Thanks for taking the time to record a mix for our podcast series, was there any special concept behind your mix, or tracks played form your own releases?
My pleasure! Thanks for invite! The idea was to cover the broader spectrum of the sound I play, moving from deeper sounds into the housey stuff, dubby techno and eventually into heavier tracks and back. Combining it all into one journey with a nice flow.
In my podcasts I try to play some forthcoming music from myself, my labels and my friends. This mix wasn’t an exception. Here I played two forthcoming tracks from my label Greyscale. One is Gradient’s “Landscape Two” and El Choop’s “render_004_nue” that will be released next month.

Listen on MIXCLOUD or YOUTUBE

Where did you record the mix, and what equipment did you use?
The mix was recorded at my studio with two turntables, two CDJ’s and a mixer.

What is your thought process when picking out tracks for a podcast, do you pre-select the tracks, or just pick out the first couple and freestyle it from there?
Usually I start to think about what kind of vibe it should be, what story I want to tell with this podcast I’m going to work on. I select a pile of tracks that I haven’t used in my previous podcasts and decide which one will work the best as the opening track. Then hit the record button and just go with the flow. This way works the best for me as there’s enough room left for the unexpected moments that don’t happen twice.

How do you compare playing in a club to recording a podcast, is there much of a change in your mixing style and track selections?
I’d say recording a podcast is a bit more laid-back. Usually starting out slowly and keeping it deeper for a while. It’s kind of more of an intimate vibe as there’s nothing else between the music and myself in that moment. While the set in the club very much depends on the gig itself, usually I get so pumped when I’m in the booth in front of the crowd. So that is reflected on both track selection and mixing style. Everything gets more energetic. In the club situation I tend to mix faster and apply more tricks I’ve learned over the 20+ years behind the decks. Focusing more on the performance side of it and sending all my energy from the booth, so the crowd can feel it on the dance floor and have the best experience.

What stores or other places do you normally look for new music… is it all sourced online, or do you also pick up the odd bit of vinyl?
Most of my records are sourced online. The biggest part is bought from Decks. Then, I find lots of interesting stuff on Discogs as well, but I also like to dig the bins at the record store whenever I can. So I always go to get some records from Hardwax and Spacehall when in Berlin, from Closer Record Store when in Kyiv or from my local Discotag. I’m also checking Beatport for the music that hasn’t been released on vinyl and these days I am getting lots of nice promos as well.

Could you tell us a bit about your most memorable DJ experience?
Every gig is special and I remember them all, but probably the most memorable of them are the ones where the crowd is the most responsive. In the moments like that you know that they left all their problems at home and they are there, catching the flow, feeling the vibes, enjoying each moment of the sonic experience I’m providing. I’ve had quite a few of them over the years, in Lärm, Budapest, in Closer, Kiev or Lantern, Beijing, but the show I had in Tehran is stuck in my memory the most.

What other projects do you have lined up, do you have any new releases or forthcoming gigs we should be watching out for?
Sure, there’s some releases in the pipeline on my label Greyscale. Gradient‘s “Landscapes” just dropped, which also includes remixes from Fluxion and myself. Next there will be my “Harmony In Chaos” and “Archive 001” EP’s. The latter will start the new Greyscale Archive series. There’s some plans for “Redscale 10” release and couple of represses. Also, my track “Winds Of Changes” is coming out soon on VA release on Roger Gerressen’s label Irenic. In terms of gigs, there’s also nice schedule coming up. During the summer I’ll be playin few festivals here in Lithuania, Funikulierius and Yaga Gathering among others. In few weeks we’ll have a Greyscale label Showcase in Moscow and after that I’m heading to Tallinn.

Buy the latest Grad U release HERE