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The secrets of «Tiramisu» from Vladimir Trapeznikov
Интервью · 10.02.2010
By 44100Hz
This coming Saturday, 13 February, another event in the Cocoon series will take place on the grounds of the «Arma» factory. On the eve of this event we quizzed the man responsible for staging the famous German parties in Moscow — Vladimir Trapeznikov — about the subtleties and difficulties of club organisation, as well as about how one might «bribe» Sven Väth…
44100Hz: You try not to be too public, yet you could be called a fashionable DJ; tell us a little — who is DJ Volodya 2010?
V.T.
: First and foremost, probably, it's no longer Volodya but Trapeznikov. It's strange that I didn't do this from the very start, back in the 90s. As for «fashionable» — the notion of being fashionable depends first of all on the person themselves and their taste, and most importantly, a fashionable person doesn't try to be fashionable. That's why I keep choosing material at my own discretion practically every day, and creating the conditions for as many people as possible to become acquainted with it. That's exactly who he is — DJ Trapeznikov.
44100Hz: During the day you can be found in the office looking very serious. Is that a cover so you can quietly listen through new material and record mixes?
V.T.
: No, it's not a cover at all. I'm a developer and I'm trying to pull off fairly large-scale real-estate projects, and for the last couple of years the office has served as the base for bringing the Cocoon parties to life. That's probably why I sometimes look serious. As you understand, Cocoon is, at this point, a hobby that demands close attention.
44100Hz: If you imagine a party as a culinary dish, what does yours resemble, and how would you cook it?
V.T.
: To begin with, it's a careful selection of ingredients — they have to be of the highest quality, correctly combined, using a few secret moves. Mine resembles «Tiramisu». In making this dessert you need to know a couple of tricks — the final result depends on them. These days this dessert comes out superbly for me. So says everyone who's tasted it.
44100Hz: You could say your «return» as a DJ and promoter began somewhere around 2001 with the arrival of Sven Väth. Let's note that it turned out very lively. Later Sven Väth came to the club «Soufflé». Why was that venue suddenly chosen?
V.T.
: «Legion» — the first party with Sven on Plyushchikha, December 2001. Then came the club «Gorod» in May 2002. We chose «Soufflé» because the old «Gorod» was already gone, there didn't seem to be any suitable venues around, and the ones that did exist demanded huge investment, and there were problems with the crowd back then. Dima Dubrovsky (director of the club «Gorod» — 44100's note) had settled in at «Soufflé» for a while, and it was he who suggested throwing a party there. That's all there is to it. By the way, Sven still remembers that night!
44100Hz: What are your criteria for choosing a venue?
V.T.
: The first is its location. If you look at a map of Moscow, there's a clear segment in which a venue has to be. One way or another, night-life lovers have their well-trodden paths. For example, take the Garden Ring around Kurskaya and Basmannaya: that's Radio «Stantsiya», the club «Gorod», Gazgolder, Gazgallery… I'd call it a «hallowed» little spot. And that's how it became the stronghold of today's rave. The second — and everything after this no longer matters — give the money, and everything will be as it should. I'm talking about the right kind of promoters here.
44100Hz: «The right kind of promoters»? What do you mean by that?
V.T.
: Those who are in the know, who aren't random people in this business, who want to develop it, who have been at the forefront for many years.
44100Hz: Speaking of money… For a long time Moscow had «cigarette» raves — thanks to them many bright artists managed to make it over to us, but on the other hand many events were saturated with logos, promo girls and the other trappings of sponsored events. Sponsor money is always a big temptation. What do you think about this?
V.T.
: The aggressive way the «cigarette guys» behave, there's nothing good in it — nor anything bad, for that matter. On the one hand — money, on the other — promo teams. You probably know that Teplyakov and I also made a living off «below the line» budgets, and quite successfully, so I can't complain. Nevertheless, the «cigarette raves» broke the whole business in the club scene. I mean the fees paid to artists, inflated several times over. Incidentally, a lot of people with a spare kopeck lying around are guilty of this.
44100Hz: Many fondly remember the party «Sprite – Zavod» with Danny Tenaglia. It was a success. However, the rumour goes that ever since, Coca-Cola no longer entrusts its budgets to promoters. Apparently the party really did «work out» for the organisers?
V.T.
