Party Proactive brings you Belgrade techno supremo Marco Nastic
Reported by K.A.R.L & Joanna McEwen
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Submitted 23-10-06 23:08
Marko Nastic is breaking down the walls surrounding his homeland of Serbia to blaze his infectious style of pumping, tribal techno across the rest of the world. Founder of Serbia’s first ever techno label, Recon Warriors, he’s a man on a mission and wherever he goes the techno faithful follow.
Inspired by his Uncle, he’s been messing around with synthesisers and mixing since he was a teenager and has since gone on to produce some of the freshest sounds the scene has heard for a while. Supported by the likes of Fergie and Pete Tong on Radio 1 and by fellow techno brigands Umek, Monika Kruse, Valentino Kanzyani, Carl Cox, Billy Nasty and Marco Carola, amongst others, his blending of different sounds constantly surprises the ear and delights the feet. Must be why his numerous EPs and remixes, including those with Kanzyani and Hertz, have appeared on compilations from DJ Mag, Intec and Relic to Tidy Trax. His DJ gigs have taken him across the globe from Ibiza to Columbia, Brazil, Russia and back to Europe — his closing set at the Exit Festival a stellar example of why the man and his music is so sought after. This is going to be hot, people!
You were inspired by your Uncle playing 80s Italian house on Belgrade radio and the techno your brothers brought home in the 90s. They must have been an important influence over your music and decision to become a dj.
Definitely lots of different music passed through my childhood. We used to live together in big house so I was surrounded with lots of records. They definitely say that my uncle was among the first who started beat mixing and at the time I didn’t understand all this, but when I started to show an interest in the mixing, I can say that he gave me a good start.
Creating music since you were a boy, in 1996 you formed Teenage Techno Punks with your partner Dejan Milicevic. You’ve been into your techno for a while then! Tell us about your early forays into the dance scene.
Well everything started around ‘93, but in that time it was all mixed up — trance, house, techno, which I must admit that I liked because music was pretty loose at the time. The scene was definitely different, as at that time there were no festivals, only two clubs and one club was actually creating the scene. I can remember playing for a thousand people and now I can count sometimes twenty thousand, so I must admit it’s a big step forward.
Being Programme Director and resident at the ground-breaking Industria club in Serbia, you were able to dj alongside the likes of Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin and Marco Carola to name a few. Were these people you looked up to and how did you feel the first time you played with them?
Yes I got really good feedback from all the guest djs. Some of them are really good friends of mine now! Well I must say I felt great, it was a one time life experience while I was on the decks, the house was on fire. People still talk about that time.
How does it feel to be ranked amongst them now?
I’m really satisfied, I showed my qualities and I became the ambassador of good will. I am glad that through my music people started noticing a better side of life in Serbia. Not only war!
Techno seems to have been a bit of a dirty word in UK clubbing (though that perception is changing), yet when I have seen most of the big trance djs play (Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, Marco V, Sander van Doorn, Eddie Halliwell to name a few), they are not afraid to play techno in their sets and the crowd love it. Have you come across this and if so why do you think it is?
Why that’s nice, it’s really important to skip the boundaries. I love to mix from house to techno — even once I played folk songs… joke! Hahahaha! (I hate that
crap).
There seems to be something in the water in Eastern Europe because it seems (for me at least) to produce the finest techno djs and producers. Why do you think this is?
Well it’s not only about the water, more about food and good chicks. Those things move me! The Balkan scene is getting bigger and the atmosphere is amazing and it will only improve in time to come.
You wrote in a previous interview, “Things have got much better since Milosevic was ousted, we’re free to travel and the scene in Belgrade is stronger.” Your country has been through some hard times in recent years. How did that impact on the music scene and the music being produced?
When I was young, living under these circumstances it was hard to afford most of the equipment and records were really hard to get. Having all this much earlier would have made it much easier. I also think that my music is much easier on the ear now (or maybe it’s just me getting older?).
Were parties still held whilst the war was on? What are they like now?
There were some clubs making matinee parties from 13h till 20:00, so that was the time we had a chance to see each other. I must admit that I don’t like talking about that time very much, it reveals all the bad memories, though that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have a good time back then.
Writing this interview and planning the line up for this party, I got a sudden sense of Europe — the world! — being united through techno and psy trance. Having played all over the world — Europe, Asia, South America — what are your thoughts on the global scene?
I love to go around and be part of lots of different cultures and lifestyles.
Do any gigs have any special memories for you? And how different do you find the crowds?
It’s a unique feeling for me being behind the decks and creating a good atmosphere in the club. I always enjoy playing in the UK, it has a very nice atmosphere and people. And also other countries, like Serbia, Spain and Brazil, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Hungary. And a very special memory for me was the first Exit festival!
Can you tell us more about your project Recon Warriers and the artists you’ll be working with?
Well that’s my baby label, it’s the first thing I started and we’ve had six releases so far. Among them was Kobaya , Umek , Dejan Milicedvic , Vestax and Cave. We had a short break this year due to the problem with our distribution, who owe us money, so we put off new releases till the end of this year.
With all the advancements recently with technology — and you’ve been producing for some time — what set up do you use for studio productions?
Well I use a Mac, using software like Cubase, Logic and Ableton. I have 2 UAD sound cards, Apoggy Rosseta 800, TC Powercore, Fatso compressor and mostly I am using soft synths .
Are you a CD-only dj or do you stick with vinyl or toy with Ableton and Vinyl Scratch?[/b]
I play records and use Final Scratch. I love the feeling of the record. That’s the reason I chose Scratch. I tried CDs and it’s not for me. I know lots of people who enjoy using CDs.
I saw on your website that you were due to play a 7 hour set. How do you prepare for something like that, apart from going to the loo plenty before hand?!
