Superb interview, this gentleman truly gets it. As a 45 year old DJ that came up in the NYC underground House Music scene I whole heatedly agree. Festivals and clubs have made the DJ’s the “Star” when the reality is the music, the journey and the emotions are the “Star”.
I would give ANYTHING to have seen the Underground Rave scene of the 80's / 90's --- it looked so much BETTER and higher QUALITY than the new Festival scene.
@@KentKaliber What happened then was people got off their asses and made something happen, because that was all we had. It was new, fresh, it barely had genres, it was just house & techno. I DJ'ed myself in the 90's, never self promoted, never had a face on a flier. I wasnt interested in mix tapes even. All that mattered was that moment in the club.
This is why I prefer the rave era of the late or mid 1980's - mid 2000's. Because they let the music do the talking along with the skills of the DJ. Both rave and club music then makes you want to dance.
He nailed it perfectly, real djs must serve the sound, festivals often are made to make big money n glorify some ego, tomorrowland is only a circus, who cares to see flag from different nations, House, Techno is universal
Agreed a real set with a crowd that’s just there for the music and a dj that knows how to turn the chaos into magic it didn’t matter who u were everyone had somin in common the music
Absolutely agree! John Digweed said: "If you're the biggest DJ in the world, you're in a position where you can play stuff that people don't know and blow people's minds, but if you just chose to play stuff they know just to get a reaction, that's just being lazy.There's no challenge there." "Now you could be the No. 1 DJ and everyone knows your records in your set from start to finish before you've gone onstage, so there's no surprise there,"
i remember that! so on point.. i always said something similar.. plus.. meritocracy and technocracy used to be one of the most cool things in electronic music.. and because of that i'm super thankful for that underground..
Yes, that's kind of a education for DJing in electrical music. 1. never play a track twice, to often. 2. play what people don't already know. 3. You need a good taste for some grooves, which are special. I was getting that from Sven Dohse one day. Whatever.
@@daniel223243as a DJ myself,you play a mixture of what people do know and don't know,people lose interest fairly quickly if your playing obscure tracks they've never heard,you need to lock them in and then keep them so they can discover new tracks as well as get the buzz from hearing something they know every few songs.iv played sets of absolutely killer unknown tracks that get no reaction but if you throw in a few tracks that do know to keep the vibe,everyone keeps dancing.at the end of the day the job of the DJ is to keep people dancing
Showed a DJ friend of mine with 23 years exeperience this video. They said that you are perhaps one of the few DJ's that fully GETS IT. I am so glad that I got into this music because of you (saw you and ben In SF few years back) Truly A DJ's DJ. Thank you Zack. Keep doing your thing. The real recognize. You inspire me.
Idk, I think lots of us get it, but the constitution of most people who get it is one that make us not want to engage in or compete with the current party scene.
As a 20 year old that just fell in love (and i think its for real) with club culture and electronic music this is such a crazy interview thank you so much for this
Hey, its been a yr! Checking in to see if youre still you being you 😉 i hope so. Be you, if ya grandma knits ya a hat, rock it! Be you and youll make whatever scene you dance with more vibrant and less bot like. Create more than you consume🎉
I've lived in berlin for more than 3 years, going clubbing 2-3 times per month. This guy is the best dj around. The way this guy is able to connect to such a broad audience is fuckn unbelievable...and he's not doing it by playing "well known crowd triggerin" tracks. He builds it, he's really experienced and the more you go clubbing the more you get it. He's the kind of guy who can gets you high just doing his job. Never cared about technique but if you go clubbing often at some point you start making yourself some questions and eventually understand how a fade should be how the volumes should be levelled between a song and another one. this guy is genuinely something GOoD! Best sets i've experienced in the last 3 years where made by him and Parrish Smith
I recommend sisyphos & berghain as well as watergate, these are amazing to experience at least once. Hidden gems like Club des visionaires (or Hoppetasse) and Point blank are also great imo..
@@zentek777 The best advice i can give you is to be open, be nice to people and just enjoy. There's no perfect club. you might also go to Saule...Is in the same building of berghain but a differente room (they won't be open at the same time)
It's difficult to get into Berghain depending on the bouncer and your crew. Me and my two buddies from America were denied so we went to a different club. Berghain is known as one of the hardest clubs to get into.
DVS1 played Berghain this past weekend and his ability is crazy. He was playing fun/danceable tracks and then launching right back into pure chaos as if he knew that’s what everybody wanted.
lol the Toronto "underground" scene is as commercialized & competitive as any other...from all accounts, MTL and Vancouver are much more grassroots and collaborative
He is so right! That's one of the things that's turned me away from current parties. They make it so much about who's who, rather than freedom of this genre of music.
That's really my feeling in the last decade too. Does someone know Carlos Alkalina? That was my last time having a real pleasure clubbing weekend in terrible Berlin.
On top of being an absolute genius when it comes to the dynamics of sound, Zak is one of the nicest, most down to earth people you will ever meet. The mid 90's rave scene in Minneapolis was truly a magical place to be! Very proud to see him getting the recognition that he deserves. #612forlife.
damn dvs1 i could listen to you all day. these 30 min felt so short.. you literally speak my mind, and i also learned some new perspectives. this was awesome - thank you
i truly wish DJs were hidden more often. i always prefer to dance close to the back of the crowd, where i have space to let my body go wild & really utilize the space. the whole trend/habit of people cramming up onto the DJ box without space to move is just so restrictive & limiting. once you limit your body you are limiting the experience. as Zak says, electronic music is body music. remove the sight or focal point of a DJ box & people would be there purely to experience the music. awesome wanna go to one of his parties!!
one reason I like to dj in front of the dj is because I want to show my appreciation to the music and really feel the experience of someone who understands how to make music. If the dj is bad though I prefer not to dance.
@@VittamarFasuthAkbin same I feel connected when I'm facing and can see the DJ playing. If I'm just dancing i can enjoy the music but it's not as good as I feel more connection when i can see the person playing the music
@@deanVodkahouse Me too, like our crew always tried to position itself near the DJ, and then i made rounds to see what the DJ was doing with the mixer and shit. But I understand what Zak is trying to do.
I’ve heard him once in London’s Cable club(which unfortunately closed permanently)during after hours, the sound system was so powerful that when he played his “Polyphonic Love” track, thought I could now literally die, the bass was soo rich and simple that it went through my body and like he mentioned on this interview, It shifted shapes inside of me. Really great experience I had. Huge respect for DVS1!!
From my perspective, this interview perfectly shows the times we are living. Its time to move forward, it is high time we spoke out about what´s going on, no matter what if its about electronic music, our lives, politics, unfairnesses, etc. let´s all be the driving force for the generations to come!
I was lucky enough to play all sorts of venues back in the day (47 year old BTW), now I play at a bar (every few weeks) that can hold 40 people max and i love it. The punters appreciate a real vinyl set (not to disrespect other DJing methods). DVS1 is articulate and speaks with knowledge and passion.. Fantastic interview. Thanks for posting.
