. For example in Moscow you simply won’t get permission to make a huge event like EDC for example. The government won’t allow that! Another thing is the Russian mentality – Russians are more lazy to get themselves into ‘more dirty places’ like festivals – they prefer nice looking clubs which are on their doorstep. Plus many people just want to get abroad – it’s their dream from childhood (not everyone of course, but many of them). That’s why as soon as they have a chance to invest, it’s more interesting for them to do it outside Russia and probably it’s more safe. There are plenty of Russian artists who don’t really play in Russia (1-2 shows a year). Why is that? Cause they were born here – and of course it’s more interesting to concentrate on something you don’t know yet.”
You have of course been instrumental in the emergence of Russia’s electronic dance breakout for the past ten years, how did all of this begin for you though. How old were you when you first heard the strains of dance music and who were the first Djs/producers who impressed you?
“It happened in 2000 when I heard a Armin van Buuren live set on a CD. That time mp3 wasn’t so popular – so I got a present to my birthday and the day later it changed my whole life – I checked the set and was like WOW! Before I was a fan of rock and never liked EDM!”
So new album, 13 stunning tracks, please can you give us a few words on each…
“Sure…
Same Difference – just a ‘starter’ – wanted to make an easy listening tune for a start.
For Who I Am (with Ana Criado) – vocal trance tune! Quite interesting how breakdown differs from the rest of the song.
Quattro 372 – dedicated to my car!
Miami Echoes – started this one in Miami during WMC 2013 – it has that wibe I guess.
Play Fire With Fire (with Susana) – just a try to mix a ‘trance’ vocalist with a non trance track.
Diamond Hell – deep one. Was a first single from “Same Difference” album.
Sacramentum (with Andrew Rayel) – glad you like it.
No Substitute For You (with Betsie Larkin) – I like the chords in this track. Lovely Betsie voice of cours cant go wrong.
Basque The Dog – with a melody from old Russian movie. Great reaction in the clubs.
Sober Duck – fun track – I like the melody!
Slow MMXIII (featuring Mariske Hekkenberg) – cover of a cover! I did cover of Slow in 2007 – still people sometimes ask me to play this record so I did a 2013 mix – closer to what I play at the moment.
The Space Track – another record made for clubs.
Lovin’ Lies – my first try to produce uplifting trance. Was hard for me to make this one.
The album is being touted as the second chapter to ‘Rocket Ride’, it certainly retains the same styles, would you agree?
“Yes it’s the same EDM music – and it has quite a trancey mood – that’s why I can happily say it’s the second chapter to Rocket Ride…”
For the new album you have engaged the talents of some of electronic music’s hottest singers and most creative lyricists. Talk us through the five artists you invited onto ‘Same Difference’ and why you wanted them on board…
Susana – I just wanted a trance vocalist to sing a non trance song! An experiment.
Ana Criado – she has a nice voice and I think it fits the instrumental tune.
Andrew Rayel – wasn’t a plan – just happened and I’m happy with the result.
Betsie Larkin – we did ‘You Belong To Me’ together and decided to make another tune.
Adrian & Raz – they produced the vocals for ‘Slow MMXIII’, the Susana tune and Ana Criado. The are the most talented lyrics writers I know…”
The album begins with a timely glance in the direction of Ibiza with some subtly thrummed 70s guitarism and Med-trance bliss…
“Well Dan I hope you hear this tune in bars during the summer! It works!”
“A quote from you…“In the studio the human voice is now every bit as inspiring to me as the synthesizer” – Please discuss that comment…
“I was speaking basically about the tune ‘Miami Echoes’ – where the voice of my wife is playing as a synthesizer – and of course she inspires me a lot.”
I also love the quote from you when discussing ‘Rocket Ride’ and a possible trip to the moon; “I don’t really wanna go there as I have enough flights every week”. Really? So if a pal gave you a free trip on Richard Branson’s moon voyage you’d pass on it?
“Haha – yeah!!!! I really don’t wanna go there, sorry.”
What is the best and worst thing about living in Moscow – try and answer that question without using the words ‘girls’ and ‘drinks’…!!
“Worst – many angry people.
Best – everything is open 24 hours. You can easily get a Sony Playstation at 4am for example.”
Who are some of the cool Russian producers we should be checking out right now?
“I really feel some house guys like Swanky Tunes, Hard Rock Sofa, Arty. Also like stuff by Alexander Popov. But I think that the main heroes within next few years will come from former USSR countries, but not from Russia.”
Not many people know this, but Bobina is really good at…
“Body massage haha…”
Where have been some of the stand out gigs for you recently?
“For me personally every gig is important. And I always have positive feelings from every show. I’m just a person like this – I find positives on everything. So a few hours ago I played a 4 hour set at Zouk Singapore – and I really like it! But if you ask me a week later – the same answer will be about another place…”
What is on a typical Bobina gig rider?
“Good moods all round, sunshine smiles and CDJ2000 linked.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“I have done two collab tunes with a really talented young guy from Russia. He sent me a few demos and I was very impressed by the way he does “drops”. So we met – played some melodies and completed two tracks. You will hear them this year I think . Plus there will be singles from the album with very interesting remixes in my opinion. So expect a lot of new music from me..”