TEXT TAKEN FROM SCHOOL OF HOUSE FACEBOOK VIDEO –
Few artists in the techno genre are as outspoken as Zak Khutoretsky aka DVS1. In recent years, the Russian-American DJ/producer has been the instigator of many a fierce discussion on electronic music’s most sensitive topics.
Zak is now questioning the rise of big festivals, saying they are jeopardizing some of electronic music’s core values. School of House sat down with him during one of his recent visits to Amsterdam to talk – amongst other things – about the devastating effect of festivals on our club culture.
Interview: Aron Friedman
Camera: Roy Boersema
For School of House
www.schoolofhouse.com
School of House
We’re an educational platform located in Amsterdam, providing a unique combination of theory and practice, with prominent guest speakers from the electronic music industry playing a key role. DJs, producers and organizers – from pioneers to young guns, and from underground to mainstream – talk passionately about their world.
Students gain valuable knowledge of the everyday practices within the industry and are offered outlooks. They are themselves challenged to come up with questions and ideas. TSOH also opens up its network to generate work experience, internships or even jobs for the most talented participants.
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thedeviousone612
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Love this!
@11:45 it's called cymatics
DVS1 excellent commentary – awesome interview. This sounds like the issue with all faces of art wihtin society – Intense pressure to scale thus diluting the quality of any art / production. Have you also considered the regulatory disparity between clubs and festivals? The simplicity of permitting a festival with a temporary license in contrast to clubs shutting down and licences being revoked in major clubbing cities. This is also damaging the scene. Maybe less so in Amsterdam but certainly in the UK over the last decade
Totally agree and the same principles applied here to the death of the jazz club as a result of the watered down jazz festivals.
Is that an Emotiva Airmotiv speaker in the back ground? If so, surprised
Big up brother!!!!! Couldn’t have said any of this better!
Very nice. Inspiring. And in your face interview.
“Am I out of touch?”
“No it’s the children who are wrong.”
My respect level for DVS1 just got to another dimension, cant wait for him to come to Serbia!
I don't get that festival vs club thing… Some are good, some are bad, some are not your thing, that's all !
I had better experiences partying outside for a few days (what I call festival) than a few hours in a room to be frank. But I can agree on super big events, even teknivals, over 20000 starts to be irritating somehow.
word
Love the devious one!
Such a good perspective on modern dance music "consumption" Needs more views, spread it out!
I’m 46 the first underground rave scene I went to was in 1989 in downtown Los Angeles where we had to drive to certain locations to get directions ? it was a journey to get there and was so much fun . It was all about the music and not the DJ . Everyone dancing ?? and enjoying the vibe . I’m grateful for the 1990s club / music scene . Great interview I agree with so much with what he’s saying 🙂
I'm from the midlands in England and of the same age/underground demographic, the rave culture was IMO the last big movement of our modern times. Ok, First time I have heard this guy, I have clicked subscribe basically because he really fucking gets it !! – big love from over the pond pal!!!
so true, smart, deep guy,
big fucking up
Shit..this guy is a Bible.. genius never dies
Aphex Twin is doing some pretty ballsy stuff in festivals. Sure all the lights and whatnot ..but his tracklist and truly strange (and cool) shit he is exposing folks to is great. He clearly gives no fucks to give ppl what they think they love but is trying to show something more interesting.
Well in CHICAGO at the Muzic Box we wanted to SEE and HEAR Ron Hardy R.I.P….
We needed His Energy he was a Creative Beast so you gain xperience [from watching].
Aliright Ronnie.
Zak you on POINT.
I think the only way to fix this is the whole world goes blind: Try going to your local Techno/ House club and turn your back against the DJ stage and see how many people look at/ ask you if you're "okay." People think they can 'SEE' whether DJs are fake or real based on how they look on a video clip. DJs with crazy visuals and masks get always more attention. DJs are mixing with their eyes without headphones…
I’m 23 and I enjoy festivals. I get to meet lots of people and see multiple djs that I like. I like going to clubs too
The best of the best. Respect, Zak.
