DSF [Interview]

Hailing from Greece, Athens resident DSF has been immersed in electronic music for the better part of three decades. Beloved for his organic grooves and genuine musicality, DSF has taken his far reaching sound to the underground's top imprints, most notably All Day I Dream, Peace Symphonies, Shanti Radio, TRYBESof and Tale & Tone. This week sees DSF returning to another one of his regular landing spots Kitchen Recordings with a new single 'What I Feel', alongside remixes from Juan Deminicis and Jelly for the Babies.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with DSF to learn more about the release of ‘What I Feel’, his studio process, future plans, and more. Enjoy.

Hi DSF, thanks for joining us. What is your current mood and what was the last piece of music you listened to?

Hello there. How are you? I’m glad to talk to you guys.

Well, my mood is good. You know a lot of things are running and sometimes you are not sure about the current mood status. In general I’m happy because I see many good things are coming. But also stressed because schedules and deadlines are tight.

My last piece of music isn’t a new one. It’s Adam Port’s remix for Caiiro called Your Voice. The music by Adam Port and vocals by Awen are magical. It’s such a masterpiece.

How has the start to the year been for you and what are your plans for the coming week?

The 1st day of the year I was in Bucharest. We had a huge party in NYE with my agency Cyclic. I have great connections with Romania and especially with my agent Ionut. He is like a brother for me. So, being with him it was great start for 2023 for me.

This coming week I will visit Canada for a mini tour (Montreal, Toronto). I’m really excited. It’s my 2nd time in Canada in 6 months.

Tell us about living in Greece, how has it influenced your music taste and direction? Or has it at all?

Not sure for the answer. I guess yes and no. In general Greeks want to have good time all the time. You know summer, islands, sun and sea  can only bring you happiness. So, my music has been influenced by this good feeling but the core of the direction comes from abroad.

If you are not DJing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you in Greece? And doing what?

I’m a very home lover guy. I enjoy being with my family and few good friends, especially after a long trip. Home Sweet Home is my idiom. And of course I spend a lot of time in the studio making new music. I really try hard to keep them all in balance.

When you were first getting started in production did you have someone help you or are you completely self-taught? And what would you recommend new producers do to help with the learning curve of production?

I’m 100% self-taught in a period without socials and YouTube. And all these where? In Greece. Yes, in Greece where news were coming from abroad 6 months later. Imagine that. How difficult was that. So, in the begging I was making a lot of mistakes in production and that was the reason why I had such a slow progress.

Nowadays the game has totally changed. It needs talent, passion, programming, goals and the most important… to be patient. Everything on time.

Back in the days we had just the tree. Now new producers have the whole forest.

You have a new single ‘What I Feel’, out this week on Kitchen Recordings, tell us about the release, and how does this track your current sound?

It’s the melodic tracks that I love to make. Melody is very important to me. It’s like the soul of the track. No melody, no party for me. I am really happy for the track to be on air next week with my lovely Kitchen Recordings.

What does your set-up look like? Do you favor physical gear over digital? And what studio tools featured heavily in the writing of ‘What I Feel’?

Having the simplest studio in the planet makes me the happiest Artist in the planet. Of course, I do have a good pair of studio monitors and a simple sound card (Audient iD4). Also, I bought Ableton push 2 which lately I realized I’m not using it a lot. So, almost all is software stuff. What I Feel has been made 99,9% by Omnisphere. I have to say I’m a digital guy. Analog and physical gear are not for me. I used to have synths and samplers but not anymore. Sold them all. But I love to see other producers work with gears, especially in lives. I admire them. But again, not for me.

You’ve worked with Kitchen Recordings once before, on a remix of TooTall’s ‘Blossom’ released in 2021, what was it about the label which gave you the confidence to do an original project with them this year?

It was always in my mind. I have a great connection with the guys. I respect them so much. I believe they do an amazing job. That remix had reached (if I’m not wrong) no4 in organic charts on Beatport and don’t forget that Kitchen Recordings releases more progressive stuff.

What is the task you enjoy the most when producing and what would you prefer someone else to do?

Every part of the production is equally nice for me. The starting idea, the timeline building, the mixing, even the mastering. But when I receive a very bad remix pack (not well prepared) I want to scream. Like some guys want to do your life difficult. Personally, when I prepare remix parts I’m trying to make them as easier as I can for the remixer. So, I’d like to have a guy for that. To make them ready on the timeline to go….lol.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as a DJ has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

Ok I think I can answer you by telling this.

I first started only as a producer for many years. Then I started Djing. It was the moment I said to myself : ok forget what you know so far about production. You are not wrong but you have to re think few things. When you create music for the dance floor it’s a must to be a dj as well. You have to feel the dance floor and the people reactions and needs as well. For example, the same track with a different arrangement can explode a dance floor. So, when you are producing you always have to keep in mind that you create a track for the dance floor and not for the 4 walls of the studio.

Djing helped me a lot to understand many things. It’s my teacher to my lonely production life.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

&ME

Adam Port

Rampa

Shai T

Xinobi

I really don’t know what set times would be the best. At least the line-up is the best for me.

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

My family and playing tennis.

What does the remainder of 2023 hold for you? Anything you can share with us?

Well 2023 so far is really good to me. I hope it continuous to be so. I really have no secrets. Anything good that comes along I am sure you will hear about it.

'What I Feel' is available now via Kitchen Recordings: https://bit.ly/3JXUlqg