Ian Pooley ahead of Zagreb NYE gig: ‘I’ve played 50 times in Croatia but it’s still very charming’
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
by Anton Robić
28 December 2018 – Ian Pooley is one of the legends of electronic music. With countless releases, worldwide performances and collaborations with famous musicians, the Croatian audience has the honour to see him frequently at performances in our country.
There will be another opportunity on New Year’s Eve in Masters Club in Zagreb. Forty Fifty Silvester Party brings 22 hours of music with Ian Pooley, Igor Tipura and 12 of the best Croatian DJs.
You’ve been on the scene since the early
The first record I bought was the 7“ of Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls.”
What are you listening to today? How do you like today’s music?
I listen to everything from Electronic to Jazz, World music and Indie. There’s good and bad stuff like it has always been. Only Pop and Trap is impossible right now. Too overproduced. We need more elegant Pop like in the late ’80s.
It seems that today’s popular music is becoming less and less quality. Do you think this is a consequence of the situation in today’s world?
I’m not sure. I think I can only speak for my own genre – Techno & House. People are so occupied with building a career fast and they also need to focus a lot on social networks. I still believe that you need a minimum of 2-3 years to create your own sound. Most people don’t have the patience for that, they want results faster. So the music becomes more functional, nothing that will last.
You’re pretty inspired by Bossanova and Samba. What attracted you to that music?
Childhood memories, the exotic language, also the rhythm and the melancholy of the harmonies.
You have also worked with many famous performers, including Daft Punk. How do you remember the cooperation with them?
It was mutual respect. We were both young and had similar interest. I was with them on tour in Germany, great memories
We’ve been waiting for your new album for a while. Do you plan a new release?
Hahaha, next year for sure!
You are probably a foreign DJ who has performed most times in Croatia. Do you know how many times you played here?
50 times maybe
Why is Croatia so attractive to you?
Because of the friends I made in the past 20 years. And I love late summers here.
Can you compare the Croatian scene from the beginning and today?
It was definitely more smaller, sometimes a bit chaotic and also a little more rough. I remember crazy parties in Dubrovnik and Split . Nowadays it’s a little more organised and international but not less charming at all.
What performance do you especially remember here?
The first 2-3 parties at Aquarius in Zagreb in the ‘’90s,. T-mobile Party at Hotel Belvedere in Dubrovnik in the early 2000s and my first Valkana Beach festival in Pula.
Many people are still talking about your great performance at the last year’s New Year party in Masters. How did you experience it?
Hahaha, I didn’t sleep much before because I came to Zagreb directly from another NYE party. Will try to make it similar this year.
How will you remember 2018?
A lot of ups and downs.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
Finish more tracks!
