Meet UMEK, a techno legend from Slovenia!
UMEK is personally responsible for kickstarting the electronic music scene in his home country by first organizing illegal raves and then becoming one of Slovenia’s most wanted export products and number
one music ambassador to the whole world.
And he does fly! Around 100 times per year, visiting almost every continent each year. His gig diary ranges from dark underground clubs in Berlin to massive techno stages on world’s most renowned festivals. Apart from making his name in the DJ booth, he’s also a tireless producer. He mostly releases on his own imprint 1605, where he often gives the opportunity to talented producers, unknown to the broader public. His signature sound as well as his label’s production can regularly be heard on UMEK’s widely popular weekly radio show Behind the Iron Curtain, which is now featured on more than 150 radio stations across the world.
DAMIR HOFFMAN
Damir Hoffman has been active in the electronic music scene for almost two decades and he is now firmly established as a DJ and party promoter in Northern Adriatic and Western Balkans. With his unique musical selection and a strong instinct for the dance floor, he gained reputation of being one of the most in demand DJs in his homeland and neighbouring territories.
For Damir it started as it usually does: soon after he caught the rave bug, he bought a pair of decks and started mixing records. Initially he did it out of pure passion for the music, without any intention to get seriously into business. After playing at couple of private parties he got invited to his first official gig in a club in Croatia in late 2003. And that’s when and where his DJ-career took off.
Since the beginnings he is active both as a DJ and party promoter, organizing different series of events with international DJ guests, but his most successful project up to date is Reload Events series, which he founded in 2007 in his resident club Marco Polo in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Reload nights were a game changer when it comes to techno in Slovenia, being the first to host events with names like Joseph Capriati, Matador, Sam Paganini, Alan Fitzpatrick, Ilario Alicante and many other international artists, inspiring other DJs and promoters to turn towards the modern techno sound.
In 2011 he released two tracks on Marco Bailey’s MB Elektronics label, followed by another release in 2013 on MB and Reload EP, a collaboration with his mate Johnny Kaos on Nigh Light records.
Over the years he played at some of the most prominent clubs and festivals across Europe, including Pacha (Barcelona, ESP), Il Muretto (Jesolo, IT), Anomalie (Berlin, GER), Labirynth club (Hasselt, BEL), Input (Barcelona, IT),Boogaloo (Zagreb, CRO), Feel Festival (Berghaider see, GER), Barrakud Festival (Zrce, CRO), Kanegra Bech Festival (Umag, CRO) Labyrinth Festival (Omis, CRO), Prigl Festival (Brno, CZ), Fresh Wave Festival (Banja Luka, BIH) …
