STENY X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [NAME, RECENT TRACK, CULTURE COLLABORATIONS]

Blending their musical mastery from their homes in Switzerland and South Africa, Stefan and Michel have been releasing dance music as Steny since their first release in 2017. Garnering support from industry icons such as Lost Frequencies, EDX, Nora En Pure, Sultan & Shepard and Lucas & Steve, the duo charted on Spotify’s Viral Top 50 the Netherlands with ‘Hideaway’, and continue to gain attention with their distinct sound. ‘Ghost Stories’ marks their first release of 2021, and is destined to light up the soundwaves with its soul-stirring aura.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Steny, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing?

S: Thanks for having us….fine thank you!

CR: Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and where does the name ‘Steny’ comes from?

S: Steny is a collaboration between Stefan a DJ and Producer from Zurich and Michel a talented producer based in South Africa. We found the right chemistry that we were looking for and realized that their musical synergy was absolutely amazing. For this reason, we decided to bring a new music project to life and started producing songs together as “Steny”. We looked for a suitable name that is simple to remember. Steny is derived from STefaN

 CR: Tell us a little bit of the story behind the track ‘Ghost Stories’, the producing process, as well where did the inspiration come for it?

 S: Well, we always try to find inspiration on surfing thru vocals, sounds or music. We found this amazing, Indian-like Ghost Vocal. It was a great inspiration to make something more melodic, something “touchy” with that one.

CR: Since you guys are from Switzerland and South Africa, how have the cultures and sounds from both worlds joined to collaborate and obstacles you might have faced while creating music?

S: It is very special to produce together from this distance, but this has never negatively affected our sound quality. We are very interested in the cultures of the two countries and we try to present this in our music.

CR:  What is the best advice you both have received while pursuing your career as DJs/Producers?

 S: There is always a lot of talk and a lot of promises during our tours, but the best advice we have received was from a promotor in England…… NEVER GIVE UP AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

 CR: Where do you think the scene is headed? One year from now? Five years from now?

 S: As soon as Corona is over and the events can be held again. The parties will be overruned. The people yearn for electronic festivals.

We think at the beginning the whole scene has to work itself out again. What it will look like in five years will show which trends are current. Is always difficult to say. But we hope the electronic music will be melodic with groovy beats 

CR: What is one track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you hear it?

 S: “One more time” from Daft Punk…..this track is so creative and you will still listen in 50 years. Daft Punk was a huge inspiration for the whole electronic dance scene.

 CR: What is it that you love about the scene? Your subgenre's scene?

S: The artist of melodic techno/Progressive House scene don’t just make music to earn a lot of money….no….they do it with great passion. There are many interesting and creative artists. We like this scene because we are like a big family.

CR: If you were not a producer/DJ what would have been your career choice?

Stefan: As a child I always wanted to be a comic artist like Walt Disney, if the music hadn’t come I would have focused on that goal.

Michel: I wanted to be a cook. I still love cooking and you can work wherever you want to worldwide

CR:  Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on that our followers should know about?

S: We are currently working intensively on further productions for our project Steny…. We have collected very good ideas…. We don’t want to reveal too much yet, but we are still trying to develop our music further….We want people to recognize our music, but never sound boring…

Lighting Round

Texting or talking? Talking

Coffee or tea? Tea

Hard liquor or Wine? Wine

Cake or pie? Cake

Hot dogs or hamburgers? Hamburger

Xbox or PlayStation? PlayStation

Movie theatre or arcade? Movie theatre

Guitar or piano? Piano

Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel

Dog or cat? Dog

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot weather

Steny’s Socials:

ANDREW POLOLOS X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [UNTIL WE DANCE, MUSIC STYLE, BEST ADVICE, WHAT 2021 HOLDS IN STORE]

Montreal-based DJ/Producer Andrew Pololos has cultivated local and global attention as a powerhouse DJ during the past decade. With over 1000 worldwide events under his belt across countries like Australia, the Caribbean, Croatia, Greece, Hong Kong, and Mexico, his musical prowess is certainly no secret. Additionally, Pololos has an established residency for The Yacht Week Worldwide. As he continues to captivate audiences across the globe, Pololos has also been expanding his discography,  with his groovy and compelling signature sound garnering thousands of streams across platforms. Preparing for a significant moment in his career, Pololos has been working tirelessly to craft his forthcoming debut album.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Andrew, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing?

