Two brothers driven by one united sound vision, such is the origin of Russia’s illustrious Moonbeam. Powered by their industrious production ethic, Pavel & Vitaly Khvaleev’s unique diversion of trance has found them swiftly in favour with EDM’s DJ glitterati. Underlining their inimitable spin on the sound, their studio ware is as regularly supported by the likes of van Buuren, van Dyk, Schulz and Corsten, as it is Axwell, Tiësto and Digweed. Having created floor uproar through 100s of DJ sets and live Moonbeam shows, they’ve soundtracked hundreds of thousands of EDM nights for clubbers around the world. In 2009, through a combined force of productions & performances, they entered DJ Magazine’s annual list of the world’s best DJs. There they have remained for the last four years, most recently re-entering the Top 100 in 2012. With 3 official full-length artist albums already marking waypoints in their career, early 2013 was released their fourth long-player - the widely anticipated OST ‘The Random’.
Moonbeam The DJs: Emanating from the major east Russian metropolis of Nizhny Novgorod, as both DJs and a live act, Pavel and Vitaly have built up a formidable reputation. Their entrancing stage performances have resulted in a committed bedrock fanbase in their home country. To date they have smashed many a mainline event, tent-pole festival and iconic club. In 2010 they supported Tiësto on his tour of the Ukraine and last year rocked the goliath Kazantip festival. As their music’s begun to proliferate worldwide, demand to see the brothers themselves perform abroad intensified. They’ve subsequently played countries as contrasting as China and France, Japan, the Czech Republic and South Korea.
The Music: much has been made of Moonbeam’s singular take on dance music. At once harmonic and heartfelt, it is also effecting, consciously filmic and emotively poignant. A direct by-product of their shared musical influences (Röyksopp, Radiohead, Massive Attack and Björk are among regularly cited Moonbeam stimuli), it notably stands apart from the rest of post-millennial trance.
Name: Moonbeam
Location: Nizhny Novgorod
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest achievements in your music career in 2014 as dj & producer,label owner,radio host and your personal life if it is something that you wish to share with our readers?
Moonbeam: Pavel finished shooting of his full-length movie “III”, which will participate some movie festivals in 2015.
Also, we launched new Radio Show “Ticket the The Moon”. The show is broadcasting on more 50 radiostations in many countries. Released some new singles with amazing videos: Souldtring and 13th World.
Dimitri: 2014 was packed with releases from so many different styles, which Electronic Music style you believe is the absolute Electronic Music Style Of 2014 in the mainstream indifferent if you like it or not. Why you believe this style became so successful in 2014?
Moonbeam: We think style is not important, mainly is music. We love when a release crossing of different styles. We don’t this about style nothing.
1) Best Track:
Moonbeam: Royksopp "Monument"
2) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
Moonbeam: James Holden
3) Best Remix:
Moonbeam: The Emperor Machine - RMI Is All I Want (Erol Alkan's Extended Rework)
4) Best Remixer:
Moonbeam: Joris Voorn
5) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
Moonbeam: Alex Banks
6) Best Electronic Music Album:
Moonbeam: Royksopp "The Inevitable End"
7) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
Moonbeam: Balance 5 by James Holden
8) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
Moonbeam: Clark - Clark (2014)
9) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track:
Moonbeam: Royksopp feat. Jamie Irrepressible - Something in My Heart
10) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on Electronic Music track:
Moonbeam: Jamie Irrepressible
11) Best Electronic Music Label:
Moonbeam: Monkeytown Records
12) Best Electronic Music Video:
Moonbeam: Royksopp - Monument
13) Best online Funny video related to Dance Music:
Moonbeam: Difficult answer
14) Best Online Social media network:
Moonbeam: Instagram
15) Best Twitter or Facebook message you received from a fan or friend or you have read on someone else’s account:
Moonbeam: I can’t remember
16) Best personal selfie of the year, where, when and under which circumstances you took it?
Moonbeam: We don’t make selfie
17) Best music composition software:
Moonbeam: Cubase 7.5
18) Best Event or Open Air Festival:
Moonbeam: Waterdance Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod
19) Best personal Dj Gig:
Moonbeam: In South Africa
20) Best Dj set of the year from other fellow Dj:
Moonbeam: Spartaque
21) Best country that you have visited to perform with the most up for it crowd:
Moonbeam: South Africa
22) Best Radio show:
Moonbeam: We can’t to choose best show, but last time we listened Pete Tong Show on
BBC Radio 1
23) Best Radio station:
Moonbeam: Megapolis FM, Moscow
24) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
Moonbeam: iTunes
25) Best Website that you visit frequently:
Moonbeam: forbes.ru
26) Best Smart phone/Mobile phone device:
Moonbeam: iphone6 plus
27) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
Moonbeam: Elektron Analog Four
28) Best new sound or sample that has been used in Electronic Music this year perhaps introduced first by you?
Moonbeam: Moonbeam Sound in Moonbeam Track: The Key
29) Best tip that you learnt this year for your Djing techniques or music composition:
Moonbeam: Vinyl is back!”
30) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2014:
Moonbeam: Work, work, work!
31) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2014:
Moonbeam: Shooting our own music videos
32) Best holiday destination for 2014 that you manage to visit this year either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
Moonbeam: Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia
33) Best Book of the year preferably related to Electronic Music:
Moonbeam: Laurent Garnier - Electrochoc
34) Best Movie of the year preferably related to Electronic Music that may inspire you to compose a track:
Moonbeam: Interstellar
35) Best online/PC/video game of the year that you have played this year?
Moonbeam: Last Of Us
36) Best piece of News you learnt this year related to Electronic Music Culture:
Moonbeam: How Dance Music Finally Broke America click here
Dimitri: Finally, 2015 is ahead of us would you like to tell your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, Dj gigs.
Moonbeam: In 2015 we’ll release our new album.
Thanks so much to Moonbeam for answering this interview
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