Shuma Interview by Ulterior 05.10.06

[Ulterior]

1. First few words about Shuma, when did you started why did you started,
who you are etc...?


Shuma is project of Davor Tosovic and Emir Cehaic. We are both from Zagreb, Croatia.We started to make trance music few years ago, released on couple of labels and performed live across Europe. We are now hooked on minimal, techno, glich, electro and stoped making any kind of trance - progressive related music. We are exclusive artists of German label PlayOutRightNow recordings. You can check more info about us on www.myspace.com/shumamusic or on www.trancepleme.com/shuma-music (official Shuma web - but we didn`t do update for some time ).

2. What do you think for the scene in Croatia, is it hard to make it from
there or today it doesnt matter where you come from?

To live in bigger country, with strong scene helps for sure, but its is possible to make it from smaller country if you concentrate on making quality sounds and good perfomances.

3. You worked for tribal vision till the beef reocrds opening, now you are
in beef, what the you think of these labels, are you satisfied with the
collaboration, and do you like to continue working with them. Do work with
any other labels, i saw new EP coming out for a Hungarian label?



We worked with Tribal vision records, we released track there (illektro music @ Lime light compilation) and played on some label partys but as our sound evolved and we switched to different kind of music (electro, minimal, glich, techno) we just don`t find ourselfs there any more and don`t fit to label sound. Great thing is that Tribal vision opened sublabel Beef records for non-trance music and we started to co-operate with Beef from begining. We are satisfied with Beef and Tribal vision, they do the bizz really profesional and responsible and its easy to work with them - you don`t get fucked up like with lot of other labels - so we can only say this - if you make good music and think that you can fit to these labels go for it, send them promo, if they wanna release it they won`t fuck you for sure.

Soon we will bring new track on Beef records - Shuma remix of Trevor Mcgregor`s "high way" that gonna be his first digital EP there. Sure watch out for this one!

We are working with other labels as well. We relased on Hadshot Haheizar, Chaishop records, Groove control, Metamedia...also we are officialy on PlayOutRightNow recordings label rooster. We will bring 12" ep at Two-b-music from Hungary - track "Fehlfunktion" + remix on b-side. It`s new label but from a start we think this gonna be good choice because Steven M A&R of Two-B has really good music taste (we played with him 2 times, listened to his mixes and every time he rocked), we got some tracks that gonna be released there and it really sounds promissing. And again - he and his partner are doing the bizz like pro.

4. Tell us something about the technique part, what do you use for
producing, hardware/software, and what do you think of the hyperproduction
fenomen today?

We are using only hardware synths + Cubase: Access Virus B rack, Yamaha djx-1, Korg Electribe EM1, Makie mixer, M-audio Firewire 410 soundcard, M-audio monitors...We don`t use VST synths. Somethimes we use some VST effects but we try to use it as less as we can and use only hardware effects.
Hiperproduction fenomenon is always present, but good music always finds its way to the top.

5. Where do you get your inspiration, and your music influences, some artist
get there inspiration by listening to completelly different music then their
own and some like to stick in just one style?

Influences : Gigolo Records,Great Stuff, Oxia, Hell, Green Velvet, Aux88, Doppler Effekt, Keith Tucker, Kiko, Moksha, D-Nox, Trentemoller, Booka Shade, Antix, Luka & Lazo, Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Jan Garbarek, Miles Davis, Andreas Vollenwieder, Klaus Doldinger, Burning Spear, Juno Reactor, Michael Jackson, Synthpop of the 80s and of course - New Kids On The Block. We are getting inspired by lot of things. Loooot of things. We always try to push the limit a bit more with every track, make something new, crossbread styles....We can`t say we live in a box and don`t see anything exept one style - specialy now whan we are making minimal, electro, techno, glich - artistic freedom in this styles is far more bigger than in trance - you can use whatever sound, combinations, sequence, bpm you like as long it sounds good and works on dancefloor. In trance this isn`t exactly the thing - you have to use at least some similar stuff that everybody is using, you can`t acctualy use all the idees you have ´cos noone will like to release it if its experimental or doesn`t sound similar to other stuff released.




6. What about the gigs, i supose you do dj and live? Where did you perform
till now?


Under the name Shuma we are only playing live act for last couple of years. Emir is djeing under the name of dj Hip/dr.Hardlove. We performed on var. partys and festivals in Croatia, but also in Germany, Austria, Czech republic, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgary.


7. Can you live like an artist or you must find a regular job?


We can`t live only from music. L But we hope it will change for better.

8. The future, what are your plans and expectations?


Future releases : Trevor Mcgregor - high way ( shuma remix) is coming up @ Beef records soon. Watch out on this one,original track is really nice, works well on dancefloor and is really nice dj tool not to miss. Later will follow 12" Shuma EP @ Two-B-music, 12" Shuma "Boiler" Ep @ Beef records (with Luka&Lazo remix on B-side) , Shuma Digital ep @ PlayOutRightNow recordings + remixes, first PlayOutRightNow CD compilation with our track on it. There will be some other stuff as well but its too soon to tell more about it. We also started to work on debut album, but wanna have at least couple 12" out before the album. Also we are prep. new live for some techno partys we gonna play later this year and next year.


9. Here you can say what you want, something that i didnt ask you and you
want to talk about?

To get a better picture what are we doing at the moment check out our live set from Beef records label party @ Cross club / Prague on 13.7.2006. http://www.tribalvision.cz/beef/mp3/shuma_live_in_prague.mp3

Also check out www.myspace.com/shumamusic for clips of upcoming releases, top 10 charts , news and general info about Shuma.

Tnkx for questions.