AP: Always well, thank you for asking :)

CR: Tell us a little bit of the story behind the track For Today’, How did you connect with Andria for this? Also, a little bit about your upcoming Album Until We Dance.

AP: For Today is really special to me because it is inspired by my Greek background. I was so happy to work with the Bouzouki Bros and Andria on this one. (For those that don’t know, the bouzouki is a Greek string instrument similar to a guitar.) Andria and I have been working together since 2015. She is an incredible writer and her out-of-the-box lyrics always sound so great on my beats.

Until We Dance is my baby album conceived during the lockdown. I hope it lifts people’s spirits and I hope that you fellow Canadian music lovers dance away your summer nights listening to the album.

CR: Montreal has started to get a huge House music following, how did that influence you as an artist? Also, which club in Montreal is your favourite to attend.

AP: Montreal had a big house scene when I was getting into DJing and sneaking into raves. Seeing DJs fill up rooms and arenas was the most inspiring thing to see. Currently, New City Gas, La Voute and Terrasses Bonsecours are my favourites to attend.

CR: What is your music/producing style from when you started to where it is right now?

AP: As a DJ I love all genres of dance music, so I’ve always been a bit all over the place in my production style. I’m still not confined to one sound or box and enjoy making everything from deep house to disco to tech house to afro.

CR: We know you have played a lot of cities, which city did you have the best time playing in and what that meant for you?

AP: Aside from Montreal, playing in Athens meant a lot for me. It was surreal to play at the top venues in Greece, where my family is from. Also, Mexico is definitely up there in terms of fun. The people are so nice and open minded.

CR: What is the single event that has changed you and the way you view life?

AP: I DJed an all ages event with thousands of attendees before I was even able to play in clubs. After that, I was hooked and knew that this was what I wanted to do.  

CR: What is the best advice you have received while pursuing your career as a DJ/Producer?

AP: A 5+ hour DJ set is like sex. You need to warm up the crowd with foreplay before burning all your bangers back-to-back to back. In all seriousness, patience and timing of track selection are super important when you are curating music. I treat it like a movie or story that has a beginning, middle and end.

CR: Canadianravers is all about representing Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian artists?

AP: A-trak and Kaytranada are still putting out great music. Andria Piperni, JT Soul, Naida, Stephen Voyce, Ludo Lacoste, David A and many many more.

CR: What do you like to do during your downtime when you are not producing music?

AP: Boating, travel, eat tacos, trade stocks, play soccer, snowboard, hang out with friends and family.

CR: What are some of your goals for 2021, anything our followers should know about?

AP: Get as many people as possible to listen to the album. Release more music. Meet new people. Get back to DJing for crowds and throwing epic parties.

Lighting Round

1.      Texting or talking? Talking

2.      Coffee or tea? Tea (do not drink coffee)

3.      Hard liquor or Wine? Liquor

4.      Cake or pie? Cake

5.      Hot dogs or hamburgers? Burgers

6.      Xbox or PlayStation? Xbox

7.      Movie theatre or arcade? Both

8.      Guitar or piano? Piano

9.      Marvel or DC Comics? DC

10.   Dog or cat? Dog

11.   Hot weather or cold weather? Hot!

CONNECT WITH ANDREW POLOLOS

MAT CIPHER X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [YOUNGER YEARS, INFLUENCE ON THE TRACK, DREAM SET]

