Interview with
Julian
Hello Julian, it’s been more than a decade that you’ve been perfecting your craft, distinguishing yourself by means of hypnotic productions and cutting-edge releases on labels like Tooloop, Subtil and of course your first imprint Eliptic, while you’ve been as well performing all over Europe ever since your beginnings.
This said, what sets you apart aren’t just your technical skills or musical creativeness, rather your deep understanding of music’s role in bringing people together, your ability to read the crowd energy and transform it into a shared journey of sonic emotion and human connection, as witnessed during your appearance last Sunwaves in Mamaia.
I’m really glad to explore together how the music industry has reshaped itself and the way artists roles have evolved over the last decade, while also getting to know more about your background, your artistic path, the projects you’re currently shaping and more.
1/ Let’s introduce more about you by going back to your beginnings, as your musical journey began a decade ago, so let’s step back, what was the Romanian electronic music scene like when you first discovered it, what sounds and experiences drew you in and what inspired you to become a DJ/producer?
Interaction with electronic music was back in 2005, thanks to my cousin. He was a clubber since the beginning of the electronic music movement in Romania. My first club experience was at Studio Martin club, the reopening party with The Mission. I think it was a Circoloco party… Rhadoo and Pedro played and was a super good night, I was impressed.
Studio Martin and Kristal Glam Club were the best clubs in Bucharest at that time and I became very fast a regular at both of them – Friday and Saturday – sometimes going at both clubs during the same night… it was a very short walking distance between them. I’ve joined lots of nights and listened both the Romanian and international DJ’s, Rhadoo, Pedro, John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, James Zabiela were among my favorites and of course, starting 2006, in the same Studio Martin – Ricardo Villalobos – which was the main figure who actually made me understand what is this music about. I was truly fascinated by Ricardo’s personality, vibe and skills in the DJ act.
In 2007, I’ve started exploring Discogs really serious, to listen and dig for music. At first, I was attracted more to Progressive House (Digweed was a huge influence since I was a fan of ‘Transitions’). This was also the year of [a:rpia:r] launch and the first release party, which was very special. I’ve been at the club alone and I was just listening to the music for the whole night and left when they finished the set. I can say that I grew up with the Romanians and thanks to their passion, dedication and skills, I’ve got the motivation to give DJ-ing a chance.
What always fascinated me is the act of playing records. It was a bit hard with buying records back in the days, but I’ve managed to find music on the internet, specially on blogs and made friends on forums, like Radar, to get in touch with people, be part of the community and of course, get access to music. The total mind-blowing moment that I still remember today as a turning point was when I’ve first listened Ricardo’s Sei Es Drum record in 2007 – Druic – I was like… “WOW, what is this music? Sounds so good!”. So I’ve started collecting music and burn it on CDs.
I’ve started playing music in 2009 in my neighborhood – Berceni – in one of our friend’s apartment and made parties during the weekends, that was the beginning..
2/ By digging on RA, I’ve been bumping on one of the first events you’ve been performing at, it was taking place at Combinatul Fondului Plastic art gallery in Bucharest, almost exactly 10 years ago, and this event promoted by CRUD was hosting fabric one and only resident Craig Richards.
Taking yourself back to that night and looking back now with a decade of experience, what would you tell your younger self about that day, would you still picture what was going through your mind before taking the stage that performance?
Actually, my first gig was back in January 2010, in the same club – Studio Martin. I was playing with the alias Julian Groove at that time. Then, later in that year I’ve started a project – Groove Soundsystem – with Gabriel (Nu Zau) that lasted about 2 years. Since 2012, I’ve started playing as Julian.
Related to that night in 2015, was a very nice one. I’ve performed before Scott Ferguson and I remember that he was very impressed by the music. 1h from that set is online, you can listen it here :
https://on.soundcloud.com/HVJ1kG56kdcYo2Sd6
I still feel it very actual musically wise so I would tell to my younger self to approach it in the same way, very well prepared and always give the best possible.
3/ You’ve been launching your first record label project Eliptic back in 2016, on which you’ve been releasing your very first album « Peace in Chaos » back in 2021 as well as welcomed numerous stunning producers, and this label curator hat led you to launch Spacebased Recordings in 2022.
Would you discuss further the evolution of your labels since their inception, what’s the most rewarding aspect of running vinyl imprints in your opinion and how do you approach genre diversification within each?
To be the musical curator of a record label was one of my dreams, I’m very grateful that it happened.
I was lucky to have around me a bunch of talented people because this is a team work, from music selection to the final product. The main idea around Eliptic was to release music created by myself, friends and our projects together and this is how it is, friends musical communion, from the first release to the last (for now), which is the album « Peace in Chaos ». All the releases came at their moment and the music that got released was somehow “validated”, either by being played at the club or by time.
In 2021 I’ve started Spacebased Recordings, and with this record label I have a different musical approach. This is the mature, conscious and evolved side of my musical journey. On this project I’ve had the honor to collaborate with two special human beings and amazing musicians, Brian (Seafoam) on the first release and Georgios (Dan Piu) on the second release.
The third Spacebased release is in the making, and I am very excited about this one since it’s coming from one of my favorite artists and a very skilled musician.
The most rewarding aspect of running vinyl imprints, for me, represents the opportunity to offer. It starts with offering the opportunity to the artist, then the opportunity to the listener to dive into the unknown and discover new music and most special, on vinyl. I still consider releasing vinyl a huge privilege because I always strive to put the best music on that piece of plastic.