Music Festivals are like a circus. Many acts and you have the clowns who try and make you laugh but cry within. Festivals are big money, less music and a cult to be seen at. The passion within DVS I flows because he passionately followed his dream, the vision of being yourself and let your music speak. Few can voice an opinion like he has, this man has a conviction and is proud of it. Cheers boy 👍👍👍 A DJ is a DJ when he can handle a club playing for 6 hours.....and tell a story.
I totally get what he says now. I went to my first "underground" party a couple months ago. Was convinced by a friend to go because he's a big fan of Baba Stiltz. I stepped in and the vibe was great. Just a crowd of around 100-200 dancing. For a moment I was worried I couldnt see the DJ but as the night progressed I grew to not care. I didnt even realize Baba didn't show up until 3 hours in. All the DJs had amazing back-to-back sets. I never knew I had so much energy to dance since I was awake the whole day(?). After that show, I just want to chase that feeling now. I'm slowly un-learning the commercial aspects of attending shows. I'm starting to see how much "seeing" people at festivals affected my relationship to the art they wanted to portray.
love the experiment of taking the DJ's presence out of the dance experience... but I do appreciate the choice of either falling back on the dance floor and closing my eyes (for hours) - or seeking to connect to the DJ and their physical engagement. The body language of a DJ vibing with their own mixing and selection, how they anticipate their music, react to their music or react to the crowd is not necessarily taking away from my dancing. I don't dance in isolation. The dancefloor experience is about sharing moments, reactions and emotions - with other dancers, but also the artist. So much in DJing seems to be about reading and connecting with the crowd. Vice versa, and especially in long and more artistic sets, your presence allows me to understand where you're coming from, where you'll take things. Seeing the DJ's demeanor and body language can help establish the level of "trust" based on which I might follow the "left and right turns" blindly, in the end.
i totally agree. Thats why I prefer places with smaller, lower dj booths, not the big festival ones. I don't really need to see the dj all the time but I like the though of them being with me "on the dance floor"
I kind of agree with his take on club vs. festivals, but I think there's room for both. I've been to festivals like Dekmantel with around 30 000 attendees and love that I can see such a wide range of DJs and live acts during the course of three days. I also like when some acts put on big shows with lazers, strobs and other trippy visualz; you can rarely get that experience in a regular club. Having said that, most of the time I prefer to go to smaller clubs. Usually the sound is better and the DJ can play more intricate tracks, without losing details in the music. The balance between dance functionality and musicality is better. Also, I'm not 20 anymore and partying three days in a row is just too much for me.
True. Festivals like Timewarp are a unique experience. Amazing productions & educated crowd make it a proper festival. Others like Sunwaves & Exit festival are quality too
As someone who has played in a small intimate setting with a huge sound system I can confirm that the music becomes the main point of the night. When I have attended huge festivals with large crowds and huge stages it changes the vibe, the most enjoyable experiences are when you are shoulder on an intimate dancefloor with less lights and visuals.
I always felt lost at massive events, like the vibe was completely missing opposed to being in a smaller venue with a group of people on the same mission as you. Easy to get lost in the idea that bigger is better when in fact a much more intimate experience leads to a deeper connection.
I have heard him playing twice, the first time was all night long party, beautiful experience. This is the kind of interview you will see within a few years and everyone will say "he knew it".
DVS1 I absolutely agree with everything you said in this video. I have been in this scene for the past 20 plus years as a DJ, promoter, and supporter of this culture. I equate the festivals now as no more than the modern day equivalent of an 1980's hair metal concert spectacle. That's fine if that's your thing, but that's not what got me into the music. It was the feeling of the music on massive well-tuned sound system and not knowing what or who was playing just as long as your mind and body were blown to another dimension in the process. (RIP K.F.) I live in Birmingham, Alabama and we have no underground music scene here. I gave it my best effort to make it happen during the 1990's to mid-2000's but now it's devoid of any underground substance musically speaking. Regardless of my place in life, or success (what little I have known) with this global scene, I'll keep my passion and love for house music...forever. They can try on the next fad or flavor of the month and like always, move on to the next. Kids want to go to festivals now. Can't blame them. I just won't join them. Now get off my lawn! Respect.
Good post!! Cannot beat the Underground scene. Great music always evolves and gets commercialised and in most cases, always for the worst. But there will always be Underground scenes, that are fresh and pure for us proper music heads!! We just let the art and creation of the music speak the loudest in little dark places, away from the bright lights and attention.
I just cant see why one wouldnt ve able to do the same thing at a festival though? I'm going to a festival (so I'm a bit biased I suppose) but I'm not going for the line up. I want to feel the bass on my body, share the experience with more people and feel a connection. I feel that there should be space for both. I feel like, just like there are people who like more intimate settings, theres people who Dont like that and rather have a more....open party I guess. Just a perspective. Personally, I feel like I can enjoy the music (yes, still without knowing the dj) even if it's at a bigger festival. The music doesnt change for me. Just the setting.
Zak, I am looking forward to hearing you tonight in Denver. I'd love to shake your hand sir, this and other interviews that you did are speaking the truth about the scene through the eyes and brain of an old school raver. We have so much in common when it comes to the opinions of the scene. Well done dude.
In the early 90s I went to underground DJ events mostly at pubs (Adelaide SA) that were failing or had failed. No flashing lights, just brilliant music.
He’s speaking a lot of truths . At 37 I still go to techno Gigs , festivals . Not as many as I would like to . But Sometimes when they 5,6,7 hours sets it can become stagnant . They play 2-3 hours and your attention is captured for the full set , you leave thinking wow . Each to their own at the end of the day 👍
oh my gosh! Zak is such a clever human being... fortunately he's putting a great amount of common sense into the scene with his words. Pure wisdom, pure passion for the music...that´s it! Thank u so much!
He is very honest and wise as fuck about things. Very refreshing to hear a DJ who sticks to his roots and artistic credibility. No sell out and let the passion be the driving force!
This is an incredible interview. The intimacy of they way it was back in the day was incredible. Raves in the South East were amazing back in the mid 90s.
Thanks dvs1-san, I’m now addicted to make techno tracks on my laptop and holding some party in my local. I sometimes feel loneliness in local groups, they do not has passion or real motivation for purely music. And I’m planning to go out for music passion. I go for techno. I die for techno. Thanks.
I'm 50 Now...Grew Up In Houston, Texas...A Good Friend Of Mine Was A D.J. And Worked Many Of The Top Joints...The Late 80's Was Off The Chain...It Was A Different Scene...I've Been Blessed To Travel And Experience Many Club's And D.J.'s Around The World...I've Got Two Daughter's And I Understand When The Get Excited About Ultra Festival And Etc...I've Shared With My Them My Old School Artist...And They Share The New Artist With Me...For Me I Enjoy Smaller Festival's Or The illegal Gigs, Like My Amigos Throw In The Park, In Berlin...Totally Spontaneous And More Community Spirited... But I Get The Attraction To The Newer, Larger Festival's With Younger Folks...So I Encourage Folks To Step Outside Their Comfort Zone And Experience Both...Balance...Blessings And Positive Energy To All!
thank you so much for this!!! I wish everyone could hear this. Im a dj in NYC and Miami and this is the words I needed to hear. I say this all the time about people judging and not knowing what they are talking about. Great interview! blessings
Thank you DVS1. I have only been listening to techno for about 4 years now but it really saddens me out to see techno changing so quickly here in Holland especially. However i still believe the core values are still for most people what gets their attention (the intense bass, special vibe, freedom to enjoy music as you like). I just hope we can keep the purity alive that's driven by passion for music and show more people to focus on the basics for a great party instead of being distracted by the 'sick' line-ups.
