Marko Miličević. aka Gramophonedzie (SRB)

Marko Milicevic is Gramophonedzie: voted Best Adria Act during the 2010 MTV European Music Awards, additionally nominated in the Best European Act category. From his hometown of Belgrade, the Serbian superstar had a remarkable breakthrough year in 2010, touring extensively throughout Europe as well as playing across Australia, Brazil, Dubai, Russia, Indonesia and the U.S.

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He started DJ-ing when he was 15 and was one of 3 DJs promoting jungle in Belgrade! Marko Milicevic switched to house music as that was the only way to get some gigs… For personal pleasure, he started doing some jackin’ house, and over time it developed into his signature sound. 

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The Name. Gramophonedzie

The stage name is a silly combination of two words Gramophone and Kamiondzije (which in Serbian means truck drivers).

My friend Sasha and I were both spinning wheels, as it used to be with decks back in the days, and one night we were were dressed like two guys from our very old and very popular '60’s TV show called Kamiondzije. Someone on the party mentioned that as a joke. So I just needed few seconds to mash-up Gramophone and Kamiondzije = Gramophonedzie. That’s the story. That name just happened and I kept it.

- Marko Milicevic 

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The Hit. Why Don't You

Gramophonedzie is best known for his smash hit release Why Don’t You – a jackin’ house track that sampled Peggy Lee’s swing standard Why Don’t You Do Right (considered a woman blues standard, recorded along with Benny Goodman in 1942 - the song dates back to 1936). That swing track brought Gramophonedzie to the world global house scene spotlight and got him signed with Virgin/Positiva records. 

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Behind every hit there is a woman! 

I’m very into jazz, listen to it at home usually, specially that swing era jazz, 70’s funky music as well. My girlfriend was very fond of that track for many years and she wanted me to make that remix for her. For 6 months she was almost begging me (to do it). One day I just did it. We didn’t expect that it will go out on any label at first. 

- Marko Milicevic 

Well, the track first became successful in Miami, Detroit and Ibiza followed. 

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RiCo for CZB.ro: When did you discover your passion for music and how have your music tastes developed along the years?

Marko Milicevic (Gramophonedzie): Firstly, thank you for doing this interview with me. 

Yes, I was always very into music. 

When I was very young, music was brought to me by my grandmother or parents. After that, they sent me to music school where I played cello and finished primary music school. 

Of course, as I grew up I was going through phases like all kids do, listening to music from rock to death metal and back to funk, hip hop and jazz. I picked up jungle music when I was around 13 and started DJ-ing ...so after that it all went that way.

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CZB: How do you feel musically advantaged and disadvantaged regarding the international spotlight - coming from Serbia?

Gramophonedzie: Well, that is a hard question. 

The main advantage is that I’m the first Serbian DJ and producer who has had worldwide success - so its very interesting to people around the world and in a way unusual to have someone from this region hit it big. 

Disadvantages that I have had were mainly connected to my Serbian origin and the problem of getting visas for playing in many countries.

Also I didn’t have any support from Serbia - not because people didn’t want to help me - but because no one had any experience with dealing with big record labels and it took some time until I got hooked with booking agencies and managements. It was a hard ride for me.

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CZB: How did you get to study at the Music Academy in Ireland and what do you consider the Irish have in common with the Serbs?

Gramophonedzie: I just sent in a 30 minute tape of my mix and they invited me there. I suppose they obviously liked my mix. Hahaha. That's how I got there …and Irish people are very similar in temper with Serbs. They are very kind and friendly people and they like to party 24/7. 

I had a very good time there and that was my breaking point, when I decided to start learning music production - as up until that time, I was only DJ-ing.

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CZB: What kind of an experience was it for you to participate at the 2010 MTV European Music Awards. 

Gramophonedzie: Honestly, I was not much into that as I was touring heavily, so I was very surprised when I won the Best MTV Adria Act Award. 

I didn’t have time to go to Spain where the MTV EMA's were held as I was touring Australia and that was booked months before, so I couldn’t take a break from the tour.

