Shapeless & Vakabular [Interview]

Shapeless has been on Hollystone's radar for years, and after their last visit to Koh Phangan, the collaboration 'Involve' with label boss Vakabular finally happened. Its a deeper mood dancefloor track, with intense vocals and melodies. The sound of Hollystone has been well transferred to millions of listeners all around the world.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Shapeless & Vakabular to learn more about the release of 'Involve', their background, DJing, and much more. Enjoy.

Hi Guys, thanks for joining us. How has the first half of the year been for you and please tell us something interesting about your day today?

Vakabular: I’m constantly working on my weekly event and music production, but over the last couple of months, we finally had some holidays as a family. Now, I feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. It’s 8 a.m., and I’ve just had breakfast, dropped my daughter off at school, and now I’m in the studio.

Shapeless: Hi! Thanks for having us. The first half of the year has been incredible for us. We've had the opportunity to experiment with new sounds and develop our musical identity further, which has really inspired our work. Today was especially exciting because we just received the final master of our new track that we’re releasing soon. It’s always a thrill to hear the finished product and know that all the hard work has come together.

Let’s look back on the first half of the year. What is a track which has come out this year that has impressed you the most and why? 

Vakabular: It's a combination of two elements—how I feel about the production and the response it gets on the dance floor. It's always hard to pick an exact track, but I'd say Max Styler has done a great job with most of his releases. His music isn’t strictly progressive, tech, or indie—it's a nice mix of everything. I hope he keeps making music like this."

Shapeless: There are so many tracks that have impressed us this year, making it hard to pinpoint just one favorite. Our tastes tend to change as new music inspires us. However, one track that really stood out for us is "Make It Loud" by Bhaskar. It's a cool take on the progressive tendencies we're seeing now, with a greater focus on a deep aesthetic, a nice subby running bass, and some cool deep house chords. We definitely recommend checking it out!

Please tell us where you are from and how growing up and living there affected your journey into electronic music?

Vakabular: I started my DJ journey here on Koh Phangan island in Thailand. It used to be predominantly Psy-Trance, but by the time I arrived, it was starting to shift toward Progressive House.

Shapeless: We are from Brazil, more specifically Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte is a vibrant city known for its lively culture and diverse music scene. It has always had a strong presence in the electronic music landscape in Brazil. Growing up here gave us access to all kinds of electronic music parties, from underground raves to big festivals, which broadened our inspiration and exposure to different styles. The city’s energetic atmosphere and eclectic music scene have played a significant role in shaping our journey into electronic music.

What was the music genre you discovered first before you turned to electronic music, and what made you continue with the latter?

Vakabular: It was Psy-Trance. I went to the Full Moon Party here in Koh Phangan, and when I first heard that music, I stayed on the dance floor until morning. After that, I started searching for similar music just for home listening. Then I discovered more underground events on the island, and I was completely hooked, going out to dance every single week."

Shapeless: I (Edson) started my journey as a musician straight into electronic music, while Rômulo had a rock band before; he's a drummer. This diverse background has given us a unique perspective on our music. We initially produced progressive psytrance and, in 2014, migrated to Brazilian bass house. After exploring tech house, we've now evolved into creating our own blend of progressive music, mixing influences from throughout our careers. The evolution of our sound reflects our passion for exploring different genres and pushing the boundaries of electronic music, which is a staple for our project. We really like to explore new influences as we can—creativity is key for us.

Take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your production work and more, please.

Vakabular: It's the 21st century, so like many of us, I'm a one-man army: managing a weekly music event, running a record label, DJing around the island, creating content for social media, and handling all the artwork—there’s a lot to juggle. Not to mention, I do all the electrical work at my venue, built the sound system, and control the lights while spinning decks at the same time."

Shapeless: Our daily routine is quite basic. We work from home, dedicating most of our time to making new songs, handling marketing, and taking care of various tasks related to our project. Weekends and gigs are the highlights, but the core of #djlife is about maintaining discipline while working from home. We focus on staying productive and keeping our health in check to balance our busy schedules.

For Shapeless, you guys are a duo, we’re curious how your partnership came to existence, please tell us how you guys met and eventually started collaborating on music? And what musical projects were involved in prior to Shapeless?

Shapeless: Since we’re from the same city, we already knew each other from our psytrance projects and from bumping into each other at gigs. Our first significant collaboration began when we booked our first international tour with our psytrance projects—Rômulo, known as Groovaholik, and I, Edson, as Lighrters. We toured Mexico for the same gigs and ended up staying in the same house with other DJs for a month. During that time, we bonded over our shared experiences and musical ideas. Before heading back to Brazil, we decided to start Shapeless as a low BPM project, blending our influences into a new sound.

