Fishmuzon. Part One. dj Muza

Your appearance on the music scene came as a surprise to everyone. When I asked Zhenya Fish about your DJing, I heard that you'd already been playing for a long time. Tell me, how was it really?
Muza: As for my supposedly vast experience — that's all untrue. Here's how it happened. For my birthday last year (my birthday is May 31st) I asked Zhenya to record a mix of my favourite records — it was supposed to be his gift. Zhenya had just come back from Germany with new music, and I was listening to the new records with him and picked out a few that I really liked. I found a few more tracks in Zhenya's old collection, and so I ended up with 13 pieces. I decided which would follow which and in what order, and asked Zhenya to mix them for me exactly like that. But Zhenya said that since I'd arranged it all myself, I'd have to mix it myself too. So I started practising — some things I mixed myself, some Zhenya helped with. Those were the first records I played on. And the first time I beat-matched perfectly was a month before the disc came out... After that I started building my own collection. And then I thought I should try playing 'live'. I went to learn and practise at the club Vinegret. Then I was invited to play at Gorod. At first Zhenya wasn't thrilled, but later he changed his attitude toward my new passion.

Not thrilled? Why — competition?
Muza: No, I don't think so. When we met, he told me right away: 'I don't want my girlfriend to be a DJ.' But he never explained why.

Do you pick out the records yourself, or does Zhenya guide you after all?
Muza: The records, of course, were almost all his at first. Then we went to Mayerka together — there I picked out a few records for myself, and we started going to the shops together often. Sometimes Zhenya went alone, but he always offered to let me listen and choose something. He already understood which sounds suited me, which ones I liked. Some records we split by tracks, so we even have records that are 'half-and-half'.

When was your first joint performance?
Muza: In September 2004 at the club Gorod. And we became residents of the club and have been playing there on Fridays ever since, at parties called 'Tomorrow People'.

And what is Fishmuzon?
Muza: Fishmuzon is me and Zhenya. When our joint disc was coming out, we decided to start a label and perform together as one project. And then the scale grew, and Tomorrow People appeared — that's me, Zhenya, Spy.der and our friends we collaborate with, DJs among them.

You're a full-fledged DJ now. Isn't it hard lugging the bags around?
Muza: I usually take about two hours' worth of records plus a half-hour's spare, so the bag doesn't end up being very big.

So you always know in advance which records you'll play?
Muza: Yes, as a rule I know which records, but not in what order. I usually picture what music is best to play at this club and this event, and pack the bag based on that. My collection of 'working' records currently comes to only about four hours. When there's more, I'll play more, and then the bag will get heavier.

Don't you want to switch to CDs? To me that seems very convenient for a female DJ.
Muza: No, I'm not going to switch to CDs on purpose. Of course, it can happen that I'll play a couple of tracks off CD, in the case that I absolutely love them and don't have them on vinyl.

Do your personal tastes differ from the music you play?
Muza: I play the music I'd like to hear at parties but don't hear, or hear very rarely.

And do you have favourites among your colleagues in the trade?
Muza: Yes, but not many. I can listen to Kubikov, Fish, Spider, Helga. Among foreigners, from what I've heard and remembered — Steve Bug, Kovalsky, Heiko Laux, Sven Vath, Super Pitcher.

What's your music like — describe it?
Muza: With interesting little sounds, a bit hysterical, experimental. But lately I've really come to love house, I'm building a collection and love playing it, even more than electronica.

You used to go to parties, now you play them. Has your lifestyle changed?
Muza: Of course, working at a club is harder than relaxing at one. It takes far more energy, often you don't get to rest at all. At first it was especially hard being under constant strain — to get the record picked in time, to find the right spot for the mix, to match the tempo, to mix it beautifully — that's all I thought about. I'd come out from behind the decks like a 'squeezed lemon'. Later it got much easier. In general, of course, it's not a very womanly job, if only because it's nocturnal. I never used to think about my health when I went to clubs. Now I try to keep the harmful effects to a minimum. I conserve my energy beforehand — I get plenty of sleep in the daytime, drink herbal teas, take vitamins. But that doesn't mean at all that I can't 'light it up'! I can, if it's worth it.

By the way, is Muza your real name?
Muza: Yes, Muza is my real name. I remember, back when I wasn't yet planning to be a DJ, I used to joke that if I ever wanted to take it up, I wouldn't even need to come up with a pseudonym.

How much does it appeal to you to have a stage persona, having such a name?
Muza: It all depends on the party. There's no point dressing up in front of three people on the dancefloor. But if a party is an event, a celebration — why not?

And what kind of image appeals to you?
Muza: Extravagant.

In your DJing too, do you strive to be extravagant?
Muza: In DJing I strive to be professional.

Did your girlfriends support you when they found out what you do?
Muza: Most of them are far removed from club life altogether. But they were glad all the same, since I'd finally, after a long break, started working. My friend Olya most of all. Truly.

Well, have you at least kept the joys of an ordinary girl for yourself — shopping, for example?
Muza: At first I stopped going to clothing shops entirely — I spent all my money on records. But gradually the balance was restored. Last month I went to Paris for new music, and while I was at it I went round all the boutiques — they'd just put out the new collections.

Tell me how you and Zhenya met?
Muza: It happened completely by chance. When he came up to introduce himself at the club, I didn't even know who he was. Soon we went off to the dacha, and when we came back we started living together almost right away.

Does everything in your life happen like that?
Muza: Yes, that's exactly how everything happens with me.

Then one can only envy you.
Muza: There's nothing to envy. The higher the highs, the lower the lows. When everything in life happens so chaotically, it happens in both directions.

What qualities do you dislike in people?
Muza: Insincerity, stupidity. I don't like malicious people.

With degrees in journalism and economics, are you planning to do anything else besides DJing?
Muza: I have lots of ideas — I don't yet know what it will all turn into…

Well then, let's wait for the next birthday...