Gramophonedzie Interview

13th Jan 2010

BITCH with Gramophonedzie

MISSION, LEEDS | SATURDAY 16th JANUARY

10pm – 6am

For almost 15 years Marko Milicevic (Gramophonedzie) has been working as a DJ, he’s 30 years old, a Belgrade native and started his career as a teenager. His passion for funky music, live instruments and intensive vocals resulted by his alias “Gramophonedzie” for whom he is making music for last 4 years. He’s been releasing tracks for Gotta Keep Faith Records, Yakuza Records, Guesthouse, DiskoZoo Records, Shak Digital, Maracuja, DVR and many numerous remixes he did for large variety of labels.

His biggest success is track called “Why Don’t You” where he sampled an old swing track, that brought Gramophonedzie to the lights of the world global house scene and got him signed with Virgin/Positiva records. As producer he has very diverse style in making music that varies from jackin house to almost minimal beats.

Dont miss him play alongside the Bitch residents Dale Castell, Alcatraz Harry and Matt Fear. Tougher, low frequenciy house music and fidget beats weill be spun in the Annexe by Dem Slackers, Ivan Allard and Jonny Hopkinson.

Gramophonedzie Interview

How has your year been?
A little bit hectic in a positive way. So many things happened in a short period of time. I’m still confused to be honest, didn’t planned anything, but to say it simple-This has been one of the luckiest years in my carrier, hope that more will come..

Being from Belgrade, how did you get into dance music?
I had a luck to travel a lot when I was kid. Wondering around London streets I stumbled to record store where Jungle was playing. I was hooked on Jungle music for few years and then around 96/97 I got into disco/filtered house. Also Belgrade used to be one of the greatest centers of underground music in Europe back in a days. I was lucky to catch some of that time.

Which artists were you listening to/were there any dance parties you used to go to?
Hmmm. I listen to lots of various artists. I’m very diverse about music. Love everything from nujazz to grime. I had a luck to play together with almost all big names in the house music so I had a chance to listen to all of them. I like guys like Derrick Carter, Dj Hype(true playas), Mark Farina, Dj Sneak, Llorca, Funk dVoid, ATFC, Sebastian Leger, Daft Punk to name a few…

What inspires and influences you now?
To be honest I’m trying to find inspiration out of house music. I’m trying to find more music that no one ever used in a house manner. When speaking about influences I’m trying to bring back house that got me into house music years ago, but trying to put it in my new sound. Hmmm I’m sure I sound confusing now 

‘Why Dont You’ was a big hit for you – what made you go down a jazzy path with that one? Is Jazz something you are into?
Behind every hit there is a woman! My girlfriend was very fond of that track for many years and she wanted me to make that rmx for her. For 6months she was almost beggin’ me. One day I just did it. We didn’t expect that it will go out on any label at first, I sent it to my friends for their labels, but no one answered at first, after that weekend everyone called me back for that track, It was released for Guesthouse music, after that, everyday it was becoming bigger, in February it’s going to be out for Positiva/Virgin .
I’m very into jazz, listen to it at home usually, specially that swing era jazz, 70’s funky music as well.

As a duo how do you work things out in the studio and dj booth – do you each have set jobs?
I made Gramophonedzie few years ago with my friend Sale and we used to play music we love for our friends. So in time we kinda made institution out of that name in Serbia. Many people think we’re duo because of myspace and a lot of pics we have together. But I cover all work as a producer and DJ behind the name of Gramophonedzie. I got into producing after attending RedBullmusic Academy in Dublin in 2000.

What makes a good DJ?
Good dj is one that wraps his music into something that everyone in the club will like even if they are not totally into that sound. It’s a very difficult job.

What can people expect from you at Bitch?
‘Bitch’@ club ‘Mission’ is my first party in UK, representing as Gramophonedzie, thanks to dj Dale Castell who invited me. I’m very excited about it, hope that’s gonna be one massive party for the UK crowd and I’ll try to fulfill the expectations.
Musicaly…
I’m a hustler baby…