Again for Shapeless, a successful partnership is generally based around balance and compromise; how do you manage these things within your production dynamic? Do you have different roles in the production process?

Shapeless: In our partnership, balance and compromise are key. We both handle various aspects of the project, including administrative tasks, marketing, production, and networking. While we both contribute to each area, we each take on more responsibility and focus in different areas depending on our strengths and interests. This way, we manage to keep everything running smoothly and ensure that our production dynamic remains effective and collaborative.

The three of you have a new collaboration ‘Involve’ out now via Hollystone, please tell us about the track and what sort of vibe you were going for on it.

Vakabular: It's the deeper side of Progressive House, with a nice groove, powerful vocals, and epic synths. It's not too underground, so a wide range of people can enjoy it.

Shapeless: “Involve” is a groovy track that leans towards a house-progressive style. The strong point of the song, in our opinion, is the second break. It develops in a really cool and hypnotic way, creating a captivating moment in the track. This collaboration with Vakabular has been a fantastic experience, and we’re excited to share it with everyone. We see this as possibly the first of many collaborations with him.

How did the three of you initially meet and how did that relationship evolve into collaborating on a track together?

Vakabular: For me, Shapeless has been a big deal over the last couple of years. Their music always worked so well that I took a chance and reached out to them. We were lucky enough to bring them to our Hollystone Saturday event for the Thai New Year party. It was a significant achievement, something I couldn't have dreamed of a few years ago. After that, we decided to collaborate on some projects together.

Shapeless: We initially met when we went to play in Thailand. After that, we kept seeing Vakabular’s name in our musical research, often associated with really cool music. Eventually, he reached out with some ideas, and we started working together on what would become “Involve.” The collaboration evolved naturally from there, blending our styles into the track it is now.

How much play has ‘Involve’ gotten in your sets and to what reaction?

Vakabular: I've been playing this track at almost every second gig over the last year. I usually save it for the end, when I want to make a statement or highlight a key moment in my set. This track works perfectly in that scenario."

Shapeless: Since “Involve” is quite recent, we haven’t had as much time to play it as we’d like. However, the feedback from the crowd has been fantastic. It’s a groovy, vibey track that people love to dance to. We often see a lot of smiles and positive energy when we play it in our sets, which is always rewarding.

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 on your ‘Involve’?

Vakabular: I only use a computer—just a basic Mac Mini M1 and a pair of Adam S2 monitors. No hardware, no keyboard. I do have a nice DAC, the Benchmark 2. But I have the privilege of going down to my venue and plugging in any track to test it on a big sound system (for 700 people) whenever I need to."

Shapeless: We believe in a streamlined setup, focusing on mastering the tools we have rather than accumulating a lot of equipment. For plugins, we primarily use the FabFilter suite, Serum as our main VST, and Pigments, Sylenth, and Diva for more organic sound design. For hardware, we work with a powerful PC, Adam A7X monitors, and an A9 subwoofer. It’s not an overly fancy setup, but we find that you don’t need much to create a really good track. It’s all about using your tools effectively and getting the most out of them.

Was there ever a consideration to release it on another label? And if not, why was Hollystone the perfect home for it?

Vakabular: Hollystone Records is doing really well right now, with great support from around the world. We also have complete control over every aspect of our releases—promotion, release dates, and design. We believe in our passion and the resources we have."

Shapeless: It’s always good to consider all options before deciding on the best place for a release. However, since “Involve” is a collaboration with Vakabular, we felt that Hollystone was the ideal label for this track. They have a great reputation and an excellent fit for the sound we were aiming for, making it the perfect home for this release.

Now let’s talk about DJing for a moment. You’ve both had some high profile gigs over the years and have accumulated a lot of experience, so how would you describe your approach to DJing?

Vakabular: Everyone can have their own taste in music, but a DJ is the one who accumulates real dance floor experience and receives feedback on the tracks they play in their sets. It’s about keeping the right tracks in your collection and getting rid of the ones that don’t fit. It's not just about pleasing the crowd in the moment—it's about doing your job well and having fun. When people connect with the music and move to the beat, that’s when you know you've succeeded. Bingo."

Shapeless: For us, DJing isn’t about getting overly technical. We focus on making our mixes clean and transparent, believing that a simple, well-crafted mix often works better than an overly dynamic one. Since we produce most of the songs we play and our sets are typically 90% original, we don’t often need to make drastic changes on the fly. Instead, it’s more about selecting the right track for the right moment and creating a cohesive experience for the audience.

