Croatia Squad Interview

Earlier this week we had a chat with Croatia Squad…

You’re coming to play at Egg Presents…on Friday June 17th and are you looking forward to playing at the party and why? 

Playing alongside Wankelmut and Lucas & Steve and is there anyone’s set you want to check out and why? 
Do you have any secret weapon tunes you might be digging out?

I'm excited to finally be back in London and debut at Egg London. I just finished my upcoming EP 'Street Dance' and I will play out the tracks out for the very first time.  I've never played with Lucas & Steve yet, love their productions and heard they are big fun. Also Wankelmut is well known for his live-sets. It's gonna be a great night.

Hailing from Switzerland can you please tell us how your music career started? What were your biggest influences and highlights from then and how did you then get into electronic music?

I've been DJing for 15 years and spent 5 summers spinning as a resident DJ in Croatia where I started this project. I started playing in the early 2000's and House Music was my first love. You can find my musical roots are influenced by Disco & Funk. 

You’re well known for your ‘Pop Your Pu**Y’ anthem, your Remix for Nora En Pure ‘You Are My Pride', and your collaborated with Lika Morgan on 'Make Your Move' and can you tell us how these tunes came to be made and signed to those labels? Did their success change anything for you or open new doors?  

I'm doing music for fun, Pop Your Pu**Y was a song that we released on our home-base label Enormous Tunes and we didn't expect so much reaction. It's always great to see the DJ supporting our music and spreading good vibes through the music. It's great to be touring and visiting new places as a DJ all around the world, meeting new people that know and love you because of your own productions. 

When not cranking out killer tunes on the tech or nu disco tip, you also compiles the hugely successful annual compilation series “Croatia The Opening” which contains exclusive chill-out tracks from some of the biggest names in scene, and is chill out music your first love? Which artists and tracks have you included and what are you most proud of in this style?

I'm always looking for new talents to support. It's not about the style, it's about the good vibes, the innovation and the quality of the music,  for example on my new EP 'SQUAD GOALS' i signed tracks by brazilian producers 'Chemical Surf', 'Nytron & Bruno Furlan'. I'm also releasing new ideas in collaboration with studio-buddy 'Me & My Toothbrush'.

Can you tell us about some of the highlights from your career so far…who you’ve played with and where? 

I love the touring around the world. In February we did a bus tour through the US with our Enormous Tunes label-buddies EDX, Nora En Pure & Antonio Giacca which was madness playing a show a day in 21 different cities. 
Carl Cox played 2 of my songs on his set recently, seeing such a legend having so much fun playing out my music is a highlight for sure!

How has the Swiss music scene changed over the years? 

I'm playing 2 yearly shows in Switzerland for the 'No Xcuses' label in exclusive venues. We used to have big electronic music raves in the 90's which unfortunately disappeared. The satisfaction for underground electronic music in Switzerland is in the making :) 

With Switzerland’s new school of DJ/Producers coming through, who do you rate and why?

Nora En Pure is awesome and always surprising me with huge club cuts. 

Can you tell us about any artists that are currently exciting you right now, and who you’re always listening out for and why?

I'm loving UK's very own Low Steppa, he keeps the house vibe alive and always sounds fresh and interesting. I'm a big Garage fan since back in the days.

And lastly before we head out the door to the Egg Presents… party, what should we be listening to?

Listen to my http://www.soundcloud.com/croatiasquad and be ready for some surprises!

TOP 10:

EDX-Roadkill (EDX's Ibiza Sunrise Remix)
https://soundcloud.com/edxmusic/edx-roadkill
Roadkill is one of Ibiza 2016 essential track's

Croatia Squad & Lika Morgan - Make Your Move (Enomous Tunes)
https://soundcloud.com/croatiasquad/croatia-squad-lika-morgan-make-your-move
Released on my homebase Enormous Tunes, my first number 1 'Make Your Move' on Beatport, remake of one of my all-time classics, glad to get Lika Morgan to collaborate on this one.

Antonio Giacca - The Philly Jam (Enormous Tunes)
https://soundcloud.com/antoniogiacca/the-philly-jam
Antonio Giacca is known for his surprises, the philly jam brings so much coolness and grooves, you definitely should check this out

Chemical Surf - Down (Squad Goals EP Vol. 1)
https://soundcloud.com/chemicalsurf/chemical-surf-down-original-mix-by-no-definition
I picked DOWN by Chemical Surf for my SQUAD GOALS EP released on No Definition. Glad to have them talented brazilian artists on board. 

Henry Krinkle - Ash
https://soundcloud.com/henry-krinkle/ash
Just discovered this producer. His new single ASH is a bomb.

Croatia Squad - Pop Your Pu**Y (Enormous Tunes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8K6sdrDwcE
Pop Your Pu**Y was chosen by Beatport as one of the Top 10 all-time Nu Disco / Indie Dance essentials and is one of my personal favorites aswell. 

Daniel Portman & Calippo - Rijeka 
https://soundcloud.com/daniel-portman/daniel-portman-calippo-rijeka-on-pete-tongs-bbc-r1-radioshow-29-4?in=enormoustunes/sets/daniel-portman-rijeka-ep
Label buddies Daniel Portman & Calippo are on fire! Premiered by Pete Tong, Rijeka is ready for the summer dancefloors all over the world

Nora En Pure - Morning Dew 
https://soundcloud.com/noraenpure/nora-en-pure-morning-dew-radio-mix
Morning Dew by Nora En Pure is definitely one of the hottest releases this year!

Me & My Toothbrush - Living For The Moment (Croatia Squad Remix) (No Definition)
https://soundcloud.com/croatiasquad/me-my-toothbrush-living-for-the-moment-croatia-squad-remix
My remix for Me & My Toothbrush reached #1 on Beatport and is for sure a solid weapon in the club aswell. 

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQFhSHZ3CsQ
Intro is my favorite timeless dance song! What a tune….