Geometria
Interview: Mihai Popoviciu
26.04.2017
RUS [ http://geometria.ru/blogs/music/451991 ]
Mihai Popoviciu is one of the most in-demand west european Dj's and electronical
music producers. The muscian has told Geometria.ru — Chelyabinsk about how it all started, about his label CYCLIC RECORDS and his visits to Russia.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923310.jpg ]
Tell us about the beginning of your career.
I started, I guess like everybody else, I was passionate about music. In
around 2000-2001 I started to produce music and it took me almost 5 years to sign the first tracks for a big label which was Gigolo Records. Since then, my career started to take off, I started two labels of music. In 2003, let`s say, I was starting to DJ and I began to perform inside Romania and sometimes outside the country, it was a slow process like building up and have more and more invitations.
Did you have a mentor?
No, I learned everything by myself. I don’t have any musical studies,
no music school, I was just learning on the fly.
Where was your first performance outside Romania?
First one was in Berlin in 2005.
What kind of event was it?
In 2005 I released my first vinyl for the German label and they did Label
Party in Berlin and invited me to that party because my release was just out.
What do you think, was this first experience successful?
No, Im not happy about it. I was very-very stressed and nervous about it.
Thiss how I see it now.
Was this performance in Germany profitable for your future career? How
was it developing afterwards?
The releasing on that label was a trigger point. Because there was the
times when this label was in fashion. And it was my favorite Label, that’s why it had been my dream which came true.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923249.jpg ]
Which of your performances are the most vivid and memorable for you?
The first one that comes in my mind is last summer performance. It was
a big festival in Germany and it was memorable because there was the biggest crowd I ever played to.
So, all bright events in your career are connected with Germany, aren’t
they?
No, it’s just a coincidence (laughs).
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923255.jpg ]
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923199.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923257.jpg ]
What can you say about Russia? We know that’s not the first visit to
Russia.
When I did the Russian visa I just realized that this is the 14th time
I come here. I like Russia because I feel connected to the people here, I think the mentality and the way people are it’s not much different from people in Romania. And Russians love to party, that’s why I love them. But as for the city, I’ve just arrived and haven’t seen much beside the road from the airport to the hotel.
Did you have any expectations about the place where you were going and
what for?
Yes, I knew that there’s an anniversary of Geometria.ru and I hope it’ll
be a good party. So, the expectations are high on this event because it’s a big anniversary and it should be pretty good.
How do you feel about other Russian cities?
Most of the times, when I go to some place, unfortunately I don’t really
have time to actually see the city and even now I won’t see much. And the memories which I have about places are related only to people and the food.
What is your favorite Russian food?
Borscht (laughs).
Are there any fundamental differences between club industry and culture
in Russia and in Europe?
Well, people are the same everywhere in the world. They like to party.
The difference that I noticed along my trips to Russia compared to Europe is that the clubs here are more fancy and high-profiled. But in Europe clubs are only focused on electronic music and are very simple and in some sense are dirty. And here they’re cleaner and the design is nice. That’s why a lot of venues in Russia were based not only for electronic music, for example, the restaurants that during the night turn into clubs. So, they have different types of activities unlike in Europe.
What Russian DJs do you know?
Of course I know Russian DJs, and I know some famous ones. Such DJ as Dmitriy
Pushkarev (DJ Izhevski) is my friend and he`s from Moscow.
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923353.jpg ]
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923337.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923265.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923261.jpg ]
Do you have a DJ who is for you an example to follow?
It’s a hard question. I don’t know, maybe at the beginning of my career
I had a few people that I was looking up. But at the moment I try to focus on my own path and I can’t really say that I want to be like this or that person. At the moment I’m developing in my own way.
Are you working on new projects now?
I’ve just had a new release out last week on Poker Flat Recordings. It
was my 4th release on that Label and in the future I’ll do a release on my own Record Label, on CYCLIC RECORDS. Probably, it’ll come out in this autumn.
Please, tell us about your own Label. How was it created?
It’s called CYCLIC RECORDS. It started 5 years ago. The main focus of
the label is to give a chance to new upcoming artists to release, because this is one of the problems that I had and a lot of young producers have. I don’t care about small or big names. I release it if I like the music. I am not looking for big names or super star producers.
And how do you find them?
I’ve got a lot of them every week, when I have time I go through them
and listen to their music and I select what I like and what fits to the sound of the Label and so on.
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923344.jpg ]
What do you think: the most successful project in your career has already
happened or it’s still ahead?
It’s hard to tell. But I think that the most important event in my career
was probably releasing my second album last year. But that year was pretty busy because I was touring more than usual and I was not at home for a lot of time.
What can you say about your audients?
Somehow I get a feedback from them, for example there’re a lot of comments
coming from social networks such as Facebook or Instagram, they send me messages or write comments about my activity as a DJ or as a producer, so this helps me to have a clue if I’m doing the right thing or not. And at the parties the best thing is seeing them dancing, smiling and having a good time.
Do you have an aim that you want to achieve in your career?
When I was a teenager and when I’d just started my career, I was dreaming
about earning a proper living only from music. And I already do it for about 8-9 years, so I’ve already fulfilled my dream. What happens in the future isn’t that important. I’m very happy and I think I’m very lucky to do what I love. My dream has already happened.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923361.jpg ]
Eyes of Geometria: Oleg Korolevsky [ https://vk.com/okorolevskiy ]
Mouth of Geometria: Mariya Stroganova [ https://vk.com/victorovna.victorovna ]
, Ksenia Ryzhova [ https://vk.com/id36181649 ]
Mihai Popoviciu is one of the most in-demand west european Dj's and electronical
music producers. The muscian has told Geometria.ru — Chelyabinsk about how it all started, about his label CYCLIC RECORDS and his visits to Russia.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923310.jpg ]
Tell us about the beginning of your career.
