Locals: STK Interview
Who are you? How old are you?
Behind STK there’s Gorg Vella – I’m a 22 year old student, work within Policy, and I also co-own Happy Pot.
How many months/ years have you been Djing / producing?
I’ve recently started djing in September.
Mention an artist that inspired you to become a DJ/producer?
Out of the various genres, Groove Techno hits home. One particular emerging artist which has inspired me is Chlaer, although Frederic is equally worth mentioning.
Is there a local artist that you look up to and love to see play at events?
Narrowing it down a bit further to Gozo, for me, Nikky has been a great inspiration as to what standard I wish to aim for, not emulate completely, but Nikky’s style is one that keeps the crowd going, and is euphoric, like a magnet center-stage. His brother DAMZ definitely picked up on this skill, and more than that I particularly look up to him for immersing me into the scene before I even had the desire to DJ.
What skills do you think DJs need to be successful?
Personally, I like to merge the different disciplines I’ve been exposed to in order to enhance my ability. I’m a big fan of research, and I believe a DJ must be quite adept at this skill; finding exquisite tracks (that aren’t so common to come by), and understanding the atmosphere your next crowd is expecting you to bring. As for mixing, it’s crucial to get the basics right, after that it’s all about finding your way of doing it. One thing is certain though; always be open to critical feedback, and to not let mistakes hold you back.
How do you stay up to date with the latest music trends?
I surround myself with like-minded individuals; pooling new tracks, discovering new subgenres, and attending parties and raves together – Shazam is a nifty way of identifying some tracks from the dancefloor. Other than that, I mostly use soundcloud, then beatport charts, Youtube, and Spotify.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of being a DJ?