Well I was doing that when I was 17, so imagine me 10 years later. It’s all about going through a lot of records beforehand and organizing alcohol for the night… and maybe some sandwiches!
November 4th sees you play at Party Proactive at Turnmills, a party that isn’t afraid to break the mould and play techno, psy trance, hard and tech djs all in the same room. It’s quite rare for a party to do this in the UK. Is it any different abroad?
Well I think it’s really hard to do this, especially in my country ... I played only once at a psy trance festival in my country and can say it was really nice. My best friend is a psy trance dj so this music is not strange to me.
You’ll be playing after me [K.A.R.L.], and I’ll be playing techy but groovy, helping to set the stage. Your style of techno has in turn been described as tribal, clubby, progressive and trancey (now there’s a mix). How would you describe what we can expect?
Well I must admit that I never played progressive and that my music was always going from house to techno. Over the last five years I’ve had my own residency, where I play techy and minimal sounds. Especially now, I am really infected by minimal.
Will you be working your three-deck magic?
Yes off course! I always play three decks sets and usually I bring a lot of equipment with me, so it will be much fun.
And finally. Do you still like to party and if so, what would be your ideal line up and venue? (excluding the line up at Party Proactive at Turnmills of course!
My perfect line up would be Valentino, Umek, Dejan Milicevic, Marko Milosavljevic and Mathew Hoag — of course with Mushroom Teddy aka Loco Twice. The location would be Club Underground, Ibiza.
Thanks, Marko. We’re champing at the bit to hear you play on the 4th. Bring as many records as you can cos we want to hear them all!! Boooooowai!
Get ready I am coming!
Questions by London legend K.A.R.L., who’s warming up for Marko Nastic and from what whispers we have hear he is very busy in the studio putting together a few bits just for Party Proactive.
For more info check out www.proactive-records.co.uk
Images courtesy of Marko Nastic. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Party Proactive: The BIG Bang!
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On:
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Saturday 4th November 2006
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At:
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Turnmills [map]
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From:
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22:00 to 06:00
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Cost:
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£10 Advance / £14 Paying Guest List / £18 On The Door
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Website:
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www.proactive-records.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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ADMISSION
ADVANCE TICKETS STILL ONLY £10
TICKETS £10, PAYING GUEST LIST £14, DOOR £18
Proactive HQ (No Booking Fee): 07814179946 / Brainless66@hotmail.com
Maria Never Enough: 07813684399 / maria@toomuchbutneverenough.com
www.ticketweb.co.uk (24 hours) / 08700600100
Vince (Midlands) Coaches / Tickets / Info: 07835626226
Cyberdog: The Stables, Camden Market: 0207 2873530
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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We thought September would be our last event this year and all at Party Proactive HQ started to kick back and enjoy a well earned break… but NO!
The MASSIVE success of our event in September and ALL the previous events at Turnmills has resulted in Party Proactive being offered the HUGHE honour of being offered a bimonthly residency at what we can NOW call our home – TURNMILLS. This really does put Party Proactive at the very top of the clubbing industry with Party Proactive standing side by side with renowned events such as, The Gallery and Together amongst others!
And ladies and gentleman do we have one hell of a party to celebrate what has been one incredible roller coaster ride that started at the infamous Purple Turtle in Camden, just under two years ago!
PARTY PROACTIVE presents “THE BIG BANG” – with it being the fireworks weekend we couldn’t have a better weekend to celebrate this on and with plenty of reasons why we should make this the best event of 2006 and the end (for definite) of a simply incredible year!
In our continued mission to keep things fresh and exciting we think we really have excelled ourselves with a line up that we feel is completely UNIQUE and something you will never get to see at any other event and true mix of all that makes the underground UK club scene the very best in the world!
In the main room of Turnmills we are hugely excited to invite ESKIMO. ESKIMO has made a massive name for himself on the psychedelic trance scene smashing dance floors all over the world headlining the “must see” Glade Festival, in fact ESKIMO is flying in from Mexico just for this event, prepare to be AMAZED! Techno supremo MARKO NASTIC will be jetting in from BELGRADE to tantalize your taste buds, Party Proactive residents ANDY FARLEY and PETE WARDMAN will go head to head in a WORLD EXCLUSIVE.
In warm dark confines of T2 we have a delectable menu of the finest in electro, tribal house and breaks. Party Proactive are extremely proud to present PHILIPPE B, resident at the world renowned party palaces THE REX and QUEENS CLUB in PARIS. QUEEN MAXINE will be making a welcome return alongside BIG DADDY from PLAYTIME fame and STEVEN BLACK resident at Menthol. Top electro party, Trailer Trash residents in the form of Mikki Most and Hannah Holland will be making the debut.
The VIP Room and the Juno Room play host to our special guests NEVER ENOUGH and FAB. NEVER ENOUGH will be showing us how to have fun Brazilian style with tech house and tribal beats and FAB from Birmingham will show us why they are rocking the north with their brand of funky house.
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. House. Deep House. Funky House. Tribal House. Funky Techno. Techno. Breaks.
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DJ's:
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T1 – Hard Dance and Techno
Eskimo
Marko Nastic
Andy Farley b2b Pete Wardman
Ilogik
Jacob Moss
K.A.R.L.
T2 – Tuff House, Electro and Breaks
Philippe B
Big Daddy - Playtime
Mikki Most b2b Hannah Holland - Trailer Trash
Alex Parsons
Steelo b2b The *Ting*
Steven Black
Juno Room – Funky House
Hosted by F.A.B
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DJ Felix (UK) / Patrick Marks / Marin Sharpe / Alan Clarke / Dean Sheppard
VIP (open to all) – Tech and Tribal House Brazilian style
Hosted by Never Enough
Eduardo Herrera / Gaz James / Gustavo Peluzo / Eddie Santos
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