MX Review of 2011 - A year for Drum and Basslines, KrisisDnB and as a DJ all over Europe

Before I start on 2011, it has to be said that the last 2 years have been a massive turning point for me. Not only have I been to so many different countries both to visit and as a DJ, but I have also met a lot of good new friends along the way.

The start of 2011 saw me in the UK for a month to finish work at Amelco. I had a good time there and helped to implement a lot of projects including the Jboss ATS system. However IT has been boring me for a good few years now and I was itching to get away from it.

That opportunity came in February. After a few months planning from the UK, it was time to launch Drum and Basslines in Ukraine. With a huge amount of help from Fade and Mnial in Kyiv, we managed to pull off a successful first event. Not easy for any of us especially as I was living in the UK during all of the planning and promotion for the party. It was evident at the party that a new beginning had started. A lot of very happy people, good music, and people for a month after the party asking us when there would be another one! Making a handful of international DJs and MCs on the way the Ukranian capital saw something they had never seen before.

Then time to visit my friend Alex in Tbilisi, Georgia! I had an amazing week in Tbilisi and the surrounding areas, and felt the hospitality of the Georgian people. They really do have a lovely country with wonderful people.

As I have done for the last few years it was then up to Minsk in Belarus for 3 months. This time staying with Sergey and his brother Alexandr just outside of the centre I had to get back used to russian food, but also to show them some of what we eat in the UK. The 3 months always passes too fast with DJ bookings in Minsk, Gomel, Bobruisk, Novopolotsk, and Molodechno, and before I knew it was just 1 last party for my birthday in Minsk. The second Drum and Basslines party and was very happy to be able to bring Mutated Forms to play alongside me before I headed back to Kyiv.

Still plenty do do over the next month with another trip this time in the summer to Georgia to visit Alex and my new friends there including David Noise and everyone at the Hangar Bar in the centre who once again made me feel very welcome.

Another promise I made a few years ago was to visit Esa-Pekka up in Finland. We managed to do this in June and got the opportunity to headline 2 events in Helsinki!! To add to that one of Esa's friends gave me a personalised MX tattoo which I absolutely love. Hopefully I will return to Finland again during 2012.

With a quick trip to Tallinn in Estonia and Prague in the Czech Republic the summer months had been amazing.

Coming back to the UK for a few months wasnt easy, and I really didnt enjoy it, so fast-tracked the next Drum and Basslines party in Kyiv for November. The lineup turned out to be so easy to form. After meeting Raiden in Kyiv in June, and having Mutated Forms at my birthday in May, the only real question I had was which of the top class DJs and MCs from KrisisDnB could I invite. With Inertia, Ruskal, Breakneck and MC So-Low I couldnt have asked for any better! We all had an amazing few days before they returned to the UK.

Its now the 23rd December and Im back in the UK for a few days to see the family for christmas. Then its back to Kyiv for New Year and their christmas on the 7th January.

Drum and Basslines 4 is already being planned for the end of February or March 2012 in the Ukranian capital. A lineup is being formed in my head as we take Drum and Basslines into its 2nd year, and KrisisDnB into its 5th year! I dont think NeO or myself had ever realistically expected things to last as long as they have, but with steady progress, a lot of fun, and constant hard work its seen not only a radio station but now a successful international event brand formed.

Lastly but by no means least I want to thank all of my supporters and people who have seen me this year. Ive had an amazing time, and cant wait for more in 2012. As always get in touch if you would like to see me play at one of your parties. Unlike a lot of other Drum and Bass DJs I am NOT in this for the money, I do this to make YOU have a good time, and because I love the music no matter what style or genre.

I have some ideas to increase my versatility for 2012 to bring me more into the visual side of a party experience. Hopefully that will make its debut at the next Drum and Basslines party in Kyiv in March.

I hope you all have a great christmas and new year wherever you are around the world! Keep tuned to KrisisDnB, and let us know if you want to see Drum and Basslines in a city near you!


MX (KrisisDnB, Drum and Basslines, UK)
www.drumandbasslines.com
www.krisisdnb.com

MX Drum and Bass / Breaks Tour 2011 - Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Finland, Estonia

It has already been another massive year for me, not only as a DJ, but having the opportunity to visit 3 countries I had never been to before.

Firstly I would like to say thanks to all the promoters who have booked me this year. And even more so to those that brought me back again and again ! I wish I could count the number of people who have been to see me at one (or more) of the parties I have performed at this year as it is in the thousands!

This year has been by far my most successful, and takes the number of INTERNATIONAL events I have performed at to 35 spread across 4 countries!!

