I have already gathered a larger number of people than at the matches of the Ukrainian Championship

"I have already gathered a larger number of people than at the matches of the Ukrainian Championship," he said. "When did you finally realize that professional football no longer suited you, neither in terms of schedule nor in terms of money?"

- There were many nuances at that time. In 2013, when I was playing for Krystal, I had to deal with some unpleasant individuals. We didn't see eye to eye on many issues. I thought, why should I continue to prove something to someone? Especially when there is a good alternative in the form of music, and I can comfortably fit into that environment and support myself. I felt that it was mine, I liked it, and I wanted to dedicate my time to it. Although, if there was a good opportunity, I could still play football today. For now, I only play for myself. Football used to be my main job, and music was a hobby. Now it's the other way around. I still try to train almost every day.

- Many DJs, as we know, love football. David Guetta, as far as I know, was involved with the PSG academy, and I've seen numerous photos of Tiesto on the football field. How does football relate to music? Are there any football-themed elements in your work, or has such an idea not yet materialized?

- I haven't come to that point yet. Maybe in the future, I'll be able to write some anthems or work with football clubs. I'll say it again: my direction is too specialized, and I'm just beginning to reach the masses.

- Justice, Moby, and other artists of the same kind easily fill stadiums. Can you imagine a situation where your music could fill an arena with 50,000 people?

- It already gathers people. Not stadiums, of course, but still quite a few. There were a couple of parties in France where we performed. There, we gathered around 2-3 thousand people! I can't even imagine how it would feel with 150-200 thousand. Today, my goal is to reach a broader level.

- As a DJ, does your audience surpass your audience as a football player? After all, it's not often that 3,000 people gather for a second division game...

- ...And that's despite the fact that my music has a narrow focus. If I can reach TV, radio, and other mass media, I believe the audience will significantly increase within a year.

- Can the thrill you feel when you step behind the DJ booth be compared to stepping onto the football field?

- They are different emotions, no matter how you look at it. When I step onto the field, I'm more aggressive and focused. Sports are sports. In music, there's more relaxation and enjoyment. It has its own advantages. It's very pleasing to see so many people dancing to your music. You're already on a high, and you want to work more and more! It's enjoyable from both sides. On one hand, the pleasure of the musical drive, and on the other hand, the satisfaction of scoring goals.

- Not everyone in electronic alternative music manages to break through to the musical Olympus and occupy the same niche as artists like Radiohead, becoming classics in their genre. Although, for example, the recent music video by Massive Attack was only viewed by a few thousand people, despite their popularity, which is incomparable to what PSY and other A-list pop music stars achieve. Is there a limit to the interest in the music you create, or could it eventually lead to worldwide fame? Or are you more satisfied with a small but high-quality and understanding audience?

- It used to be simultaneously easier and harder to make a name for yourself. On one hand,

there was more room for action and creativity, but on the other hand, the internet was absent. Now, with its rapid development, people can learn about you much faster. There are more producers now, but the quality has decreased. It's not just about doing your work with quality, you also need to know how to present it properly. It involves promotion and advertising.

PSY is a bright example, as you mentioned. He managed to make a name for himself, and he has billions of views on the internet! Just the Chinese audience alone is worth mentioning. As for my music, it can certainly occupy a certain niche, but there are some pitfalls. Like everywhere else, you need good connections and relationships. There are ten DJs who constantly top the charts and earn good money, but their popularity doesn't go beyond that. We won't see these guys on television. That's why it's difficult to reach such a large audience, like Pharrell Williams, who makes positive music, knows how to bring it to the masses, and is constantly in the spotlight. It involves completely different earnings and a different audience. Perhaps the direction I've chosen today will help me reach new heights. I have some groundwork, and I have connections, including in radio and TV. I just need to finish my material. Then we'll see if I'm moving in the right direction.

"What are the earnings of a DJ? Well, definitely more than in the second league..."

- From an outsider's perspective, it seems that the music scene in Ukraine is quite bleak, considering it's the country of victorious chanson and Eurovision. Is there anyone from Ukraine who has truly gained recognition on a global scale?

- Actually, there are many musicians from the new wave now. Like Maneken, Dorn, who make diverse music. Maneken recently helped Jamala, who will go to Eurovision. He used to work with NeAngely. We're trying to reach a new level, although we're still far from the States. I don't even know what they do in their studios to achieve such magnificent sound. Obviously, they invest millions of dollars. I recently wondered why our sound is so different from the American one. It seems like we also invest a significant amount of money in the studio, but something is still missing. I would really like to sound at the same level as musicians from the USA. That's what we strive for.

- I think you're familiar with the meme when they show musical instruments and say: here's a cool set of instruments for Metallica, here's the equipment for a rap artist, and here's the DJ's setup — just a laptop. Is that really the case?

