Page 33 - Zone Magazine - Issue 033 - Jan Johnston

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Well, the music was always with me. My dad
Could we start off with your musical background, what are your first musical memories?
Hey guys! First, I’d love to say thank you for having me. It’s a big honor and pleasure to talk with you. Appreciate that!
Well, the music was always with me. My dad was a disco lover. He listened the stuff from ABBA, Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Sandra and I think it was a huge influence on the formation of my musical taste. A bit later, when I was a teenager, I discovered a British electronic scene and from that moment my mind turned over. I was limitlessly happy to buy the new cassettes by the groups as The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, and Fatboy Slim. It was an incredible time. I did a selection for myself and all my neighboring peers always asked for this kind of cassette for their collections.
What did you get into first, djing or production?
I started to produce in 2014. So, I’m still a fresh blood in this business haha. Returning to the first question, the same time when I was a teenager, I was curious how to make that kind of music, and in my small village close to the capital of republic where I was born (Republic of Kalmykia) people were not conscientious enough about electronic music production. But in 90’s I discovered some toy programs like Dance Ejay etc. It was like a magic. I can
say that I was already determined to study a more professional DAW. As you see it took a long time before I started to produce.
About DJing. I’m still not a DJ. I just try to show the music I produce, the music I love and the stuff from my labels. And I feel nervous every time when I start to play haha.
What was your first gig like? Any notable ones from the past?
Haha. It was ridiculous lol. We had a party in the place like a hookah bar or something like this. I was playing awful. When you play badly and you can’t mix the track from the 1st deck with another one in Russia we call it horses (you know like a galloping horses). So, I did it with a herd of horses that night. I wanted to sink into the ground. It was a huge shame.
How did you come about starting a label? You have quite a few now, which one was the first?
I launched «Mole Music» in 2015. Is a multi-genre label, but I try to release mostly Deep House and Jackin' House music there. It was my 1st experience and It still works. We have 2-3 releases in month. Check it out!
Well, the music was always with me. My dad
was a disco lover. He listened the stuff from
was a disco lover. He listened the stuff from
ABBA, Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Sandra
ABBA, Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Sandra
and I think it was a huge influence on the
and I think it was a huge influence on the
formation of my musical taste "
formation of my musical taste