DJ Umek

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DJ Umek
Birth name	Uroš Umek
Also known as	DJ Umek, Umek, Fotr (Father)
Born	May 16, 1976 (1976-05-16) (age 33)
Origin	Ljubljana, Slovenia
Genre(s)	Electronica, Techno, Tech house
Occupation(s)	Disc jockey, record producer
Years active	1993–present
Label(s)	Consumer Recreation (1999) Recycled Loops(1999) Astrodisco (2006) 1605 - sixteenofive(2007)
Website	www.umek.si www.myspace.com/djumek

Uroš Umek (born May 16, 1976 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, better known as DJ Umek or simply Umek.^[1]

Uroš Umek is internationally acclaimed deejay and music producer from Slovenia, seducing the masses with his own music blend for more than a decade. Always on the look for new sounds and determined to challenge every existing cliché in music industry, he managed to define his own vision of vanguard techno^[2]. This would not happen without the support of his loyal peers who have joined him on the production platforms such as Recycled Loops, Consumer Recreation and Astrodisco, with which they defined “Slovenian techno sound” and lounched it as an important driving force on the global club scene.^[3]

He started his journey to the stardome as an excellent athlete, running between two baskets^[4], but it was Euterpe the Muse of music and poetry that paved Umek’s life-path. She got him totally unprepared, seduced him with no further notice, so he had no chance of getting out of her treads. He devoted his life, his heart, all of his passion and energy, to the sounds he discovered as a teenager. Pioneering the genre he became one of its most appreciated ambassadors with faithful worldwide audience simply known as The Father (of Slovenian techno)^[5].

Sleeping on past achievements was never Umek’s thing. So it’s no surprise he decided for complete renovation of his sound and live set performance though being steady member of Top 100 DJ lists^[6] for almost a decade^[7]. The year 2007 marks beginning of a new chapter in his music career. After spending enormous amount of time and artistic energy bringing his characteristic sound to the whole new level, he presented new international music therapy called 1605 – Sixteenofive^[8]. No doubt this was a very risky move. But it was the only way for him to stay on top of the game. It seems that he has made the right decision at the crucial time: the response to his new vision of electronic dance music from his peers, critics, media and most importantly his fans is great and his production is supported by some top names in the industry.^[9]

Contents 1 Life and musical career 1.1 Early life and musical beginning 1.2 First partys, mixing and production 1.3 From party participant to DJ and party organizer 1.4 The big break 2 Philanthropy 2.1 Party for a cause with DJ Umek 3 1605 - Music Therapy 4 Selected discography 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Life and musical career

[edit] Early life and musical beginning

“As far as I remember, my first serious contact with music was trough pop artists such as Michael Jackson, Modern Talking, Falco and Yugoslavian singer Daniel Popović, who rocked the Eurosong audience in the early 80’s with the infamous hit single Džuli^[10]. My mother is the one to blame. She bought me my first radio which I’ve listened to ‘till exhaustion,” apologizes Uroš. He brought his music passion to the next level few years latter, discovering the record button on his first double cassette player/recorder. "That enabled me to start my own music collection. I’ve recorded songs from Slovenian disco chart program, which presented top commercial tunes on weekly basis. I also managed to get my hands on some rare pirate cassettes with dance and techno tunes, but even few years after Slovenia became independent I didn’t really know where to look for that modern electronic sounds that I liked so much. I didn’t know anyone who listened to that stuff. Until I discovered Cool Night, specialized broadcast on Ljubljana’s alternative student radio station. The Monday evening slot was run by original pioneers of electronic dance culture in Slovenia, Primož Pečovnik (now boss of indie label Matrix Music), Brane Zorman aka MC Brane of Beitthron and Aldo Ivančič of Borghesia."^[11]

[edit] First partys, mixing and production

He was allowed to go clubbing at the weekends but was expected to be home at 3 am. The trick was, as it usually is, that the first morning bus to his home neighborhood departed from the centre of the city fifteen minutes later. Solving problem wasn’t easy, but being young and determined there was no problem for him running trough the half of the city twice a week: "Running few kilometers in the middle of the night after clubbing really wasn’t as hard as it seems. I was training basketball at that time, so I was really fit.”^[12] It’s more than a decade since he traded career of basketball superstar for the nightlife debauchery. It would be interesting to see what he could have achieved as an athlete. Namely, he was selected for the junior national team just as he parted from the sports, and some of his former colleagues became key players in the top USA and European basketball leagues.

