Subivk

I began learning the art of mixing music in 2003 and I haven’t looked back since. I am also a certified Audio engineer. From 2004 I played for crowds who have always responded enthusiastically to my music. Much of my production is psy- trance music.2005 I started working as a mobile Dj. In 2006 I played at Jeffrey’s, Chennai. I have also played in venues such as Bling in Zuri Hotel (as an in-house Dj) in 2008, Zara’s Tapas Bar in 2009, Shiro and Pebble Jungle Lounge.

My kind of party is Full of Energy. I produce and perform my music using Ableton. Everything I know is out on the table, I don’t hide anything I mainly use freeware VST instruments and inbuilt Ableton effects. I don’t like to flood myself with too much choice when I am writing music, so I have a very limited amount of tools that I use.

However, because of this, I know these tools inside out and can achieve the result I want very quickly.My live performance is usually a set of mixing genres from progressive psytrance to Full On. When I perform, I have all the elements of my music at my control and can mix, layer, and manipulate the music real time, making each set unique and driven by the vibe of the dance floor.

Music is my language.

Your life-story and relationship with your work

Tell us a little about you and your work:
Two things really drive me to make music. 1.Minimalism: I love stripping audio down to the bare bones, specifically how the simplicity of sound can affect someone’s emotions and feelings, and bring people together in a mass state of communion. This isn’t to say I am not inspired by other things such as nature and other artists, but I get the most pleasure and wonderment taking things that grab my attention, breaking them down into their roots and seeing what I can find. 2.Natural Sounds: Nature, the noise of the city. Putting all the noises that the world has to offer into my music and thus putting my audiences into a state of trance. I treat music as a form of communication that completely overpowers that of any other kind of human interaction.

Currently what projects are you working on? And what future plans have you chalked out for yourself?:
Currently I am working on new upcoming EP with Goa Records. I am planning to lay out some of the sounds from India which world has never heard. My future plan so far, is to play in some good festivals and some underground scene to spread the msg of this amazing genre.

What influenced you to get into your field?:
I grew up listening to Metal and Roc. I started as a retro dj in 2000, and from their I moved in to house and tech house, then I started listening to uplifting a lot, those time, I was a fan of Tiesto and Armin. (stil I respect them) I use to go to party’s and watch Dj’s and get amazed.. and from that time I wanted to be on that stage. But again something was not satisfying for me. One day I and my friend went to a club and herd psy for the first time and couldn’t stop dancing and jumping..lol from their my journey started with psy, but production came long way after. I am a self taught musician, I know the basics and theory, what ever music you hear out their of mine, is all self taught. So from rock to psy with all sounds, which world can offer, that much influence I have when I write a tune.

As an artist, what role do you think you play in society?:
As An artist I think, I am responsible to play a good roll model, spread good vibes, spread a good msg through my music.

You obviously love what you do…but what do you love the most about your work?:
ohoo.. I love what I do, I mean, I am completely in love with psytrance. The best thing I love is mixing diffrent sub genres of psytrance in my live sets. and in production I love to resample the samples to get new or exciting sounds. I Love to make my own sounds in production than using available banks.

Creating on a regular basis can be a bloody tough job, so what motivates you to press yourself into the workstation every single day?:
Yes it is a tough job..lol But if you keep a simple and steady discipline, I think you will get in to the groove. Everyday I have few routines to keep me in to the production and play mod.. lol I listen to my fav artists so I get energised, I download and warp new tracks to arrange my library for new live sets and see lot of video’s of production as a re- memorising and yes lot sound designing and research.

Everybody has to start somewhere, usually at the bottom of the ladder, either as the bus-boy or the shoe-shiner. What was the very first job you had?:
hahah.. Yea every one has to start some where. My first job was as a fuel in charge for an airline. I was handling the vehicles fuel filling and billing which was running for the airline. And the best part was, I couldn’t speak the language of the place where I was working, though I could understand…lol

What is your second love? What’s the alternative career path you would have travelled if you were not on the one you are right now?:
My second love in profession will be in to motocross. I was a Motocross rider back in my teenage time. So if I wasn’t with you guys I will be riding somewhere and breaking bones…lol though I have earned lot of stitches and bone breaking already…lol

Share your experiences and your characteristics/personality

No man is an island’- they say, in this light, what quality do you admire the most in others?:
I really don’t know that. I never evaluated my self, I am still learning about me and this question can be answered by my close friends and my family maybe.. 🙂

Sometimes life can be quite a – insert word that rhymes with witch. Which phase was the hardest/scariest in your life?:
The hardest is going on now and I think I am trying to find the solution as fast as I can.. The scariest was when I drowned once in a pool.. when I was young..lol

Any embarrassing moments? Yes, you’d hate to disclose your secrets but we’d love to hear.:
Yea!! had few..lol in that one of them was.. Once I have to play for a club which only play 80’s. That time I was playing house and tech.. but I have to cover for a fellow dj. I went to this club, and started playing some retro tunes.. I don’t know what happened and the crowd started yelling and giving all kind of shits..lol and the best part was some one came over and pour a glass of Vodka to my mac and controller…hahaahah

Everybody’s got favourites…so what’s your favourite work/piece among everything that you’ve designed/produced/dj-ed/created? (Link us up!):
https://www.mixcloud.com/subivk/

Name a few of your all time favourite tracks. (From other artists if you are producer).:
ASTRIX all of them. I am big fan and follower of him, and yes PSILOCYBIAN, ACE VENTURA, I can’t choose 1 or 2, for me all psy tracks serve the purpose.

