Mehmet Akar
It’s been a while since our last one but today we are back and another interview is here for all of you, following the place of Progressive House Worldwide. This time we are moving to Turkey to get some news from upcoming DJ & producer Mehmet Akar. Let’s hear what he has to say to us. Enjoy the reading (just keep reading and you will find all links to read even more, contact information and exclusive previews).
Hey Mehmet, hope all is fine with you. Let’s introduce you to our viewers. For a start, could you tell us, who is the guy behind the name of Mehmet Akar, also how did you get in the music industry and how did you go on to the producing part in your life?
Hello there, first of all I wanna thank you for giving me the chance to be part of your exclusive intreviews. Then, about myself I can say that, I’m just a normal guy who loves flowers, birds… and for better or worse I’m also an unsuccessful student since 2005!
I think one of the main reasons for that is that I was devoting all of my energy and efforts to the music… So, I’m still struggling to pass my last exams… Aside from that, I’ve always been a music lover and at the beginning of the year 2000 I recorded my very first DJ set at home. I decided to upload it over the internet and received really good feedbacks and great number of downloads! I kept on spreading my sound and soon after some gigs at small venues followed which motivated me even more to keep giving my best and start seeking higher levels. After a 1-year disappearence for personal reasons I reappearead in 2009 on the music scene and pretty soon I was requested to start a show on Frisky radio. So month after month I was giving the best example of my most preferred sounds… and with this passion to the music came the desire to start working on my own production. In 2010 I had my 1st track released and…and this is how it goes… always working for the better… for the best..
You live in Turkey, how would you describe the electronic dance music scene in general, and most important, the progressive house scene in your country? Is it played a lot out in clubs? Festivals etc?
In my personal opinion, I’d sadly say that the electronic music in Turkey that I used to love is dead. If you’d asked me this question 2-3 years ago I could tell you “it’s not bad at all”, but now being a DJ and playing good underground electronic music is really hard – we have only a couple of strong gigs a year. Therefore I’m counting more on international appearences. The Balkan countries are the ones that first opened their gates for me. They have really solid crowd and they really like me.
If we start to talk about your productions, how would you describe your sound? What are your influences when you create your music?
The music I make is mainly focused on the progressive side of the electronic club music, but in my production deep house, tech house, techno even sometimes trance and breakbeat sounds can be heard too. Honestly I don’t feel like putting some limits on my work, because what I’m interested is just the main idea of good music… I always try create an atmosphere that has its particular feeling… I just can’t do anything which has no feeling or even the kind of deepness that I see in my mind. You know, I as many I also have those specific elements which I keep in my music and this is probably another way of saying : this is my signature!
Any secrets with the producing part? What programs & equipment do you work with? Any specific vsti’s you prefer to work with? Are you using both hardware and software?
Ableton Live is the best software for me. When I started to make my own tunes this is what I used. For now it has everything I need, including some plug-ins and VSTs. My favorite one is ‘Hypersonic 2′ which is quite popular and not only for electronic music. The other ones that I really like are Massive and FXpansion’s DCAM Synth Squad. I’m using M-Audio Oxygen 49 as a midi keyboard and X-Session Pro as a midi controller.
Tell us about “No Smoking Recordings” that you also are involved in, what do you do there and how did the work together with label owners DJ Tarkan & V-Sag start?
Last year I sent an original track to DJ Tarkan as demo via e-mail. It was my first original track called ‘Tarcin’. So, Tarkan liked it and he wanted to release it on No Smoking Recordings. After that I made a remix on ‘Sea Through’ (originally produced by V-Sag and Tarkan), So during the process I was spending pretty much time around him and our friendship became strong. We had some gigs together, where could show clearly that ‘I’m good enough to work with him’ as a member of the label. So, seven-eight months ago I got the position of A&R manager on No Smoking Recordings. For Tarkan I can say that I’m really honored to work with him now. He is a master as DJ/Producer and at the same time he’s one of the best persons that I’ve met in my life.
If we go in a near future, what can we expect from you in the coming months? Originals, remixes, touring? Tell us the news!