The problem is capitalism… it ruins everything
listen to this …. and then stop wrting " OOOh the queen of techno " please 🙂
Finally someone saying the truth DJs are not rockstars . They are Club Stars
That’s so true what he says about negative and positive people. I’m fully onboard with DVS1
Hey guys, if you love techno and the scene please check us out on soundcloud. https://soundcloud.com/gleichpromotions Thanks for your support.
The last one really got to me, 1 or 1,000 ppl I think I’ll be making music and djing even if it’s for myself. I love this music and that’s what’s most important.
"Money…bastardizes [art]" — let's not get confused on this point…money doesn't bastardize art – people bastardize art when they love money and choose to grind on other people to get more money, beyond what they can get through ethical hard work. There can be plenty of money around, and if people respect each other and everybody chooses to take what comes to them through ethical hard work and be content, it is well. I think that's the point of DVS1's message…and, it is meaningful to maintain clarity (through language) about the fact that it's people and their choices that cause problems.
No doubt the years of experience is being expressed through free-form improvisation, And thank you for that .. it's an understanding that with the upmost respect to the electronic music fans lack completely and unfortunately only some electronic music `enthusiasts` accumulateprocure this understanding and as I've learned through years of experience and dedication that there's a very big difference between a fan and a enthusiast but a very thin line between accumulating a prospective and procuring gradually the understanding of-course.
Thank you Zak Khutoretsky for explaining what many compelling Artists don't have the audacity to, can't be interpreted better than you did literally this video made my day.
well said
But, someone must stop the commercialization of Electronic dance music and bring her back to the underground where belongs.
See it every weekend at work. People on the dance floor take pictures and face the dj, rather than facing each other, dancing, and meeting each other. Of course now, pretty much anything a male does in a club can be construed as creepy. So I get the divide in gender.
This is exactly right they have no idea what a real “rave” is. Hell they don’t even dance anymore.
No disrespect to DVS1 as he is definitely a "G" in the industry but that European Dance / Electronic stuff is NOT House Music.
se tenia que decir, y se dijo!
I really love this guy
It's just the difference between Free Parties and Festivals, not a big deal ;
Down with business techno
It's the way to do it. People dance with each other not all facing front like a church. The best free paries and rave ive been to in UK since the late 90's knew this instinctively. Also discourages people watching the dj set through their phone screen while filming.
Much respect and love for underground dance music culture world-wide, then, now and always. Know your roots, then get back to them.
So true hence all the new DJs have to be super good looking as well. Going to festivals is like going to Walmart
I understand Zak but at the same time things have progressed since the underground days. DJs became big I think because they were producers. People were excited to hear 'their' new tracks. They were looking at a truely expressive artist. DJs are also expressive but not on the same level as a producer. A producer is an artist. An artist is a prophet and brand. People fall in love with them. It's not just about their music anymore. Maybe in an ideal world it is but not anymore. Everything is far more transparent now thanks to social media. It seems that the more transparent and life-streamy you are, the higher your chances at growing your audience and success.
Zak even admits he's benefited from the rave boom. What can you do really?
12:30 True. Sound quality, clarity and intensity, is pivotal. At least Funktion One has, IMO, changed things for the better, as it has universally raised the standard.
By the way, I highly recommend watching some of the interviews with, and talks by, the guys from Funktion One. They are proper old school ravers, hippies, and music lovers. The reason why Funktion One is a special sound system will become evident to you, by watching it:) Just a tip for anyone digging this DVS1 interview!
28:11 Social media, especially Instagram, is to blame for the current state of dj culture, with female djs who could be models, because, well, they look good on Instagram.
And the crowd wants something colorful, for their Instagram profiles. We all live in an "experience economy" – and festivals are experiences. So is travelling. And most people have to travel, to get to a festival.
It's like "going to Burning Man". Almost a status symbol.