DIASS – MAINO EP
Villahangar continues 2023 with its seventh release: the label launches on June 16th “Maino”, the new EP by Bulgarian DJ and producer Diass, who returns to Villahangar after the Various Artists of 2020 and his 2021 Bloom Together EP.
Diass started playing when he was 12 years old, he was inspired and formed by his father Teddy Georgo, one of the 10 best Bulgarian djs with over 25 years on stage. He is is one of the few Bulgarian DJs with music education: he has more than 6 years of studying production, sound and studio engineering. Artistically innovative and wise selector represents a wide variation of sounds across the spectrum from Nu Disco/Indie Dance and Electronica/Downtempo to Organic House/Melodic Techno.
His laborious work ethics, together with a green soul and a unique style capable of untangling between history, futurism and darker elements, made him win also two DJ Championships and the Best New DJ Award 2012 in Bulgaria.
Super star at home, he has spent the past 10 years pushing his sound directly from his studio in Sofia to dance floors in Bulgaria and all around the world, with tour and lives between Ibiza, London, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Cairo and Moscow.
During the years, all Diass’s releases have entered Beatport’s Organic House Top 100 Chart. He has worked with major labels including Sol Selectas, Scorpios Music, Cosmic Awakenings, Pipe & Pochet, Bercana Music and many others, and he has been working on collaborations with some of the best Bulgarian vocal performers and has been sharing decks with top artists such as Damian Lazarus, Satori, Jamie Jones, Faithless, Be Svendsen, Unders, Paco Osuna, Serge Devant, Blond:Ish, Hot Since 82 and many more.
With three active albums that bet everything on the quality of the productions and on the ability of arrangement between both vocal and instrumental tracks, he proved his ability to work with several different soundscapes, being able to make people dream and creating different stories and feelings: “Party Beach” (2011), “Welcome to Bulgaria” (2013) and “Reset the World” (2015), that has been released under the world famous label 303Lovers.
In 2021, Diass was a resident DJ at Scorpios & Noema in Mykonos. This year he will be back for another season on the Greek island, preparing for an intense summer worldwide tour. In May 2022 he has launched his own music label KATUN, in co-ownership with Dimo BG & Mr. K – three leading figures at the music scene in Bulgaria.
Maino EP consists of two tracks: “Maino”, which gives the title to the EP, and “Cumbaya”. “Maino” is a project of full self-expression of the artist, which expresses its full potential with overwhelming vocal samples, a groovy bass line and a playful drum, the true heart and starting point of every Diass creation.
Both tracks on the EP expertly blend House, Organic House and Afro House, expressing the artist’s passion for organic percussion and peak moments, and creating an engaging dynamic and hypnotic appeal, perfect for the energetic atmosphere of clubs and festivals. The variety of drums and percussion stands out, combined with playful vocal samples, dramatic pads and electronic synthesizers. With the different cultures of the world as a source of inspiration, which is clearly evident from the mix of organic drums, ethnic voices and strong synthesizers, united in a dynamic and surprising way.
For your new song Maino with Villahangar, what did you work on a musical point of view? What is the sound?
I’ve always focused on creating tracks which make you wanna dance. It’s all about that. ‘Maino’ is a self-expression project, which combines some nice vocal samples, groovy bassline and playful drums.
What did you focus on? Where did you start from and how did you develop it? What was the basic idea and how did it evolve?
I always start from the drums set and build everything around them. They are the core of every project. The basic idea was to create an afro house track which also feels like a club tune.
How is the atmosphere? Can you explain in detail the inspiration and how you created it from a technical point of view?
In both of the tracks from Maino EP you can easily hear my passion for organic percussions and peak moments. The atmosphere in both tracks is dynamic and hypnotic.
What elements did you introduce on the musical level?
Variety of drums and percussions, playful vocal samples, dramatic pads and electronic synths.
What does the project represent for you?
The project represents my personal taste for peak-time tunes which can kill the dancefloor in a good way.
This is your third release with Villahangar, after VARIOUS ARTISTS/ 2020 and Bloom Together EP/ 2021. How would you compare these new tracks in terms of sound to the previous ones? How would you define the evolution of your journey with Villahangar?
