Bedrock’s new star reaching out from Greek shores…
From ambient soundscapes, downtempo vocal tracks and slo-mo house, through to deliciously deep house, tech-house and acid grooves, ‘It Is What It Is’ is the supremely exciting debut artist album from Stelios Vassiloudis, out now on Bedrock. ‘Reaching’ is house music that is deeply sophisticated, oozing spacious melodic beauty, ebbing and flowing with supreme ease. As with the whole album, it feels like a truly inspired journey to the heart, mind and soul of an extremely talented musician, producer and DJ. He’s Greece lightning!
Words: Dan Prince
Welcome to DMC towers Stelios! So, when did you decide you wanted to be a producer and DJ?
“Hello Dan, thank you for having me. It’s a real pleasure to be here. I knew relatively early on that I wanted to be involved with music and it’s always been a huge part of life. I studied music at university and at postgraduate level, so, luckily, being able to be involved in music professionally was the next logical step. My aspirations to pursue DJing came substantially later – and, initially, only as a means to supplement my career as a producer!”
Growing up in Athens, when did you first discover electronic music?
“Electronic music didn’t actually register with me until quite later on – specifically not until the late 90’s when I was at university in the UK. I grew up listening to mostly rock music and went on to study jazz and classical music. In the early to mid 90’s, electronic music was very much in its infancy in Greece, and, for the most part, quite underground. Being a typical impressionable, elitist teenager, I was already far too involved with other genres of music at the opposite end of the spectrum in order to notice. Electronic music was/is so much more widespread and accepted in the UK, so it made a far greater impression the second time around. Obviously, being able to immerse myself in the unique club culture and have the appropriate club experiences was instrumental in fully appreciating this
kind of music.”
You once said when asked about making the album that “the majority of us mere mortals have to pay bills and make ends meet through regular jobs”. So outside of music, what other work do you do?
“The majority of producers that came to “prominence” in the middle to latter part of the 00’s were faced with the harsh reality that recorded music, as a commodity, is in a state of perpetual free fall. I remember watching distributor after distributor, label after label, institution after institution fold, go into liquidation etc. Essentially, and on a more immediate and personal level for most producers, these were all “reasons” we would never see any compensation for our work! I heeded the warning pretty early on and decided to invest any time (and money) I could spare or had earned doing other things. The largest part of my extra curricular activities involves running a bakery business that specializes in cupcakes and cheesecakes! We’ve got 3 locations so far and do a good amount of wholesale, which, in the current economic climate, is quite positive.”
What was your first break in the music industry?
“My first break came in the form of a very unlikely phone call from Scott Dawson, then the manager at Dave Seaman’s Audio Therapy label. I had slipped Dave a CD of my first ever track and apparently it made an impression. I guess everyone makes a start somewhere, but in this case Scott went onto become label manager at Bedrock and I have worked with him closely ever since that first day, so I think it was a bigger “first break” than most!”
What did your family think of your choice of career?
“To their everlasting credit, they were very enthusiastic. I mean, they hugely contributed towards putting me through college so I guess, even though I didn’t go on to become a big shot Hollywood film composer, being able to professionally pursue my passion in music in some other respect was more than fine with them. “As long as you’re happy”…hahaha.”
Who are the movers and shakers in the Greece DJ and producer world right now?
“I think putting the words Greece, DJ and Producer in the same sentence is quite ambitious. That’s how stagnant I think the scene here is. Granted, there are some phenomenal producers and DJ’s all doing their own thing and carving out very admirable career trajectories in their own right, but none of this is very much connected to or rooted in the Greek reality. At the moment of writing this, I don’t think there are any “proper” clubs operating full time in Greece. I wouldn’t say there are any “movers and shakers” out
there, really. Just a bunch of people deluding themselves and the people following them that don’t know any better.”
What is it about the whole Bedrock, Renaissance sound that you love?
“Both Bedrock and Renaissance are highly respected and hugely influential labels that have managed to carve their own niche and leave a lasting imprint on the world of electronic music. I’ve always admired Bedrock as a label and John as its figurehead. I’m not so sure Bedrock has a particular “sound” anymore, but the longevity they’ve enjoyed as well as their enduring relevance in the field are a true testament to their (and John’s) passion for new and exciting music as well as their creative vision.”
How long did it take to create your beautiful album ‘It Is What It Is’?
“I worked on and off on it for about 2 years, in total. It seems like a really long time in retrospect, but I never had the luxury of time or the peace of mind to sit down and hammer it out, like one would in an ideal situation.”
“This album has restored some of my faith in my artistic process” – what was the meaning behind your quote there?
“What I was getting at is that putting the album together, getting it released on a great label and getting some really nice feedback, all on pretty much my own terms and according to my own (somewhat warped) design, was a really, really special experience. After having made music to particular design (specifically for the dancefloor or for specific DJ’s and labels in mind) for a long time, it was very refreshing to throw out the rule book and get back to what excited me about music in the first place. It’s been very liberating and very rewarding to be able to write the music I want, how I want, and be lucky enough to have people listen!”
