Smelly Feet Records Is A Music Platform Which Showcases Both Established And Up & Coming Artists.
No Specific Genre, Just Real Underground Music.
Smelly Feet Records Is A Music Platform Which Showcases Both Established And Up & Coming Artists.
No Specific Genre, Just Real Underground Music.
Balthazar & Jackrock
Name : Balthazar
Country : Bulgaria City : Sofia
Age : 37 Sex : Male Zodiac : Libra
Genre : Techno Software : Logic
Type : Exclusive Mix
Name : Jackrock
Country : Bulgaria City : Sofia
Age : 34 Sex : Male Zodiac : Aries
Genre : Techno Software : Logic
Type : Exclusive Mix
Interview
Smelly Feet Records: Who is Balthazar & JackRock and tell us about your sound.
Balthazar & Jackrock: We met in 1996, digging in some small suspicious shops for illegal tapes. In the beginning we were into every genre of electronic sound - hardcore, hard trance, goa, rave, breakbeat etc. and when we did our first events back than it was a total mess. In 1998 we felt that our biggest passion goes into that dark industrial overwhelming sound called techno. And it all began. Soon after that we decided that we have to start promoting events with international guests as well and in 1999 our first own rave was a fact, featuring our favourite in that time UK DJ - Inigo Kennedy. In 2002 we started to produce our own music and 3 years later we had our first vinyl release. After that things went pretty fast - we have booked over 150 international acts during the years, played in over 30 countries around the globe and released numerous EPs. Sometimes we went harder and faster in sound, sometimes more melodic or groovy, but the main line remains one - Techno.
SFR: Describe your roles as a duo. What does each member bring to the table?
Balth & Jack: It is really interesting collaboration. We are like Yin and Yang, black and white, plus and minus, but sealed by long friendship and techno love. Of course no one can be perfect in everything, so we split the duties. One of us is creating the music, the other one gets a fresh ear and masters the final product, one is more artistic, the other one more practical, etc. To create something good you always need mainly fire and shape.
" We are like Yin and Yang, black and white, plus and minus, sealed by long friendship and techno love."
SFR: Let’s talk about Renesanz. How did this come about, what are you doing with it, and what direction are you moving towards in the future? Anything special you want to talk about?
Balth & Jack: Renesanz represents what we did for the last 19 years - our label and event company. It started under different name, but with time we decided that Renesanz as a name represents perfectly what we are trying to do daily on the music scene. About the future of Renesanz - as a label we will keep releasing what we like, and as an event company we are planing to go outside the borders of Bulgaria and start doing Renesanz nights on various locations. It comes somehow natural.
SFR: You guys have played all over the world. From your experiences, what differences do you see between the North American scene and the European one.
Balth & Jack: North America is where it all started and the initial vibe was really huge. But the times have changed. In Europe people are more picky now , many of them know well what they like, where they go and what to expect. So european crowd is a bit more difficult, but also more loyal and supportive. North America is now in the era of big festivals with thousands of ravers. They react great, they enjoy music and they give the artist great feeling during the set, but it is more about the fun and the party, not that much about the special underground culture as in the past.
"In the beginning we were into every genre of electronic sound - hardcore, hard trance, goa, rave, breakbeat etc...it was a total mess. In 1998 we felt that our biggest passion goes into that dark industrial overwhelming sound called techno."
SFR: Tell us about your gigs in Africa - where did you play? How was the response from the crowds - anything memorable you want to share?
Balth & Jack: Well, Egypt is a special place in many ways. At the resorts the party crowd is mostly touristic, so nothing different actually, but our gigs in Cairo were quite memorable. The party people were reacting great on the music and were showing their support in every possible way. It’s pretty enough to mention a rave in a big camel stable with the great pyramids in the background. You can imagine how different was the feeling to be there.
SFR: How is the scene in Bulgaria being shaped as electronic music continues to grow? Is there anything specific you would like to see more of, anything you want to see less of?
Balth & Jack: In the late 90’s rave culture came like a hurricane. All the cool kids went into it and everybody was hungry for beats, lazers and this new amazing underground “thing”. With the years it stopped being something special and entered the life of the regular people. Here came the commercial part of the electronic sound and all the average music users. The special “thing” was kinda lost. Now almost everyone here is into different kind of electronic music, but most of the crowd don’t really gets deeper in it. For the masses it’s no longer a vibe, but a trend. Anyway, there are always a few people to keep us motivated and to “warm” our techno hearts.
"...we have booked over 150 international acts during the years, played in over 30 countries around the globe and released numerous EPs."
SFR: If you could perform at a magical festival without humans - who or what would be attending in the crowd?
Balth & Jack: The ghosts of the shamans from the past would be great. Spiritual creatures with sense of rhythm and deep knowledge. Also we can always add few dwarfs as drinking buddies :)
SFR: Balthazar and JackRock, in a few sentences. Tell us about this mix you made for us. Where did you get your inspiration. Is there anything special you want the audience to know?
Balth & Jack: The mix we did for you is a bit different than our usual sets, but still follows the main line we like. It is more musical and easy going, but still great for dancing. This is what we always look for - new ideas, sounds that can touch something in you and definitely to make you move :)