I started, I guess like everybody else, I was passionate about music. In
around 2000-2001 I started to produce music and it took me almost 5 years to sign the first tracks for a big label which was Gigolo Records. Since then, my career started to take off, I started two labels of music. In 2003, let`s say, I was starting to DJ and I began to perform inside Romania and sometimes outside the country, it was a slow process like building up and have more and more invitations.
Did you have a mentor?
No, I learned everything by myself. I don’t have any musical studies,
no music school, I was just learning on the fly.
Where was your first performance outside Romania?
First one was in Berlin in 2005.
What kind of event was it?
In 2005 I released my first vinyl for the German label and they did Label
Party in Berlin and invited me to that party because my release was just out.
What do you think, was this first experience successful?
No, Im not happy about it. I was very-very stressed and nervous about it.
Thiss how I see it now.
Was this performance in Germany profitable for your future career? How
was it developing afterwards?
The releasing on that label was a trigger point. Because there was the
times when this label was in fashion. And it was my favorite Label, that’s why it had been my dream which came true.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923249.jpg ]
Which of your performances are the most vivid and memorable for you?
The first one that comes in my mind is last summer performance. It was
a big festival in Germany and it was memorable because there was the biggest crowd I ever played to.
So, all bright events in your career are connected with Germany, aren’t
they?
No, it’s just a coincidence (laughs).
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923255.jpg ]
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923199.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923257.jpg ]
What can you say about Russia? We know that’s not the first visit to
Russia.
When I did the Russian visa I just realized that this is the 14th time
I come here. I like Russia because I feel connected to the people here, I think the mentality and the way people are it’s not much different from people in Romania. And Russians love to party, that’s why I love them. But as for the city, I’ve just arrived and haven’t seen much beside the road from the airport to the hotel.
Did you have any expectations about the place where you were going and
what for?
Yes, I knew that there’s an anniversary of Geometria.ru and I hope it’ll
be a good party. So, the expectations are high on this event because it’s a big anniversary and it should be pretty good.
How do you feel about other Russian cities?
Most of the times, when I go to some place, unfortunately I don’t really
have time to actually see the city and even now I won’t see much. And the memories which I have about places are related only to people and the food.
What is your favorite Russian food?
Borscht (laughs).
Are there any fundamental differences between club industry and culture
in Russia and in Europe?
Well, people are the same everywhere in the world. They like to party.
The difference that I noticed along my trips to Russia compared to Europe is that the clubs here are more fancy and high-profiled. But in Europe clubs are only focused on electronic music and are very simple and in some sense are dirty. And here they’re cleaner and the design is nice. That’s why a lot of venues in Russia were based not only for electronic music, for example, the restaurants that during the night turn into clubs. So, they have different types of activities unlike in Europe.
What Russian DJs do you know?
Of course I know Russian DJs, and I know some famous ones. Such DJ as Dmitriy
Pushkarev (DJ Izhevski) is my friend and he`s from Moscow.
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923353.jpg ]
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923337.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923265.jpg ]
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/thumbnail/060/923/60923261.jpg ]
Do you have a DJ who is for you an example to follow?
It’s a hard question. I don’t know, maybe at the beginning of my career
I had a few people that I was looking up. But at the moment I try to focus on my own path and I can’t really say that I want to be like this or that person. At the moment I’m developing in my own way.
Are you working on new projects now?
I’ve just had a new release out last week on Poker Flat Recordings. It
was my 4th release on that Label and in the future I’ll do a release on my own Record Label, on CYCLIC RECORDS. Probably, it’ll come out in this autumn.
Please, tell us about your own Label. How was it created?
It’s called CYCLIC RECORDS. It started 5 years ago. The main focus of
the label is to give a chance to new upcoming artists to release, because this is one of the problems that I had and a lot of young producers have. I don’t care about small or big names. I release it if I like the music. I am not looking for big names or super star producers.
And how do you find them?
I’ve got a lot of them every week, when I have time I go through them
and listen to their music and I select what I like and what fits to the sound of the Label and so on.
[ http://files2.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923344.jpg ]
What do you think: the most successful project in your career has already
happened or it’s still ahead?
It’s hard to tell. But I think that the most important event in my career
was probably releasing my second album last year. But that year was pretty busy because I was touring more than usual and I was not at home for a lot of time.
What can you say about your audients?
Somehow I get a feedback from them, for example there’re a lot of comments
coming from social networks such as Facebook or Instagram, they send me messages or write comments about my activity as a DJ or as a producer, so this helps me to have a clue if I’m doing the right thing or not. And at the parties the best thing is seeing them dancing, smiling and having a good time.
Do you have an aim that you want to achieve in your career?
When I was a teenager and when I’d just started my career, I was dreaming
about earning a proper living only from music. And I already do it for about 8-9 years, so I’ve already fulfilled my dream. What happens in the future isn’t that important. I’m very happy and I think I’m very lucky to do what I love. My dream has already happened.
[ http://files.geometria.ru/pics/original/060/923/60923361.jpg ]
Eyes of Geometria: Oleg Korolevsky [ https://vk.com/okorolevskiy ]
Mouth of Geometria: Mariya Stroganova [ https://vk.com/victorovna.victorovna ]
, Ksenia Ryzhova [ https://vk.com/id36181649 ]
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