This week we are guided by Demi, a London based DJ with a free spirited approach to life and music, for our Sunday Sessions. Demi is a London born Greek Cypriot whose stylings are based largely on emotion, life and personal experiences alongside his passion and deep, unrequited love of music. He has worked and played all over the world, started his own label with a unique open-minded ethos, released his own tracks and follows his unknown path into undiscovered dimensions. We talked about life, music, anthropological intricacies and caught up on space travel and Space Ibiza of course…
How would you describe your music genre?
I really don’t subscribe to genres. I always had this issue of having to explain myself. The sets I deliver speak for themselves and people can make their own interpretation from what they hear. It’s unfortunately a consequence of the system of pigeon-holing. I just find it more natural to encompass different sounds and moods within a set, which is why I always insist on playing longer sets. I feel like I’m cheating otherwise, to be frank.
What is your inspiration?
Anything or anyone that can affect me emotionally inspires and spurs me on with my music; whether it is for performing or producing. For better or worse, I think people are inspiring. I think everything that exists around us is there for inspiration to be drawn from and it’s always been my emotional trigger when applied to music I make or play.
Recently I’ve had the most tragic news in my life which, I feel, has in its own bizarre way, brought out this intensity in my studio work which has made me execute and finish things a lot quicker. Channeling some of these negative issues or thoughts has in turn helped bring out a positive outcome and some sense of closure with the body of work I’m hoping to share soon to fans that continue to support me, and the general public.
Describe your ultimate, dream, fantasy, perfectly amazing Utopian gig!
Performing in space! It might be a bit tricky pulling off a running man move, what with the zero gravity factor, but Krumping, which I’ve been always fascinated by, which has had a major resurgence in recent years could go next level up there. Sounds in the outer orbit could be a lot of fun 🙂
How would you sum up your sound?
Performance wise, I am driven on stage to deliver something that is an extension of myself, which I only hope people can take something from when they go back to their own situations and lives.
Fundamentally there is always an emotional substance in my sound that is communicating a message to the people on the dance floor. Out of necessity it might even lack a groove at times. I fundamentally strive for a level of intensity and soul in whatever I am creating and this can be intense with something slow and subtle at 98bpm or something more aggressive at 128bpm. I love pretty much all the different candy in the jar 😉
With whom would be your ultimate collaboration?
For his musicianship and studio prowess then no question it would be PRINCE. For his studio wizardry, I would say Trentmoller.
Advice for a positive ‘onstage’ experience?
The 5 P’s of life – Preparation and planning prevents piss-pot performance. (Quote: Alex Sansford)
What’s your favourite gig or event to date?
My first booking in Tokyo at the world famous Club Womb. It was a last minute announcement as a replacement for Desyn Masiello, who, at the time was unable to make the gig. He kindly recommended the promoters there to book me as I was also touring at the same time around Asia. There was little time to prepare for the gig itself and despite being deliriously jet-lagged, it was such an adrenalin-charged gig in an awesome space for music to be played. The magic can only happen when all the elements are aligned and it was the people that especially made my first gig there unforgettable. The Japanese are really up there with the best people you can play to and they have given me so much love and support over the years. Playing Tiga – Far From Home at the end of the night as the encore was probably the closest to a set bringing me to tears.
Where would you choose to play if you could spin the globe and point out a place?
An open space in the Galapagos Islands spring to mind. Animals and humans united!
Name a DJ you admire and why?
Danny Tenaglia. Quite simply, as far as DJ’s are concerned, there is no equal in my books. He still has the fire and energy of a 23 year old starting out and yet is still as savage and meticulous as ever with his selection. We often exchange a lot of music and ideas. His encyclopedic knowledge of music and attention to sound is still a huge influence on me, in terms of how I prepare and select my music, along with how I perform when I am on stage.
What were your musical influences growing up?
Predominantly Disco/Funk and old R&B made up the fabric of my music education via one of my uncles who loved his music and whose taste I always seemed to connect with. Shortly after, in my late teens, electronic music was exposed to me by friends at school. One fateful trip to Ibiza in 1997, when hearing Armand Van Helden spin 6 hours at Amnesia, blew my brains wide open. Hearing Daft Punk shortly after that and the likes of Sasha, Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed began to really mould all the different areas of my musical tastes together.
When will your EP be released?
My first solo-produced EP will be coming out in December on my vinyl label Eyetone Records.
How does it work – do you sign acts or release individual tracks, what kind of sound are you looking for?
Mainly individual tracks at the moment. I don’t subscribe to the ‘you need to be in my gang’ if a record is going to be signed to Eyetone. I have a very relaxed and freeform kind of relationship with the artists. They can pursue their own interests outside of any contribution there maybe to Eyetone. I’m not interested in any sense of exclusivity or even inclusivity. The label is an open platform for all artists with a passion and desire to have a body of work that might have meaning for someone else too and that hopefully can be drawn on in years to come for this and the next generation of music enthusiasts and DJ’s. So if you don’t know me and I don’t know you, then you stand an equal chance when you send your demos in – JUST NO EDM! eyetonerecords@gmail.com
What are your top five artists, bands or DJ’s right now?
Toro y Moi, Napoleon, MCDE – Motor City Drum Ensemble, Bob Moses, Ricardo Villalobos
Your most respected peer?
Francois Kervorkian
The hottest club in London?
Fabric
Hottest International club?
Warung in the South of Brasil – it’s hot and the hottest!
What are you doing on Sunday?
I’m looking forward to a long phone conversation with an old friend of mine who now lives in the Cayman Islands and runs a parasailing company, so his life is predominantly spent in the waters. He’s one of those few folk left in this world who still only communicates by phone and fax. It’s heartwarming holding these kind of friendships where time and distance really is irrelevant. If I can also squeeze a Sunday Roast in then it would be a fine Sunday indeed 🙂
DJ Demi chose our Sunday Sessions this week! Click here for the playlist.
Follow Demi on Soundcloud, Facebook and YouTube, or visit eyetonerecords.com
Free edits – Demi has made some great music available for all our readers, check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/demiofficialmusic/sets/edits-86
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