Go to Rotterdam rave. The real spirit still lives there, or if you feel like going for a longer drive, go to Kompass in Gent. Best warehouse/club experience you can get in Benelux
I totally have your back on this.. a passionate artist here from the Uk, Who wants to do everything for the scene and community over here.. so much truth here. this video is amazing for finding out who those passionate ones are around the world... Zak, as a fellow artist, producer and lover of the underground, I would love to meet you one day.. I could learn the world from you!
Amazing interview, wonderful points made. Thank you! I just started getting into edm in the past few years, and I need people to watch this to understand my disappointment with the current trends. I've had to explain to people that there is a surrender necessary to have a full experience in this context, that you have to be willing to take the time to be brought to new areas of inner space. Art is a mutual thing, you get what you are willing to give.
Major respect for the obvious love he has for the music and the scene. Doing it for the passion of the music is the only true reason to become a DJ. I'd love to know more about his experiences organizing a scene- I am currently trying to get a community together in Birmingham, AL centered around a love for house, deep house, and techno. I have a good bit of experience in organizing parties in Amsterdam, but the infrastructure and the commercial nature of doing events there is so different than the DIY experience I've had in Birmingham so far. I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from DVS1!
Lucid and thoughtful words from a true devotee to the art of the craft. No fame chasing here, just really really good advice and respect for quality music. Thank you.
It's the way to do it. People dance with each other not all facing front like a church. The best free paries and rave ive been to in UK since the late 90's knew this instinctively. Also discourages people watching the dj set through their phone screen while filming.
@10:48 Man hes soooo right on what he is saying, underground techno IS Body music and that example he was talking about i think we have all experienced it, when you hear an amazing track for the first time at a party and then you go home and find the track and listen to it with your PC speakers or even headphones.....it aint the same, not bc of the sound but bc of how it FEELS. On point with that one DVS1, this was a tremendous interview, really great.
Colloquially , I have a pocket full of things to say regarding this very raw & honest interview . Where does one begin ? How about this . . “ It was music to my ears “ upon hearing Zac's comments . . Respect to you for keeping it real. I am quite sure other passionate music lover , lover’s , producers & dj's like myself agree with the content of your interview. 26 years ago I can safely say most Dj’s were “ Marching to the same tune “ with “ Only one thing in mind “ . . And that was to creatively spin & actually mix records live with the intention of providing a soulful experience enhancing the journey for us all. Oh . . " How times have changed ". We're have the freaks gone . . ? After a working week going to a club or abandoned warehouse supporting your local talent was the thing to do. It was a release cut'n loose & bust'n out. Dj's were credited for reading the crowd adjusting their set's accordingly, taking you on that journey to cloud nine. I think the theme song for this interview should be . . “ Fat Boy Slim - Star 69 “. ^V^ P.L.U.R
What an awesome interview and pretty much explains what i have thought about current music scene. Also the bit about dancing next to speakers is spot on. I used to go straight to the massive speaker and dance all night feeling the bass and hearing rhe crystal clear sounds coming out of it. It was an awesome experience. Would be good to know how his club night with no visual of dj, is doing and how sucessful it has been. I have been thiunking of doing a similar night here in sydney.
Excellent interview! DVS1 articulated his points and views on the topics discussed very well. His knowledge is vast and telling throughout. You know he truly lives the techno lifestyle and gives all around great insight when comparing clubs to festivals. He speaks his mind and knows what he want. A true legend.
i can't stop pounding my heart cross arm with my fist when I hear this man speak! I need to reach out and have a conversation with this man! Body Music! Bass frequencies and water
A-FUCKING-MEN! 🙏🏽 Although, I will have to say there is huge worth in seeing some DJs that exchange energy with the crowd on a high level, as long as the crowd is mature and in-tune enough to understand we aren't here to worship him/ her, and ultimately it is about the music, and the overall flow and exchange of energy, and not to serve any kind of narcissistic value. If the DJ isn't bringing true artistic worth, he/she shouldn't be DJing. But seeing someone like Jeff Mills on 3 decks, as long as he maintains artistic integrity and remembers his ultimate purpose - there's great worth in that. I'm not there watching him the whole time, yet I love to pick up on his energy in certain moments and see what he's doing. I love seeing DJs that love to exchange with and feed of their crowds at times, or are at the least feeling their own sets - local as well as international DJs. And yes, there are plenty of DJs that should be doing what they're doing, yet better remain in the background, as any interaction with the crowd only robs them of their performance, as well as the crowd's focus. But back to the original point...that's what's always irritated me about Boiler Room, and going to parties with this love/hate, deep despair feeling increasing over the years...exponentially through the later 2000s on...people are more and more disconnected with the original intent, and are mostly there to be seen, to watch a character rather than experience the music, or are simply there because "it's something to do" and wouldn't differentiate much from going fucking bowling. The culture has become retarded on so many levels where people in the crowd are just constantly walking all over the place, constantly talking with each other like it's a fucking cafe, good DJs are playing monotonous, unchallenging sets, even production overall has become very predictable, unchallenging, and boring. I grew up in Chicago where so many different genres of music were played at venues and within a single DJ set, hotmixes, pitched up tempos, and fast blends where the energy was fiery, exciting, and unpredictable. IT'S FUCKING BORING AS HELL for the most part now, and painful! I end up wanting to punch the fuck out of a lot of people, especially now that I'm here in LA where people are even more disconnected, and are slamming into you without giving two shits, and the parties suck like fucking hell. Stop the fucking narcissism, and bring back the soul, rawness, sexiness, and excitement that used to be there! I don't give a shit how crazy I might sound to some people (who've probably never had the opportunity to experience the scene when it was phenomenal), but my fucking SOUL has been YEARNING for so many years to feel what I used to feel when shit was MINDBLOWING. I'm going to be 42 soon, and had my first experiences started with House music (and Latin Freestyle) when I was 11, and underground music has been the single most important thing to me ever since. Please god, let's bring it the fuck back...reinvented somehow if needed. I've had dreams and visions of this for so many years. We're long overdue for a resurrection of the scene and the music.
DVS1: I haven't heard of you but I had to check out this piece! This is what I have been saying to upcoming DJs and those who are trying to build a positive scene. We have to stop chasing rainbows. We have to stop allowing egos and entitlement to prevent us from unifying the Underground scene. We also have to stop these greedy promoters and club owners for using Underground Dance music as a stepping stone to make them money and push us aside for commercial, Hip Hop and EDM music. I 've seen it happen too many times and I am sick of it. Where I am from, we had 6 clubs shut down. That's one club too many. DVS1 is correct, we need to have a full-blown discussion and see where we can get back to being a scene and a community again. I happen to be a House DJ from Chicago.
Absolutely on the money with this comment. The UK Scene used to be immense, but ever since RnB hit the scene, the dance room started to lose the energy every 4 tracks. I miss the early 2000's for nights out.