And its not over yet... with a mini tour being worked on for October/November, and already bookings confirmed for 2012 I think I should get a frequent flyer card for various airlines and start collecting those air miles!

For this years tour my first stop was Kyiv, Ukraine for Drum and Basslines. The vibes were heavy, the support for the night immense, and the vodka.... well flowing ! Bringing Unknown Error with us was a bit of a leap of faith judging on his international reputation, and it worked out perfectly! I could not have asked for a better artist to perform alongside me and the other DJs and MCs from the UK. KrisisDnB well represented by Breakneck, Bartus, Projekt, Vinyl Richy Repul, Scaze and Max Fischer from Belarus, who all gave Ukraine something to be happy about. Supported by the one and only DJ Jike from Ukraine who is one of the biggest names in the country, Nickbee who is making his name better known with every new release he gets, Mnial and Fade who are both well known in Kyiv, and Playstid completing a huge lineup in just the first room! Bringing Reborn and Red Catz down from Minsk to headline the second room alongside Switch, Copaq and Detail it was a lineup of the very best.

4 days of constant party in the Ukranian capital will take a long time for the memories to go.

As those from the UK made their way home I was on my way for my first visit to Georgia to meet Alex Rayden. Even in a small country like Georgia I was always going to need more time than the few days I had. A country with so much history, countryside and landmarks to see. I decided while I was there that I needed to go back and see more!

Then my 2nd 3 month trip to Belarus... Time for the long train up from Kiev to the Belarusian capital Minsk. It didnt take long when I got there and met Sergey and Alexandr who I was staying with to work out my way around again, and for promoters to start calling me to perform at their events. I have no idea how many miles I travelled in total but it would be in 4 figures easily with sets in Minsk, Bobruisk, Gomel, Novopolotsk, and Molodechno. While I was there a plan was emerging in my head to bring Drum and Basslines to Minsk for my birthday and leaving party in May. I needed to do something different, but realised the difficulties and visa costs that would make things hard. Aleksandr from Mutated Forms was the answer I needed ! An established group of producers in the scene and based in Tallinn, Estonia meant the visa and flight costs were a lot easier than anyone from the UK. I had to bring my new friends I had made this year so Gelaz and Olly Hare who are well respected Breaks DJs in Minsk HAD to go on the lineup with my new radio partner Ricky Wild and one of our guests on the radio DJ Fader. Filling another top lineup in the second room was Red Catz who had just got back from a 2 month trip to Berlin, Reborn, Psher and Yellow_Int !

Meanwhile my housemates Sergey and Aleksandr had me making every english dish I knew while I was in Minsk so check out some of my recipies on www.cooknotes.ru !!! Back to pilmiene and bread until I come back next year hahaha.....

The next phase of my plan was to return to Georgia which I did in early June. Another good chance to see a bit more of the country and live life as a Georgian. I cant wait to go back again. Meanwhile in Kiev I met John from Queensland Australia who was over here on holiday. Some very heavy drinking nights (for me these days anyway hahaha....). Between us we both agreed that Kiev has so much potential as a city, but as a native english speaker its very hard to get around, not get ripped off, and to explore the city to the max. Weve decided to do a joint venture to build something that makes things easier for us and others coming here.

Next stop was up to Helsinki in Finland to see Dirty456. I wanted cold weather but was let down to find 30 degrees when I landed in Helsinki. First party to play at on the Saturday and a chance to meet Olli, Toni and Sami. Similar parties to those in Belarus where a variety of genres are played but everyone liked the different style of DnB which I play so I was happy. I had impressed enough to be asked to play at another party 4 days later which had the dancefloor rocking ! There was time for a day trip across the water to Tallinn in Estonia, and to top off a cool week Olli Ruikka designed and drew me my new MX tattoo!

My last week has been back in Kiev which has really been my base here since February. It is a cool city, and I think I have now worked out how to get around here and have seen everything I possibly could. Another cool party at Xlib Club to finish whats been an epic trip abroad.

Thanks to Fade, Mnial, and Alina for helping me out whenever I needed, and for showing me around. Now to start serious planning of the next Drum and Basslines event in Kiev for October time, and to finalise some more dates in my calendar for my 2012 tour. As always, if you want to book me for your party then get in touch. I dont use an agent as they are a waste of money and do very little anyway




MX (KrisisDnB, UK)
www.krisisdnb.com
www.djmx.krisisdnb.com
www.drumandbasslines.com
www.krisisdnb-djmx.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/deejay.mx
www.vkontakte.ru/krisisdnb_djmx