Over thirty and still dirty! The enthusiasm and dedication to music has allowed these guys to remain as good as we can ever remember them. Here’s a little interview with Vaso, Machki and Nikola. Tevdo declined to comment as what he once said in an interview was misinterpreted and misused. Ok! I didn’t get a chance to interview Zhani (PassNGR) as I had to leave the party early due to exhaustion. There’s always next time. One thing’s for sure though... Always value our local dj’s for if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have a scene that is ever evolving. And believe me, they are just as good, if not better than the superstar dj’s!. Here’s what was whilst at the party.
ind.o.g: Skopje loves techno! I think that’s a fact stated many times over?
Vaso: That’s how it is!
ind.o.g: All you older dj’s have got together tonight to have a mix. What expectations do you have from tonight’s party?
Vaso: The party has been in the works since 2 August 2005. We’ve been planning for this to come together for about six and a half months. My expectations have totally been fulfilled, which means the people definitely like this sort of thing. I think this is a very exclusive party and I don’t believe anyone has thought of bringing together the dj’s who’s started the scene here in Macedonia. It’s fantastic!
ind.o.g: First class party for sure!
ind.o.g: Machki, you’re from the newer generation of dj’s that play techno. Does it bother you that our scene will need to be revived again? Which means we will need to focus only on our dj’s without the need to depend on and book foreign dj’s to fill the club.
Machki: That doesn’t have to mean that everything has to be done on your own, like tonight. It doesn’t matter if they are foreign or not, the place is cult like, many people adore it. We were lucky enough to be the first to get to this venue and we did a tremendous job, because at that particular point there were a number of poorly organised parties being held for a long period of time. Nobody valued the Macedonian dj’s at all, they weren’t invited to play anywhere, we had to organise ourselves to go to Kavadarci, Gevgelija and Bitola. In the meantime, tonight is something different, since we’ve been here at The Club from the start of the year, there have been plenty of awsome parties.
ind.o.g: Which means you are ecstatic that The Club will be alive for sometime?
Machki: Yes I hope so!
ind.o.g: Vaso what do you think?
Vaso: Yes yes yes!!!
ind.o.g: Tonight I realised that Skopje loves techno! What do you think?
* Nikola: Skopje loves it!
ind.o.g: The party went really well, and from what I can recall, it’s been a while since you’ve all played together in the one place.
* Nikola: Yes that’s right, it’s not often that we get a chance to play together throughout the year.
ind.o.g: From what I can see, the Macedonian dj’s are ignored, a lot attention is given to the foreign dj’s that come to play in Skopje and a lot of fuss is made over them?
* Nikola: Well, that was happening for a good period however I think that over the last few years the dj’s and promoters have been aware of that. I believe there’s a tendency for change now which was not present here before. That’s definitely taking root. This will result it much better recognition for our homegrown dj’s.
ind.o.g: Hey tell me, you worked in ‘Bang Box’ Project didn’t you?
* Nikola: Yes hahaha it still exists.
ind.o.g: Really? That’s great, I’m very pleased that it’s still around.
* Nikola: Well yes, it happens once or twice a year. In principle, the project was made at a time when the Macedonian dj’s were totally cut off from the clubs. That’s one of the reasons it was established, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together and spin some tunes and have a bit of a laugh - that’s an extra reason! Anyhow, Bang Box was initially formed as a project to create a distance between the foreign dj’s and the local dj’s. I think it’s nonsense to throw a lot of money at some third or fifth place dj that comes to play here and then leaves with a heap of money, yet our dj’s are struggling to make ends meet. It’s not logical.
ind.o.g: Vaso, what do you think of the Bang Box project?
Vaso: I’m greatful for the Bang Box project as many dj’s including myself, got a chance to play throughout other cities which we had never played in before. That was an excellent project and it will continue. The current project that we’re now having every week in The Club also took off along those lines, giving other dj’s a chance to play.
ind.o.g: Nikola, is a Macedonian agency required to book dj’s in Macedonia? Do you think this is workable? Is such an agency required?
* Nikola: I think such an agency is required but not because this has become a business that can’t be controlled. The local dj’s must have greater protection in terms of their conditions which must be fulfilled by the promoters, such as being paid up front. After all, there’s more stability and you can plan ahead if there’s an agency that organises those things for you. You know that everything is above board and you can be sure that you are not going to an untrustworthy location. I think the time has come for us not to work without a contract. Contracts are a must. Anyway, an agency must be established.
ind.o.g: Yes, this scene definitely must be revived. We have plenty of talented dj’s.
* Nikola: The scene has been revived for a while, it has a good crowd and plenty of dj’s but the one thing it lacks is infrastructure. However, in comparison with Serbia, Bosnia and so forth, I think musically we are way ahead of them. That doesn’t mean in terms of quantity we have more parties than they do, but in terms of quality we are in front for the very reason that many things were a first in Macedonia before the surrounding block caught onto them. What I want to say is that we have excellent dj’s and a strong party crowd which does in fact listen to top quality music. We don’t have infrastructure thanks to the club owners who saw that they could make a bit of money and turned matters around towards the counter, but everything else exists in Macedonia.
ind.o.g: Super, Super, and what about the production?
* Nikola: Production, when the government starts to hand out loans for small businesses!!! (At which point everyone bursts out laughing)
ind.o.g: Yes, our government should invest more in culture rather than politics.
* Nikola: It doesn’t matter, all parts of the community are essential. Let them invest in politics so long as they don’t destroy what we have created, as they are really trying with hard to forbid the organisation of bigger parties, but let’s not openly discuss this. The government has done something which is appealing to them in terms of taxes meanwhile they haven’t protected those promoters and organisers which don’t own clubs. In fact, they must go to where there exists a possibility to organise a good party as they don’t have any other choice in the matter. Luckily The Club exists as a unique venue where everything can be included in the program.
ind.o.g: Thank you very much to all of you that participated in the discussion.
(c) ind.o.g.translated by tania. skopjeclubbing.com.mk
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