Fil Klyuev - label manager of the Interplay Records, and event manager of the Interplay Events. Leaded up the label in the beginning of it's independent way in 2020, after 3 years as the Armada Music's sub label.
We are glad that Fil has found the precious time to reply to our interview and get to know in much more depth the story of Interplay records through his lenses as label manager.
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled as label manager at Interplay so far that you very are proud of.
Fil Klyuev: We're working with the label team day by day to reach a new goals, new heights, new numbers. Spreading our music all over the world, satisfying our fans and all dance music lovers worldwide. We were in the TOP30 labels worldwide on 1001tracklists in 2021, and i want to get back out there in 2023! I want to bring our label and event company on the next level, where the strong players on the market!
2-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?
Fil Klyuev: Scooter, The Prodigy, 666
3-Dimitris: Do you prefer vocal or instrumental tracks? If there are vocals on the track we discuss about tell us about the singer you work with?
Fil Klyuev: As a label manager I believe that the vocal tracks are working much better than instrumental tracks!
4-Dimitris: Do you believe that good artwork is essential for Interplay releases and can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Fil Klyuev: The visual components (artwork, banners, video assets, other visual content) no less important as a track itself. People see the picture before they tap on the play button, and it depends on your artwork if the listener stop scrolling and stuck on your release!
5-Dimitris: Can you pick your favorite top 3 record labels and give us a short comment about why these labels are important to you and the music scene too?
Fil Klyuev: My top 3 record labels worldwide - Dirty Workz, Future House Music, Interplay Records labels group
6-Dimitris: Your top 3 releases on the Interplay labels group so far plus 2 or 3 releases that we should look after from your label.
Fil Klyuev: Top 3 releases of our label's group in my opinion - Alexander Popov & Novan feat. Brandon Mignacca - Brighter
Saxaq, R-Chy, Max Roven - Lambo
Ruslan Radriges - Keep On Dance
Top 3 upcoming releases
Alexander Popov & Heatbeat - VIVALDI
Jasted - Fck That
Loreno Mayer feat. Enya Angel - You Found Me
7-Dimitris: Can you pick up your all time favorite album and tell us why you adore it so much?
Fil Klyuev: The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die, because it's insane :)
8-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting Interplay releases in social media and you see them as an essential tool ? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Fil Klyuev: Social media space it's important in all aspects of our life especially for the public persons, artists, companies! As a label we're spending a lot of time posting our release announces, artist's content, audio visual content and trying to lead all the socials, because you'll never know where your fan at, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube!
9-Do you post videos on tiktok for Interplay? If yes please reference for us your favourite? What is your opinion about the power of tiktok to promote music releases?Is there any tiktok video created by fans of you with your music worth mentioning?
Fil Klyuev: I think TikTok it's a trendy platform and you can bring your music or content to the next level through TikTok. Yes we have our leader track in TikTok, it's Alexander Popov & Natalie Gioia - Dreamtime (D72 Remix).
10-Dimitris: Do you have any Interplay events confirmed so far for 2023?
Fil Klyuev: We've made a huge festival in the Altai Mountains in 14-16 of July, And we also have a plan for a few more events for the rest of 2023, so let's see! :)
11-Dimitris: Are you happy about the quality of the tracks released in your preferred music genres? Please justify your answer with your opinion about it!
Fil Klyuev: Technologies of the music making is developing, so now the music sounds more clearly, quality and powerfully than 5 years ago for example, so yes I love the sound of today! :)
12-Your current Top 3 tracks with short comment:
Fil Klyuev: Coone & Da Tweekaz - D.W.X. (10 Years Dirty Workz Mix) - my hymn for the years
Sheppard - Die Young - love the vibe
Alexander Popov & Novan feat. Brandon Mignacca - Brighter - love the vocals of Brandon and the mix of the sound and vocals!
13-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.
Fil Klyuev: You must lead your dream, never stop and give up, make new friends, collaborate with the artists like you, labels, colleagues! And believe in what you're doing!
14-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?
Fil Klyuev: Btw I have a bootleg I'm proud of, it's Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor (The Beatcaster & Fillter Bootleg) :)
15-Dimitris: How much do you care if your fans or followers like Interplay releases? Do you struggle with the audience reception of your tracks and is this thought adds extra pressure on you and discourage you too?
Fil Klyuev: We're making and releasing music for the people, for our fans, friends and families! So yes we're responsible for what we're releasing to the masses. Our music need to be quality, interesting, catchy, resonate with the listener and evoke an emotions during listening to our music!
16-Dimitris: What is your opinion about hybrid styles and artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Fil Klyuev: I think that the hybrid styles it's a future! it's fantastic when you're listening to the hardstyle melody and suddenly the drop goes to the psychedelic beats, it's insane, especially when you're on the festival with the crowd! We're releasing house, bass house, progressive, techno, future rave, trance. Our main direction is Trance and Progressive music, because of our founder Alexander Popov one of the popular Trance producers worldwide, but we realize that we should lead the trends, tastes and not restrict ourselves by the only one music genre!
17-Dimitris: Is your music business your full time occupation and are you able to make a leaving out of your music business? If not what other jobs are you doing in order to support your income?
Fil Klyuev: Yes, I'm full busy with our label and events!
18-Dimitris: Do you believe that audience should be banned from constantly taking photos or videos during DJ sets or are you happy with these activities?
Fil Klyuev: On one hand I want to see how people feeling, listening to, dancing, and dive into the music on your events, forgetting about their devices, troubles, bad things, just merge with the music into one, but on the other hand if they're making photos and videos it means that they're happy right now and want to save that moments and share them with the world!
19-Dimitris: Do you prefer small clubs or huge festivals to perform? in which festivals or clubs you aspire to play in the future?
Fil Klyuev: I love huge outdoor festivals and that's all! :)
20-Finally summer is around the corner choose for us your favourite holiday destination and share with us your most unforgettable holiday experience(good/bad)
Fil Klyuev: I love traveling and my best places are still the places I've never been yet, but I will be there! :)
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Fil Klyuev: Keep going guys, thanks for these opportunities and all things you guys doing for the musical culture and artists! We're all thank you! ;)
Thanks so much to Fil for supporting our radio shows with their great music and his time to answer this interview!
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