Born and raised in Budapest, Mat developed a strong affinity to music from the early age of 5, receiving classical training across a multitude of instruments. The rising talent continues to play guitar and piano which regularly take the lead in his tracks. Having previously been a member of the rock band Walrus In The Sunshine, Mat made an appearance at Sziget Festival in 2016, giving him a taste of a career in music. Looking to take his passion to the next level, Mat followed his musical dreams to Los Angeles where he has since flourished into the producer he is today. 2018 saw Mat release his first album ‘Dominoes’ followed by a remix pack of the album, featuring artists who have garnered support from the likes of David Guetta and Martin Garrix. As he continues to develop his sound further, Mat has decisively made his mark on the industry, proving once again that he is the one to watch.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Mat, glad to have you on Canadianravers. How are you doing?

MC: Hi, I’m grateful to be able to talk with you, thank you for the opportunity!

CR: You have been making music for a little while now where did it begin for Mat Cipher? 

MC: There were key moments in my younger years, such as learning how to play instruments and attending concerts with my family, which all led to me writing songs for my former bands. This then eventually became more and more electronic-based. One day, my piano teacher introduced me to music production and instrumentation and I would say that was the dawn of this passion evolving into something that would end up determining my life.

CR: Were there any songs/artists that influenced the production of your recent track ‘Sand Toy’?

MC: I’m so happy you asked! It’s more of an insider but I grew up on a few Chris Rea songs and during quarantine I was listening to “On The Beach”. That is the song that somewhat influenced the creation of ‘Sand Toy’; the idea of being fully lost in the moment and enjoying a nice, warm summer afternoon/night.

CR: What is the best advice you have received while pursuing your career as a DJ/producer?

MC: Being a music producer is really quite complex because technically you are a composer, songwriter, engineer and entrepreneur, there are many fields where can you fail, but then also learn a lot. The best advice I could give, would be to build a strong team that is full of positive, ambitious, critical-thinking and hardworking people who have integrity. You can always replace a piece of gear, but the people that form your team will determine how your music will sound like.

CR: We know that you have been learning musical instruments from an incredibly young age, did that help in honing your sound as a producer?

MC: Definitely, playing guitar and piano made me understand the importance of individual instrument layers and the roles between them.

CR: Is there a track that never leaves your personal playlist because it has a certain emotional connection to you?

MC: For years, it was ‘Dragon’ by Martin Garrix because it reminded me of the energy that is present during festival shows. Currently, it is ‘Psycho’ by Post Malone, since it always puts me into a completely relaxed state where I let go of every bit of anxiety.

CR: DJs/ Producers travel with multiples of that one item, what is that item for you?

MC: Sleep mask and ear plugs! Regardless of the environment, you can try to rest when it’s needed.

CR: What do you like to do during your downtime other than producing music?

MC: I love working out, playing baseball, and just being with friends and family. Since I travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Budapest, I always miss my friends so I try to spend as much time as I can with them.

CR: If you had the chance to open for any artist around the world, who would it be and where would it be?

MC: It’d be dope to open for Kygo or Illenium. Also, I would have said the most popular festival here in Hungary but there are so many underrated festivals that I can imagine I would love playing at too. Sometimes these slightly smaller festivals have the most spontaneous and crazy crowds which often makes for an even more incredible experience whilst performing.

CR: What does the rest of 2021 look like? Any new tracks coming soon?

MC: Personally, I’m very excited for this year because we have been postponing some records but in 2021, our favorite projects so far are going to come out so I’m just doing my best to have the perfect timing with each song.

Lighting Round

Texting or talking? Talking

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Hard liquor or Wine? Wine, unless it’s a gin & tonic

Cake or pie? Pie

Hot dogs or hamburgers? Burgers

Xbox or PlayStation? PlayStation

Movie theatre or arcade? Movie theater

Guitar or piano? Piano

Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel

Dog or cat? Cat

Hot weather or cold weather? Cold weather

MAT CIPHER’S SOCIAL: