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Dj Schwa & Name Does Not Matter are back again and they do it with a new release. This uniquely inspired duo have made a name for themselves through a handful of tasty songs.
The music of this unique duo is unclassifiable, but unrivaled. Close your eyes and let the sensations flow.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music?
I am Michal Schwa and I run Prague based warehouse events Komiks, record label Beef records and I also work as sound engineer at ORM Studio. In the meantime I produce music under warriors monikers (dj Schwa, Shades Of Gray, WD-40 Trax...). I basically grew up in a recording studio here in Prague that my dad used to run. I have always been surrounded by music. In my teenage years (around 2000) I started visiting techno/house/acid rave parties and in 2005 I moved to Sydney where I djed and performed heavily. Since 2011 I have been back in Prague. I feel like the underground scene will bounce back. Do you think we can go back to "normal" events and festivals?
Of course it will bounce back. I think that passion for music is undamageable. People who love doing events and who love djing, dancing and making beats will never give up this passion, it's like a drug. So yes, I think that things will bounce back to 'normal' sooner or later. Maybe even stronger and better. This break gave us time to re-think a lot of things - good and bad. I think that the scene will evolve into something a bit healthier and more honest after the corona pause (fingers crossed). How is your sound evolving? What artists and genres do you enjoy most right now?
It's a bit of a paradox, but since the corona lockdown I started exploring heavier beats that were coming out in late 90ties and early 2000. Techno, acid and rave music that I grew up on is my passion for the past couple of years. I explore this music much more than the new stuff that is coming out now. I am not sure why that is, maybe because we are lockdownt all the time, my mind started searching for something more radical and heavy. Artists like Jeff Mills, James Ruskin, Surgeon, Justin Berkovi, Chris Mccormack, Zeta Reticula, Octave One, Cybotron are on my radar now.
Some love it, some not. But it's always nice to hear feedback after playing a set. Even if it's only a virtual one. Some artists say that it's not important... but for me it is, knowing that there are people who like what I do is giving me solid ground under my feet. What projects are you working on right now?
Right now the main focus is on two projects. One is Dj Schwa - my main moniker. Under this name I have been writing music and performing. There is a collaborative electro/acid EP with producer and modular synth wizard Name Does Not Matter coming out on RFR records in a few weeks. That is very exciting for me.
Big focus is also on my new project called WD-40 Trax. We have a debut 12" lined up on Beef records (out this summer). That one is super exciting because it is a collaboration with my nephew Honza Pos who is also a talented light designer for our warehouse events Komiks. So WD-40 Trax is some sort of a family business. What can you tell us about the new remix EP? Some great remixers involved!
Yes, all that is thanks to Richie from RFR records and his team. Luckily enough the remix artists Jerome Hill and Posthuman are both colleagues who I really respect and admire. They delivered awesome remixes for the EP. I gotta say big thanks to the team behind RFR records. It's an honour to release on a label that is home to Skee Mask, Cassegrain and Dj Hell. What do they add to the original sound?
They managed to keep the original ideas while giving them special twists of their own. I like when you can recognise some strong ideas from both producers' and remixers' worlds. What makes you happy?
I am a father now.... so that one is pretty easy to answer :)
Besides my son it's all things music related. This passion has been living with me since teenage years.... so more than 20 years. It's evolving and still growing.
Do you have any final words of wisdom?
No wisdom from me. You gotta search for it yourself. It's a never ending journey. The more you know the less you understand.
