Josip Hubzin, better known as Jogarde, is one of the good souls of Zagreb clubbing scene. He started his regular club night "Freilauf" five years ago, with following purpose: to let people run free with music and spend a few hours on the dance floor, fulfilled with the enjoyment of the music itself. Since the beginning Jogarde invited guest DJs like Darshan Jesrani, Ame, Prins Tomas, Dixon and many more, to play in front of the Freilauf crowd. I talked with the man on Skype about his view on clubbing, disco edits and a few secrets that happen behind the DJ booth. Enjoy this uncut version of our conversation and don't forget to check the mix Jogarde did for us.
M: Are you ready?
J: Let's go... since I'm light as a feather.
M: OK. I just want you to relax, write your first thoughts down, don't care about the typing, we can do the edits and correction later. So, just write down what you think.
J: Since we're at the "relaxation" subject: I'm looking forward to take my wife to Amsterdam for her B-day in February.
M: Are you traveling a lot? J: I like traveling, the silence of traveling with somebody. We don't have to speak much while traveling. Sometimes I have the feeling that people are talking as they are forced to talk while sitting next to each other. But can you enjoy the sound of silence? Sometimes I tell so called friends who are traveling with me that it's not necessary to talk too much. We can just enjoy he music, smile and feel the moment. I think that's an important part of traveling. When I was a kid I used to travel more. There's a saying I agree with and it says it's not important from where you are, but where you've been to. Traveling is very important, not as a tourist but as a traveler. Because the tourist sees what he has come to see, and the traveler sees what he sees.
M: I kind of like that part with the silence. I feel the same way when going to a party. I don't like the talking. I am more focused on the music. It kind of gives me the feeling of traveling away from the dance-floor to some other place.
J: Yes, but I think it's also important that you hear clearly what a person is talking to you in the club. If the sound is crap, both will yell. If it's powerful enough to make your body work while talking, then I like small talks on the floor. It depends on the system. It's about understanding each other.
M: Are you happy with the system at the Masters, where you throw your Freilauf parties?
J: Of course it could be better, but I like the warmth and the sub of it. I guess the wooden part gives Masters the extra touch. Jazz works as well as four to the floor music.
M: You have a special connection to Masters, right?
J: Yeah, it's like a playground for me; a living room. A place which is looking for deepness and where you can play things you would never play elsewhere. Or to put it in the words of one of your spotters: “Masters is a rare club in Zagreb where clubbing means loving music, and not only that; it means having a respect for what you are listening to.”
M: What is the story with Freilauf, how did it start?
J: It started 5 years ago. The fun-factor started the story itself. As I grew up at Masters, I wanted to push it to another level and started my own thing. Without compromises. It's a non-profit underground party series, promoting music with soul. I know there are heads outside who feel the vibe. So, it took some time to make it work properly. Now, I can invite DJ's who aren't big names, but who provide functionality and proper floor connection. There is a core of people who began to trust the program whoever comes and that was the point of the Freilauf idea. To make those things happen. To get people together who share the same passion for music.
M: In german “Freilauf” is a term that is usually used in mechanics. What does that term mean for your club nights? J: “Freilauf” actually has two meanings. On one hand, it means the process while turning the pedals of a bike backwards without exertion, so if you drive downhill and move the pedals backward, you get the feeling of carelessness and freedom. On the other hand, it means that you allow animals who are locked during the day to ran out in the area. Like horses or dogs. If you watch that activity it touches you. Music wise, it means that everything goes. There are no genre specifications at all. If you watch the Freilauf logo carefully, you'll see an abstract bicycle pedal.
M: So Freilauf gives music and the people a chance to run free? J: Yeah, most of all I like the scene when somebody closes his eyes and is dancing with a smile on his face or without. It's the level where you need no drugs, no catalyser just the power of now... the music is talking.
M: You are known as a DJ who doesn’t give away his tracklists. Why is that?
J: If somebody asks, I will of course tell him and regarding mixes: all tracks are at my website. But I realize, these days everybody wants to share everything, and if you choose not to, your are like shit. I enjoy the distance between people and the DJ and the fact that he knows something I don't, can do something I can't. I think a large part of respect for the DJ comes from this. If you love these tracks, go out and look for them, explore the mystery, you might find them or you might not, but who knows what else you will find along the way.
M: In the early days of hip hop and house, DJ’s used to cover the record labels with stickers, so no one could see the name of the record. But, I saw you are putting something else on your records when you DJ. It’s some kind of a weight isn’t it?