@@squoblat I miss those days too. Though must confess I'm grateful to have experienced the good ol days as the youth of today don't really have a scene. Previously music united youth and created movements which became a scene, look at acid house, rockers, mods, punk, the list goes on... now it's so splintered, kids can barely keep up with the crap MTV force feeds.
I'm only mid-way through the interview, but i can already say this is the best f***ing interview i've ever listened to. It's like i'm a younger clone of you, same ideas, same mindset, same visions. You my friend, are my new inspiration to push my music production even harder now. Zak , i hope i can meet you one day in person. Cheers
I’m 46 the first underground rave scene I went to was in 1989 in downtown Los Angeles where we had to drive to certain locations to get directions 🧭 it was a journey to get there and was so much fun . It was all about the music and not the DJ . Everyone dancing 💃🏼 and enjoying the vibe . I’m grateful for the 1990s club / music scene . Great interview I agree with so much with what he’s saying :-)
I helped stickering off people's camera's at DVS1s wall of sound party. Some people (especially girls) were absolutely flabbergasted they were "forced" to not make photo's/video's. Inside, the atmosphere was great though. People were dancing and talking to eachother instead of facing the dj and the 1% who did pull out their camera got stopped or at least looked at by other people (not in a bad judgemental way but to encourage social interaction). All about the music and living in the moment that night. The speakers did mess with your body, by the way. Great experience but holy shit, I learned my personal bass limitations.
Vincent H was this maybe in rotterdam? I was there. Liked the idea of cameras being stickerd off. Great vibe great party. And holy shit yes! There is a limit on how much bass you can take. Personally i think the music was being suffocated by the amount of bass.. but you do get to “feel” the beat more literally haha
@@lennartstip6395 Yes it was in Rotterdam. I had no ringing in the ears afterwards. It was more like a deep rumble. Not to mention I was physically sick the next day but it was worth it haha
lame as fuck lol. dont tell me how and when to have fun you fucking nerd XD "oh its time to have fun RIGHT NOW, and IN THIS VERY MANNER AND NONE OTHER." lol fucking dork.
In San Francisco, Wicked, Come-Unity (my boss), The Gathering, Funky Techno Tribe, Basics, A Rave Called Sharon, Toon-Town, Re-Cycle and all would regularly have crowds > 2500 people. The DJ was always in the MIDDLE of the dance floor in a booth made of all kinds of stuff like cinder blocks. You're dead right. It's not a concert. In December 1992 I got a hug from Frankie Knuckles MID-SET while he was headlining at Twownsend. That kind of thing was only possible because of the respecrt we had for each otherf. PLUR
Where I'm from the club scene is there all the time. We do have a few festivals, but even those they have DJs doing 3-4 hour sets, so that creates some wiggle room for them to do their magic on us. But I still prefer those "All night long" or b2b raves since those take you on such an adventure it's hard to put into words. Much love from Bosnia
Intelligent and thoughtful. I don't agree about everything, but most. Absolutely don't put dj's on a big stage like a rockstar. Like the idea of not being able to see the dj, been to parties like that. Though I think it's cool when it's small enough that you can smile and flirt. And it can be different if you have a mc, a singer or a musician. I think festivals can be wonderful though, if there is a vision of the 'whole'; sounds, viisuals, art, food. Where you can go from one party to another, discover music you haven't heard before or go to a trance-party, which I wouldn't do outside a festival, knowing you can do that for 30 mins or 5 hours and that you can go to a techno-, house- or jungle-party whenever you feel like it. That and that it goes on for days.
My brother and I threw parties in '92 in northern Ontario Canada (equivilent of antartica). Playing German techno in a land of ac/dc and Bob segar. " he never lost his hardcore" was a song we'd quote knowing we were pushing something new from a love of the music.
I am so glad he said this Being 45 and having started when I was 18 (92), the festival scene feels empty and vapid Don’t get me wrong, there was narcissism in the club scene, but we would work past that, and find the real within it And his concepts of hiding the DJ? I love that. That’s always been my vision, creating the experience, but not have the crowd rush the stage and worship a guy manipulating a mixer on a stage.
Best spot for the booth is next to the FOH desk at the back of the room so you can hear through the rig and have the same experience as the crowd rather than listen through some shitty monitors. Forward the revolution
Superb interview, this gentleman truly gets it. As a 45 year old DJ that came up in the NYC underground House Music scene I whole heatedly agree. Festivals and clubs have made the DJ’s the “Star” when the reality is the music, the journey and the emotions are the “Star”.
I would give ANYTHING to have seen the Underground Rave scene of the 80's / 90's --- it looked so much BETTER and higher QUALITY than the new Festival scene.
@@KentKaliber What happened then was people got off their asses and made something happen, because that was all we had. It was new, fresh, it barely had genres, it was just house & techno. I DJ'ed myself in the 90's, never self promoted, never had a face on a flier. I wasnt interested in mix tapes even. All that mattered was that moment in the club.
Said that for a long time, it all started changing when the DJ moved out his wee dark corner.
@@KentKaliber it was ! unforgettable !
@@KentKaliber Check out Quadrant Park - 1990. the clips look totally amazing.
Man, this resonates. The commercialization and idolization of DJ's has devolved most parties into cringe-fests...
This is why I prefer the rave era of the late or mid 1980's - mid 2000's. Because they let the music do the talking along with the skills of the DJ. Both rave and club music then makes you want to dance.
He nailed it perfectly, real djs must serve the sound, festivals often are made to make big money n glorify some ego, tomorrowland is only a circus, who cares to see flag from different nations, House, Techno is universal
Daccord! Eso es! Yes you nailed it! Nagel auf Kopf!
Who cares to see flags ... haha ... hilarious view ...rofl.
Lol “real Dj’s” “real artists” what a community of open hearts and minds 🙄
Agreed a real set with a crowd that’s just there for the music and a dj that knows how to turn the chaos into magic it didn’t matter who u were everyone had somin in common the music
Mate exactly my thoughts aswell. Eeverybody glorifying Tomorrowland but its nothing more than the 'songfestival' of festivals. Carnafalesque indeed.
This man has some serious integrity. Thanks for the interview.
Absolutely agree! John Digweed said:
"If you're the biggest DJ in the world, you're in a position where you can play stuff that people don't know and blow people's minds, but if you just chose to play stuff they know just to get a reaction, that's just being lazy.There's no challenge there."
"Now you could be the No. 1 DJ and everyone knows your records in your set from start to finish before you've gone onstage, so there's no surprise there,"
i remember that!
so on point..
i always said something similar.. plus.. meritocracy and technocracy used to be one of the most cool things in electronic music.. and because of that i'm super thankful for that underground..
Yes, that's kind of a education for DJing in electrical music. 1. never play a track twice, to often. 2. play what people don't already know. 3. You need a good taste for some grooves, which are special. I was getting that from Sven Dohse one day. Whatever.
