From: Moscow, RussiaDJ style: “Future trance.”Best known for: “Highest DJ Mag Top 100 position from Russia ever.”What’s the next new big track? “Hilight Tribe ‘Free Tibet (Vini Vici Remix)’.”Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2016: “Alan Walker and Vigel.”Bobina is back! The Russian trance star last featured in the Top 100 back in 2013 (clocking in at No.47), but has quite a history with the poll. First entering in 2008, Bobina — real name: Dmitry Almazov — instantly set two records, becoming the first ever Russian to chart, and landing the highest ever spot for a Russian DJ to date, at Number 28! As with so many trance fanatics, Bobina’s passion was sparked by the one and only AvB. “I listened to Armin van Buuren’s live set on a pirated MP3 CD in 2001, which I got as one of the presents for my birthday,” he tells DJ Mag. “At that time I just liked rock music basically, so that set was really the first electronic music I started to understand.” Since then Dmitry has dropped seven albums, with 2008’s ‘Again’ in particular propelling him into the limelight. His latest effort, ‘Speed Breaker’ dropped this year via Sony Music — who said trance was dead?! Moving into 2017, the Moscow DJ is looking forward to getting back on the road and, he says, shooting some music videos. “I’m not really speaking about music ‘cause this is something which is already my usual day work,” he adds. It’s a tough life, eh? What have been the new frontiers for you this year? “This year I didn't have a chance to share my radio show, Russia Goes Clubbing, with my fans on SoundCloud because they have a lot of copyright issues.” Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form? “I think it depends on a country. In some countries, for sure, but not everywhere.” What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why? “For me, there was no really breakthrough production technology, so let's wait for 2017. I seriously can’t remember anything which impressed me that much.” If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be? “It’s very complicated to speak about genres in dance music nowadays. Maybe a drummer in a rock band? Why not?” As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ? “$1 million — I have a special Bobina price just for Bobina.” What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events? “We probably need to push electronic music to an even higher level (production-wise) to make more people enjoy it while sober. Personally, I’m sure it’s quite easy to enjoy a dance music event without taking any drugs.” How can we increase diversity in dance music? “To be honest, it depends on all parties involved. Producers have to be sure that their tracks are well done, maybe even extraordinary, and labels need to release more original and creative sounds.” WORDS: BEN HINDLE
From: Moscow, Russia
DJ style: “Future trance.”
Best known for: “Highest DJ Mag Top 100 position from Russia ever.”
What’s the next new big track? “Hilight Tribe ‘Free Tibet (Vini Vici Remix)’.”
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2016: “Alan Walker and Vigel.”
Bobina is back! The Russian trance star last featured in the Top 100 back in 2013 (clocking in at No.47), but has quite a history with the poll. First entering in 2008, Bobina — real name: Dmitry Almazov — instantly set two records, becoming the first ever Russian to chart, and landing the highest ever spot for a Russian DJ to date, at Number 28!
As with so many trance fanatics, Bobina’s passion was sparked by the one and only AvB. “I listened to Armin van Buuren’s live set on a pirated MP3 CD in 2001, which I got as one of the presents for my birthday,” he tells DJ Mag. “At that time I just liked rock music basically, so that set was really the first electronic music I started to understand.” Since then Dmitry has dropped seven albums, with 2008’s ‘Again’ in particular propelling him into the limelight. His latest effort, ‘Speed Breaker’ dropped this year via Sony Music — who said trance was dead?!
Moving into 2017, the Moscow DJ is looking forward to getting back on the road and, he says, shooting some music videos. “I’m not really speaking about music ‘cause this is something which is already my usual day work,” he adds. It’s a tough life, eh?
What have been the new frontiers for you this year?
“This year I didn't have a chance to share my radio show, Russia Goes Clubbing, with my fans on SoundCloud because they have a lot of copyright issues.”
Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form?
“I think it depends on a country. In some countries, for sure, but not everywhere.”
What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why?
“For me, there was no really breakthrough production technology, so let's wait for 2017. I seriously can’t remember anything which impressed me that much.”
If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be?
“It’s very complicated to speak about genres in dance music nowadays. Maybe a drummer in a rock band? Why not?”
As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ?
“$1 million — I have a special Bobina price just for Bobina.”
What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events?
“We probably need to push electronic music to an even higher level (production-wise) to make more people enjoy it while sober. Personally, I’m sure it’s quite easy to enjoy a dance music event without taking any drugs.”
How can we increase diversity in dance music?
“To be honest, it depends on all parties involved. Producers have to be sure that their tracks are well done, maybe even extraordinary, and labels need to release more original and creative sounds.”
WORDS: BEN HINDLE