The industrial designed K4 club in the basement of Student’s Union HQ in the centre of Ljubljana is still considered to be Umek’s resident club, although he’s not an official resident deejay anymore. But since his most loyal fans are still gathering there, K4 remains the playground for testing new productions, concepts and sounds. "It’s where everything started. This is the place where I’ve got in touch with first Slovenian electronic projects such as Anna Lies, Clox or Random Logic^[13]. Some of those guys were and still are important part of my life. It was Jure Havliček who ultimately influenced my decision to get involved in professional music production. Gregor Zemljič is mastering all of my tracks. And I’ve founded my first band Mouse Trap with Uroš and Vid, who have opened my eyes and ears to this culture.”^[13]

One time his friend introduced him the Screen Tracker. "It was the very basic 8-bit resolution production tool with four mono channels, but that’s how everything started. After I’ve finally managed to save enough money to buy proper sampler, the outside World ceased to exist. I’ve became totally obsessed with that box. I’ve spent up to sixteen hours a day working on that machine."^[13]

Although he’s established technician, master of three decks and FX performances, it wasn’t easy for Umek to get acquainted with those needles and mixers in the first place^[14]. You have to bear in mind his home country was part of former eastern block and most of the small clubs could only afford cassette and CD players at that time. “I could only dream of having my own decks in the beginning of 90’s. As a single parent my mother could not afford that kind of expense. But I was lucky I’ve met few guys that recognized the talent in me and gave me the opportunity to start.”^[15]

Umek was regular at club Palma matinees at that time. He spent most of the afternoons standing in the corner watching deejay mixing records, until one day resident DJ Alf offered him to finish his set. He seized the opportunity, somehow managed to get trough the night and they’ve agreed he can practice on that decks and mixer for an hour or so before the weekly matinee. "After I’ve conquered the technique and performed for a few times in Palma, I’ve got offered opening slot at Aldo’s night in K4. It only paid as much to buy one CD, but it was a steady job and I really liked it." It was also the time when he decided to sell his collection of 200 CDs. "It’s something I still regret, but it was the only way to earn money I needed to buy vinyl.”^[15]

In the early 90s buying techno records seemed almost a mission impossible for someone living and working in Slovenia. Closest shop with that kind of music was in Germany, almost 500 kilometers away from Ljubljana. “We heard there are some records shops in Munich. So we’ve booked the weekly shopping bus, drove to Munich, and found that shops on our own. It wasn’t easy but we’ve successfully finished that adventure. I’ve only had enough money to buy eight records, but this is how my collection started.”^[16]

[edit] From party participant to DJ and party organizer

Germany was also the place where Umek got in touch with the rave scene. “It was an amazing experience, when I attended my first Technomania party with 15.000 revelers on seven floors placed in a hangar on the outskirts of Munich. And when I’ve entered twice as bigger Mayday arena for the first time I knew I want to be in that deejay booth one day. Few years later I was. Although I’ve thought to myself what the heck am I doing at that commercial masquerade in the backstage, I’ve changed my mind when I’ve finally stepped into the deejay booth. I’ve seen all those kids waving hands and shouting to me as being their god, and I’m sure some of them thought just the same as I did years before them. So, I’ve just smiled and performed one of the best sets of my career that can still be found on the internet."^[17]

Totally hooked on exploding ravemania, Umek and his peers started organizing bus transfers to rave parties in Germany. They were enyoing themselves and they were learning along the way. So it was just a matter of time when they decided to start putting up their own events^[14]. “The first one was total disaster,” remembers Umek. “We’ve leased the local fireman’s hall for the night but only managed to attract hundred of revelers. We were so broke, we couldn’t even afford cleaning lady the morning after.” But they could not be stopped by that debacle. They worked their way from event to event, got in charge of small club in the outskirts of Ljubljana and gradually became one of the leading promoters in the country.^[18]

"I still remember the illegal rave party we’ve organized in the countryside outside Ljubljana. It attracted surprisingly big mass of people and one of the main national newspapers reported of the incident, since we were dispersed by the police. And there was the local politician, real smart guy that made us all laugh: he stated that the cows in the nearby village stopped lactating (i.e. giving milk) because of the stress induced by loud techno music. … No, I’m not kidding. This really was in the papers and can still be found in the archives.”^[19]

[edit] The big break

DJ Umek made his name in Slovenia by hosting some of the best club nights in the country. Clubbing scene in Zagreb, Croatia was much stronger in the beginning of 90s, but it was him and his peers that changed that in just a few years byturning their home turf into most prolific party scene in the whole region. It was also the time of experimenting for Umek. He was mostly known as techno deejay, but loved to play underground house, too, especially at the after parties^[20] . And since he had the biggest collection of house records in Slovenia, he quickly became involved in building the house scene as well. At some point he was so much into house, he played four gigs a week, but only twice a month techno set. “I felt really suffocated as an artist with all that house, because I couldn’t focus on techno, my main genre. One night at Ambasada Gavioli I decided I won’t play house anymore. I grabbed some Chicago house records, pitched them, played really banging set and gave farewell to the club. I’ve returned to K4 and focus on techno again."^[21]

He returned to Ambasada Gavioli the next year, this time as a techno specialist. Since he was treated as the second resident, the favorite of club management always being his good friend Valentino Kanzyani, Umek had no competitive clause and could take bookings wherever and whenever he desired. Meeting top techno DJs from all over the world, establishing new friendships and gathering contacts he started performing at the best venues all over the World. Quickly he assembled crowds of faithful fans from Berlin to Tokyo, making impression as a great technician and programmer, but it was his special blend of music known as Slovenian Techno which has put him on the map as one of the top names in the genre.^[21]

[edit] Philanthropy

[edit] Party for a cause with DJ Umek

On Saturday, mobile operator company Si.mobil for the 5th time in a row hosted a free party with DJ Umek taking place at Ljubljana's central park Tivoli^[22]. Žur z razlogom (Party for a cause) by now traditionally marks the end of summer holidays as well as the end of a summer festival season. This year the main site of the event was slightly moved, just behind the swimming pool area, as the crowds overgrew Jakopič's pathway. DJ Umek invited along a Californian rapper Spinz, while he introduced few songs from his new coming album and together they managed to move ten thousands of dance music lovers.