4/ Going further label wise, you’ve been meticulously selecting your creations to release on other labels for the last 10 years, with remarkable additions to Subtil and Tooloop aside your enrapturing Eliptic ones, which illustrates well your quality over quantity approach towards music and seems to reflect a deeper artistic philosophy that goes beyond music production only.
How does spirituality influence your approach when it comes to create and release your creations, and how do you get to maintain artistic authenticity, especially in an industry that can feel increasingly rushed or somehow superficial?
Music is spiritual, it expresses the unexpressed. From my perspective, music listening and creation is a state in which the “I” is not acting, the time stops. In the creational process, either in a DJ set or a production session, I am in the present moment. So the process of creation itself is pure and authentic, each piece of music is unique.
Being altruistic and authentic feels great. Yes, it’s true that are not helpful these days, specially in the entertainment industry, but acceptance is the key. I am actually happy to stay behind the scene and do what I love because I don’t feel any sort of competition. I simply don’t seek to ‘become’. At the industry level, I believe in the authenticity and unique style, skills and approach of each artist.
We all have the same brain, the human brain, but we are conditioned differently… we might have some common patterns but we can’t be similar. This leads to diversity and curiosity for all the people involved.
5/ And actually in regards to spirituality, besides being both performer and music producer, there’s another fascinating dimension to your work that we haven’t discussed yet, which is your academic background, as you spent several years studying religion and theological texts in order to become a priest. I’m sure this can explain a lot about the more spiritual or philosophical perspectives you’re bringing to your creative process, with cerebral frequencies hitting feelings from within.
Would you say your music contains some references of your theological studies, maybe even methodological wise, and to go further, would you see music as a form of religion?
Religion was part of my life since I was a child. At the age of 7 I was singing in a church choir, first as a Soprano and when I grew up as Alto and Tenor. I have studied in a primary school run by the Catholic Church, then I have graduated Romano-Catholic Theology at the Theological College in Bucharest.
I wanted to become a priest but life revealed a different vocation. I have always thought that is not a big difference between a priest and a DJ anyway. Both have the purpose to wipe out the “I”, but are using different tools.
The only purpose of religion is the elimination of the Ego so, yes, music is definitely a form of religion. I have a strong feeling of connection in this direction when I play music.
6/ Sunwaves – and especially the April edition – can definitely be seen as the one festival pilgrimage of the year where DJs operate as music shamans, orchestrating waves of sound during a full week on Crazy Beach, turned every year into a real music sanctuary where people come to lose themselves and paradoxically find connection.
Last April marked your Sunwaves debut, opening for Arpiar during one of Stage 3’s two essential nights, which have became unmissable melodic ceremonies, would you share more about this special first time and how do you get prepared for such festival?
It was an honor to share the booth with the guys on the Sunwaves stage. They invited me to play during the [a:rpia:r] night.
I have treated it seriously, like any other gig, played the newest discovered music, both digital and vinyl and did the best I could.
7/ To go further about Sunwaves, its sacred energy and its DJ booths acting as modern altars, what makes of it such a ritualistic place where music lovers and professionals keep on attending every year, what makes it different from the other festivals according to you?
Sunwaves is special because it was Romania’s first underground electronic music festival and the first one to get international attention, for good reasons.
It’s the place where the electronic music industry gets together, music lovers, artists and promoters. It used to be a 3 days non-stop music event which has now reached a full week. That’s a performance.
8/ As an artist, do you have any rituals or routines that you follow before going into the studio or performing?
In the studio, I just start, play and record. That’s the way for me… I don’t think, I feel like a kid and just enjoy playing.
When performing, the routine means to buy new music, listen it, select it properly for the moment I play and of course, prepare my vinyl bag.
9/ On a more human level, it’s obvious that musical creations are artists’ emotions digitally translated, while artists seem to me to be very sensible humans, and by talking with producers over the years I also realized how mental health is playing a huge role in the creative process.
How do you maintain your mental health balanced in a such disturbed world outside of the music industry, does it impact you as an artist, and how do you cope with it?
First thing to mention is that I have quit the main addictions for years now, including alcohol, tobacco and sugar. I like coffee, but I don’t drink daily and I still buy vinyls though.
An important factor in being able to take these healthy decisions was psychotherapy but also many personal development books and hundreds of hours of educational videos, from brain chemistry to genetics, psychology, philosophy and spirituality. I try to read daily and I also make sport.
In the music industry, addiction and overall dependence is generally accepted and even encouraged, the risk of this behavior is the abuse and artists are mostly exposed because they deal with the club environment every week. I encourage everyone who feels anxious, depressed, demotivated or lost to ask for help. I am happy to discuss and share my experience.
10/ On a lighter note, is there any books, films or art forms outside of music that influence your work, and would you have any recommendations on this matter?
I have quite a few authors that I constantly read and I would definitely recommend to every human being :
- Gabor Mate – In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts – Close Encounters with Addiction
- David Hawkins – Letting Go
- David Hawkins – Truth vs Falsehood
- Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now
- Jiddu Krishnamurti – Freedom from the Known
11/ To conclude this interview, is there any upcoming project you’re excited about?
Yes, the upcoming release on Spacebased and got some new toys in the studio, will have a great play!
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