Unfortunately, that was all of my experience. 

I didn’t met Lady Gaga and Puff Daddy and I was so sad. Damn! 

But in general I was very happy that I was nominated for EMA, it was all so

unreal to me, especially as everything happened so quickly.

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CZB: From your experience, what key piece of advice could you give a talented young DJ starting out?

Gramophonedzie: Work, work, work and patience. It takes years to accomplish something, so don’t expect everything to come in year or two. Also, you have to believe in what you do, no matter what others might think - and don’t follow the rules, make them.

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CZB: For how long have you been a constant headliner at Exit Fest and in what ways are you considered to be an international ambassador for Serbia?

Gramophonedzie: I was headliner only last year and never before that. 

Also, I don’t see myself as an international ambassador for Serbia. 

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I’m Gramophonedzie, a worldwide ambassador of good music and party. 

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That's how I see myself.

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CZB: From what you have seen so far, which would you consider the most exciting airport and which was the most boring you have had to spend time in?

Gramophonedzie: I love the Istanbul airport as they have the best lounge and food and the best looking one for me is Helsinki airport. 

As for most boring, nothing beats Paris Charles de Gaulles; I hate that one from the bottom of my soul.

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CZB: You are signed to Virgin, an EMI label. How much do you think the EMI sell-out will affect you or do you have other people worry about that for you?

Gramophonedzie: I decided to go back to more underground stuff that I personally like, so I had to leave 5 super hot blonds to take care of the EMI issue and it's all going very well. 

The people from EMI love the girls - and I’m happy with their work.

Everything's peachy.

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CZB: You started DJ-ing when you were 12 … wasn't that immediately after the US-Balkan war? Were you mixing off of vinyls or cassettes and where were you getting your music from?

Gramophonedzie: Let me correct you a little bit. It was a civil war when I was starting and there were no vinyl or cassettes - it was just magnetic tapes that were stolen from tank engines and then used for recording music and sets I ripped from listening to radio. It was just me and CeauÈ™escu that had that technology in the Balkans. Now its only me; he’s dead. 

Later I had to trade some guns on the Black Market for vinyl but it went all good. As you can see.

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CZB: Tell me about DiskoZoo. Is it about discovering Serbian talent or getting serbian artists launched internationally … why -Zoo / is it the idea of blending different kinds of music genres together?

Gramophonedzie: Yes, the whole point of having my label is to use my position to push and present more of Serbian and Balkan talent internationally. I think there is a lot of good music being made in this area. 

As for DiskoZoo it is my very very very old idea. I don’t know why but when I was only 11 or 12 years old I decided I’ll have my own label one day and it will be called DiskoZoo; the whole thing was around the idea that every release is presented with a different animal with no artist names, just the name of the animal. So my childish excitement was around saying something like hey, that Elephant is so groovy or man! Giraffe rocked the party when the DJ played it last night in the club and so on... you get it.

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Interview by RiCo for ClickZoomBytes

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Our sincere thanks going out to Edmond Lenarth from The Independent Music Resistance in Cluj, and Marko Milicevic (Gramophonedzie) for their support.

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Gramophonedzie will be playing in Romania THIS FRIDAY (March 2, 2012)

http://czb.ro/articol/3095/

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www.gramophonedzie.com

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For over 15 years Marko Milicevic (Gramophonedzie) has been working as a DJ. With a deep passion for funky music, live instruments and intensive vocals, his production career began in 2000 when Marko was selected to study at the Music Academy in Ireland. Gramophonedzie subsequently completed a degree in Sound Design at Belgrade University and went on to produce soundtracks for a number of commercials, films and television as well as producing for several Serbian bands. He’s been releasing tracks for Gotta Keep Faith Records, Yakuza Records, Guesthouse, DiskoZoo Records, Shak Digital, Maracuja, DVR, apart from other remixes.

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Equipment

Marko used to use Nuendo 3 and has moved over to Cubase 5.5. For monitoring, Gramophonedzie prefers Genelec 8020 or 8040. 

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