Sašo Justin is a split personality: during the week, a night bird, caught up in creating new rhythms, a dreamer and a connoisseur, during the weekends Mr. Madness, the most popular Slovenian hardcore DJ, producer and party organizer. He brought hardcore to Slovenia and caught his madness at the first Slovenian hardcore...
Sašo Justin is a split personality: during the week, a night bird, caught up in creating new rhythms, a dreamer and a connoisseur, during the weekends Mr. Madness, the most popular Slovenian hardcore DJ, producer and party organizer. He brought hardcore to Slovenia and captured his madness on the first Slovenian hardcore vinyl record.
DJs often hide interesting anecdotes behind their nicknames. What's yours?
I've been watching since I was a kid wrestling and of all of them, the character of Macho Man Randy Savage, who had another nickname Mr., was the closest to me. Madness. When I started spinning, I noticed that we have very similar characteristics. We are both quiet and withdrawn in our private lives, but on stage I am like him, in the ring, a true fool.
It's your kind of music hardcore. What makes it different from other electronic genres?
For me personally, in the energy of the music itself, in the variety of songs and speed (bpm). I like it because it covers all styles, from trance to house, which is why it has such a large audience. Each song also tells a story, mostly with vocals from movies.
How did you first encounter this type of music?
My colleague at the time and I went to a school dance, about which I only knew that Thunderdome (the name of hardcore compilations and parties, op. p.) would be playing. I found this word interesting, even though I didn't know what it meant. Then they played a track that my colleague told me was it. I was completely taken over by it and the very next day I bought the Thunderdome 15 compilation. This was in 1995.
In Slovenia, you were the first to start with hardcore parties under the name Beatz of Thunder. How did it all begin?
I got the idea to start parties myself, because I didn't have any performances at that time. I had a hard time even finding a suitable club, because I didn't even know how to explain to the owners what kind of music would be played. I got my first chance at the then club Casablanca in Celje. I had to take care of everything myself, from flyers to booking DJs. The biggest prank was that I didn't even know how it was done, where to put the flyers, how to make arrangements for performances. At that time, the Internet was not yet as widespread as it is today. The week I organized the first party, I didn't sleep at all, I could only hope for the best. Considering the poor promotion, the response was surprisingly good. I got the feeling that this was it and continued on.
You are the first Slovenian hardcore A DJ who played in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Germany and Hungary. How is the scene there different from ours?
In Austria there is a lot of interest given the size of the population, but there the parties end at 3 in the morning. Parties are not so frequent, and visitors want to be like Dutch visitors. In the Netherlands, it is quite the opposite. They are already raising children there hardcore spirit and form a kind of clans. There are at least 30 parties per weekend, the visitors are "sculled", and the organization is incredible. Biggest parties feature the biggest stars hardcore, an elaborate stage scene is provided, and the parties are visited internationally. They don't know riots there, because everyone knows why they are there: for the music.
You released the first Slovenian hardcore vinyl. What is more important for a DJ, being a good DJ or a good producer?
Both. If you don't produce with good contacts, you'll still get a gig, but you'll always spin for little money and at the beginning of the party, when there aren't any people. But when you release a song that becomes a hit and is also played by other DJs, your price goes up and you get invitations to more and bigger parties. Paths to bigger ones also open up booking agencies and publishing houses. Also, when producing, it is important to develop and discover your own style by which listeners recognize you. It was while remixing the last track that I discovered a new style that my Italian colleague dj Koney called "scream core". It definitely fits my name and style.
You are currently preparing quite a few projects for recognition hardcore labels such as Hardvolume, DNA and Megarave. How has your life changed?
I gained confidence and recognition, especially in Spain and Germany, and the fee also increased. Most days of the week I am confined to the studio, on the weekend I have performances. It's good that I enjoy it and do it with my heart. Especially when I see the results showing. I've just finished a remix for the godfather of Italian hardstyle, and I'm also getting invitations to collaborate with other renowned DJ colleagues, such as Partyraiser, dj Dano, Stocker and Vortex.
Clubs are your second home. Where else do you often stay?
I'm mostly in the studio. I go to Google, Facebook, Twitter, Partyflock, Hardstyle forum, my website www.mr-madness.si, to the bathroom and bed. Social life suffers!
29.10. Dash Berlin @ Inbox
27.11. HDM party @ Močilnik, Vrhnika
4.12. House of Madness
