Jul 28 Interview with Eryo!

Sometimes you find an artist that you always know will deliver the sounds that are just the ones you would want to come up with on your own. I have a couple of them and one of them I finally got the chance to involve in our exclusive interviews here at Progressive House Worldwide. I’m talking about Konstantin Vorontsov, hailing from Minsk in Belarus. He is more known under his alias Eryo. As an exclusive artist to the great label of Mistique and all their sub labels, I always get a smile on my face when I know there is a release about to show up in the promo box from him. I know I will have something interesting to play over the weekend. Look out for his remix for Deep Soul Duo – Fellowship that will be out on Mistiquemusic 7th of August, melodic progressive house at the very top of the progressive world. Now, lets get “under his skin” to see who is behind the name of Eryo and his melodic productions.

Hi Konstantin!

I’m truly happy and honoured to have you with us at Progressive House Worldwide, your music has, for a long time, really caught my ear. We want to hear the story about and behind the name of Eryo. Who is behind the name and how did you end up on the progressive house scene? For how long have you been producing?

Hi! Thanks for inviting me to this interview. Well, I started listening to progressive house in 2003 I guess, and those sounds caught my ear from the first time. I listened to it mainly along with trance, but later was more focused on progressive scene. The most remembered compilations were The Masters Series by Hernan Cattaneo and The Therapy Sessions by Dave Seaman & Phil K. I listened them to dust, so many times. Those are such amazing albums! This stuff brought me to scene I think. But it was only in 2009 I started producing after I learned Cubase a bit. I think it’s better to have some listening experience before starting making something.

Are you doing music & DJing as a living?
No, it’s just a hobby for me. The one which takes loads of time sometimes though. With non commercial stuff I’m making it’s hardly possible to earn enough money from that. And yes, I have gigs. Not so often yet, but I hope for more.Are you perfoming live acts?
Nope, just mixing stuff. But maybe will try live performances one day.

Is there any explanation about your name Eryo or this is just something you came up with?
Its just an abstract name which came out of my mind. It sounds good to me. Everyone can find his own associations in it I guess. Let’s suggest it’s a name from some fantasy world rpg game. I played some when i was younger.

You are very much involved in the “big family” of Mistique since you are exclusively on their label. What are the good things/strengths being on one label in your opinion?
There are ups as well as downs of being on one label. The good thing is being in contact with many producers from the label, it is really like you said a family. We even have some common projects with Mistique resident well known Kay-D. And that’s really great. I admire productions and Krisztian himself very much. There will be 2 collaborations in my forthcoming album with him.

Talking about strengths, I personally think you are a really creative producer coming up with great melodies all the time. What do you see as you main strengths as a producer?

Well, to be completely honest I do not consider myself a very good producer. I do not have a musical education, and still hear many things that must be improved with my music. Of course I’m happy to be able to express myself through music I make, but I know I can do better. Can’t be sure if that’s my strength, but I try to create good charming atmosphere in my tracks. Always work hard on baselines and pads. I am trying to create emotional sounds, as I create myself, with sounds.

Do you have a “special way” while working on your tracks. Could you try and describe how you work from start to finish when creating you melodic progressive tunes?

I basically start from creating chords for pads. Then I work with baseline, kick, lead and so on. My melodies usually come out last.

The most of us that listen to your music are definitely interested in how you do it. What programs do you work with, any specific vsti’s? Also, do you work with both software and hardware?

I create everything in Cubase 5 sequencer. Favourite vsti’s are Nexus, Atmosphere,Trilogy, Albino, Sylenth and some others. I do not have any hardware so far.

If you get the chance, and you are now, how would you define good progressive music?

It’s definitely with some good catchy groove, hypnotic atmosphere, interesting synths and percussions, cool pleasant melodies, something that has a soul in itself. Some of these tunes become timeless, I believe. If you want an example: Leama & Moor – Calling. Tremendous work that I can listen to, for hours. Too bad, tracks like that are almost not produced nowadays. Back in the day true progressive house was supported by Markus Schulz. I can say I’m in to the progressive scene thanks to his Coldharbour Selections. Those were golden times for progressive music. It influenced me a lot.

When you listen to music, are there any specific details you listen after in a track?
Yes, I try to catch interesting elements in a track, rather than listening to the overall picture. I’m a producer, so the perception of music changes a bit. I became more demanding to music.

If you are to give an advice to people learning to produce, what would be an important advice from you that they could follow?
Depends on what music they want to create. If commercial – then I can’t say much. I think it is good if a person is free from commercial thoughts while creating something. I would advice to make pleasant harmonies from start. If you fell that you start making crap, you better stop working and try another day. Only make music when you feel you want to make it and also when you feel you got the creative power.

You live in Minsk, Belarus, how would you describe the club life in your country?
Well, it’s kind of pathetic. Not a big choice of music, many DJ’s that play for money, but not to express themselves. There are many glamour clubs, but almost no underground-minded places. No progressive anywhere at all. It’s very sad all I can say.

When it comes to listening to music, what can we find in your Ipod? A lot of different styles, strictly progressive music or what is there in it?

I do not have iPod, lol. I only listen to music at home. I love modern classical music, like Hanz Zimmer makes, also I’m a big liquid funk listener, do not mind any breakbeat styles, some deep house, chill out, also listening to rock and many other stuff. But progressive is the biggest passion of course.

A lot of the music today is not sold its spread through Internet and musicians hardly make any money at all on their productions. What are your thoughts about the sharing through blogspots, forums and all other ways for illegal sharing of music and what do you think there is to do about it?
People almost do not buy any music now. You can download everything. And I don’t see any way to make them to purchase stuff instead of downloading, maybe with lower prices.
Considering that I personally do not mind much about seeing my music shared on different forums and blogs, since I don’t know how to stop it. It’s some promotion anyway, so be it.

If we look in to the future, what can we expect in the coming months from you and your productions?
You never know what lies ahead, so we’ll see. I am hoping to come out with some good stuff, that’s about it. Goodbye and take everything from life.