Spectral Concepts Interview - April 2003
Serbian On-line Magazine Interview - October 2003
Interview to www.fullon.net - June 2005

Hello Nikita!

First of all, I have to thank you for being so kind to answer several questions for our forum.

1. Since you were born in Russia, and currently you are in USA, do you feel more like a Russian or American producer? Or maybe you think that both countries have a big influence on your music? Which of these two trance scenes do you prefer?

Thanks for all your questions.
I have to say that I feel more like an American producer, since I was introduced to trance in this country and that's where I went to the best parties that really got me in to this music. On the other hand, I draw on a lot of Russian influences: Russian rock, my past life as a Russian rock musician, Russian Art. I really like the energy and the mass-appeal of the Russian scene, but I still prefer the early days of San Francisco underground.

2. What should people know about you and your project "Penta", which is, I assume, your main project?

The word Penta originally came to mind because it's the name of a character from a Russian children's book, with whom I have strong connection. Aslo, when I first played my music to the public on New Year's Eve of 2001, my friend Vika came up to me and said "Five", which is the highest grade in Russian schools. After that it was clear: Penta. The project was intended as the continuation of my early melodic traditions as a composer with a powerful feel to it. Since I was mostly inspired by crazy night tracks, that kind of sound prevails, however, I leave room to morning trance as well. I also think that the literary origin of the name "Penta" forced me to make an emphasis on storytelling in my music.

3. Besides project "Penta", do you have any other side-projects and how different they are? Are you maybe thinking a collaboration with some other producer?

I only have one track that could be considered my side project right now, it's called "Outdoor". The name of the side project is still up in the air, but it's tentatively called "Afterparty". This music is nothing like Penta, - it's very happy music at 130 BPM especially made for that after-hour Jack-n-Coke consumption. I've done some collaborations with San Francisco producers: Ocelot, Sector 7G , Rasa. These tracks have absolutely no historical significance for my friends and me, so they will remain on our hard drives. However, I was surprised how quickly and easily the tracks were written and I would love to do more collaborations with those guys in the future. I am also dying to make a collaboration with Fred from Neuromotor, I just have to get my ass over to Barcelona someday. I also can't wait to make music with Ghreg on Earth from Phosphene; - he's a crazy producer, you guys should definitely check his music out: Total Madness!

4. What do you think about trance scene in the United States, which is a lot different than trance scene in Europe? Is San Francisco really the only "trance" city in USA?

Trance scene in the US needs some fuel, I think it should get a little bit more "pop". That way more than 40 people will show up to parties, hopefully. San Francisco and New York have the biggest scenes. Also, Seattle, LA, Oregon, Philadelphia and Texas have good small scenes, as far as I know. But they have to grow a bit, so we can have the same energy as everywhere else. On the other hand, there is some nice coziness about trance in the US. Big commercial parties in Europe certainly lack that.

5. The compilation "VA - How Weired Street Faire" is very interesting to me. How was the idea of creating such a compilation brought in the first place? We respect very much the "anti-war" message. Your track "Mir" would be translated as "World" or as "Peace" (like in most Slavic languages)?

I wrote this track a long time ago and had it gathering dust on my hard drive. The song was originally dedicated to the fall of the Russian Space Station "Mir". The sample is from the movie Species. I was obsessed using samples of American actors trying to say Russian phrases in the movies. It kind of reflects my duality as the Russian-American composer. Yet, I never really liked how the track was saturated with these Russian melodies at first, until my friend Scott from Sector 7G said that he likes what I've done. So when Peter from Ceiba asked me to submit a track for the peace compilation, the choice was obvious. That's how the station "Mir" became a "Peace" song. However, I never really assign too much sense to my work, - the meaning comes later.

6. Can you differentiate some new, interesting projects that, in your opinion people should pay attention to?

I think people should pay attention to what's outside of mainstream as much as possible. That way we won't hear "Oh, I am so bored with trance" or "Oh, I am so tired, I am going to stay here, on the couch". Aside from established ones like Azax Syndrom, Psychotic Micro, Parasense, Psykovsky, G-Light, Fungus Funk, Kin Dza Dza, Digital Talk, Jahbo, Grapes of Wrath, people should give a listen to TsaBeat, Ocelot, Dark Psy, Phosphene, Winter Demon, WingPing, Deja Vu project, Sector 7G, CPC, Parus, Mungusid, who are, in my opinion, should be payed more attention to, but that's my taste. There are a lot of other interesting and original projects, I am sure.

7. What is interesting about you, is that all your tracks are published under different label names. Is it going to be like that in the future and what new tracks can we expect soon?

Yes, I am a prostitute. :-) You should expect me to do Deja Vu records and Inpsyde Media soon. Also, a track is coming out on Spectral Concepts (my real love), too.

8. What is your general opinion about psychoactive substances? Do you think using some substances can enhance your's or some other artist's music creativity? Our forum visitors are very interested to know if you take any of illegall substances when producing some masterpiece?