I’m grateful that Villahangar has always been open about my self-expression and my music point of view. Each track I’ve released with the label is completely different from one another and that is actually something I admire a lot. I don’t like putting limits to my art and Villahangar is a great platform to do your own thing and share it with the world.
Where you were born, where you raised and where do you live?
I was born in a small town called Dryanovo, but I’m based in Sofia since 2010.
How would you define your musical style today? Which musical genres have influenced you over time and which ones influence you the most today?
My musical journey has been incredible. I’ve been exploring myself as an artist through so many genres of electronic music, trying to find my own sound and style. Right now, I can easily say that I’m following my heart about the music I want to create.
When and how was your first meeting with music and how did your musical journey begin?
Music has been a part of my life since I was born. My dad is also a DJ and I grew up around him when he was still playing vinyl and cassettes. My professional path as a DJ began in 2008, when I won 1st place at a DJ competition in Bulgaria.
What music do you listen to when you take off your DJ headset?
My music taste can be described as a deep, dreamy and eclectic mixture of indie/electronic/funk/blues and rock.
Your artists/djs/producers of reference always and at the moment?
I’ve always admired and got inspired by artists like Bedouin, Satori, Massive Attack, Oceanvs Orientalis and more.
How much does the place where you grew up and where you live influence you on musical point of view?
What I believe has influenced my musical perspective are actually my travels rather than the location. When you have the chance to immerse yourself in different cultures and the origins of their music, it’s something that expands your perception of the world and the way you understand music.
What were your most recent projects and what are your musical projects at the moment? Are you part of some projects in particular now?
Right now I’m focusing on finishing some of my newest projects and preparing for my summer tour, which is quite intense.
Speaking of releases, what were your most recent projects, which are the current ones and those of the nearest future?
Last year I had 2 releases with Scorpios Music and Yulunga Records. Right now, after the release of ‘Maino’ EP with Villahangar, I have upcoming a remix for Glauco Di Mambro, to be released at The Gardens Of Babylon label.
And what labels have you worked with?
Sol Selectas, Bercana Music, Scorpios Music, Pipe & Pochet, Cosmic Awakenings, Yulunga, Katun and more.
Where have you played all around the world, in which clubs / festivals and with whom did you share decks?
Over the last years, I’ve been playing clubs and festivals in Panama, Mexico, Amsterdam, Mykonos, Ibiza, Moscow, Albania, Romania, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, London and more. I’ve been sharing the decks with artists like Satori, Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Deer Jade, Blond:Ish and many more.
What are your plans for the present and the immediate future?
I am finishing my album, but I do not have a deadline. I will just go with the flow and trust the process.
You’ve been traveling the world for years now, how is your spring 2023 on dj sets point of view now?
I’m super grateful that I have the chance to travel and share my passion for music with people all around the world. It’s my biggest reward for all the crazy distances I need to take in 3 days, early flights, lack of sleep and hard work in the studio.
What will your summer 2023 be like? Do you have DJ sets or festivals currently scheduled for the present and for the future?
My summer 2023 tour will include some festivals in Portugal and Romania, but also gigs in Albania, Turkey, Latvia, Spain and Bulgaria.
What can you tell us about the summer events created by you? Like Temperament in Bulgaria, Origin at EXE Club in Sofia and LOST GIPSY LAND Festival which is doing very well?
As I like to say, I’m working on building my own scene in Bulgaria. Over the last 10-15 years, all the big promoters were doing mainly techno and tech house events, so in order to present my style of music, I needed to start building my own community of events and artists, so we can present that more melodic side of electronic music. All of my concepts are warmly accepted and are growing fast!
What do you think about the electronic music scene of the country where you live? What do you think are the differences with Europe and with the rest of the world?
In general, we have a big and well-developed electronic music scene in Bulgaria. Every country has its own rave culture and I believe that the differences are only regarding the music taste.
What evolution do you think electronic music is experiencing on the international scene?
I see a tendency of letting go of labels and boundaries when it comes to music. Underground artists playing latino or pop music as closing tracks is something I find quite charming. Music will never stop evolving, but at some point we all go back to the old school sounds, interpreted in a new, modern way.
The three words with which you would describe yourself and why.
Dreamer, because I like to follow my dreams and materialize them;
Storyteller, because I love to tell a story with my music or sets;
Humble, because nothing comes in life without hard work, gratefulness for what you have, knowing who you are and where did you come from.
