Lurre // Interview // Tzinah Podcast // February 2020 //

Lurre (Cretu Vladut) is a 25-year-old aspiring artist born in Botosani (Ro). He is currently living in the core city of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, a city known for its ability to remain young and dynamic. His motto “minimal // techno // feelings” says it all: the music he makes should be perceived as a combination of the two musical genres, both deeply urban, but with a touch of the third ingredient – feelings.
Lurre on Facebook

Tzinah Records: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
Lurre: Lurre, Bobdan and Dan Blatov – Summer Jam // available here:
https://soundcloud.com/trommelmusic/lurre-bobdan-si-dan-blatov-summer-jam-trommel-exclusiv e-download
Because I’d love summer to last forever.

Tzinah Records: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Lurre: There were a lot of instances related to music, but I wasn’t paying attention to that back then. I’ve always thought it was cool to make your music, though. So I started doing this myself while I was in high school and kept going, trying to learn as many things as I could. However, the real deal started in my 2nd year of university when I bought my first pair of monitors and a few of the necessary tools.

Tzinah Records: Why did you choose to create and play this particular type of music? Are there any artists that touched you deeply while developing your own style?
Lurre: It just happened at some point. I actually started with mostly dubstep and drum and bass. I’ve also experimented with some genres that I abandoned. And then I switched to minimal and dubstep, thinking it couldn’t be that difficult. But it turned out to be more than a kick and clap haha. The first release that I had a big impact on me was Dubtil’s Etape EP/AMPHIA (AMP011). I’ll never get tired of it. There are also several artists that I took inspiration from in terms of different elements they’ve used (a few of them are Sepp, Viceversa, Dubtil, Nu Zau, Mihai Pol).

Tzinah Records: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Lurre: I don’t really want to put a label on music. I think it’s important to stick with what you believe in and apply that to your music. Whether it’s underground or not, you should listen to what you enjoy and filter music based on your taste. When it comes to Cluj, the musical scene keeps evolving and it seems to be for the best. I’ve always been optimistic about it.

Tzinah Records: Without giving out too much about your secret weapons, please tellus how does the magic work in your production routine. Software? Analog? What does your DJ set-up imply?
Lurre: I like to combine both digital and analog when producing music as they get along very well with each other. This, paired of course, with your own style. I came to the conclusion that it’s best if you try out both versions (from VSTs to synths, drum machines, modulars and so on). I work in Ableton and I use an Arturia Minibrute 2s, a Studio Logic PRO 88 keys midi controller, an APC Live controller, a set of 2x YAMAHA HS8s, just to name a few. When mixing, I usually like to have 3 players and a 4-channel Xone mixer. But I also like turntables, even one gets the job done.

Tzinah Records: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Lurre: I’m constantly making associations between what I do with my day to day life, I also rely on my imagination and I’m usually able to turn an idea into a sound.

Tzinah Records: Which underground house DJ or producer would you love to take out for a summer picnic? With which artist (from any music genre) would you spend 24 hours stuck in an elevator?
Lurre: This is a difficult choice to make. For the summer picnic, Jeff Mills or DJ Ez, some Cuba Libres and some gear we could play music on. I wouldn’t necessarily choose the lift as an option unless it maybe had some gear or a laptop for an improvised jam. In which case I’d go with Ricardo Villalobos (for technique and percussion).

Tzinah Records: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Lurre: For me, that place is a beach, next to the sea. I love playing music there. But all places have their unique characteristics.

Tzinah Records: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Lurre: I like creating music. And I plan on doing this for a long time, so it’s important to me as well to be active in this community.

Tzinah Records: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Lurre: Cream cheese and cucumbers. I don’t think I would ever say no to this combo.

Tzinah Records: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Lurre: I go to work, attend parties, spend time at home and also on Youtube.

Tzinah Records: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Family Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks?
Lurre: I wanted to promote my friends’ tracks and the tracks of the people I’ve interacted with. I also enjoyed the idea of music with a breakbeat influence.

Tzinah Records: Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Lurre: A new EP will be out on my Bandcamp soon and a release with Pierre C is coming, too. Keep an eye out for more details.

Tzinah Records: Supposing you come back reading this interview in 10 years from now; could you try saying something to your future-self?
Lurre: Keep working and working even more if you want to see results.

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