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Stama(Erase Records) Interview
Whut up Stama, big ups for your cool label that you started years ago. And congradulations for your latest release number 41! How do you feel so far with all these years of hard work?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: I feel pretty satisfied, all these years hard work is starting to give great results, not only financially but musically as well. I think Erase has achieved what the aim was at the beginning, release quality, out-of-the-ordinary tunes.
What made you want to start up your own label? Whats the story?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: I used to play in loads of parties before i start the label and i used to play unreleased tunes from new upcoming producers, people wanted my opinion for their productions and that made me wonna put these tunes out. So that was it back in 2003, I decided to start my own label and put all that i had in mind into action.
How can you describe your labels sound to people that never heard of Erase Records? And what does the name mean to you?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Well, I would say it’s a crossover of electro, house, electronic and breaks. “Erase” for me, means to create new paths and erase the past’s bad stuff.
How long does an average Erase recordings track take to output?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Nowadays, we are trying to release a track every 20 days, meaning a complete track ,ie original and one or two remixes.
Can you tell us about a bit about the artists on the label? And who was the funniest to work with so far or most rememberable?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: They come from different parts of the world, UK, US, Canada, Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Austria, Russia, Japan, almost everywhere..:)
They are all very talented producers, and have the passion to give music all the energy and rejuvenation it needs.
Phat Riderz i think were the most rememberable. They are two people from France, yet we do not know who they are (ie their real names), what they look like (we’ve never seen their faces) and where exactly they live in France..and the thing is that when we asked them to make another tune for us, they said they quit from making music at all! Very strange guys, yet brilliant producers, and I think this is why I think they are the most remeberable.
Is there a favourite song that you released? What is it?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Well, every track has been a favourite after listening to it so many times. I would say that DiscoSux from Beauty School was a favourite before been released. It took us much time before signing it so i guess it was kind of a stick-to-itiveness.
Who does your music mastering?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Joystick Music does. It’s a great studio here in Greece and we collaborate with the guy for about a year. Before Joystick, there were a couple of other people here in Greece and the UK.
Where do you sell most of your music? Has Beatport been nice to you? Has Trackitdown.net been good? Whats your opinion on the two music download sites?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: We’ve been doing great in many stores, Beatport is the most selling, yet they do not have a very kind policy lately. Trackitdown is really nice, though the sales are more at Beatport.
How does your label do in your home country of Greece? Has it been supportive in anyway?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Actually electronic dance music is not the most popular music in Greece..:) and as matter of fact, most people here listen to the commercial stuff of electronic music.
There is a significant support from a few djs, music websites and magazines though. A couple of clubs also hosted a few Erase parties in the near past. Yet the biggest support we get it from elsewhere in the world..:)
List some of your favorite electronic producers (past/present):
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Well, apart from our producers, who we really appreciate and support, Alex Metric, Adam Freeland, Elite Force, Tim Healy, Vandal, Meat Katie, The Whip, Boyz Noize, Sta, Mastercraft, to name a few.
You also have another sublabel "DragNDrop Recordings", how is that label going? And why do you have another label?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: DragNDrop started a couple of months ago, it’s doing ok right now, but there is still, a lot to do. It’s the beginning yet, so we’ll see in the near future. The idea of releasing more tech-house tracks was the incentive and the reason of having another label. We wanted Erase to keep it’s original sound, but we have received great tech house tunes as well and we were very keen on putting them out. So, the result was DragNDrop.
What does your studio consist of?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Mostly software I must say and hardware master features.
What computer platform is the most common amongst your artists on your label for their music production? PC or Mac?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: I think Mac is the most common.
What are you using to produce nowadays? Logic audio? Live ? Cubase?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Cubase.
What is your most rememberable erase records event you have played at and why?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: I think i remember every Erase event same well, but i should say that if i had to choose one, it would be at The Key in London, in collaboration with Platform12. It was a very busy night, the crowd was terrific and the order of appearance of the artist was done so well so that there was a great flow among the sounds of every dj. It was brilliant.
What countries have you been playing at so far? And what's you favorite country to play at?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: I have played in Greece, UK, US, Malta, Italy, Thailand, Morocco, Spain, Poland so far. UK is my favourite so far.
What makes an Erase records track to you?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Hmm not sure.. it’s a magic vibe from the track coming out and impressed you.. It’s the Aura of the Music…
What would be your dream track to legally remix?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Hmm a difficult and an easy question same time! I think a any track from ‘Depeche Mode’, it’s a Mythical group….
If you were stranded on an island and had a portable record player with enough batteries to play one last track,,,which track would you choose to listen to?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Jam & Spoon – Stella and Moby : “GO”
Whats going on this summer for you?
Dimos Stamatelos aka Stama: Apart from a lot of work in the studio, there is a mini Brazillian tour in August, two gigs in Brazil’s biggest festivals and of course big vacations!!!
Shout outs: Keep your Planet and your Positive Energy Alive!!!!
WWW Links: www.eraserecords.com , www.myspace.com/stamathedj. Erase Records
View this labels Breakbeat.ca MP3 Shop Page here
Electro-punk-housey-breaks
and then just rocking breaks thats how we would describe Erase Records
sound. Established in London late 2003 by Stama, their Greek roots
gives it the edge over many of its UK competitors for original sounding
but relevant club tracks. Erase's label artists include: Beauty School,
Stama,Philipe de Boyar, Bitrok, Lars Moston, Signal Drivers, Karl
Sav,Rob Reng, Dj Hal, Low Pressure System, and In Progress.Great
rmxers have joined Erase, like Zimbardo & Slezak, Stone Lions, Dom
Kane,Force Mass Motion, Strider, Mike Mckenna and Damon G. The label
is often featured in leading UK dance publications with their releases
consistently gaining top reviews and chart positions including
magazines such as i-DJ, DJmag, M8. Erase is also gaining massive online
support on sites such as Resident Advisor, IntheMix.com.au, Progressive
Sounds, Beatfactor, Nuclear, Nuskoolbreaks, Nubreaks Wicked Style and
Magma. Already big relisences to huge labels like Global Underground,
EQ, Thrive and Io Music Tw. Erase Label events in London have had
guests Rennie Pilgrem, Phil Thompson, Luis Paris down in the past and a
pool a great DJs give support, like Hybrid, Crystal Method,Elite
Force,Evil Nine, Bassbintwins, Force Mass Motion, John Aquaviva, Madox,
Stone Lions, Rennie Pilgrem, Future Funk Squad, JDS, Simply Jeff, Villo
(Balance), Tom Real, Deepgroove, A(na)rchithects,Nik Thayer, Andrea
Agatha, Vlad Sokolov, Klaus Schneider ,Chris Cargo, Paul Oakenfold,
Adrift Records, Flash Brothers, James Talk,Jimmy,Rob Savage,Johny
Splank, Mofo,Clive Morley, Barry Gilbey, Ricky Stone, Freakybeatz,
Flore and Dave Minns..
Alot more Erase Records tracks here
View this labels Breakbeat.ca MP3 Shop Page here
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