Interview with VHS Dreams

I came across VHS Dreams' song "Love Generation" while scrolling through YouTube. I loved how the single had a nostalgic sound reminiscent of the late 90's/early 2000s and had to find out more about the artist. We we lucky enough to get an interview with the UK-based, Greek Born electronic artist and learned about his musical inspirations, best live performance and his views on how to navigate social media as an artist.

Interview

1.Who are your top 3 dream artists to collaborate with?

My top 3 changes quite often, these days I'd love to collaborate with Darude, or Larry Heard, depending on the mood. But I also fantasize working with Alcazar quite often, they were part of my musical childhood.

2.What is your dream venue to perform in?

I wanna be the first western DJ to perform a massive show in North Korea. But I'd settle with the Acropolis of Athens for now.

3.Who are your biggest musical influences?

The KLF are an easy win. Their sound and philosophy of art shaped how I perceive music, and how to approach and implement a sense of irony and cultural crossover in my own work. I always navigated the bridges that connected electronic music from Europe and from America though. The

combination of these two worlds, which could mostly be seen taking effect during the 90s in House, Techno and Rave, has defined not just my own ideas but dance music in general, even up to this day.

4. Your sound is very nostalgic, reminiscent of early 2000’s futuristic aesthetic, what inspires your sound?

While examining the late 90's and early 2000's, what people call the "Y2K" era, my friends and I realized that it had a well defined and recognizable cultural identity like other periods had before then. There's a wave on the rise, of enthusiasts and nostalgists harking back to that vibe and sound. My moniker was initially built based on fascination first with the 1980's and then early 1990's

culture, but as I hit thirty I felt an artistic call to create something more genuine and true to myself, something that speaks directly to my generation and can thus be shared among us as a relatable collective being. These sounds are part of our collective cultural conscience after all.

5. What advice would you give to a young producer starting out in the industry?

To avoid social media as their main tool for promotion and expand to other avenues like label and Spotify support, or well-placed advertisement campaigns. Unless their persona happens to be one that can win over the social media crowds, regardless of their music content per se, then these social

platforms should be viewed as supplementary. I'd argue for the unorthodox view that the much repeated ideal of artists building a career through direct interaction with fans online belongs to an obsolete cultural transitional period of the first half of the 2010's. Young artists can skip relying on these algorithmic graveyards altogether and create their own new ways to success.

6. Is there a particular song that you loved so much and wished you had produced it yourself?

This changes from time to time. Right now what comes to mind is "The Night" by Jaxx & Vega and OUTRAGE. Its production quality and supersaw sounds are a goal to be achieved. If I was a Big Room artist this is the kind of track I'd make.

7. Is there a specific feeling that you’d want listeners to feel when listening to your music?

A feeling of universal unity. That's the true spirit of electronic dance music.

8. What can we expect in the future from VHS Dreams?

A continuous rain of songs that bring us together.

9. Do you think covid-19 will change how we experience music particularly with live music?

It has already changed our experience for the time being, but I don't see any changes to be permanent. Everything that's being done right now, such as live music being widely performed online at e-parties, has been done before. It could be argued however that the idea of e-parties will become more widespread even after the more severe waves of covid-19. I wanna see more high-profile Second Life music events!

10. What has been your favorite performance that you’ve done?

It was 2010 when I played a 8-hour long set, my longest up to date. I had my first residency at an open-air club in my home town in 2009 and that period is very close to my heart. The plan was to DJ for 4 hours as per usual but things unexpectedly evolved from there into one of the best club nights we ever had. My memories of that particular night consist of a canvas of summer heat, bodies on the dance floor, and House music all night long. I want experience this again.

11. What 5 songs would be the soundtrack to your life?

"Rhythm is a Dancer" by Snap!, "ResuRection" by PPK, the 1988 version of "What Time Is Love" by The KLF, "More Than A Feeling" by Boston and "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oates.

Stream his music on major platforms!!!