Cenk Basaran was born in Izmir Turkey. At his university years, he started showing up on DJ performances. Later on he started to work on his own tracks and leaned more to production and arrangement. He worked with and got support from many famous Djs: Mark Sherry, DJ RAM,Greg Downey, Stoneface and Terminal, John Askew, Simon Patterson, Paul Van Dyk, Aly & Fila, Darren Porter etc. Cenk is still working on his tracks and remixes.
His latest track Into The Night is out now on Reason II Rise and we are happy that Cenk share with us his thoughts about this great track and his career so far! Enjoy reading it!
Find Into The Night here: https://hypeddit.com/4amibv
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Cenk Basaran: Two of my biggest achievements would be getting the honor to have a track on Dj Ram's ex-label Grotesque 350 Album, and another track on Greg Downey's Skullduggery's first album released. Finally I am also a Techno Dj/Producer. My Techno tracks and remixes have been released from Mark Sherry's techno label Techburst Records. Also getting a release from FSOE was a great deal for me.
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Cenk Basaran: Antiloop (David Westerlund and Robin Söderman) is my favourite trance group all the time.I remember listening their track In My Mind on my walkman over and over for days,so there started my passion for trance music.
3-Dimitris: Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Cenk Basaran: Number 1 is : Antiloop
Number 2 is : Dallas Superstars
Number 3 is : Signum
4-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your latest release Into The Night on Reason II Rise. Please tell us how this track came about and what was the idea behind it.
Cenk Basaran: One day I was working in the studio with some atmospheric vocal samples and this track started to get together in my mind.
5-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Cenk Basaran: Only 15 days. First I wrote the bassline and kick combinations. Then placed in the atmospheric vocals .Next I completed the intro and then worked on the piano roll in the breakdown. After that I needed a main melody and that was it. The track was completed for me :) Rest was only mastering adjustments.
6-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific technical challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome during its production.
Cenk Basaran: Coming up with the main melody was tough. Because it had to be perfect.
7- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Cenk Basaran: I am an Ableton Live user. Prefer using software. There are a lot of quality vsts and plugins to get very sound you search for.
8-Dimitris: Do you prefer instrumental dance tracks or you adore vocals? Please explain to us your position and if in your latest production you have vocals tell us how did you choose the specific singer and if it was great to work with her/him?
Cenk Basaran: I enjoy both but more into instrumental.
9-Dimitris: If you really like to produce vocal tracks which vocalist/singer or lyricist on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Cenk Basaran: I can work with any vocal with a beautiful voice.
10-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Cenk Basaran: Yeah it is good and I think it can attract listeners.My favorite artwork is Antiloop's Fastlane People Album.
11-Dimitris: Can you pick your top 3 record labels including the one released the track that we discuss in this interview and give us a short comment about them?
Cenk Basaran: My top 3 labels are FSOE, Reason 2 Rise and Techburst Records. Each are perfect. Their responses and feedback are always timely and helpful.
12-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Cenk Basaran: Instagram and Facebook. I didn't pay enough attention to social media at first to be honest. But I am working on that as well. Never leave messages unanswered.
13-Dimitris: Do you have your own radio show/podcast/twitch stream or Vlog(video blog)? If yes please give us a comment about it and how long it take you to prepare for it and if you are always excited to produce it?
Cenk Basaran: I used to have programs aired on DI.FM Techno and Trance channels. thinking about starting a new show there again on DI.FM. Stay tuned :)
14-Dimitris: Do you have any gigs/festival performances confirmed so far for 2023 in which ones are you most excited to perform and why?
Cenk Basaran: I am currently focused on production but I would love the opportunity.
15-Dimitris: Please share your most funny and most serious incident that happen to you during your DJ performance?
Cenk Basaran: Sure. One time, I was playing at a big party with Rober Gitelman and Martinez. One guy came near me to take a picture and tapped the active turntable. I saved with a quick move but missed a couple of heartbeats.
16-Dimitris: Are you happy with the way that royalties system works particularly regarding streaming revenue? Do you believe that artists get what they deserve from streaming providers/DJs playing your tracks in gigs/radio and selling music in physical formats like CDs/Vinyl or digitally.
Cenk Basaran: No and no. All my effort is to be a well known DJ and producer so I can show up on big parties and make a living.
17-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Cenk Basaran: Sure. If you want to be a good producer, picture the style you want to go for and listen to all examples of that type. Start making practices with the daw you want to work with. Tutorials would definitely help. Listen more and practice even more.
18-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Cenk Basaran: Yeah, would love to make a remix for Push Strange World. No bootlegs.
19-Dimitris: Can you describe your music as certain music genre such as trance, house, techno or your music exempts these categorizations? What is your opinion about hybrid styles and the artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Cenk Basaran: Trance and Techno.
20-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business (DJ/producer/label owner/teaching or mastering tracks)? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Cenk Basaran: Yes
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Cenk Basaran: Follow up for more big releases in the upcoming months;)
Thanks to Cenk for this great interview.
Thanks to Tim aka Sonar Zone at Reason II Rise Music for arranging this interview.
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