: Very much so. Sergei Teplyakov and I never worked for nothing, but we also did everything in a way that left no one with any questions. The «Zavod» party is an exemplary event in terms of organisation, from beginning to end. There was a funny moment when they wanted to shut us down, and I barged into the office of the Central Administrative District prefect in shorts and flip-flops with Seryoga and got the permit. Tell me, please, don't such contortions deserve a good fee — or the office equipment we bought for the entire neighbouring police station, or the firemen in the ravers' service, or the fact that we scrubbed the factory clean for a whole month?
44100Hz: Do you yourself like any brand — cigarettes, vodka, rum, an energy drink? Something appealing enough that you could say about it — yes, I love ..?
V.T.
: I love Trident cinnamon chewing gum!
44100Hz: Can you name 5 records that made you dance over the past year?
V.T.
: 1. A series of bootlegs by Mihalis Safras
2. DJ Hell feat. Paff Daddy (Radio Slave remix)
3. A Mark Broom remix — I don't remember who of, I just remember it was on Trapez
4. Practically every track from the Blackout mix in my podcast
5. Pan-Pot
2. DJ Hell feat. Paff Daddy (Radio Slave remix)
3. A Mark Broom remix — I don't remember who of, I just remember it was on Trapez
4. Practically every track from the Blackout mix in my podcast
5. Pan-Pot
44100Hz: Over your long career as a DJ and promoter, which of the artists who came to you did you become friends with, who do you keep in touch with?
V.T.
: For a long time I kept up a relationship with Peter, the promoter of the Belgian festival I Love Techno. It's hard to be friends with artists, but most likely it's Sven. In any case, we still actively collaborate and stay in touch.
44100Hz: How did it come about that Sven Väth is so willing to come to you, and for what merits were you entrusted with representing Cocoon in Moscow?
V.T.
: The first time, I got hold of black caviar for him in the middle of the night and brought it to his set — maybe that was it? I was introduced to him by a very respected person from the techno scene. We're very alike mentally, paradoxical as that sounds. Plus, I always fulfilled my commitments precisely, and after ten years of collaboration Cocoon simply couldn't be in anyone else's hands!
44100Hz: Tell us about how you choose the artists for the parties and their concept. Are these your decisions, or the label's, or the club's?
V.T.
: First and foremost it's my choice, then Cocoon gives its recommendations, and naturally I consult my venue partners. After many years I've learned to tell who's who. And, of course, there's feedback from foreign acquaintances. It helps a great deal that, as a DJ, I grind through an enormous amount of musical information.
44100Hz: Do you think the Cocoon label already draws a crowd in its own right? After all, Sven Väth is one thing, but the other artists on the label, whose names aren't always well known, are another matter.
V.T.
: Cocoon absolutely draws people. It seems to me it's a bit of everything here: the line-up, the date, my work — after all, many people come as my guests. But there are misfires too, Tobi Neumann for example, from whom, honestly, I expected something special, but in the end he made a third of the crowd leave. Promoting is a peculiar thing after all; often invisible things of a spiritual nature play a big role.
44100Hz: So what prompted you to move from Arma17 to the new Discoteque — a more lucrative offer, the management from the club «Gorod» in the person of Kolya Budu?
V.T.
: I don't like that there was an unhealthy atmosphere there, and I, as the Cocoon promoter, suffered from it. And besides, Discoteque suits Cocoon better as a venue. One has to remember, after all, that Cocoon is not underground! No more lucrative offers came in — I simply didn't want to deal with the partners any longer in the vein things had gone all year!
44100Hz: Tell us more about Discoteque. There are masses of rumours — that it's either DJ Danila's club, or the gangsters', or that of progressive businessmen who care about the cultural life of the capital…
V.T.
: It's a club with excellent management and business organisation. It's the club of a progressive businessman. Danila's role is manager. I definitely like that Kolya Budu is on the team.
44100Hz: How did Cocoon take the change of venue?
V.T.
: At first no one even batted an eyelid, in the sense that everyone agreed — namely, all the divisions of Cocoon. Then, right around New Year, the questions started… In the end everything fell into place, we came to an agreement, and Discoteque's unveiling was set for 13 February. On top of that, one important point is worth taking into account — there's a contract between me and Cocoon on the exclusive use of the Cocoon brand name.
44100Hz: In Russia, dance music was pushed forward by the hands of enthusiasts. There were never any business professionals in it. What can you say about the market now? And in your view, are there professionals who know their trade?
V.T.
