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Proxy

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For Yevgeny Alexandrovitch Pozharnov is a mouthful; but when he fires up his monster hit Raven or the electro house smash Who Are You? the dance floor invariably loses it. Discovered by Canadian guru Tiga, Proxy already produced a handful of releases on the man’s Turbo label – potentially you can expect more to come. It’s like the alignment of the stars – a citizen of a former communist society decides he isn’t interested in being a lecturer or an engineer like most of his compatriots – music is his calling. And with a dirty, slimy sound somewhere between Boyz Noise and The Prodigy, he has carved a fine niche for himself.

He started producing sometime around the turn of the millennium with basic equipment such as the Roland JP 8000 Alesis, Andromeda Roland SH101 and his favourite – the Roland V-Synth, which he claims has the finest sound. “I have practically made all of my tracks with it, that’s how much I love it,” he explains. And while being discovered was seemingly the easy part, the hard part is continuing to stay current and fresh. So in turn, surrounding oneself with the right people is half the challenge. So is keeping the music dark and twisted.

Production wise, the boy has done his fair share of EPs and remixes – his work includes material for Congorock among others. In 2010, there was also Vibrate on Turbo with mixes by Bloody Beetroots, Noob and Sound of Stereo. He also adds this: “I like to do my club tracks, but on say an album, I would also like to do some experimenting; if I make a track that eats your spine, is that an indulgence? At the end, the music must be hot and wild – there is no choosing! Now I have my own label MAKO Records for all the music I like, but I’m also on Turbo and it’s really great to be there. It’s a cool family. For me, it’s all about creating the perfect track. That’s all!”

No less, the label shows a clear ambition and dedication to make new and upcoming artists from the electronic scene shine worldwide. Without any support from the local Russian audience, he kept working, making his musical dreams come true. Since then, the music has crossed borders all around. The Proxy has exported his music so that the world’s nightlife can get a wild taste of the machine that is Mako Records

And like the music that comes from the crazy Russian, it’s all about twisted and in-no-way generic beats. Influence can come from anywhere, but best believe you’ll be moving! “I feel like I’m mad on all music. I’m mad on drum and bass. I’ve done bootlegs from local clubs on Friday nights to bumpy house. I’ve always loved the idea of getting into the studio and producing songs. It’s nothing; there is no translation for it – music is one language. It’s the same as my name – as long as it sounds good, let’s do it! I don’t play very often in my home country but it’s a slightly strange and old school country.”

“I have a name in Europe but at home I’m still a pretty small guy. I have a few guys who I love to work with in the studio and stuff. I love playing in a small club where you can play a more intimate sound – or a massive festival where you really get the chance to really play a big sound! It’s all a learning process – you never stop learning. Even running the label took some time to learn. There is a lot that goes on in the background and I have enjoyed that process. I have a whole lot of tracks for a new album so I’m always making new music, but I have to go through the motions for promotion and release and things like that.”

Right now, you’d have to say that Proxy is ready to move into the limelight on his own. Nevertheless, whenever the Tiga express comes to town, Proxy has no hesitation in getting on board. He continues: “Initially, I sent a link to my track to Tiga via MySpace. I got the answer the next morning – he liked the track! We mailed each other for some time, then I tried to catch up with him in Moscow but we ended up meeting somewhere else in Europe. He turned out to be a really good guy.” Indeed, the Turbo Recordings label – as well known for its slick graphics and coloured covers as it is for its new and undiscovered talent – was the perfect outlet for his unique, warped sound.

And a conversation with label boss Tiga a little while ago explains why the two are such a good fit: “Every release on the Turbo label was designed to be part of an ongoing library of electronic culture.” Today Tiga admits the label is in transition, because they did a lot of compilations but the raison d’ĂȘtre behind the label has always been to continue to provide creative control for the artists on their roster.

Finally, I’d say that it’s always a special moment when you enter a club completely assured of a magnificent night out. Fans of one of electronic dance music’s recent great up and comers Proxy, will know exactly what I mean. Russian producer, DJ and all round damn nice guy, the boy has been credited many times over with accolades a great number of international DJs aspire to over long term careers. For Proxy, success has been swift and fleeting. In his native country, he is truly an innovator and pioneer. In Europe, he is a demi-god. In Australia, he is making his mark. And while some of his productions can reasonably be considered experimental or unusual, that is what often sets the scene for a fantastic night out. Expect that Proxy will continue to please crowds the world over with his unique blend of twisted dance funk. And that’s just what Proxy is looking for. Dust the dancing shoes off – it’s time to party – Russian style.

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