- Typically, it's a personal choice of each DJ on what they play with. I used to play with a laptop myself, and it was considered cool. As soon as the trends and fashion in this direction changed, everyone switched back to discs and vinyl, and laptops ceased to be fashionable. I look at global stars like Calvin Harris, Cat Levin — they play and don't worry. They turn on the laptop, press a couple of buttons, and off they go. Ultimately, people don't really care about the medium you use to deliver the material. The most important thing is the quality of the output.

- Still, it would probably be easier for you to make progress if you lived in Paris, New York, or Los Angeles. Do you have plans to relocate?

- I absolutely agree. Abroad, they simply don't let you stop! You work in Ukraine, successfully promote your music, surpass your colleagues, and you think, "Wow, everything is great, I'm ahead!" But once you go abroad and see that powerful movement, you realize how much you are actually lagging behind. On the other hand, working in Ukraine is more peaceful. People are not as active, no one is in a hurry anywhere. In Europe, you can only try to catch up. That's why you can advance much faster there.

- What can be considered a real measure of success for a DJ: performing on a big stage or signing with a major label?

- You need to constantly be in the spotlight and strive to make a name for yourself. If you lock yourself up and only make music for yourself, you won't achieve success. You need to release records and seek opportunities with labels. If your record sells half a thousand copies in a month and you get invited to perform, that's an indicator of your achievements. It's already a certain level. You can also be part of a cool agency that will promote you.

- The question that interests all readers, of course, is the financial aspect. Is music more profitable than the second league?

- Well, of course, it's much more profitable. Not only do you earn money, but you also travel constantly. You have a lot of free time, and most importantly, you do what you love. Football requires daily training, then matches. You play, get a bonus, a salary... Here, on the other hand, there are always new connections with people, you travel the world, and you

get paid for it. And not in hryvnias. I can't say that I travel that often, but this income is quite enough to live on and invest in my own development.

"Our coaches come up with phrases that are just begging to be sampled!"

- As a football player, you've interacted with many well-known personalities. Of course, there are the local stars from Kherson, like Karavaev, Noyok, and Kovalenko, and maybe Hacheridi. Did I mention them all?

- I actually didn't cross paths with Hacheridi. When I joined Olkom, he had already left the team, and I'm not acquainted with Karavaev. But overall, I maintain communication with all the Kherson footballers. I get along well with Sanya Noyok. I stay in touch with Viktor Kovalenko almost every day. He's actually my neighbor. I'm really happy that things are going so well for him at Shakhtar. Keep it up! I remember him as a young boy. I used to encourage my brother to join him, but my brother was a bit lazy, and Vitya was more hardworking.

- What was the last football match you watched as a spectator?

- It was the Shakhtar - Anderlecht game in Lviv.

- Did you ever feel that if you hadn't chosen music, you could be playing football now and enjoying it?

- Sometimes such thoughts come to mind. When I was 18, I went for a trial at Shakhtar in Donetsk. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me at that time. I spent two months there and went through all the training camps. I don't know what circumstances hindered me, but I never played for that team. You know, at a young age, there wasn't someone who could advise or guide me in the right direction. Now I understand a lot more and analyze things. If it turned out that way, then it was meant to be.

- There are other football players who have become DJs, like Russian goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin and Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta. Have you heard their creations?

- To be honest, I haven't heard them. I know about Nigmatullin, but it's the first time I've heard about Mendieta from you. I know that a couple of footballers in France are working in this field. They write lyrics and rap. Let's see, maybe I'll have a chance to meet them.

- Are you interested in blending different styles? For example, if you were to create not only techno but also collaborate with a rapper or rock artist?

- I'm always interested in such possibilities. It all depends on the idea. If there's an interesting concept, then why not?

- Do you work with vocals or use pre-made samples?

- It varies. Sometimes we purchase vocal samples. There are special websites where they are sold. We try to choose only high-quality products. In the underground music where I worked until recently, vocals were practically unnecessary. But in the new project, they are essential. We've already purchased a vocal sample from Americans, and now we'll adapt it to the new song. Hopefully, it will be ready within a month.

- Artists like Moby and Daft Punk enjoy collaborating with world-famous stars. Is there a Ukrainian star with whom you'd like to work?

- There are guys with whom I wouldn't mind working. But right now, we're focusing more on the European audience. It would be great to collaborate with someone like Beyoncé (laughs). And why not? Anything is possible in this world.

- Are there any football players who share your musical tastes, as far as you know?

- There were such players, and not just on one team. Several guys in Borispfen and Mariupol used to listen to it. In fact, a couple of them became DJs later

on. One of them, I think, was from Donetsk, named Perepelytsya.

- Whom among the football players or coaches would you confidently invite for vocals or recording funny samples?

- All our guys sing well in karaoke in the evenings (laughs). If you think about it, you can find some funny phrases and catchphrases from every coach to use in a track.

1. "Goal.com"

2. "Спорт-Экспресс"

3. "Спорт24"

4. "Championat.com"

5. "UEFA.com"

6. "BBC Sport"

- The European Championship is coming up, where the Ukrainian national team will be playing. Maybe a song or set dedicated to this event will emerge?

- You know, we can think about it. It would be a great idea.