@@daniel223243as a DJ myself,you play a mixture of what people do know and don't know,people lose interest fairly quickly if your playing obscure tracks they've never heard,you need to lock them in and then keep them so they can discover new tracks as well as get the buzz from hearing something they know every few songs.iv played sets of absolutely killer unknown tracks that get no reaction but if you throw in a few tracks that do know to keep the vibe,everyone keeps dancing.at the end of the day the job of the DJ is to keep people dancing
There’s really nothing like dropping something that you know no one has heard. That gives you a feeling that you want them to feel too. ❤
I could listen to DVS1 talk for hours and hours. He's so keyed in and such a refreshing voice of reason.
Showed a DJ friend of mine with 23 years exeperience this video. They said that you are perhaps one of the few DJ's that fully GETS IT.
I am so glad that I got into this music because of you (saw you and ben In SF few years back)
Truly A DJ's DJ.
Thank you Zack.
Keep doing your thing. The real recognize.
You inspire me.
Same, big up
This was a fantastic interview..
Idk, I think lots of us get it, but the constitution of most people who get it is one that make us not want to engage in or compete with the current party scene.
Pants down.
As a 20 year old that just fell in love (and i think its for real) with club culture and electronic music this is such a crazy interview thank you so much for this
Hey, its been a yr! Checking in to see if youre still you being you 😉 i hope so. Be you, if ya grandma knits ya a hat, rock it! Be you and youll make whatever scene you dance with more vibrant and less bot like. Create more than you consume🎉
I've lived in berlin for more than 3 years, going clubbing 2-3 times per month. This guy is the best dj around. The way this guy is able to connect to such a broad audience is fuckn unbelievable...and he's not doing it by playing "well known crowd triggerin" tracks. He builds it, he's really experienced and the more you go clubbing the more you get it. He's the kind of guy who can gets you high just doing his job. Never cared about technique but if you go clubbing often at some point you start making yourself some questions and eventually understand how a fade should be how the volumes should be levelled between a song and another one. this guy is genuinely something GOoD! Best sets i've experienced in the last 3 years where made by him and Parrish Smith
Any recommendations for a first time visit of Berlin? I am really into Techno, Dark Techno. I will be going for a 1 week trip in June :)
I recommend sisyphos & berghain as well as watergate, these are amazing to experience at least once.
Hidden gems like Club des visionaires (or Hoppetasse) and Point blank are also great imo..
@@zentek777 The best advice i can give you is to be open, be nice to people and just enjoy. There's no perfect club. you might also go to Saule...Is in the same building of berghain but a differente room (they won't be open at the same time)
It's difficult to get into Berghain depending on the bouncer and your crew. Me and my two buddies from America were denied so we went to a different club. Berghain is known as one of the hardest clubs to get into.
DVS1 played Berghain this past weekend and his ability is crazy. He was playing fun/danceable tracks and then launching right back into pure chaos as if he knew that’s what everybody wanted.
“Don’t do it for the success, do it because you love this music...one day it will get back to you” . His passion is pure.
he is moving with the beat from the beginning of the set to the end...
I'm so glad that the Toronto underground scene is still like this!!
lol the Toronto "underground" scene is as commercialized & competitive as any other...from all accounts, MTL and Vancouver are much more grassroots and collaborative
Much love from Toronto. There’s a lot of us out here making great, little spaces and smaller festivals. ❤❤❤
He is so right! That's one of the things that's turned me away from current parties. They make it so much about who's who, rather than freedom of this genre of music.
That's really my feeling in the last decade too. Does someone know Carlos Alkalina? That was my last time having a real pleasure clubbing weekend in terrible Berlin.
On top of being an absolute genius when it comes to the dynamics of sound, Zak is one of the nicest, most down to earth people you will ever meet. The mid 90's rave scene in Minneapolis was truly a magical place to be! Very proud to see him getting the recognition that he deserves. #612forlife.
damn dvs1 i could listen to you all day. these 30 min felt so short.. you literally speak my mind, and i also learned some new perspectives. this was awesome - thank you
i truly wish DJs were hidden more often. i always prefer to dance close to the back of the crowd, where i have space to let my body go wild & really utilize the space. the whole trend/habit of people cramming up onto the DJ box without space to move is just so restrictive & limiting. once you limit your body you are limiting the experience. as Zak says, electronic music is body music. remove the sight or focal point of a DJ box & people would be there purely to experience the music. awesome wanna go to one of his parties!!
one reason I like to dj in front of the dj is because I want to show my appreciation to the music and really feel the experience of someone who understands how to make music. If the dj is bad though I prefer not to dance.
@@VittamarFasuthAkbin same I feel connected when I'm facing and can see the DJ playing. If I'm just dancing i can enjoy the music but it's not as good as I feel more connection when i can see the person playing the music
@@deanVodkahouse Me too, like our crew always tried to position itself near the DJ, and then i made rounds to see what the DJ was doing with the mixer and shit. But I understand what Zak is trying to do.
I’ve heard him once in London’s Cable club(which unfortunately closed permanently)during after hours, the sound system was so powerful that when he played his “Polyphonic Love” track, thought I could now literally die, the bass was soo rich and simple that it went through my body and like he mentioned on this interview, It shifted shapes inside of me. Really great experience I had.
Huge respect for DVS1!!
Seen you many times in Detroit, you are a true legend and I can't thank you enough for this inspirational talk.
From my perspective, this interview perfectly shows the times we are living. Its time to move forward, it is high time we spoke out about what´s going on, no matter what if its about electronic music, our lives, politics, unfairnesses, etc.
let´s all be the driving force for the generations to come!
Legend explaining business techno
I was lucky enough to play all sorts of venues back in the day (47 year old BTW), now I play at a bar (every few weeks) that can hold 40 people max and i love it. The punters appreciate a real vinyl set (not to disrespect other DJing methods).
DVS1 is articulate and speaks with knowledge and passion..
Fantastic interview.
Thanks for posting.
This is one of the best DJ interviews I've ever seen. It really, really makes me want to go hear him live.
its out of this world
Heared him twice @club118 barcelos who sadly closed few weeks ago
Would love to go back to one of this nights.
Do, he's an incredible DJ.
heard him 2 weeks ago, he's amazing
Music Festivals are like a circus. Many acts and you have the clowns who try and make you laugh but cry within.
Festivals are big money, less music and a cult to be seen at.
The passion within DVS I flows because he passionately followed his dream, the vision of being yourself and let your music speak.
Few can voice an opinion like he has, this man has a conviction and is proud of it.
Cheers boy 👍👍👍
A DJ is a DJ when he can handle a club playing for 6 hours.....and tell a story.
I totally get what he says now.
I went to my first "underground" party a couple months ago. Was convinced by a friend to go because he's a big fan of Baba Stiltz. I stepped in and the vibe was great. Just a crowd of around 100-200 dancing. For a moment I was worried I couldnt see the DJ but as the night progressed I grew to not care. I didnt even realize Baba didn't show up until 3 hours in. All the DJs had amazing back-to-back sets. I never knew I had so much energy to dance since I was awake the whole day(?).
After that show, I just want to chase that feeling now. I'm slowly un-learning the commercial aspects of attending shows. I'm starting to see how much "seeing" people at festivals affected my relationship to the art they wanted to portray.
eccies
interesting to read an american pov. in Europe, this is not the same.
