Istanbul? No it's true!
Ilker Soylu goes under the name of Philogresz, is A&R for Dutch label Team Records, produces his own brand of techno, travels around the globe playing to people with ears to please and has a hairy chest that should be in a museum!
By the way, the opening line is in reference to his home-town of Istanbul, Turkey.
He's also in town to play a gig at 202 Broadway tonight at a party hosted by MIDI In The City and TECHnique called Everyone.
He popped into the shop earlier this week after finding out from others that this was the best record store in the country. Who am I to disagree?
So we chatted and this is what he had to say.
Tell us what it was like growing up in Turkey in the 80s?
It's been very influential on me. I remember that every summer, we used to travel with my family to southern Turkey and my dad always had a music on, obsessively...mostly Turkish poetic, political deep stuff. I guess I've been trapped (in a positive way) with those sentimental sounds from back then.
When did house music arrive there and how did you get involved?
I guess I'm too young to give a proper answer on that. I started listening to electronic music via a very good friend of mine at that time. Mostly those Ministry of Sound compilations which were inspirational for me discovering more of this new genre, which I once hated. As DJs, I guess I enjoyed listening to Sasha & Digweed the most. Around 1999, I started clubbing regularly at Club Godet and Nu Pera - they had the most innovative sound back then. I think Onur Ozer was one of the resident DJs at Godet who was playing under some other moniker. Getting into electronic music as a producer began around 2001 after my visit to Holland, visiting records stores in Rotterdam - all of them are gone now, which is sad.
Is there a thriving clubland/festivals?
There was a very cool, conscious scene in Istanbul in the late 90's and the beginning of 2000. However, in the mid 2000's, it started to get 'grayed out' a bit. Godet got closed and lots of clubs were going bankrupt. I moved to the Netherlands in 2003 and after that I stopped following the scene in Istanbul. What I've also heard is that those 'back-in-the-days ideas' are coming back to Istanbul with the launch of new club. I'm doing some gigs in Istanbul in the coming months. I'm curious about today's electronic music in my home town now.
Music was obviously a passion as you moved to The Netherlands for a music production course? Can you explain the move? Was it hard? Did you know anyone there?
I always wanted to live out of my passion - music. My failure at school, arguments with my mum, is good proof of that. However, I must say that I'm lucky to have such an open-minded mum & dad who allowed me to follow the path I wanted. This meant moving to a country where it all happens in terms of electronic music and it was essential to my development. Firstly, I studied music production at an art academy in Utrecht, but after six months, I left the course for another course in sound engineering which was the best option for me. But there was also another reason moving to the north west - a girl. She was an inspiration. (listen to 'Vie' on Ware Records).
How long was the course? Is this where you started DJing?
The course took two and a half years including the bachelors. I was already DJing before that.
Where did the name Philogresz come from?
Philogresz is a word I created using the words Philosophy and Progression. Philogresz is the philosophy of progression - an exact mindset I have in life, looking further and asking my self 'what's next'.
You set up the company 078 Productions. What was that all about?
It's the core of everything I've done and am still doing. A one man biz which has the backbone of music and also striving to put out original concepts like club nights, record labels, radio shows, music studios, music production workshops and many more.
When did your first record come out? Do you still play it?
It was in 2005 for a non profit organization but it was only available as DVD/CD. First digital EP came out in 2007 and the first 12'' was in 2008. Do I still play it - great question man….:)
What do you write your music on? What do you think of the Ableton revolution?
I use Logic and my imagination. Ableton is good stuff. I use it for live performance.
What is the best tip you could give someone on writing a track?
Don't overproduce it. Keep it organic so it's more timeless and real. Your creativity is not your tools and equipment… it comes from within.
Tell us about Team Records? What’s the philosophy behind that?
Team is not about individualism. It’s about working together and communicating about education. Team is not just another record label aiming for mass release and commercial recognition. It stands for innovative and qualitative electronic music by giving exposure to talent worldwide. Educating people is the most significant matter. Just signed some very talented artists - Simon Hinter & Tylutki, Ispiraan. Their EPs are coming with remixes from Aki Latvamaki, Damian Schwartz & Patrick Bateman. More is on www.teamrecords.net.
Setting it up with Secret Cinema must have been awesome. He is a legend on the scene. Had you been a fan?
Yep, surely. Jeroen is a very emotional person. I have to have passionate, impulsive & spontaneous people around me. It was inspiring to work with him. I wasn't a fan but I was aware of his existence and quality of his output.
You were saying that Australia is so different from the rest of the world. In what sense?
Within less than a week, I felt the difference of moods. This is more of an in urban life…the wind, the rush, the mindset. It feels different…I can't explain it…it's got to be experienced. Next step is to discover the club scene.
Check out more from Philogresz at www.teamrecords.net
Murphy.
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