The queen of Croatian techno rocking London town
Interview by Fidel Trotman & Nicky Trax
Welcome to DMCWORLD! You are making your debut at Egg London for the Unusual Suspects Ibiza party on Saturday April 14th, how would you describe your sound and what can clubbers expect on the night?
Hi guys! My sound is unique and warm for your soul and I can promise you will be leaving the dancefloor with a smile. I do a combination of dub minimal and deep tech music specially prepared to make you bounce!
Unusual Suspects is one of the more buzzing underground techno nights in Ibiza and can you tell us how you came to be involved in their parties?
Yeah for sure they are and I’m super happy to be a part of their family. I was playing Sankeys Ibiza for VIVa Warriors nights for 2 full summer seasons, so as my sound wasn’t quite fitting the Warriors crew. The owner David Vincent mentioned me to the guys as a new talent with a sound they might be looking for and they gave me an opportunity to play two shows for them. Both went really well so they invited me for more shows and took me under their wing as one of the residents.
You were born in Zadar, Croatia – what was it like growing up there and was there much of a club scene for you to hang out in and vibe off the music?
I was born in Zadar grew up on the Island Krk but went to college in Rijeka and the scene at that time was blossoming. I caught the right wave and we were going out so much and had an opportunity to hear a lot of great DJs so it was super inspiring at that time.
How did you get into DJing, were there any particular DJ/Producers that got you into electronic music?
You maybe remember an Italian guy Paolo Barbato? We started listening to his mixes and I really enjoyed his vibes and the kind of house music he was mixing, and there were some local guys also. But really nobody special was to blame for me falling in Love with this music and its energy on the dance floors. I was always fascinated with how the DJs control the crowd through a vibration that’s spreading all over the dance floor, but at that time It hadn’t even crossed my mind I could do it also. Later I had a neighbour who was a DJ and I asked him if I could borrow his mixer so I tried to mix some tunes in Virtual DJ because I was always fascinated how 2 tracks can blend so perfectly to create a new awesome tune. Later I started playing at my college just playing some tunes for the students drinking coffee and I learned everything by myself through trying things out and messing around.
Starting your career in 2005 how has the international festival culture, parties and electronic music changed from back then to the present? Do you think electronic music is in a happy place now?
Yeah for sure, I think it’s growing and becoming big as pop music. I think the future for electronic music is bright but the problem is I feel everything is to available to listeners. Back then people appreciated music more. They would cherish it, put some effort in order to listen to music and today we have everything within 2 mouse clicks.
You did an Audio Sound Engineering Diploma at S.A.E University of Ljublijana which must have given you the confidence to produce electronic music. Is there one special track that you most proud of?
I came to SAE as a clean slate and didn’t know anything but I was eager to learn and I met a lot of people there. The school wasn’t as practical as I was hoping but yeah It gave me the confidence to start on my own. My favourite track I made is ‘Come Closer’ which got released on Vinyl on my own label ThanQ Music. I really like what I did there and it’s special because of the personal story behind it where 2 people can’t seem to stay close and always drift apart somehow.
What’s your set up in the studio and how do you come up with ideas for your tracks?
It’s never the same. I don’t have a formula or like a bank of favourite kick drum sounds. I just start browsing through some loops, looking for something that will inspire me. It can be a bass, kick or a hook melody, something catchy, and then I usually build from there. I have an old UC33, launchpad, some external delays and reverbs, a mic and a mac. Not much but I believe it’s not about what you have but what you make with it.
What’s coming out next studio wise?
I have just a few remixes coming out in the next few months but I have a lot of music still unsigned which I hope will see the light of day soon.
What producers and labels should we be watching out for in 2017?
Innocent Music and his boss Aney F are both on fire. Reelow is on a good track right now too!
Your record label THANQ has been outstanding production wise with Innocent Music and Balie Music forming stepping stones in your career to date. How does it feel to have the freedom to release what you want and is that why you started your label?
Yeah that was the idea behind it as I often feel my music doesn’t fit anywhere and the second reason was wanting to create something on my own and to spread the importance of being grateful in everyday life. I truly believe it’s a key to a happy life!
You recently played at Booth in Columbia which looked pretty amazing! What was that like?
Yeah Columbia was amazing! I played Medellin and Cali and both shows were great with super nice crowds and good vibes but my visit to Panama was of the hook! Everything there was so awesome that It kind off put a shade on the Colombia shows but I definitely feel there is a movement there and it’s gonna explode very soon! People are so nice, warm, kind, into good music and the vibes are outstanding! Can’t wait to return to both countries!
How do you compare the parties in Ibiza to?
Ibiza is different from anything anywhere and that’s really quite hard to explain. In Ibiza there are people from everywhere, the crowd is so diverse and the sound is on top everywhere! London is more like London you know, people get crazy and enjoy the music but on Ibiza everything is x10!!!
USB or Vinyl – discuss please?
I don’t care – I just play some nice records and keep the flow going! Personally I love to play vinyl but at my home, having a nice evening with friends or just alone having some fun and relaxing but in the club, it’s just too risky; grounding, right needles, really delicate to touch.. and I like to dance, jump around and that’s why I prefer CDJs where I can see the remaining time on the record and just touch it without the fear you gonna touch it too hard or too gentle.
And lastly before we head off to the Unusual Suspects Ibiza party at Egg London on April 15th, what should we be listening to?
For sure my latest podcast for the Barbur Music Podcast series
https://soundcloud.com/barburroom/br-local-heroes-010-marina-karamarko
Marina Karamarko joins an all star cast including Oliver Huntemann, Thomas Melchior, Maayan Nidam, Valentino Kanzyani, Janina, Rick Maia,and Federico Grazzini back to back with Frank Storm at the Unusual Suspects Ibiza session on Saturday April 14th at Egg London. In the Basement room, Under My Feet lets rip with Ireen Amnes back 2 back Cimmerii, Violent Blondes and more. All info www.egglondon.co.uk
Check out Marina Karamarka here: Facebook Soundcloud Beatport @ThanQ/Innocent Music/Baile Music