Unfortunately, I don't really have an opinion about psychoactive substances, for me the best substance is Sake or good Port Wine. Also Islay Malt Whiskey I really like. Caipirinha is great. Sake definitely enhances one's creativity, I can tell you that right now. So, unless Sake is illegal in some countries, I don't take any scheduled substances when producing. Maybe it helps other musicians, but not me. I think you can write psychedelic music by reaching under your brain crust through meditation. Being crazy also helps. Drugs just make you write fractal music and that doesn't go beyond hippy art.

9. One of our forum users wants to ask you what kind of software and hardware you are using?

Most of my music is Reaktor synths: Cube-X, Travelizer, Grain States, WeedWacker. Also Absynth, other VSTi's. Lots of samples, Battery for drums, Emagic ES1 or Steinberg VB-1 for Bass. Some Virus Indigo, Microwave XT and Kurzweil 2500S. Everything is made on a Pentium 3 Laptop, in Emagic Logic Audio Platinum. I used to produce on Mac, but my Mac is old now.

10. We know that project "Penta" started in 2000 with your friend, and after 2 years, a promo album appeared on the Internet. What can you tell us about your beginnings in psy production? Describe us your timeline, from start to releasing your tracks on Ketuh's compilations.

Correction: Penta started as a project FOR friends. I wanted to write an hour of music for the New Year’s party. So, I tried to push myself into writing quickly. First tracks were more or less morning ones, such as Terra “i”, Galaktika, etc. Most of them are on my hard drive, but maybe I’ll release them on my future Website as Mp3’s.

After my first big gig, on April 20th, 2003, Jeremiah from Spectral Psy offered me to release on his first compilation, “American Rotation”. The chosen track was “Zeynep”. That was the track that made P_Mac from Ketuh Records notice me, after Goa Gil played it in Portugal.

With time, I developed the new process of making music for myself: First, I prepare a lot of different musical phrases, FX, samples, loops. At this point I have no idea how the song would sound. Then I throw everything in Logic, where I have the bass line, kick, and the rhythmic section prepared. That way the final result is wherever the experimentation process brings me and is always unpredictable. I don't write tracks from the first bar to the last one: rather, I do everything at once in a way. It’s like making a collage.

11. What can you tell to all the young people who are new in psy trance production and who want to be successful psy producers?

Do it for fun. Do it for your friends, that way you will have more fun. Forget the ego, it can destroy you. Try to understate yourself, but never underestimate your potential. Believe in yourself and spend lots of time learning: psy trance is a very time-consuming enterprise. Don’t be shy to seek advice from others, - it will save you a lot of time. - Wow, I sound like an old guy!!!

12. How often do you perform your live or dj sets? We know all that performing, going from one country to another can be very stressful and one can get tired of all that. Do you still have that energy like in the beginning?

I play every two weeks or so. I don’t like to play too often, and I always try to play something different every time. I never played one live set twice. I always try to write a new track for each party, since I don’t want to get bored myself. I don’t travel too much, so I still have the same energy, I guess. I am not tired yet.

13.Where was your best performance ever? What was the party or a place that you visited and you really liked the spirit there (as a visitor or a performer, it doesn't matter)?

My best performance ever was probably at the last Thump Radio party in September 2003 in San Francisco. Somehow, it was just flowing and people couldn’t stop screaming. I really like a lot of parties I played at: India, Brazil, Russia. The Sinergia party in Portugal this year was just too magic, - I really enjoy working with Good Mood. Those guys are the best promoters I know. As far as spirit, - I am sorry, but for me, nothing beats Goa Gil and CCC parties of early years here in San Francisco. Who wasn’t there missed a great example of what psychedelic trance is supposed to be. I haven’t been to Goa though…

14. What is your opinion about today's trance hyper-production? Do you think it is destroying overall trance scene?

I think easier access to technology for a wider range of producers yielded good results, actually. Many people who have the talent, but don’t have the money, got the opportunity to contribute to our scene. That’s why we so many young producers. I recognize way less tracks on the dance floor now, which is a good thing. The only problem is that now we are lost in all of these endless releases.

15. What can we expect from you, in a field of a production? How do you see yourself in a future and are you maybe planning to have your own label?

I am going to continue experimenting with the night sound for a while, especially with so much morning music nowadays. I am also going to squeeze in some time for something completely different though, like the after-party music I’ve mentioned, or maybe even some ambient. I am working on having my own label, but I am going to release only my own music on it, at least in the beginning.

At the end, I have to say that people here are really interested in your work, and they all would like to know if you would like to come to Serbia sometime? We would also be happy to know that you will be coming to some other country near Serbia.

Sure, I would like to come to Serbia or near anytime! Maybe next summer? – I am planning to be in Europe…

I hope we can stay in touch and maybe in the future we can try arranging your performance here in Serbia.

Thank You for taking time to answer our questions! We are very pleased to have this interview with You.