Stas Oding, executive director of Contrforce, answered our website’s questions.
SPBDNB.RU: Congratulations on your “SPBDNB Awards 2004” award in the “Best Party” category. Junglists duly appreciated “The World Of Drum & Bass” event you put on.
S. Oding: Thank you. I’m very pleased to receive this recognition and support.
SPBDNB.RU: How did the idea of holding The World Of Drum & Bass festival in St Petersburg come about? What role does the British label Formation play in organising this rave?
S. Oding: For the tenth anniversary of Vostochny Udar, we invited DJ SS as one of the headliners. Since then, LeRoy and I have been friends and have been trying to promote drum and bass together in Russia. The lineup and the style are discussed jointly.
SPBDNB.RU: This year, one of the participants in WODnB was Technical Itch, whose music is far removed from the Formation sound and who did not quite fit into the lineup of announced artists. How was the decision made to book him?
S. Oding: It was our initiative. Technical Itch is very popular in St Petersburg. We cannot ignore the opinion of our audience. Judging by the many responses, we were right.
SPBDNB.RU: This year you also planned to hold The WODnB in Moscow. Why did it not work out, and is it possible that the next festival will be held in the capital?
S. Oding: We plan to make it happen in the future, but of course this is a very difficult question. A different audience, 700 kilometres, a new venue and so on…
SPBDNB.RU: Last August, The WODnB featuring Ray Keith took place at the Theatre for Young Spectators. Do you plan to use this venue again? Where else besides Yubileiny do you plan to hold your events?
S. Oding: An event at LenExpo is just around the corner. I think it is a very interesting place with a great future ahead of it. The Theatre for Young Spectators is not a bad venue, a little unsuitable, but cool too. We will definitely do something there, although it may not be drum and bass.
SPBDNB.RU: A role-playing game model at a rave was also tested at the Theatre for Young Spectators. Did you find the idea interesting?
S. Oding: Oh, that was an experiment. The idea was interesting, but the execution was so-so. But that is my personal opinion; they say a whole bunch of people were running around the Theatre for Young Spectators like madmen =). We will definitely organise something like this again.
SPBDNB.RU: Tell us about your nearest plans. First of all, we are interested in the upcoming open-air this summer and the drum’n’bass dancefloor of “Vostochny Udar”.
S. Oding: 30 July – “Soundtropolis”: SS, Fresh, Teebee, Groove, Liza K, MC Biggie, MC V. 22 October – “Vostochny Udar”, but the lineup has not yet been decided. I will be able to answer in mid-August. In November we are launching a new project; it will be a breakz event. We are still keeping the name secret.
SPBDNB.RU: Besides large-scale events, can we expect Contrforce club drum’n’bass parties with visiting guests?
S. Oding: I’m afraid probably not before “Vostochny Udar”. I’d like to, but there are too few hours in the day =).
SPBDNB.RU: Do online polls matter to you when you are deciding on bookings?
S. Oding: Of course! Besides personal preferences, we are guided by the interests of the audience.
SPBDNB.RU: Tell us about Udar.music and the DJ SS CD on this label. Are you planning any more releases of this kind?
S. Oding: By organising Udar.music, we are opening a new page in electronic music in Russia. We are focusing on working with artists who come to perform here. Since the beginning of the year, we have released three licensed releases: DJ SS S-Files, MAYDAY Prototypes 2005, Friendly Session1 – 2005. There is plenty more new material ahead =)
SPBDNB.RU: Are you planning to release video material under the Contrforce brand?
S. Oding: We have plans, but for now it cannot be commercially viable. Of course, we would like to give everyone a present and show how great it was there, there and there…
SPBDNB.RU: Your website udar.info recently changed its structure and design. What plans do you have for it? Will we see photo reports and articles like on the old site, or will it be just a forum?
S. Oding: Udar.info should become a portal with a news feed, articles, an information section and a photo gallery. Udar.info is still under development, but soon everyone will be able to see the final version.
SPBDNB.RU: In your view, how has club culture changed during your time as a promoter? Has the audience at your events changed, and how do you see this culture in the future?
S. Oding: Contrforce is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. We have probably held a hundred events, both large and small. All kinds of stars have come to visit us. The audience changes a little from year to year… Not worse, not better. Just a little different =). Of course, I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I am sure that people will not stop wanting to let loose and communicate with one another.
SPBDNB.RU: To conclude: your wishes for our portal and a few words for its visitors.
S. Oding: For the portal, its visitors—or not, its regulars :). For the visitors: music and emotions. Enjoy your time off and look after your health; everything is inside you. Thank you.
Interview: Yegor.