: The market is bubbling and developing, enthusiasm is present, but there's practically none of it left; big money has arrived, venues are opening, concerts are being held. So professionals have definitely appeared!
44100Hz: What do you think about Russian promoters and, while we're at it, about club venues? We won't compare with how it was ten years ago, but, say, if we take the last three or four years…
V.T.
: Today the density of parties happening in the city has increased. Big venues and clubs have opened. If you take the situation in the past, three or four years ago, the only landmark parties were those at Gazgallery — very successful ones, run by Ruslan (Gazgolder, and now Krysha Mira) together with Belarusian promoters. It was those events, in fact, that set the tone for everything happening on the grounds of the «Arma» factory.
44100Hz: I remember, when Laurent Garnier performed for the second night in a row in Moscow at Halloween, the dance floor couldn't be called full. Yet the previous night was indisputably wonderful. Were there any consequences to this?
V.T.
: Yes, Laurent was extremely displeased with the empty dance floor. As you rightly noted, the previous night the club «Gorod» was simply bursting at the seams, so his mood was at zero. On top of that, a gross promoter's error was made there. Laurent stood high up on the balcony with no connection to the audience at all, which greatly affected his mood. And in the end it was I who «got it in the neck» — those were all the consequences.
44100Hz: Are you afraid of an empty dance floor?
V.T.
: I think I'm not afraid. As a DJ I adore being the first to start playing, when there's no one there. Which is exactly what I do at the Cocoon parties. You step up and slowly start creating the atmosphere. After two hours, as a rule, the dance floor is ready for the onward journey.
44100Hz: You have a warm relationship with Alexey Gorobiy. Haven't you thought about doing something together?
V.T.
: We had plenty of experience working together in the 90s. Quite enough, I think — no more needed. But Lyosha is inviting me as a DJ to his future club, which opens in April on Mantulinskaya. As far as I understood, two spaces are planned there that will differ radically in their musical concept.
44100Hz: So «glamorous» Moscow is already ready for different kinds of music?
V.T.
: Definitely — not all of it, but a certain part for sure. Take, for example, «Vanilla Ninja», «Krysha Mira» — can't you meet glamorous characters there? You certainly can. And Discoteque, it seems to me, with the right work from the promoters, could become a stronghold of glamorous underground — that's exactly Cocoon's target audience. After all, at Cocoon in Amnesia the «Cristal» flows like a river, and tables go for 3,000 euros — no problem, everyone loves it.
44100Hz: Any plans for the coming year? The Cocoon parties don't look like a movement heading somewhere. Rather, they're already a finished product. Judging by your accounts they don't bring in money — maybe it's time to move on?
V.T.
: No, on the contrary, it seems to me that Cocoon will develop in the new place. Now all the passions will settle down, and I'm sure that at Discoteque we'll create what the Cocoon parties are ultimately meant to be. Most importantly, I want to change the audience — it has to be different. By the way, that's another reason I parted ways with Arma17. As for money — quite the opposite, the takings there were very good…
44100Hz: What do you think about the Music Conference in Sochi? You've been there, but only as a DJ — no speaking appearances, no party of your own, why?
V.T.
: Sochi is a blast, it's great there; I didn't go this year, since money's not so hot at the moment, and it's an expensive city, plus I've got plenty to do in Moscow. By the way, when it comes to parties, it's a very tough place — anyone who's tried to put something on there will tell you the same!
44100Hz: If guests come to you from abroad and ask you to take them «round the clubs», which three places would you suggest?
V.T.
: Krysha Mira, Propaganda.
44100Hz: You often play at «Krysha Mira» — what can you say about the crowd that goes there?
V.T.
: This club is like home. Of course there are frictions, grievances — I, for instance, keep grumbling about not playing there enough, but those are trifles. The audience, especially in summer, is wonderful, the view is stunning, and most importantly, the people — the core of «Krysha» — are people very close to me in spirit. One way or another, we're always together!
44100Hz: A question that worries many listeners of the podcast on 44100Hz — where are the playlists for the mixes you post?!!
V.T.
: I know it's wrong, I promise that from next time everything will be as it should.
44100Hz: And in closing — what would you advise readers to bring with them to the next Cocoon party at Discoteque?
V.T.
: Positive vibes! After all, this time Mark Broom and Len Faki are coming to us. I really want to hear these guys, and I advise all the readers of this interview, and in general everyone interested in electronic music these days, to come to this party!