Welcome to the scene!!! Enjoy
love the experiment of taking the DJ's presence out of the dance experience... but I do appreciate the choice of either falling back on the dance floor and closing my eyes (for hours) - or seeking to connect to the DJ and their physical engagement. The body language of a DJ vibing with their own mixing and selection, how they anticipate their music, react to their music or react to the crowd is not necessarily taking away from my dancing. I don't dance in isolation. The dancefloor experience is about sharing moments, reactions and emotions - with other dancers, but also the artist. So much in DJing seems to be about reading and connecting with the crowd. Vice versa, and especially in long and more artistic sets, your presence allows me to understand where you're coming from, where you'll take things. Seeing the DJ's demeanor and body language can help establish the level of "trust" based on which I might follow the "left and right turns" blindly, in the end.
i totally agree. Thats why I prefer places with smaller, lower dj booths, not the big festival ones. I don't really need to see the dj all the time but I like the though of them being with me "on the dance floor"
I kind of agree with his take on club vs. festivals, but I think there's room for both. I've been to festivals like Dekmantel with around 30 000 attendees and love that I can see such a wide range of DJs and live acts during the course of three days. I also like when some acts put on big shows with lazers, strobs and other trippy visualz; you can rarely get that experience in a regular club. Having said that, most of the time I prefer to go to smaller clubs. Usually the sound is better and the DJ can play more intricate tracks, without losing details in the music. The balance between dance functionality and musicality is better. Also, I'm not 20 anymore and partying three days in a row is just too much for me.
True. Festivals like Timewarp are a unique experience. Amazing productions & educated crowd make it a proper festival. Others like Sunwaves & Exit festival are quality too
i agree about festivals. but in an underground club i like when the dj is part of the party and transmit that vibe.
As someone who has played in a small intimate setting with a huge sound system I can confirm that the music becomes the main point of the night.
When I have attended huge festivals with large crowds and huge stages it changes the vibe, the most enjoyable experiences are when you are shoulder on an intimate dancefloor with less lights and visuals.
This is honestly one of the best DJ interviews I’ve seen. I’m not even into Techno/House that much, but even I wanna go and see him DJ now! 😂
I always felt lost at massive events, like the vibe was completely missing opposed to being in a smaller venue with a group of people on the same mission as you. Easy to get lost in the idea that bigger is better when in fact a much more intimate experience leads to a deeper connection.
Totally how I feel! I don't like big venues as you lose that vibe that small venues have
I have heard him playing twice, the first time was all night long party, beautiful experience. This is the kind of interview you will see within a few years and everyone will say "he knew it".
DVS1 I absolutely agree with everything you said in this video.
I have been in this scene for the past 20 plus years as a DJ, promoter, and supporter of this culture. I equate the festivals now as no more than the modern day equivalent of an 1980's hair metal concert spectacle.
That's fine if that's your thing, but that's not what got me into the music. It was the feeling of the music on massive well-tuned sound system and not knowing what or who was playing just as long as your mind and body were blown to another dimension in the process. (RIP K.F.)
I live in Birmingham, Alabama and we have no underground music scene here. I gave it my best effort to make it happen during the 1990's to mid-2000's but now it's devoid of any underground substance musically speaking.
Regardless of my place in life, or success (what little I have known) with this global scene, I'll keep my passion and love for house music...forever.
They can try on the next fad or flavor of the month and like always, move on to the next.
Kids want to go to festivals now. Can't blame them. I just won't join them.
Now get off my lawn!
Respect.
Good post!! Cannot beat the Underground scene. Great music always evolves and gets commercialised and in most cases, always for the worst. But there will always be Underground scenes, that are fresh and pure for us proper music heads!! We just let the art and creation of the music speak the loudest in little dark places, away from the bright lights and attention.
I just cant see why one wouldnt ve able to do the same thing at a festival though? I'm going to a festival (so I'm a bit biased I suppose) but I'm not going for the line up. I want to feel the bass on my body, share the experience with more people and feel a connection. I feel that there should be space for both. I feel like, just like there are people who like more intimate settings, theres people who Dont like that and rather have a more....open party I guess. Just a perspective. Personally, I feel like I can enjoy the music (yes, still without knowing the dj) even if it's at a bigger festival. The music doesnt change for me. Just the setting.
Amen to that! @@benji.B-side
I hear you man. You and I come from two different perspectives on vibe is all. Respect.@@paupau93
Cool to see other perspectives though! Respect :)
Zak, I am looking forward to hearing you tonight in Denver. I'd love to shake your hand sir, this and other interviews that you did are speaking the truth about the scene through the eyes and brain of an old school raver. We have so much in common when it comes to the opinions of the scene. Well done dude.
Oh my, it's so amazing to hear someone talk your thoughts
In the early 90s I went to underground DJ events mostly at pubs (Adelaide SA) that were failing or had failed. No flashing lights, just brilliant music.
this guy is real, he sounds humble, I like him.
He’s speaking a lot of truths . At 37 I still go to techno Gigs , festivals . Not as many as I would like to . But Sometimes when they 5,6,7 hours sets it can become stagnant . They play 2-3 hours and your attention is captured for the full set , you leave thinking wow . Each to their own at the end of the day 👍
oh my gosh! Zak is such a clever human being... fortunately he's putting a great amount of common sense into the scene with his words. Pure wisdom, pure passion for the music...that´s it! Thank u so much!
He is very honest and wise as fuck about things. Very refreshing to hear a DJ who sticks to his roots and artistic credibility. No sell out and let the passion be the driving force!
I can listen to DVS1 talk for days, so inspiring
This is an incredible interview. The intimacy of they way it was back in the day was incredible. Raves in the South East were amazing back in the mid 90s.
Thanks dvs1-san, I’m now addicted to make techno tracks on my laptop and holding some party in my local. I sometimes feel loneliness in local groups, they do not has passion or real motivation for purely music. And I’m planning to go out for music passion. I go for techno. I die for techno. Thanks.
I'm 50 Now...Grew Up In Houston, Texas...A Good Friend Of Mine Was A D.J. And Worked Many Of The Top Joints...The Late 80's Was Off The Chain...It Was A Different Scene...I've Been Blessed To Travel And Experience Many Club's And D.J.'s Around The World...I've Got Two Daughter's And I Understand When The Get Excited About Ultra Festival And Etc...I've Shared With My Them My Old School Artist...And They Share The New Artist With Me...For Me I Enjoy Smaller Festival's Or The illegal Gigs, Like My Amigos Throw In The Park, In Berlin...Totally Spontaneous And More Community Spirited... But I Get The Attraction To The Newer, Larger Festival's With Younger Folks...So I Encourage Folks To Step Outside Their Comfort Zone And Experience Both...Balance...Blessings And Positive Energy To All!
Dickie Larue You seem chill and nice, Dickie, but why is a 50 year old Capitalizing The First Letter Of Every Word?
thank you so much for this!!! I wish everyone could hear this. Im a dj in NYC and Miami and this is the words I needed to hear. I say this all the time about people judging and not knowing what they are talking about. Great interview! blessings
Thank you DVS1. I have only been listening to techno for about 4 years now but it really saddens me out to see techno changing so quickly here in Holland especially. However i still believe the core values are still for most people what gets their attention (the intense bass, special vibe, freedom to enjoy music as you like). I just hope we can keep the purity alive that's driven by passion for music and show more people to focus on the basics for a great party instead of being distracted by the 'sick' line-ups.
