Features News Events Interviews Take me out Competitions
On the cover
№7 (2014)
Tunnelling Towards Hope


more...
28 February - 6 March 2014

Ukraine History

A Stronghold of Rulers and Rebels

With the recent death toll jumping to nearly 100 and 1,000 injured, Hrushevskoho Street, one of the strongholds of EuroMaidan’s three-month-long protests, made headlines around the globe. It was here, on 19 January the country’s stand against government corruption, abuse of power, and the violation of human rights turned from peaceful protest to all-out revolution. Having witnessed much over the years, Hrushevskoho is a street with a history, and not only care of recent days.

more...


Ukraine Today
Acelebrity using their status and intelligence to influence public views and opinion is rarely seen in modern society, even less so in Ukraine. Here, the majority of celebs use their time, effort, and money to enhance or further their career rather than put their name to something that can do good for others. However, as EuroMaidan intensifies, some are making themselves heard – and they fall either side of the EuroMaidan divide.
It used to be that when rebellion and revolution occurred, the intellectual, creative, and spiritual elite would be front and centre.

more...


Ukrainian Culture

When Walls Can Talk

People have been writing on walls since the dawn of civilisation, we call it graffiti, and ranges from simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. Sometimes it is merely the creator wanting to leave his or her mark; sometimes there is an underlying social or political reason. And it is due to the latter that graffiti has exploded across Kyiv in recent months. Anti dictator messages aside, we peel back a few layers of paint to look at graffiti in the city in general.

more...


On the Sofa with...

The Legend, Lutique

Lutique isn’t just a DJ, he’s a hot producer, talented composer, accomplished musician and all-round top guy. As host of Kiss FM radio show Preview, this House man has also gathered hordes of fans through his club appearances all over Ukraine, and beyond. We get him to stop spinning monster mixes for a few moments, and give What’s On a sampling of himself.

An important part of any DJ's career is collaboration. With whom have you worked?
Certainly Sveta Loboda, Kishe, Alloise and Devushka Blonda would number among my biggies. Usually I compose a song and produce a track for them to perform. It’s always a lot of fun and a great experience collaborating. Going to LA to shoot City Lights, for example, was a blast. I’m fortunate to live in the buzzing capital of a country where there are a lot of creative people, doing seriously cool stuff. 

What is a typical day in Lutique’s life?
I am thinking of music all time, always either in my head working on tracks or in my studio producing, mixing or remixing them. I also always make time for my family, and friends. And every day I’ll be liaising with bookers, agents and artists to book work, discuss projects and keep plugged in to what’s happening on the scene. 

What do DJs do now? I remember when it was all mixing records, spinning vinyls, now they are up there on laptops?
The role of a DJ has certainly changed. It used to be that they’d be up there, mixing up their stuff, but nowadays most famous DJs have also become sound-producers, preparing tracks in a studio. So, the club appearances are more about opportunities to show your own stuff to an audience, sample them, gauge reaction. Of course, the dials and knobs all make a difference, but the modern DJ is really a frontman for his own creations. Naturally, the DJ is also the focal point for the clubbers, so he needs to be a showman, and able to select tracks which will heat, or cool, the room as required.

Do you like playing the clubs?
In Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv, there’s a good club scene, there are also a lot of good DJs. However, there’s also a bit of a trend for things like topless DJs. Live and let live, but it’s a bit of a gimmick – I like to have people there for the music, who appreciate it. Of course, clubs are places for more than just music too, seeing a couple get together to my beats always gives me a buzz. It’s what music is all about – inspiring positive emotion. Now I’m in my 30s, married, with kids, and moving more into producing, though I still love the clubs.

You’ve played at festivals, such as Global Gathering and KaZantip. How do these compare to playing at clubs?
It’s a very different dynamic. Clubs you sometimes have people dropping in and out, or just drinking by the bar. At festivals, you have a pure core of people who have come there just for the music – and given the nature of a festival, they’ll be there all night long, so you have the opportunity to take them on a real musical journey. Whereas in a club, they may just hear a bit of your work, at a festival they can take in your whole oeuvre. 

And your radio show?
That’s also pretty cool, and a different experience. When you can’t see the faces in front of you, reacting to your music, it’s all about the music itself. Though, of course these days, fans are sending you messages on Twitter and Facebook during proceedings, so there’s always a connection. My music has always been for me and my fans, sometimes, but not as a rule, commercial or even close to pop. 

To the young, upcoming DJs, you are a hero, what advice would you give them?
That to be just a DJ is not enough. You need to be passionate about music, as a love, and look at your gigs as the opportunity to show your work to a live audience. You shouldn’t be motivated by the glory, or the perks – of course, some clubs give you beer, food, girls – but these are all fringe benefits. You always need to be thinking about your music, honing your craft. For example, I’ve taken up drumming, and am excited about the possibilities of incorporating that into my future work. 

