This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
In December 2015 I had a chat with the Greek Axel Karakasis. “When you’re that young and you attract a lot of attention, it’s pretty flattering.”
“The first time I played as a DJ, I instantly was the resident DJ instead of a guest DJ. This was quite special, since I was only 17. The gig took place in an Athens’ club, at the end of the eighties.”
Well-balanced boys-to-girls ratio
“Luckily I wasn’t too nervous. On the contrary, I was looking forward to it and very excited. The audience consisted mostly of, on the matter of sexes, a well-balanced boys-to-girls ratio. They were the type of people that was open to the electronic music of those days.”
Vibe
“Did I prepare my set at home? Nope, I never do that. I do listen to all my music very well before using some tracks. But in the end, I always go with the flow and the vibe of the crowd.”
Uncle
“I did have a mentor: my uncle. He guided me while I was taking my first steps on the DJ path. He wasn’t present during that first gig, but lots of my friends were. They were super happy for me and supported me totally.”
Attention
“As far as I can remember, there was no specific girl at the time whom I wanted to impress. My motivation for playing stemmed completely from my love for the music. On the other hand… when you’re that young and you attract a lot of attention, it’s pretty flattering.”
Comfortable in your skin
“That first gig went great! In hindsight I was very happy about it. The club was full when I played and the people were happy. Of course, I made a few small mistakes, but nothing dramatic went wrong. Everything was just fabulous! What I did learn that first time, is that you perform better when you’re comfortable in your skin.”
“My first performance will always be a treasured memory for me. That positive experience has taught me to build on that. Every single time you perform you learn something new, so it is all a learning curve. Every gig is unique, so the experience is unique, whether it is good, excellent or brilliant! When you do something you love, you give it your 100%.”
This interview with Axel Karakasis is originally published on DJMag.nl in March 2015.
Who is Axel Karakasis?
Axel Karakasis is the most recognisable Greek name in the techno scene. His career is marked by a number of classic themes and a series of appearances that have established him as an international DJ.
The rise to his present status did not happen overnight, but goes back to the 80s and the 90s, when techno made its first appearance. Fascinated by this new wave, Axel Karakasis’s courtship with electronic music saw a very different light. By the late 90s, he was already known through various DJ residencies in Athens, as well as through his regular events with his team “Bubbles”. Axel Karakasis soon became the most wanted Greek Techno DJ, playing regularly in the biggest venues in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Crete and all over his native Greece.
Being a restless spirit led Axel Karakasis to new avenues in music production. He always wanted to play unique music in his sets. That’s what drove him to get into the studio and begin his own productions. In 2000, he had his first release on Pornographic Recordings and this was only the beginning, as a string of classic releases followed in the likes of MB Elektronics, Primate, Intec Records, etc. He referred to his genre as “Groovy Techno”! With his very own mark on discography, Axel Karakasis’s international career took off. Axel Karakasis still headlines events in some of the best clubs in the world, such as the Rex Club (Paris), Womb (Tokyo), Turnmills (London), tours regularly countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Korea, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Holland and Malta, to name a few, and has appeared in top festivals like Awakenings (Netherlands) Rabac Festival (Croatia) and Apokalypsa (Czech Republic).
At present, Axel Karakasis releases his music nn top record labels, like Kombination Research, 1605, Respekt Recordings and others. However, his work wouldn’t be complete without his own imprint! In September 2007, Axel Karakasis decided to channel all his energy into his very own brainchild, Remain Records. This has gradually transformed into a brand encompassing both vinyl (Remain Records) and digital (Remain Records and Remain Limited) releases by Axel Karakasis, The Advent and Industrialyzer, Tom Hades, A.Paul, as well as newer talent.