Go to Rotterdam rave. The real spirit still lives there, or if you feel like going for a longer drive, go to Kompass in Gent. Best warehouse/club experience you can get in Benelux
I totally have your back on this.. a passionate artist here from the Uk, Who wants to do everything for the scene and community over here.. so much truth here. this video is amazing for finding out who those passionate ones are around the world... Zak, as a fellow artist, producer and lover of the underground, I would love to meet you one day.. I could learn the world from you!
Couldn't have put it better bro!
Much admiration and respect from Portugal 🙌
Amazing interview, wonderful points made. Thank you! I just started getting into edm in the past few years, and I need people to watch this to understand my disappointment with the current trends. I've had to explain to people that there is a surrender necessary to have a full experience in this context, that you have to be willing to take the time to be brought to new areas of inner space. Art is a mutual thing, you get what you are willing to give.
HE IS NAILING IT LIKE IT IS !!
Major respect for the obvious love he has for the music and the scene. Doing it for the passion of the music is the only true reason to become a DJ. I'd love to know more about his experiences organizing a scene- I am currently trying to get a community together in Birmingham, AL centered around a love for house, deep house, and techno. I have a good bit of experience in organizing parties in Amsterdam, but the infrastructure and the commercial nature of doing events there is so different than the DIY experience I've had in Birmingham so far. I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from DVS1!
Lucid and thoughtful words from a true devotee to the art of the craft. No fame chasing here, just really really good advice and respect for quality music. Thank you.
Yes!!!! I have mad respect for this dude.
This was inspiring, both as an electronic music enthusiast and as a person trying to build a (non music related) career. Thanks!
Bro i am very glad to listen this. I am very happy and lucky.
Much respect and love for underground dance music culture world-wide, then, now and always. Know your roots, then get back to them.
So true ! so honest! This is the most amazing interview i ve ever seen ! 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Sound to Shape = Cymatics. Great interview!
It's the way to do it. People dance with each other not all facing front like a church. The best free paries and rave ive been to in UK since the late 90's knew this instinctively. Also discourages people watching the dj set through their phone screen while filming.
💯 agree with everything especially about how big festivals encourage/promote the lowest common denominator-ifacation of the music.
So much truth to what he is saying about the culture.
Hiding the DJ is everything. I wish this was done waaaay more!
Jason Osunkoya fabric room 2 does that
was normal in chicago in the golden age. people came for the music.
@@organic79 and I love room two the most (room 3 is great also if you know the guys playing)
Jason Osunkoya it’s such a mystery and refreshing!
such a great interview, such great knowledge. So much respect
@10:48 Man hes soooo right on what he is saying, underground techno IS Body music and that example he was talking about i think we have all experienced it, when you hear an amazing track for the first time at a party and then you go home and find the track and listen to it with your PC speakers or even headphones.....it aint the same, not bc of the sound but bc of how it FEELS. On point with that one DVS1, this was a tremendous interview, really great.
This guy gets it!, and he’s a killer DJ to boot. He sets the vibe and takes you on a journey.
Colloquially , I have a pocket full of things to say regarding this very raw & honest interview . Where does one begin ? How about this . . “ It was music to my ears “ upon hearing Zac's comments . . Respect to you for keeping it real. I am quite sure other passionate music lover , lover’s , producers & dj's like myself agree with the content of your interview. 26 years ago I can safely say most Dj’s were “ Marching to the same tune “ with “ Only one thing in mind “ . . And that was to creatively spin & actually mix records live with the intention of providing a soulful experience enhancing the journey for us all. Oh . . " How times have changed ". We're have the freaks gone . . ? After a working week going to a club or abandoned warehouse supporting your local talent was the thing to do. It was a release cut'n loose & bust'n out. Dj's were credited for reading the crowd adjusting their set's accordingly, taking you on that journey to cloud nine.
I think the theme song for this interview should be . . “ Fat Boy Slim - Star 69 “. ^V^ P.L.U.R
What an awesome interview and pretty much explains what i have thought about current music scene. Also the bit about dancing next to speakers is spot on. I used to go straight to the massive speaker and dance all night feeling the bass and hearing rhe crystal clear sounds coming out of it. It was an awesome experience. Would be good to know how his club night with no visual of dj, is doing and how sucessful it has been. I have been thiunking of doing a similar night here in sydney.
Amazing interview. Right to the point.
incredibly articulated. real shit.
Excellent interview! DVS1 articulated his points and views on the topics discussed very well. His knowledge is vast and telling throughout. You know he truly lives the techno lifestyle and gives all around great insight when comparing clubs to festivals. He speaks his mind and knows what he want. A true legend.
i can't stop pounding my heart cross arm with my fist when I hear this man speak! I need to reach out and have a conversation with this man! Body Music!
Bass frequencies and water
A-FUCKING-MEN! 🙏🏽 Although, I will have to say there is huge worth in seeing some DJs that exchange energy with the crowd on a high level, as long as the crowd is mature and in-tune enough to understand we aren't here to worship him/ her, and ultimately it is about the music, and the overall flow and exchange of energy, and not to serve any kind of narcissistic value. If the DJ isn't bringing true artistic worth, he/she shouldn't be DJing. But seeing someone like Jeff Mills on 3 decks, as long as he maintains artistic integrity and remembers his ultimate purpose - there's great worth in that. I'm not there watching him the whole time, yet I love to pick up on his energy in certain moments and see what he's doing. I love seeing DJs that love to exchange with and feed of their crowds at times, or are at the least feeling their own sets - local as well as international DJs. And yes, there are plenty of DJs that should be doing what they're doing, yet better remain in the background, as any interaction with the crowd only robs them of their performance, as well as the crowd's focus. But back to the original point...that's what's always irritated me about Boiler Room, and going to parties with this love/hate, deep despair feeling increasing over the years...exponentially through the later 2000s on...people are more and more disconnected with the original intent, and are mostly there to be seen, to watch a character rather than experience the music, or are simply there because "it's something to do" and wouldn't differentiate much from going fucking bowling. The culture has become retarded on so many levels where people in the crowd are just constantly walking all over the place, constantly talking with each other like it's a fucking cafe, good DJs are playing monotonous, unchallenging sets, even production overall has become very predictable, unchallenging, and boring. I grew up in Chicago where so many different genres of music were played at venues and within a single DJ set, hotmixes, pitched up tempos, and fast blends where the energy was fiery, exciting, and unpredictable. IT'S FUCKING BORING AS HELL for the most part now, and painful! I end up wanting to punch the fuck out of a lot of people, especially now that I'm here in LA where people are even more disconnected, and are slamming into you without giving two shits, and the parties suck like fucking hell. Stop the fucking narcissism, and bring back the soul, rawness, sexiness, and excitement that used to be there! I don't give a shit how crazy I might sound to some people (who've probably never had the opportunity to experience the scene when it was phenomenal), but my fucking SOUL has been YEARNING for so many years to feel what I used to feel when shit was MINDBLOWING. I'm going to be 42 soon, and had my first experiences started with House music (and Latin Freestyle) when I was 11, and underground music has been the single most important thing to me ever since. Please god, let's bring it the fuck back...reinvented somehow if needed. I've had dreams and visions of this for so many years. We're long overdue for a resurrection of the scene and the music.