Finally, Lutique, how do you want people to see you?
I’d like to be seen as a good DJ, a talented musician, a respected house music producer. an overall good guy and an open-minded, real, friend and caring father. I’m working on these qualities all the time.An important part of any DJ's career is collaboration.

With whom have you worked?
Certainly Sveta Loboda, Kishe, Alloise and Devushka Blonda would number among my biggies. Usually I compose a song and produce a track for them to perform. It’s always a lot of fun and a great experience collaborating. Going to LA to shoot City Lights, for example, was a blast. I’m fortunate to live in the buzzing capital of a country where there are a lot of creative people, doing seriously cool stuff. 

What is a typical day in Lutique’s life?
I am thinking of music all time, always either in my head working on tracks or in my studio producing, mixing or remixing them. I also always make time for my family, and friends. And every day I’ll be liaising with bookers, agents and artists to book work, discuss projects and keep plugged in to what’s happening on the scene. 

What do DJs do now? I remember when it was all mixing records, spinning vinyls, now they are up there on laptops?
The role of a DJ has certainly changed. It used to be that they’d be up there, mixing up their stuff, but nowadays most famous DJs have also become sound-producers, preparing tracks in a studio. So, the club appearances are more about opportunities to show your own stuff to an audience, sample them, gauge reaction. Of course, the dials and knobs all make a difference, but the modern DJ is really a frontman for his own creations. Naturally, the DJ is also the focal point for the clubbers, so he needs to be a showman, and able to select tracks which will heat, or cool, the room as required.

Do you like playing the clubs?
In Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv, there’s a good club scene, there are also a lot of good DJs. However, there’s also a bit of a trend for things like topless DJs. Live and let live, but it’s a bit of a gimmick – I like to have people there for the music, who appreciate it. Of course, clubs are places for more than just music too, seeing a couple get together to my beats always gives me a buzz. It’s what music is all about – inspiring positive emotion. Now I’m in my 30s, married, with kids, and moving more into producing, though I still love the clubs.

You’ve played at festivals, such as Global Gathering and KaZantip. How do these compare to playing at clubs?
It’s a very different dynamic. Clubs you sometimes have people dropping in and out, or just drinking by the bar. At festivals, you have a pure core of people who have come there just for the music – and given the nature of a festival, they’ll be there all night long, so you have the opportunity to take them on a real musical journey. Whereas in a club, they may just hear a bit of your work, at a festival they can take in your whole oeuvre. 

And your radio show?
That’s also pretty cool, and a different experience. When you can’t see the faces in front of you, reacting to your music, it’s all about the music itself. Though, of course these days, fans are sending you messages on Twitter and Facebook during proceedings, so there’s always a connection. My music has always been for me and my fans, sometimes, but not as a rule, commercial or even close to pop. 

To the young, upcoming DJs, you are a hero, what advice would you give them?
That to be just a DJ is not enough. You need to be passionate about music, as a love, and look at your gigs as the opportunity to show your work to a live audience. You shouldn’t be motivated by the glory, or the perks – of course, some clubs give you beer, food, girls – but these are all fringe benefits. You always need to be thinking about your music, honing your craft. For example, I’ve taken up drumming, and am excited about the possibilities of incorporating that into my future work. 

Finally, Lutique, how do you want people to see you?
I’d like to be seen as a good DJ, a talented musician, a respected house music producer. an overall good guy and an open-minded, real, friend and caring father. I’m working on these qualities all the time.

Graham Phillips

Go back


Comments (0)
Events Calendar
«« June 2015 »»
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30

Authorization

Ukraine Truth
Rights We Didn’t Know We Had

Throughout EuroMaidan much has been made of Ukrainians making a stand for their rights. What exactly those rights are were never clearly defined. Ukraine ratified the Univer­sal Declaration of Human Rights in 1952. The first article of the Declaration states all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. The ousted and overthrown Ukrainian government showed to the world they don’t understand the meaning of these words.


Kyiv Culture

Pulling Strings
Located on Hrushevskoho Street – the epicentre of EuroMaidan violence, home to battles, blazes and barricades – children’s favourite the Academic Puppet Theatre had to shut down in February. Nevertheless, it is getting ready to reopen this March with a renewed repertoire to bring some laughter back to a scene of tragedy. Operating (not manipulating) puppets is a subtle art that can make kids laugh and adults cry. What’s On meets Mykola Petrenko, art director of the Theatre, to learn more about those who pull the strings behind the show.

more...


Essential Kyiv listings
Airports
Airlines
Car Rental
Bars & Pubs
Catering Services
Cinemas
Courier Services
Education
Foreign Banks
Hotel Service
Internet Cafes
Lost & Found
Medical Care
Language Courses
Nightlife
Personal
Restaurants
Saunas
Souvenir Shops
Sports
Taxi
Travel Agencies
Zoo
Real Estate
Cable & Satellite TV
Fitness Centers
Flowers and Gifts delivery
Food Delivery
Freight Forwarders
Internet providers
Russian/Ukrainian
Translation Services
Veterinarian Clinics
Beauty Salons
Whatson Birdies Party