Gassan [Interview]

With fresh music out now via Exx Muzik we chat with Gassan to learn more about the release, electronic music in Kazakhstan, his production proves, DJing and  more. Enjoy!

Hi Gassan, thanks for joining us. How are you and what was the last piece of music you listened to?

Hello, thanks for the invitation! I'm great, it was the track Higher Power from Argy, Anyma and Magnus, super production

How has your 2023 been? Were there any gigs that stood out for you? And what are your plans for the coming week?

The year was amazing, my two last tracks “Gassan - Galaxy and “Airsand & Gassan - Dont Wake Up” hit the 1st place in the Hype Top 100 Beatport and the top 10 of the main Indie Dance chart, and in the near future an official remix on the famous German label 3000Grad! Had an amazing performance as one of the headliners in Tashkent, Uzbekistan! Now I'm busy with new tracks!

Tell us about growing up and living in Kazakhstan, it’s not a country that’s well known for electronic music so how did you discover your passion for it there and who were some of your local heroes?

Yes, you are right, unfortunately this is so, our dance music is not particularly developed, but now there is a great growth among the local population. In Almaty, where I live, it is the largest city in Kazakhstan, there is an interesting festival called Spekto, they brought many well-known names, such as Brigato Crew, Raphael Cerato, Hot Since 82, Sezer Uysal, Citizan Kain, Stereo Express and many wild ones! I’ve been living in Kazakhstan since I’ve been living here with my family my whole life! This is a very beautiful country, but I plan to come to perform in other countries in the near future! I don’t have any local heroes here!

What are some of your favourite venues to play in Kazakhstan and who are some local DJs everyone should know about?

We have many beautiful places in Kazakhstan, in Almaty where I live we have beautiful mountains, which even Europeans pair with the beauty of the European Alps, I will note the high-mountain skating rink Medeo, which is located in the mountains, also Lake Kaindy and Lake Kaindy, they are visited by many tourists who visit Kazakhstan ! I’ll mention several of my colleagues from Kazakhstan, the famous Grammy winner Imanbek, Organic House blowing Soul Engineers, their tracks conquer the top lines of the Organic House top on Beatport, I’ll also mention Monaldin and Nursultan Kun!

Do you consider yourself a DJ or producer first? And which do you enjoy more and why?

I feel more like a DJ, I started with DJing, played Progressive Trance, I love playing music and seeing people’s reactions, but over time I came to producing music, now I can’t go anywhere without original tracks!

How would you describe the music you make and how has your sound changed since your first release?

Ooh the sound has changed a lot, now I’m trying to make music between Indie Dance and Melodic Techno. This year at the beginning of the year I released more Melodic Techno, at the end of the year Indie Dance, but if you listen to my latest track Galaxy, it sounds like Indie Dance but at the same time it resembles Melodic Techno.

You have a new single ‘Galaxy’ out now via Exx Muzik. Tell us a bit about the track and how it showcases your current sound.

This is exactly what I told you about above, I want to stick to this sound, but in general I’m still ready for experiments, you never know what the audience will like, trends are changing quickly now, a lot of music comes out, top artists are always setting new ones sound!

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically ‘Galaxy’.

It's very simple, my Mac Book and Rokit 5 Classic monitors, I use Ableton Live

This is your fifth appearance on Exx Muzik/Exx Underground so it seems to be your primary home, tell us why the label is such a good spot to release your music.

Indeed, this is track 5, the first three tracks were released on Exx Underground, and the last two tracks on Exx Muzik, at this stage these are very popular labels in Melodic Techno and Indie Dance, they like my music very much, I have formed a close relationship with the management of the label, I I like their approach to promoting and releasing my tracks, but next year I will have a lot of releases on other labels.

Was there anything in particular that inspired this track? And what in general inspires your music?

I get a lot of inspiration from my performances, the people at the parties I play at, I want to make more interesting music to achieve bigger events, it's very cool to play my favorite tracks for people and see their pleasant feedback. Travel also inspires me a lot!

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

I always start with a melody, with chords, with atmospheric tracks as pads, and then fill the track, but I leave the mixing and mastering to professionals.

Let’s talk about DJing a bit for a moment. How would you describe your approach to it? And what can people expect when they go to see you perform?

Very cool question! I always try to play my popular tracks, and definitely my unreleased tracks, and in general I try to play so that the audience likes it, I use popular Melodic Techno and Indie Dance tracks, because most often different audiences come to performances, but I definitely keep a skt In such a way that I myself am satisfied, I try to work and contact the public so that they feel that they are important to me.

How much prep do you put into the tracks you choose to play? Or are your sets totally spontaneous?

No no! I always prepare for each performance, select and sort my set, but then there are few changes in everyday life during the performance, and I always have a lot of different music just in case!

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?

My work as a DJ greatly influenced my activity in general, I started with Trance music, later there was Bigroom, well, in general, I always loved melodic dance music, in the current Melodic Techno I see my Trance beginning in music, and in general now I like a lot music and Afro House and Organic House, I even have an Alter ego with the Organic House sound of Salahaddin, releases come out on Cafe de Anatolia. In general, DJing has shaped my musical taste over the years, and a clear understanding of musical styles, and this has given me a clear understanding for making music, an understanding of what the tracks I create should be!

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?

Mmm, very interesting question, it’s even hard to imagine, but I’ll try! I think of course it would definitely be Tale of Us, Black Coffee, Solomun, it’s very difficult since there are a lot of favorite artists, well, I was the opening act. I think Goom Gum would also invite me, but yes, I really like Space Motion or Silver Panda, first Goom Gum, then further Space Motion or Silver Panda, Tale of Us, Solomun and Black Coffee

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life?

I think then I would have worked in my specialty as a financier or sales manager!

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

I love nature very much in nature, or when traveling! I hope I understood the question correctly) I’ll answer a little differently, if you thought that I don’t have any performances, then they are just starting in 2024 in India and Turkey!

Current top five tracks?

Argy & Omnya - Aria

Airsand & Gassan - Don’t Wake Up

Stone van Brooken & Marcus Cito - Rej

Gassan - Strange of Love

TH;EN - Katania

What are some of your favourite TV series?

I’m not a big fan of TV series, but my favorite series and the one that still left a big impression is Le Casa de Papel!

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

My family and loved ones are the most beautiful thing we have!

What does 2024 hold for you in terms of releases and gigs? Anything you can share with us?

Yes of course, next year will be busy, I will have a couple of strong releases on ICONYC and 3000Grad and I will also be going to perform in India and Turkey, I think it will be a great year!

'Galaxy' is available now via Exx Muzik: https://tinyurl.com/2j8wkney