When have you been most satisfied in your life? Care to share one of your happiest memories?:
I am happy with these 3 things, Psytrance, my family and my friends. I am more happy when ever I see a new listener or a follower and I am very much happy when I spend time with my loved ones and friends.

Habits die hard. Which one word always creeps in your speech?:
Law of attraction

Knock, knock, we want to hear a good joke.:
ummmm..My mind just got blank.. need to think of some thing and it’s gonna take time….lol

There’s a book on the shelf. It’s your autobiography. What does the title say?:
Subivk

Flash-forward in time. You are now really old. What would you tell your children/loved ones?:
Love, Respect, unity.. A friend is the universe’s way of taking care of us. So be friendly to everyone and make friends. Don’t make friends to show that you have a huge friends circle. make friends who you can really keep up, but also keep others as happy as you are.

Into the time machine again. What do you miss about being a kid?:
I grew up in the southern part of India, and when I was growing up, I didn’t had all the things which I imagined as a kid. I use to miss lot of my childhood playtime.

Your hobbies and other fun questions

Excessive chopping dulls the axe. Time-outs are a must. What do you do when you take time off from creating? Got any hobbies?:
Riding, I go for some lonely rides, or I prefer a long drive with family or friends.

What’s the last movie/T.V show you saw or book/magazine you read?:
I am not a good reader, I read ”The Secret” and what ever it is related. also I read Mushroom magazine, psytrance related blogs articles and other magazines like this. I don’t watch T.V I like to watch movies with my family.. but my taste is diffrent..lol music, sci fi, thriller, adventure, all these are good for me..lol

Name your all time favourite movie/show/book.:
Bourne movies

With all the X-men and heroes running around. Us mortals would like some powers too. What one superpower would you choose?:
Mind power

The genie comes out of the lamp and grants you one wish that will change the world. What would you wish for?:
Give me one more wish 🙂

Your opinions and viewpoints

Got any theories on how the universe blossomed into existence or on the rationale of life? Are we in the matrix? Did god knit a hologram?:
This is an interesting subject, actually I follow these things a lot. I believe God is with in us, and the so called universe is God, what goes around come back, So thoughts become things. what we create is what we are. No one is responsible for our own life. we knit our own hologram. But yes I do believe that one can help others with the same frequency of thoughts. So if I have a dream goal and my best friend or family member wants me to achieve that, he/she can help me though the same thought process I go through. We all get opportunity’s, but most of us ignore. And most important is, A HELPING HAND IS BETTER THAN PRYING LIPS.

In an era where most people bear a close resemblance to sandpaper, it’s easy to snap. What are your dislikes/pet peeves/frustrations?:
I can’t stand if someone, who got an opportunity to do something and he/she ignores and search for something else. Also I hate delay’s and excuses..lol I get frustrated with that….:) I hate people who tell you they do something for you and just ignore. If you can’t do, don’t say YES. People say YES more than NO, even though they can’t do..lol

How do you connect to the spiritual side of yourself?:
Meditations, affirmations, teaching new habits to me. Reading and studying myself to improve my own being to help others

Your relationship with psychedelics

Creativity and psychedelics work together. Do you agree? Why/Why not?:
Yes I do Agree. It is a combination of two, which comes in a form of music or other arts related. You need to have creativity to paint a picture. But think of this, you have a canvas and you have the idea, but what if you lack creativity? that will stop you from your master piece. Don’t you think so!!?

Any work/pieces that were inspired by entheogens?:
Not yet, but yes I would like to come up with some in future

Are you pro-weed culture? Why do you think the majority of the population goes against the green?:
I am not a pro-weed culture guy.. I don’t smoke.. I was smoking back in days, but I stopped.. that doesn’t mean that I am against, People think it’s not normal or the big thing called society won’t accept or if they can’t come up with nothing, then the people try to link with religion.. and it becomes a sin..lol But I would, say if you use it in a enjoyable level anything is fair. So play it safe.

Any ideas to rectify this mindset?:
Literacy towards the advantage and disadvantage of green..

Advice for the readers and fans

At the end of the ride, everyone’s looking for some form of success (tangible or not), what does success mean to you?:
For me success means achievement. I have to achieve peace of mind , That I call it a success.

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/Subivk/