Q:
Can you give us some background to Vataff Project
and yourself?
I founded Vataff Project in
the end of 2001 with few more people that were in charge of
the acoustic part of the project for the first album.Then
I continued the project for the 2nd and 3rd album mostly independently
working with some acoustic samples recorded in my studio by
other guest musicians. My musical history started in the year
1991 with bass guitar. I took a part in a few post punk, industrial
and alternative bands as a bassist for 2-3 years. In 1994
came my first touch with electronic music and electronic equipment.In
the period until 1996 I was a part of the project "Dve
Kupeta". My partner in this project was Boris Lazarkov.
We were creating experimental dark ambient music mixed with
some acoustic samples from violin, cello, and industrial noises.
Two albums of "Dve Kupeta" were released in Bulgaria
by our small record company DK Music.The 3rd album was released
by record company Wizard. In the year 1997 I started another
project named "Band of Mad Women". I produced and
composed the electronic part of the project. The style of
"Band of mad Women" was downtempo electronic music
mixed with acoustic drums, bass guitar and vocals. Some of
the songs in the project contained texts and mantras from
the Vedic knowledge, books like Bhagavad Gita etc. During
my participation in "Band of Mad Women" until 1999
we released 2 albums. Since the year 2000 I’ve been
making music under the names "Vataff project” and
"Victor`s Mob" in the ambient and psychedelic-techno
styles.
Q:
What led you to choose to write music
in the unique electronic style that you have adopted?
I just try to be myself. This
is the most important thing when I create my music.
Q:
What are your ongoing
musical inspirations? How do these bring to you actually producing
sounds of your own?
Well, I was inspired by many
musical styles and artists from electronic scene. I started
to listen to electronic music in the beginning of the 90s
with artists like Richard H.Kirk, Autechre, Plastikman, Cristian
Vogel, Boards of Canada, Simon Posford, Detroit techno etc.
I think all of these artists are unique and have their own
style. Their music inspired me to find my own musical way
also, and to be myself in the music as I mentioned above.
I learned from them never to do "copy- paste" in
the process of making music.
Q:
What was your purpose
in creating the new album Kalitz?
I just did my next experiment.
Q:
What process do
you use to make music?
I am working
with analog synthesizers and units hardware. I use Cubase
SX and WaveLab for sequensing, audio recording, mastering
and sound design. The working process with the machines/analog
units is slower than working with virtual synthesizers but
I can get real quality and deepness of sound with it. It’s
like minimum 3 dimensions with clear texture.
Q:
How do you develop
a piece?
There are many ways I use to
develop the piece but one of them is when I start from the
rhythmic part of the track. I really like the low frequencies-
bass and the drums and that’s why I very often start
with it. Then I create many different sounds by the sequencer
like pads, leads, blips, noises etc. I make a lot of synthesis
and experiments. I’m always on a way to find some new
sounds created by the combination of the parameters of the
machines. When I have enough material I arrange and design
the track compositions in one piece.
Q:
How do you decide when a piece is complete?
Satisfaction
from my work is a sign that the piece is complete.
Q:
What is the most exciting part of music
creation for you?
I feel myself
excited when I am really inspired by something. Very often
I get some inspiration from nature and traveling. Apart from
that the creation of the music is an inner process and I try
to go deeply in myself and to catch the frequencies and the
sounds that come from my heart. This is the best way I found
to making music, and it is also the most exciting part of
music creation to me.
Q:
How do you see your music developing
in the future?
My music developing
is question of consciousness .If I manage to develop my consciousness
I am sure my music will develop as well. I Hope in the future
to find new things, to move to different and interesting music
directions and to be on a way of sonic evolution.
Q:
Is there a musical development that you
wish would occur so that music making can become even more
rewarding /adventurous?
I think music development is strongly connected
with the personal development. This kind of development
is a big adventure.
Q:
What music do you listen to for pleasure?
Mostly good electronic music with its own
special character. I like to dance also and one of the best
things for me is to be on a party with cool music and nice
people. I like experimental minimal techno, tech house and
acid. In my other my project called Victor’s Mob, I
create trippy and psychedelic minimal tech stuff. I DJ with
vinyl as well.
Thanks to Victor and the guys
at Aleph-Zero
for allowing us that interview.
