Something great began on 7/7/7, exactly five years ago. Dimitar Kalinov aka Violent Public Disorderaz gave birth to an independent netlabel that has given home to more than a hundred talented artists since. The label is looking mainly for the oldschool sound of the 90s, original sampling, dusted vinyl-like tracks and jazz influenced instrumental hip hop. The artitsts (including VPD himself) make up a really close family of international producers who collaborate, communicate, share, respect and inspire. Everything they release is legally free to download and is licensed under Creative Commons because everybody at DWK understands that music should be free and they made it their mission to spread quality music throughout the world. And their quest is going very well. Here is a short interview I did with Dimitar, basically random questions that popped into my mind about music, netlabels, artists and such.
When did the idea of starting a netlabel first come to mind?
– I dropped my debut EP for a netlabel (Lo-Kiwi now fused with Cat Nap) and I saw it’s good. Then I decided to unite artists I knew and to build our own place on the web.
How many of the artists did you know that ended up at DWK before it was born?
– 2 Bone Giants, Bradata, Mr. Moods, Lost Soul Refuge, Merlune, Daakoon, Nora Naughty, Citizen Crane.
Since when have you been involved in music? Any relatives that did it or was it self taught?
– Hip-Hop music. I grew up with the hip-hop culture. Listening carefully how beats are made I decided to make own stuff. I started in 1997, using analog equipment: a turntable and 2 tape recorders. I was in electronics and I added some very useful options – pitch controller, turning on/off erasing during the record; I built analog sound oscillators and filters. It was huge fun, I experimented a lot. Even now (when I’m in digital sound processing) I still use some of the methods I discovered in that time.
Do you play any musical instruments?
– I used to play accordion, then started playing keyboards. After all I was clarinet player in a brass band 7 years. And now I use more frequencies than notes. 🙂
What is the mission of Dusted Wax Kingdom?
– To unite, to develop, to build quality and to make things happen for the artist.
If you had to choose, who would you say is your favourite artist at the netlabel? (we won’t tell) 😀
– Neither will I ! 😀
Who influenced you the most in your quest as a knight of the kingdom? Who should we think of when we listen to VPD?
– In the first place: The KLF – I was impressed how they use elements from some of their previous tracks in new ones. Then I heard the same way of sampling in Cypress Hill’s music. DJ Muggs was probably the biggest influence of mine. I learned a lot listening carefully to his production. And here is a funny story. I resemble DJ Muggs. Once I was in an internet cafe, browsing his forums, a kid came and said “Nice pictures! Is that your website?”.
Which moment were you most proud of since 7/7/2007 (the birth of DWK)?
– I’m proud and happy everyday of what we do! I’m sure the greatest moment is yet to come!
How would you try to convince and artists you would genuinely love to have on the netlabel to publish a release with you (is there anyone you would really like to sign at this time)?
– I’m absolutely honest with them. I just say something like this “I love your stuff, this is what we do, do you want in?” 🙂 We are a real family, no matter of distance and time zones 🙂 I think artists feel themselves at home. They know that they create Dusted Wax Kingdom and they make it an unique place on the internet. The key is to feel involved in something good, something you love; to share with people who understand you. I’d really love to sign Raycord. He is from Canada, a very talented artist and his works fit perfectly to the mood of DWK.
The artists who DWK supports are spread all over the world. How many did you meet in person?
– Unfortunately I met personally only the DWK artists from Bulgaria so far.
Tell us a funny story in connection with the label that happened during these 5 years.
– The communication with DWK artists is the biggest fun you could have! All the cats are amazing, funny, open-minded. Once I had huge laugh when Anitek told me he played some DWK stuff and his neighbours called the police 6 times that week to turn the loud music down.
MP3 or vinyl?
– Both! In this digital era, it’s a challenge to make organic vinylistic music released on mp3. It’s really rare.
How do you see netlabels in general in the future?
– Netlabels will give a new business model and will change the industry 🙂
What is exactly does it mean to be a knight of the Kingdom?
– Yeah, I call our artists knights 🙂 It’s a very interesting association 🙂 A knight has gallantry, honour, purpose and cause to fight. So do we 🙂 We love old traditions, old music, oldschool hip-hop, that’s why I decided to use the word “kingdom”, but not the famous word “records”. And I don’t like when people say “Dusted Wax Records”. Records are what you buy and collect in your music library.
Choose a track which you would want to get up to every morning for the rest of your life. (Like in Groundhog Day)
– Haha, I’d love to turn on the radio every morning when I get up and to hear a DWK track! Amin! 😀
Which commercial label would you say is your favourite?
– Hmmm. Maybe Anticon. They are underground, funny, eccentric cats and big source of inspiration 😉 Some old stuff from Ninja Tune catalog, some music from Project:Mooncircle, Content (L)abel.
What do you think the artists at DWK think of you?
– Dunno. Maybe sometimes they are thankful (for I’m the engine of DWK) and sometimes they are angry (because I’m lazy ass) 🙂
What would you name your club / bar if you opened one?
– Oh, I’ll tell later after I came out of the bathroom 😉 The idea for Dusted Wax Kingdom came in the bathroom 🙂
It took years to get everything done for your latest album ‘Whiskey Sessions’ but like a fine single malt it needed 4 years to be perfect. When do you think the next VPD EP or LP is going to be out?
– I have lots of unfinished stuff. Hope I’ll find some spare time to complete and release it soon 🙂
DWK has just had its 150th release. Which was your busiest year of the 5? Are things picking up with more an more artists becoming “knighted”?
– I could say it was 2012 🙂 We have so much releases to come. I started publishing 2 releases per week. Really busy times!
And I hope the label is going to be even busier in years to come. I myself am very glad to know Dimitar personally and I very much doubt that you can find another netlabel in the world that have so many talented artists who actually do act like a real family. I could shower you with stories of how helpful and honest everybody at DWK is, but let’s leave that for another time. I have compiled a 2-part selection of my favourites of the 1420 tracks released by Dusted Wax Kingdom up to this day. These selections are my birthday present to the family and to all the artists who fight for free quality music. Long live the Kingdom and thank you Dimitar for all you do and also for this little interview.
Beats, Rhymes and Life 