What is your personal favourite tune from the album, today?
“I still really like ‘I Burn Like’. It was one of the first tracks I wrote for the album (before it even was an album) and it helped shape the things to come.”
Two great new remixes of ‘Reaching’ out this week, talk us through this package, what is it about Samuel L Sessions you admire?
“I’ve been a huge fan of Samuel’s music for many years. He has an instantly recognizable sound and a very consistent approach to remixing. He’s always been very high on my “wish list”. With the package for “Reaching” I thought it would be a great opportunity to show people a little bit more of my “dance floor” sensibilities, since the album version is a little more “home listening” oriented, in my humble opinion. That, plus the fact that I think it offers far better value for money (as opposed to re-releasing the album
version) was the reasoning behind these new mixes.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“In no particular order…”
1) Gavin Herlihy – Endless Feeling
2) Eats Everything – Entrance Song (SLG remix)
3) Matthias Vogt – Under The Radar (The Flow)
4) Stelios Vassiloudis – Reaching (Samuel L Sessions Deep Remix)
5) Francys – Crossing The White Line (Gorge Remix)
6) Steve Parker – Innerstate
7) Yooj – Mademoiselle (Martin Buttrich Remix)
8) Tony Lionni – Higher Ground
9) Fosky – Shiva (Martinex Brothers Remix)
10) Marc Romboy and Rodriguez Jr – Picnic Electronique
What was the best club you DJ’d at in 2011?
“Easily the ‘Melkweg’ in Amsterdam. It was during ADE, and I was on the bill for the Bedrock showcase so it was a special night overall. Fantastic club, superbly run and organized and a really, really receptive and enthusiastic crowd all up for a good time. I don’t think you could ask for anything more!”
What country that you have ventured to in the past 12 months really blew you away?
“I haven’t really travelled all that much in the past 12 months, since I was quite busy with the album, so I really couldn’t say! Ask me again at the end of 2012!”
Can you remember the moment whilst DJing when you realised, yes, I think I can make a career out of this now?
“I have never been complacent or naive enough to have the thought seriously cross my mind. However, there are obviously certain gigs when you’re doing a good job and things are going well overall when you might allow yourself the proverbial, cheeky pat on the back. DJing is very competitive and the market for it is wildly unpredictable. I’d think twice before seriously committing myself to making a career out of it.”
What is the general feeling of the youth in your home country at the moment?
“Things aren’t great. There is a general state of unrest and disillusionment. Unemployment is on the rise, our faith in the government and the social system has all but dissipated and the future looks uncertain at best. I think our Mediterranean temperament dictates that we naturally try to stay hopeful and laid-back, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult.”
What is Athens clublife like right now?
Virtually non existent. I don’t even bother going out anymore, which is a
shame.
It’s your birthday – what 3 DJs from around the world do you ask to play?
“DJ Shadow, for helping me discover electronic music. Craig Richards, for sound-tracking my first ‘club’ experience. Satoshi Tomiie, because he’s been a huge inspiration.”
What is the biggest compliment a clubber has ever given you?
“I guess anyone who has a said they like my music and hasn’t been overtly inebriated is good enough for me.”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Off the top of my head, it’s a toss up between Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’ and Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’. I think the obligatory air drumming involved with the latter probably gives it the edge!”
Out of everyone you have collaborated with, who did you enjoy working with the most?
“I generally find collaborating really difficult, so I don’t think I’ve really “enjoyed” it very much. That said, there are people I have worked with from whom I’ve learned a great deal. People like Sasse or John Dalagelis (who helped me engineer my album), both of whom I hold in very high regard, and I would happily work with in a heartbeat.”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“That’s a difficult question. Probably ‘Adamedge’ by Nathan Fake. Simple, timeless, effective and still makes me bob my head and smile.”
Not many people know this, but Stelios Vassiloudis is really good at…
“I don’t know if I’m REALLY good, but I’ve been pretty rigorously involved with martial arts for the last 10 years or so. Aside from work and music, it’s the only other thing I get time to really apply myself to.”
And finally, what are the studio plans for the rest of 2012? It took you a while to complete the album – are you taking a breather now?
“Actually, John Digweed recently joked that since it took me 2 years to write ‘It Is What It Is’, I should probably be on track to start writing the follow-up! I’m not sure about jumping into that yet, but certainly, the album has given me a broader platform and a wider audience, so I’m very keen to maintain the momentum.”
Stelios Vassiloudis
‘Reaching’
1. Stelios Vassiloudis Remix 11:17
2. Stelios Vassiloudis Dub 09:30
3. Samuel L Sessions Deep Remix 06:23
4. Samuel L Sessions Jackin’ Remix 06:23
(Bedrock) BEDSVR01
Release: 30.01.12
LISTEN HERE: http://soundcloud.com/bedrock_rec
