Vlad:Vlad began as an avid listener but always had a deep urge to be involved with the making of music. As a child he was never given lessons on the piano or given any instrument to which he could express this need to create. When he found out what people where doing with records he wanted in. Vlad saw DJing as a way to be involved with music hands-on with little or no knowlege of music theory. So Vlad has been DJing since a little before DJs were the new 'in thing'. It is believed that in 1995 he obtained his first turntables. They were two second-hand belt driven KAMs and a mixer with nothing more than the most basic of features. He DJs for fun cos God knows he ain't getting paid more to do it then he's spends on it. He DJs to teach. To him there are too many outlets for bubble gum pop and not enough voice for music made for the music, not the money. He DJs for pride, although not a battle DJ if challenged he will not back down. Although he doesn't DJ for the "DJ Showcat, shirt wearing ass" status, if some women happen to be impressed by the speed and accuracy in which he strokes the fader then he is not one to repel.1995 was a transition period for hip-hop. RZA and his clan were reaching their early peak, Jeru dropped his last known 'Wrath' and Mr. Automato paired with the tabloid-life leading Kool Keith. Hip-hop was good but Vlad was also gaining knowledge of a different type of beat. Some called it Acid Jazz, some Trip-Hop though Vlad would rather tell you what label he was talking about expecting you to know his jist. Ninja Tune were moving him, the now AWOL Mo'Wax was exciting him and the then infant OM records was delighting him with Deep Concentration among others. Not to say he restricted himself. He drew inspiration from his large families influence and that from the neigbourhood kids while he was young and his listening tastes fluctuated from Pavarotti to the Rolling Stones, The Shamen to Guns N' Roses, Madonna to the Specials and NWA to Black Sabbath.The first record for him to purchase was Adam's Family Groove by MC Hammer on 7" in 1990 shortly followed by an Ugly Kid Joe 7". Other early purchases included Green Jelly (pink vynil) and Ice Cube. A set from Vlad can change genre every track, from Rock to Soul to Funk to Hip-Hop to Acid Jazz to Breaks to House and back to Rock.
Later acquiring an extensive collection of mail-order organ records (including some rare 78's) he has an appreciation for the times of old. He pictures a dim candle lit lounge, a 12 years scotch (rocks, no garnish), a dime of a dame and the lulling, soft sound of a church organ playing in all it's harmonious glory.He enjoys picking up somewhat known, but often forgotten, gems in the second hand record store's bins from disco to soul and funk.
Vlad began composing/writing/making on his, since MIA, friends laptop before most people had heard the words 'laptop top jock' being uttered for a tech-geeks lips. Albeit simplistic beats composed on Propellerheads Rebirth he didn't take long to progress into more sophisticated beats with a very electronic feel. He was once declared an 'Electro Monster' by a tall, unwieldy, unemployed Canadian of great importance but little recognition. Within weeks Vlad progressed onto a program called Mod Plug Tracker which allowed him more control of samples and sequences which he so desperately longed for. Before long he was writing tracks worthy of any rave, house party or hill-billy techno barn dance. This coupled with his extensive organ catalog renders him unstoppable.Very much a sample hobo with little or no shame Vlad's style is to nab waves from anywhere and everywhere; TV, Radio, Movies, Games, PC Application, CDs and of coarse Records - If there is a way for him to get a clean sample he'll do it. He had been known to rewire cheap electronic keyrings and pocket pianos to put a headphone jack on it and steal the sample that way. Despite this blatant theft one is hard pushed to accurately place the source of most of his samples. This is because he is an avid wave chop feind. With 1:1 zoom he cuts samples with rapier sharp accuracy. This fact and also the fact that he is all about the manipulation of the sample to achieve maximum satisfaction. Satisfaction that is not always shared by all, especially, in the lowest bracket of music fans (bubblegum pop). Vlad does not augment his sound to comply with buzz word like "Accessible", "Marketable" and "Catchy" nor does he try to be "the in thing", "flavour of the week" or "man of the minute". He often quotes an unknown source saying about his music "This is not music for cheerleaders."As the founder of Strictly Turntables, a college society originally dedicated to staving of the evils of CD jocks and preserving the vinyl movement. Other goals where to enlighten and inform the masses of an alternative to the squeaky clean, gut churning sound repeatedly force at us through MTV, 10X/hr FM and every 'super club' disk jockey.
This profile is dope. FRESH!!!