J: It's a stabilizer that actually makes the record more flat and the sound is also better. It has approx 550 grams. It's a pretty old audiophile tool. This one I got as a present from a friend who has connections to the metal industry, so it's an unique one, as it's custom made. In Japan they are selling those stabilizers for like 120 bucks which is nonsense. If you ask me for a record, I will remove it and pass you the cover... so you can take a look :).
M: As a DJ who spins mostly from vinyl, do you miss a record shop in Zagreb, where you can buy fresh records?
J: There is still one shop where you can find rare and old stuff, but you need to make an appointment. With the new stuff, you got all the internet based shops. I definitely miss the interaction in shops, the talking, the recommendations, the own box, where the seller is keeping things you might like, as he knows what you are playing and what you love. I don't look that much after things which are brand new, I even don't know them, as there are so much old vinyl to discover which is timeless. But I definitely miss more shops, more videotheques with European movies, more real communication from man to man and stuff like that. We are bombed with spam these days, so it's tough to make a borderline.
M: I kind of think that people would buy more Vinyl in Zagreb if there was a opportunity to do it.
J: I guess so too, but can you think of a shop like Rush Hour (a well respected record shop, label and distribution in Amsterdam) in Zagreb? I think I wouldn't go to work anymore :).
M: You bought yourself a Nagra “reel to reel” tape recorder some while ago. Have you made any recordings with it?
J: I have some projects in the pipeline: I'm recording local sounds from a Fico engine (the famous Zastava 750, a car that left a mark on Ex-Yugoslavian industry and history. It was initially a copy of Fiat 750), to childrens laughter in the kindergarten etc. I want to make professional sound effects as a DJ tool on a 180 gram vinyl, while playing sets. Nagra is a powerful mono recorder and it's loud as fuck. It was used for spy activities during the cold war.
M: So there is the idea of a label?
J: Yes, vinyl only - no digital distribution. 250 pieces and that's it. Nagra can also be used live... Mike (Detroit based DJ Mike Huckaby) is making his Sun Ra parties with the Nagra and it works like hell. We share the same love for this magic piece of technique from the 70's.
M: Yeah, DJ's like Frankie Knuckles used to play sound effects in their sets. Something that has been lost in todays DJ culture. J: Especially the reel to reel. The perfect setup in a club must have a reel to reel. We shall make that happen. I will arrange a small platform where DJ's can bring their reels with them and use them while playing.
M: That sounds great. Ron Hardy was also famous for his tape edits, which he played live directly from tape, something DJ Harvey is still doing. But I feel club edits are at the peak of popularity these days. People go down and edit songs from Modern Talking and DJ’s start playing them, something that was not imaginable some while ago. What’s your opinion on all the “edit craze”? Is there a limit of good taste or can anything be put in a club context? J: There is a joke going on saying: "Hi I'm John...I have a blog, and I make some edits...have you heard this?" The “edit mania” is obviously going downhill, but there are still some pearls which are functional on the floor. I like the idea of extending the part which you like, add something and make it more dance floor friendly, but since everything sounds the same you can hear the difference of the real deal. It's one of a hundred.
M: Pytzek said, that he would never release an edit of his on a record. It kind of looses the idea. You agree?
J: Yes, because the edit is custom made by the DJ himself for more unique sets, it's made as he likes it, his way to get the people move... I would not distribute the edit, but pass it to friends who might like it and use it while playing it, of course. I never ask DJ's which are coming: “Hey, give me this and give me that.” - I don't care.
M: You once told me in a conversation that you are playing with the idea of moving to Zadar, a city at the Croatian coast. Are you still thinking about it?
J: Yes, this idea is still on our mind as the quality of life; the food, the connection to nature and the climate is different, more magical. I think that it would be easier and also better for my daughter to grow up in such an environment. The ideal combination is to live season-wise at the seaside and in the capital city. Time and job will tell :). But one thing I admire is the look at the sea. It holds all the answers.
M: A few words on the mix you compiled for us.
J: It's often hard to put in 60 minutes what you like... It's recorded at home on a rotary mixer, two turntables and a CDJ, a bag full of records, one bottle of Ivan Buhac Merlot and a few Christmas cookies... OK the wine helped me a little bit to get comfortable with it, but it was a one way, no return thing. I think dotthatspot is a quality city guide with lots of aspects, colorful and diverse. So shall be the mix.
M: Thank you for the nice compliments and your time. J: You're welcome. Anytime for whatever it's worth.
I know you're eager so here it comes; finally, a mix by Jogarde!