And for Shapeless, how do you function as a duo while DJing? Is it simply a matter of playing b2b?

Shapeless: Yes, we DJ much like a regular back-to-back (b2b) setup. However, communication is key for us. We discuss and decide what to play and when, making adjustments on the fly based on the crowd's energy and reactions. This way, we can tailor our set to reflect the audience's mood and keep the vibe engaging throughout our performance.

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

Vakabular: I'm not a fan of big, crowded events. While it’s nice to play them occasionally for the festival vibe, I believe the real art of electronic dance music comes from the club environment. It’s where you can constantly experiment, connect with your audience, and build a following that truly believes in and follows the music flow, event after event. From a social perspective, a club is a group of people united by a love for music. It’s not for everyone, because when it comes to mass culture and commercially successful music, it's easier to discover and less fulfilling to play."

Shapeless: Every gig, whether it's for a large crowd or not, has the potential to inspire us. If the experience moves us, it definitely influences our next studio session. We often return with new ideas—sometimes broad concepts, like a type of beat, break, or vocal that resonated with us, and other times more specific, such as a particular synth sound that sparked a new idea. Performing live creates a two-way communication with the crowd that can be more inspiring than just listening to music. It’s an interactive experience that deeply impacts our creativity and approach to production.

How much prep do you put into the sets you play, or are they spontaneous for the most part?

Vakabular: Every day and week involves a routine of searching for music, listening, managing your library, and preparing mixing parts—event after event. There's no point where you can just relax and let it run on autopilot; it needs to be carefully crafted and done right."

Shapeless: Our sets are mostly spontaneous. When we arrive at a gig, we gauge how the crowd is reacting to the other DJs' songs and decide on our opening track accordingly. After that, we rely on feel and communication to guide the rest of our set. This approach allows us to adapt to the crowd’s energy and create a dynamic and engaging performance.

Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Vakabular:

Esh, Rafael Vilches - POISON (Original Mix)

Jaded, Tom & Collins, CRCLE - IBIZA (Original Mix)

Stoley - Push That (Extended Mix)

Vanilla Ice - Ice ice Baby (Franz Colmer Edit)

AYYBO - RIZZ

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?

Vakabular:

22:00 Jaded

00:00 Max Styler

02:00 Fab Massimo

04:00 Shapeless

06:00 Vakabular

Shapeless:

That’s a tough question because our ideal lineup would likely change from month to month. However, right now, we’d be thrilled to enjoy an event with this lineup:

21:00 - 23:00 Olivier Giacomotto
23:00 - 01:00 CamelPhat
01:00 - 03:00 Gorgon City
03:00 - 05:00 Rufus Du Sol
05:00 - 07:00 Durante

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related)

Vakabular: Electrician

Shapeless: If we weren’t DJing and producing, I (Edson) would likely be involved in animation work using After Effects, or possibly doing some design work. I’d definitely be pursuing something in the creative field. Rômulo might have gone down a different path, possibly as a mathematician or an airplane pilot.

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

Vakabular: Doing house things, spent time with family

Shapeless: When we’re not DJing, producing, or socializing at clubs, you’ll likely find us relaxing at a pub with friends or at a party at home. It’s actually quite rare for DJs to spend their downtime at clubs since that’s typically where they perform. So, we prefer to unwind in more casual settings.

What’s something people do not know about you?

Vakabular: I love Hazelnuts

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

Vakabular: I'm not really into series. I prefer Hollywood movies from the '90s and old USSR films.

Shapeless: Recently, I (Edson) have been really enjoying "House of the Dragon", the sequel to Game of Thrones. "The Boys" is fantastic, especially the first season. "Better Call Saul" is one of the best dramas ever, and "Silo" has been great too—I’m looking forward to the next season. "Andor" is the first Star Wars series I actually like; it’s refreshing and doesn’t feel like a Power Rangers episode.

Shapeless: As for all-time favorites, both Rômulo and I would probably agree that "Breaking Bad" is the best. It’s truly the GOAT.

What can we look forward to from you for the rest of 2024? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

Vakabular: I have a lot of tracks, and maybe even an album coming up. Finally, I'm going to ADE in October."

Shapeless: For the rest of 2024, you can look forward to a lot from us. We have a substantial backlog of unreleased tracks—over an hour's worth! We’re also excited to announce that we’ll be launching our own label called Melt Lab, where you can expect to hear some of our new releases. Additionally, we plan to release more tracks through Hollystone, as it’s a very promising label. We have some exciting collaborations in the works with Bhaskar, Blazy, Mandragora, and more, so stay tuned for those!

'Involve' is available now via Hollystone: https://tinyurl.com/5ymuuymj