Good advice, not just for music but for life
as a whole. Great video, and very inspiring.
DVS1: I haven't heard of you but I had to check out this piece! This is what I have been saying to upcoming DJs and those who are trying to build a positive scene. We have to stop chasing rainbows. We have to stop allowing egos and entitlement to prevent us from unifying the Underground scene. We also have to stop these greedy promoters and club owners for using Underground Dance music as a stepping stone to make them money and push us aside for commercial, Hip Hop and EDM music. I 've seen it happen too many times and I am sick of it. Where I am from, we had 6 clubs shut down. That's one club too many. DVS1 is correct, we need to have a full-blown discussion and see where we can get back to being a scene and a community again. I happen to be a House DJ from Chicago.
DVS1 one of the coolest most stand up guys!
Wise Words, DVS1 Rulz
That’s so true what he says about negative and positive people. I’m fully onboard with DVS1
Unfortunately sparklers, bottles, and mainstream rnb killed most UK clubs. But yeah, totally get the point on festivals, they attract sheep
Absolutely on the money with this comment. The UK Scene used to be immense, but ever since RnB hit the scene, the dance room started to lose the energy every 4 tracks. I miss the early 2000's for nights out.
@@squoblat I miss those days too. Though must confess I'm grateful to have experienced the good ol days as the youth of today don't really have a scene. Previously music united youth and created movements which became a scene, look at acid house, rockers, mods, punk, the list goes on... now it's so splintered, kids can barely keep up with the crap MTV force feeds.
From what I've been noticing, is clubs that don't use music as a driving force close very quickly. Sheep have no sense of loyalty.
SOUND SYSTEM QUALITY AND DJ IN A DIFFERENT SPOT THAT SMACK DAB. YES
Exactly. If you go a festival choose the ones you want to listen to and listen to the whole damn set!!
After having just watching DVS1 BR set, zak has a charisma when he spins and being able to see him really does lend to the vibe
He said it...back in the day it was a scene.
Enjoyed by folks that were truly interested.
Not an industry money maker thing.
Those days are gone.
Best talk ever...
What an amazing person with great values.
The most true interview I see in the music since too much time
I'm only mid-way through the interview, but i can already say this is the best f***ing interview i've ever listened to. It's like i'm a younger clone of you, same ideas, same mindset, same visions. You my friend, are my new inspiration to push my music production even harder now. Zak , i hope i can meet you one day in person. Cheers
Every few months I come back to this video just to remind myself about the importance of the club scene
you made me cry dude
I have never heard someone so eloquently and accurately explain what the club scene is or should be. This guy is 100% on the money.
Authentic, talented and humble. We desperately need more of this.
This guy's Amazing. Glad he's talking about this.
I believe you can enjoy festivals and the club scene, I respect his opinion tho top DJ & Producer
I’m 46 the first underground rave scene I went to was in 1989 in downtown Los Angeles where we had to drive to certain locations to get directions 🧭 it was a journey to get there and was so much fun . It was all about the music and not the DJ . Everyone dancing 💃🏼 and enjoying the vibe . I’m grateful for the 1990s club / music scene . Great interview I agree with so much with what he’s saying :-)
I helped stickering off people's camera's at DVS1s wall of sound party. Some people (especially girls) were absolutely flabbergasted they were "forced" to not make photo's/video's. Inside, the atmosphere was great though. People were dancing and talking to eachother instead of facing the dj and the 1% who did pull out their camera got stopped or at least looked at by other people (not in a bad judgemental way but to encourage social interaction). All about the music and living in the moment that night.
The speakers did mess with your body, by the way. Great experience but holy shit, I learned my personal bass limitations.
Vincent H was this maybe in rotterdam? I was there. Liked the idea of cameras being stickerd off. Great vibe great party.
And holy shit yes! There is a limit on how much bass you can take.
Personally i think the music was being suffocated by the amount of bass.. but you do get to “feel” the beat more literally haha
@@lennartstip6395 Yes it was in Rotterdam. I had no ringing in the ears afterwards. It was more like a deep rumble. Not to mention I was physically sick the next day but it was worth it haha
Vincent H haha, yeah not much high tones but my whole body was moving and shaking. It was awesome but also made me “sick ish”
lame as fuck lol. dont tell me how and when to have fun you fucking nerd XD "oh its time to have fun RIGHT NOW, and IN THIS VERY MANNER AND NONE OTHER." lol fucking dork.
In San Francisco, Wicked, Come-Unity (my boss), The Gathering, Funky Techno Tribe, Basics, A Rave Called Sharon, Toon-Town, Re-Cycle and all would regularly have crowds > 2500 people. The DJ was always in the MIDDLE of the dance floor in a booth made of all kinds of stuff like cinder blocks. You're dead right. It's not a concert.
In December 1992 I got a hug from Frankie Knuckles MID-SET while he was headlining at Twownsend. That kind of thing was only possible because of the respecrt we had for each otherf.
PLUR
Top interview with a top artist!
Where I'm from the club scene is there all the time. We do have a few festivals, but even those they have DJs doing 3-4 hour sets, so that creates some wiggle room for them to do their magic on us. But I still prefer those "All night long" or b2b raves since those take you on such an adventure it's hard to put into words. Much love from Bosnia
Intelligent and thoughtful. I don't agree about everything, but most. Absolutely don't put dj's on a big stage like a rockstar. Like the idea of not being able to see the dj, been to parties like that. Though I think it's cool when it's small enough that you can smile and flirt. And it can be different if you have a mc, a singer or a musician. I think festivals can be wonderful though, if there is a vision of the 'whole'; sounds, viisuals, art, food. Where you can go from one party to another, discover music you haven't heard before or go to a trance-party, which I wouldn't do outside a festival, knowing you can do that for 30 mins or 5 hours and that you can go to a techno-, house- or jungle-party whenever you feel like it. That and that it goes on for days.
My brother and I threw parties in '92 in northern Ontario Canada (equivilent of antartica). Playing German techno in a land of ac/dc and Bob segar.
" he never lost his hardcore" was a song we'd quote knowing we were pushing something new from a love of the music.
czcams.com/video/6bNfEBo07Ng/video.html
one of my favoutite tunes from the era, cheers
Respect from Chicago
I absolutely love the sound of the parties with that dj out of sight.
I am so glad he said this
Being 45 and having started when I was 18 (92), the festival scene feels empty and vapid
Don’t get me wrong, there was narcissism in the club scene, but we would work past that, and find the real within it
And his concepts of hiding the DJ? I love that. That’s always been my vision, creating the experience, but not have the crowd rush the stage and worship a guy manipulating a mixer on a stage.
Best spot for the booth is next to the FOH desk at the back of the room so you can hear through the rig and have the same experience as the crowd rather than listen through some shitty monitors.
Forward the revolution