The party started at 5pm while the peak of the party took place at 11pm, when the mayor of Ljubljana city, Zoran Janković, announced in the front of all the people, that the party can continue for an extra hour, all until midnight^[23].

Party for a cause tries to encourage SMS donations and social responsibility of the young and help humanitarian organizations. Si.mobil yet again donated 10.000 EUR to organization Beli obroč, which will at the end of the campaign, also receive all the money gathered through SMS donations and 2.000 EUR from Umek's gramophone, sold at the auction and bought by Radio 1^[23].

[edit] 1605 - Music Therapy

The launch of 1605 – Sixteenofive platform marked the beginning of a new chapter in DJ Umek’s music career as he spent enormous amount of time and artistic energy bringing his characteristics sound to the whole new level. No doubt this was a very risky move. But it was the only way for him to stay on top of the game.

Through the 1605 Therapy, Umek successfully spreads a mixture of brute alternative sounds on one hand and anthems for the biggest venues of the world on the other. The first group is formed of records such as Ricochet Effect, Another Matter Entirely and Utopia, while the second group includes famous Posing As Me and Carbon Occasions, the two records, which broke the club borders and conquered radio waves, with the accompanying videos played also on MTV. Cooperation with record labels such as Renaissance, Little Mountain, Ultra, Pacha, Armada, constant presence on dozens of radio stations all over the world, Essential Mix, appearances on Primavera, Monegros and Dance Valley festivals^[24], appearances on numerous compilations and constant support of many colleagues such as Sander Kleinenberg, Fergie, Tiësto, Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, John Digweed, M.I.K.E. and Carl Cox confirm that the 1605 Therapy is already showing first results. Another proof, we shouldn't miss out, are also good rankings in the Dj Mag Top 100 DJs poll and other popularity contests.

After the launch of the content-rich websites www.umek.si and www.sixteenofive.com in the beginning of this year, the 1605 Therapy also began a journey in the form of a record label. The launch of the record label was announced on the second day of the Day Of Electronics 08 in May, while producer VoRr with his premier release of Outlaws / Project 1.333^[25] successfully prepared the ground for the re-release of the classic Gatex^[26], which came back in the form of a new remix by Fergie. With 5 outstanding releases so far that had a lot of support by big names such as Carl Cox, John Digweed, M.I.K.E., Paul Hazendonk and many others^[27], 1605 is becoming a synonym for high quality electronic releases.

[edit] Selected discography

EPs

• Umek: 2nd To None – Original Mix – Rekluse
• Umek vs. Beltek: Option To Stimulate EP – Pilot 6 Recordings
• Umek: Intense Emotion EP – Audiomatique
• Umek: Generation After – Italo Business
• Umek: Gatex EP – Sixteenofive
• Umek & Beltek: Army Of Two – Pilot 6 Recordings
• Umek: Vice Grip – Circle Music
• Umek: Complex Puzzle EP – Proton Music
• Umek: Utopia EP – Renaissance
• Umek & Matthew Hoag: One Option & The Santien Race – Little Mountain Recordings
• Umek: Vandal Derivate – Datapunk
• Umek & I Turk: Anxious On Demand – Confused Recordings
• Umek: Carbon Occasions – Earresistible Musick
• Umek: Akul EP – Audiomatique Recordings
• Umek: Complikator – Audiomatique Recordings
• Umek: Print This Story – Manual Music
• Umek: Player – Infamous Player Remixes Vol. 8 – Infamous Player
• Umek: I Am Ready EP – Astrodisco
• Umek: Another Matter Entirely – Jesus Loved You
• Umek: Posing As Me EP – Earresistible Musick
• Umek: Overtake And Command – Code X

Other

• Stel: Godthab (Umek Snare Roll Remix) – Dieb Audio
• Paul Hazendonk: Sweet Torture – Umek Remix – Stolen Moments
• VA: Mechanic Side Of Nature – Circle Music
• Julian Jeweil: Air Conditionne (Umek Remix) – Skryptom Records
• Ralph Falcon: The Dig (Umek Remix) – Renaissance
• David Granha: Las Aventuras (Umek Remix) – Acid Milk Recordings
• Jeremiah: Surface Of The Moon (Umek Remix) – Ambig Records
• Sylvain & Shark: The Exit (Umek's Remix) – Jesus Loved You
• Nathan Fake: Outhouse (Umek Astrodisco Remix) – Outhouse (RMX Part 1) – Recycled Loops
• Lucca: Mirage (Umek Remix) – Rewiver EP – Acapulco

Complete discography is available on Discogs - Umek.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• MySpace profile
• Discogs - Umek