Sorry for not posting last week, but I had plenty of work from college. But this week to make up to you, I interview, in my opinion, one of the best dj in portugal, with a very open mind and with a lovely taste. This man is Mr. Mike Stellar, but he will talk for himself.
FYMS: Hi Mike, I'm sorry to be so indiscreet, but how old are you, and for how long have you been djing?
Mike: i'm 39. Been djing properly since 1999 or 2000, not really sure to be honest. I remember the first gig clearly but not the year.
FYMS: And why does a 27/28-year-old man want to become a dj?
Mike: I was a promoter/booker before, and a music lover even before. So I guess I just became entangled in the whole thing. It actually happened by accident, or more precisely by necessity. On the first Jazznova tour I organized in Portugal one of the dates was in Coimbra and there was no budget for a warm up dj... so Mike Stellar was born.
FYMS: Tell us a bit of all the gig, specially your part, if you were nervous, if you recall any of the records you played, the feedback from the crowd, any feedback from other artists...
Mike: Sure. It's still very clear in my mind. I just picked some of my favourite records, not really knowing how to deal with a crowd. but played with passion and it worked out. The dj from Jazzanova was Claas Brieler and he just told me at the end: "Man, you've got taste. Just work it and it'll be fine.". The first track was Linda Tillery - "Freedom Time".
FYMS: Just asked because nowadays, new djs believe the most important factor for a dj is the beatmaching. I personaly disagree. What's your opinion about thath and about the explosion of new dj and music indrustry nowadays?
Mike: Well, that's a complex question with several layers for me, the most important is the selection. You may know how to beatmatch perfectly but if the music is shit, what's the point? and people on the dancefloor prefer to listen to good tracks than to see skills without any content. New dj's... Everybody has to start somehwere and now that has become easier with technology, giving you sometimes the impression that you are actually doing something good, when in fact you are just pressing buttons and functions.
FYMS: How would you describe yourself musicly? I mean not by genre, but by emotions
Mike: Ouch... That's a tough one. Between a whore and a scholar. I can play pretty easy within my taste, but also go very deep it all depends on my gut and my mood. Every dj set is a challenge for me because i don't plan them. I just take records and start with the first one after that is a mix of I what i show people and at the same time making them have a good time.
FYMS: Now even harder, can you tell a few tracks from your case that can show us your
amplitude, from the most chill one, to the most danceable, from the loveliest one, to the darkest one?
Mike: I'm terrible with names, since my relationship with records is visual, but i'll make an effort. I can play from jazz, folky stuff, afrobeat to proper detroit techno, garage whatever. A few examples, right now i'm really digging stuff like Idiot Savant, Objekt, Austin Peralta, Zomby. It's really difficult for me to explain in names. I always have tricks on my sleeve, believe me. I just need good ears or more accuratelly discerning minds on the dancefloor. it's always a balance between messing with the mind and body at the same time. but i have to say my musical roots are on jazz, dub, african and brazilian music. Everything that i play is related to those roots.
FYMS: You have a side project too, tell us a bit about it, and what are your music goals?
Mike: Yes, RamboStellar, with my soul mate Ramboiage (RamboStellar). It was created to explore the development of bass music that we were really interested at the time we strated this, but always mixed with our own styles. We just took it from there and we don't really know where it's going. There's a couple of ideas for tracks in the air, but we'll see what comes. Maybe nothing... Maybe something good.
FYMS: We'll be waiting. But tell me Ramboiage is way younger than you, isn't he? How did you two got in touch, and how is to work with someone younger?
Mike: I worked for Red Bull Music Academy in Portugal between 2004 and 2009, so I was always in touch with the freshest talents around and when i met Victor in one of the RBMA Tasters we just clicked. The rest is history, as they say. Above all we are mates and try to inspire each other. About the age difference, I don't really think about it. Music keeps me very young (I'm not old anyway).
FYMS: One last question before the fun part. How does Mike Steller has evolved thru the years? Left some genres behind? "Found" new ones?
Mike: Always learning, that's what I feel everyday. sometimes music made 30 years ago blows my mind way more than the last supposedelly new trend. I find good and bad music everyday. It's not about genres, but about quality. So you can say I'm a purveyor of good music and that means going through a lot of trash to navigate on this thin blue line. But it all comes down to my personal taste.
FYMS: Complete these senteces...
One day... at a time
The best thing people can say about me is... i'm not the best to judge it
And the worst is... same as before
In ten years... my son will be sweet sixteen.
FYMS: What would you tell to FYMS readers?
Mike: Fuck Yeah!
Mike ask me if he could make a longer mini-mix, and how am I to deny a wish to a such great dj and to a wonderful taste.
So I leave you with his "mini"-mix. Next week is Artist's week again. See you next week.
Mike Bek
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