Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
DJ Vengard: I’ve heard about Exposed Vocals very soon actually. I decide to check it out and i liked it. It’s a good oportunity for me to show the big audience my music.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
DJ Vengard: I was born in Pomorie, Bulgaria on 13th august 1990. Since i
was a little kid I’ve always had a love for music. While growing up i
was always fascinated by all types of music.Since then i knew the music
is my biggest passion. I discovered my love for electronic music when i
was 14 years old. I saw Tiesto for the first time on tv and i heard his
music and i was thinking ”man what is that sound?! it’s really
fascinating!”. I saw big parties, people going crazy and i fell in love
in all that.
I bought my first mixer Gemini and i started to
learn. I became a DJ in small local clubs and bigger and bigger, time
after time. After a couple of years i was thinking ”okay i am a dj, but
it’s time to take the next step to feel myself complete”. I started to
learn producing with very basic softwares. Then i discovered FL studio
and things get better – more sounds,samples and options for experiment
with my own signature sound. In 2012 I get diploma ”Mastering and sound
engineering – level one” from recording studio course in Sofia and i
continued to producing on more professional level. Now i can say proudly
that i am better than before.
I LOVE the music scene and for
me there is no better feeling than being infront of a crowd, play music
and see smiles on people’s faces.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
DJ Vengard: I always wanted my name to be original and creative so i spent a lot of time thinking about it. One night i just decided to made up something from my own name so i get my familly name DRAGNEV and i just reverse it. That is how i came up with Vengard.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
DJ Vengard: I think online music sharing is giving good chance to young artists and listeners to experience all kinds of music and to decide what is the right sound for them. This give us freedom to see what is the developement of the music. On the other hand online sharing is obstical for all music stores etc. but if you really love the music..that’s not gonna stop you buying. I give my music free because first of all i want people to see my ideas and to like them. One artist have to earn the right to sell music.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any
smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some
tips?
DJ Vengard: My advice is never give up no matter what happens. The road is not easy. Sometimes you’ll be noticed and sometimes not. They have to fight for it, to be persistent, to take every opportunity and to be dedicated. Just do everything with passion and believe in yourselves.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
DJ Vengard: I like to say that if you are perfect, there is something wrong with you. Of course i make mistakes. I mean we are humans, right. When this happen to me i just handle it with a smile. Sometimes i make funny gestures. It helps.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
DJ Vengard: I haven’t toured as of yet but i hope that will happen soon.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
DJ Vengard: My ideas came with my moods and the different landscapes i see during the day. When i’m outside and an idea pops up in my head i just get my phone and humming the melody on my recorder. This is good way to store most of my ideas.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
DJ Vengard: I don’t have my own website. I’m using https://soundcloud.com/dj-vengard , http://www.mixcloud.com/djvengard/ , https://twitter.com/DJ_Vengard and https://www.facebook.com/shterion.dragnev
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
DJ Vengard: I don’t think you can find any embarrasing songs on my mp3 player.
I am very picky when i put songs in my player. I’m changing the playlist almost every day and i have only favourite tracks in it.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
DJ Vengard: Probably i’ll invest some on my own house and of course big studio. I’ll help to my familly and friends who needs help. And a year off? I’ve always wanted to go to Ibiza, Miami, London so i think i’m gonna travel.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
DJ Vengard: No such plan for now. Actually i work with very basic setup – 2 home studio speakers Logitech and a m-audio midi keystation 32. I am using FL Studio 11, Cubase and Adobe Audition.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
DJ Vengard: As i said earlier i promote my music on internet platforms like soundcloud, mixcloud, twitter and facebook and that’s work best for me. Sometimes i like to play my tracks on gigs so i can see what is people’s reactions.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
DJ Vengard: There are so many people id love to perform with. At this moment i can say Mark Knight, Luigi Rocca, Erick Morillo. They have such a strong presents on stage so id love perform with any of them. When? On 1st place Ibiza of course.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
DJ Vengard: I have new projects coming up with more deep feeling. Also few vocal stuff are about to come but that’s all i can say. I want to be a surprise.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
DJ Vengard: Wow…that’s tough question. I don’t know maybe interior design, football player…i really can’t say. I can’t imagine my life without music.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
DJ Vengard: I bought compilation CDs most of the time. I was curious what’s happen to the different styles of music. My first album was actually a gift for my birthday and it was Daft Punk album that i really love.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
DJ Vengard: It’s really hard. Sometimes i can’t fit everything in my schedule but its okay because i like to live dynamic.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
DJ Vengard: New better productions, many gigs and i hope international shows.