As the last winter season was really successful for me, having released more than 30 tracks that found great support from top DJs like Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Jody Wisternoff, Miss Nice, Solarstone, Stan Kolev… I guess now’s my turn to give a spin of those pieces too, right!? ;) I already have a confirmed performance at Club Euro (Russia) for one of the “Around The Prog” series plus some other nice summer gigs in Bulgaria and Turkey. aiting also for news from South America where I’m expecting to make a small tour too. My manager’s working on some last details on it, so fingers crossed guys! :) With all those upcoming events I guess I’ll give a small break to the production process and focus on my live shows… I may even get some time off for a small vacation. My releases for the Summer are already waiting, including some upcoming hot works for No Smoking Recordings, Frisky Records, Carica,Nueva Digital, Elegant Bit and ODA Digital Records.
We all know that you also DJ a lot, describe the feeling, do you prefer to produce more over DJing or is the other way around?
I’ve always loved DJing ’cause this is something dealing with a lot of fun. Travelling all over the world only with your CD case… I personally find it extremely funny and exciting!
But then, there’s another thing – nowadays everyone can play some tracks and be a DJ, especially with the new technology, so you really have to do more than that. Your own production helps you makes you look different compared to others. This is why I think that DJs should have their own tunes too. Plus these days it’s so rare to become strong name in the world without producing. Such DJs, in my opinion are mainly the good old icons. If you are new, there is no other chance chance but start producing your own tracks. Here comes the part where I say that producing is also an incredibly great experience. When you sense your moment of inspiration and you manage to catch the ideas flowing from it, when you know that it’s something good and you feel that you’re on the right track while putting everything together, it’s just hard to describe this extraordinary feeling through words… Finishing it and waiting impatiently for the first feedbacks… I think it’s all about the music itself! It’s always been… Everything about it is giving me an incomparable happiness and joy.
What would you say about the house music scene in general, is it possible to grow bigger or is it at it’s peak? if you get the chance to say something in general that you want to change on the electronic dance music scene, what would you say then?
I think electronic music goes down in general. During the first five years of the new century we were still living in times which could be considered as the peak ones for the electronic club music and especially for the progressive house. And I’m definitely not the only one seeing it that way. Now, over the internet there are tons of tracks, mixes and DJs, so… Being a listener nowdays, diggin’ the music stores and their bottomless content and then choosing quality music is really hard. And you know what?! Many listeners just can’t choose good quality music. As for the artists themselves there’s another thing that should be pointed out – there are many doing good music, but only some of them can reach the top-ranking positions. Why so!? Because just those few guys have the necessary good promotion policy. Unfortunatly having talent isn’t good enough, if you wanna succeed you should also have good promoters and management.
A lot of the music today is not sold, it’s 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?
If you have any respect to the music, you have to show your support to your favorite artists and the labels releasing their work by buying it from the music stores. But I also think that Beatport is quite similar to those persons who download music illegaly. Because they are taking 50% just for selling the product – the other 50% are being shared between label and artist. I think it is crazy. Beatport is also killing producers, DJs, labels like the persons who look for music in blogs, forums etc.
If we move a bit further, were do you see Mehmet Akar in let’s say 5 years time with your music in general?
I think in 3-4 years, I will be on DJ MAG TOP 100. You may say “the guy is dreaming” but I trust myself and I’m sure I have the potential. What I need is just true guys and true promotions for the next years… And when I get in the list, I’m sure you will suddenly remember my words ;)
Time to round things off for this time, any final words you want to say to all PHWW followers?
I’m also a PHWW follower and I think the site is doing really nice job supporting producers, DJs and labels. In my free time I’m regularly checking out your posts if there’s something I missed during the month. I find a lot of nice tunes there but not only – the monthly podcasts are awesome. It happens often that I find some of my tracks there and I’m really glad to be part of it . THANK YOU PHWW FOR THE GOOD MUSİC AND YOUR SUPPORT AND PLEASE, KEEP GOOD MUSİC ALIVE! Big thanks to everyone who supports my music, it’s enormously appreciated!
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http://residentadvisor.net/dj/mehmetakar
