Slovenian techno hero UMEK is next up on the mighty Dutch label Filth on Acid with his latest EP, Warm Up the Sub! This high-octane release blends pulsating rhythms with deep, resonant basslines and is guaranteed to ignite any dance floor.
Interview with Umek:
Hi Uroš! How are you doing? It must be an exciting time with “Warm Up The Sub” about to drop on Filth On Acid. How are you feeling about this release?
I’m good, thank you very much!
Yeah, it’s exciting! Warm Up The Sub was just released and it’s climbing the charts right now – let’s see what happens with it.
How did the collaboration between you and Reinier Zonneveld come together?
The collaboration between Reinier Zonneveld and me started about the time when I was just finishing my tech house era, I came back to techno and nobody wanted to touch my tracks because I was coming from a different scene. He was the first one who actually took my tracks, released them and we had huge success – even a few number one’s. After that, all the people who were declining my tracks were calling me back, begging me to do some stuff for them.
Listen to Latest Umek EP on Filth on Acid – Warm up the Sub
You are responsible for kickstarting the electronic music scene in Slovenia! Bringing it from underground raves to international recognition, what do you see as the biggest transformation in the techno scene since those early days?
The big transformation in the Slovenian scene is visible – even from the outside. It was tough! It was a really small underground scene and now it’s super big. Now everything is very professional, the venues are better, lights and Sound are amazing. It’s a natural progression and luckily it happened in Slovenia, too.
Looking at the global reach of Slovenian artists now, how would you say the scene back home has evolved since you started out? Are there any rising talents you’re keeping an eye on?
Yeah, we have a few rising talents. The thing is they are just a little bit too small and they’re quite not there yet – they still need to prove themselves. But if I’m not wrong, you’re maybe going to hear about two newcomer artists soon. I hope they make the step from the local scene to the global scene soon, that would be amazing.
After such a legendary career, is there something you would love to achieve or experiment with in your music? Are there any dream collaborations still on your list?
I achieved everything I always wanted in my career, so I’m more than happy with it, but I still love to play. I still love to produce music and I’m just as excited about it as in the beginning. I’m still super happy with it. Even after all these years, I love to go on stage and play. So, I hope I’m going to continue to work on this.
ABOUT UMEK
UMEK has made significant contributions to the techno scene since the late 1990s. Known for his dynamic sets and innovative tunes, he has released on many prestigious labels and is a pioneer of the minimal style, mostly on his own label, 1605 Music Therapy.
