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FEEDER INSIDER#03 © Angela Ciobanu / Sorina Vazelina / Dragoș Motică / Rubi / Nastia / Paul Dunca / Premiesku Pisica Pătrată / Salomé Calvino / Oana / Vhils / Rizi / Aural Eye / Vika Tonu

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FEEDER.RO INSIDER feeder insider is a series of interviews published on feeder.ro. The interviews explore the universe surrounding music and visual arts while connecting the local to the international creative scene. In order to expand the dialogue between the Romanian public and the artists we love, we’re sparking off inspiring conversations around today’s artistic landscape with newcomers and veterans alike. BEEN THERE, LIKED THAT Been there liked that is the column for the perpetually in-the-know… and the FOMO-afflicted. Follow the feeder crew on weekends, week nights & the odd lunchtime escape to sample local hotspots and review occasions for good old merriment. SOUND Feeder Sound is a showcase of local and international talent alike comprised of DJ sets and fresh tunes meticulously curated in a sound collection which promotes mutual recognition and cultural exchange between musicians worldwide. E.P. REVIEWS E.P. is the vinyl lover’s heaven: exclusive previews, new releases, videos and track reviews are regularly lined up on feeder’s racks. UBIC Ubic is one of feeder’s veteran visitors and constant supporters. This fan-turned-contributor & our very own resident DJ gladly shares his latest mixes, charts, upcoming events and thought-provoking articles on electronic music, architecture and design. VLAD Vlad loves comics, vinyl, and music of all colours, no discrimination here. A journalist at the heart and devoted Albert Camus groupie, he writes EP reviews, makes compelling lists and puts a focus on local and international artists alike by starting some engaging interviews in the feeder insider series! ANUK Anuk is feeder’s graphic designer with a special love for neon-lights, beaming colours and gifs that keep on giving. Add some funky illustrations and a fine drawing technique and you will find a very creatively crafted universe. NEWSLETTER If you haven’t joined our bubbly newsletter yet, you can still check out who made the headlines in this regular update section. RANDOM The fittingly irregular series which takes the pulse of the science world. No lab coats, just curiosity and a knack for breaking it down into layman’s terms with an enticing twist. Experiments included. GOLDEN TICKET Concerts, parties, festivals, movie screenings, art performances – our weekly Golden Ticket contest is a fun way to win a free pass to your next unforgettable weekend. May luck and random.org be with you!

Aboutasynchronous / dialogue platformmulticultural / interview / hotspotFeeder Insider is a series of interviews published weekly on feeder.ro.The interviews explore the universe surrounding music and visual arts while connecting the localto the international creative scene. In order to expand the dialogue between the Romanian publicand the artists we love, we’re sparking off inspiring conversations around today’s artisticlandscape with newcomers and veterans alike.13 years online, feeder.ro acts as Romania’s alternative media agency. We’re celebrating with aselection of 14 interviews that shed light on motivation, process and perception in the arts.Because we really want you to know. FEEDER.RO/INSIDERProducer: Save or CancelEditors: Cristina Popa, Vlad Dumitrescu, Violeta Năzare, Alexandru Bogdan PribuConcept & layout: Cristina Popa, Andrei RacovițanIllustrations: TokyotoysGraphic design & DTP: Ana DămocPhotography: Michael Schindgger (page 4), Cornel Brad (pages 14, 15), VJ VLC (pages 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23), Alexandru Iacob (pages 24, 25), Vlad Cupșa (pages 28, 29)© 2017 feeder.ro & the authorsBucharest, RomaniaThe editorial project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural FundAdministration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project resultscan be used. These are entirely the funding beneficiary’s responsibility.

Content 4 Angela Ciobanu – RO 6 Sorina Vazelina – RO 8 Dragoș Motică – RO 10 Rubi –  ES 12 Nastia – UA 14 Paul Dunca – RO 16 Premiesku – RO 18 Pisica Pătrată – RO 20 Salomé Calvino – FR 22 Oana – RO 24 Vhils – PT 26 RIZI – RO 28 Aural Eye – RO 30 Vika Tonu – RO

ANGELACIOBANUjewellercontemporary / ephemeral / experiment The summer nights are for… eating watermelon and getting lost in the streets (maybe not both at the same time, though) A song that cheers me up on the spot... Thievery Corporation ‚Omid’. A dream I would like to fulfil... to get to Samarkand. Few people know about me... many years ago, I learnt Arabic and, later on, Farsi. I still know (too) little of each. I don’t go anywhere without… a bottle of water. Favourite ice-cream flavour… caramel and macadamia nuts. A crazy thing I did… three: I moved to a foreign country, I rented a studio, and went on making jewellery. The colour the represents me… green. A place close to my heart in Vienna… my studio. 3 jewellery creators that I admire… I could never name only three. The first piece of jewellery that Angela Ciobanu worked on was a ring that she lost a month later in an airport. This is only the beginning of her story which she continues in David Sandu’s studio in 2010. An architecture graduate, she applies the geometrical and mathematical principles learned in college when creating jewellery and in time she discovers an experimental approach. Two years later she moved to Vienna where she rented a studio to create jewellery. More interesting stuff about Angela in the interview ahead.4

“ Over the last years I’ve experimented quite a lot, and I managed “ thus, one try after another, to handle techniques I haven’t been “ taught or about which I could find little information. That’s how I got to work with vitreous enamel, granulation or keum boo. Violeta Năzare: Which do you think are the main elements that differentiate classic from contemporary jewellery? What attracted you to this field and what position does contemporary jewellery have in the current Romanian context? Angela Ciobanu: The classical jewellery is essentially ornamental and stresses upon precious materials. In contemporary jewellery, the value of the precious metals or gems is ignored, the focus is on the message you intend to deliver, on innovative techniques and alternative materials. I am often asked what made me go for this field and I honestly don’t know what to answer. I started sketching jewellery while I was working in Belgium, in an architecture office. I think it came out of the need for transposing, at a much smaller scale, what I had learned in architecture. […] V.N.: Freshness and feminity come in mind when talking about your creations, giving structure to a powerful message. What does your creative process looks like and how much time do you invest in one piece? Angela Ciobanu: Thank you, if this is how my jewellery is perceived, I am happy. I have recently reeled a silk filament out of a cocoon. I don’t know how exactly it should be done, so it took me ages. But in the end, I had an improvised spool on which one could find many layers of a very thin and beautiful silk thread. Not that my works could ever be as beautiful as that filament, but this pretty much what my „working process” looks like: an absurdly thin and intricately layered thread which, at a certain point (after ages) turns into something a lot more coherent“ I don’t think you ever feel like you’ve learnt enough, in fact, I think that every moment that you spend working brings you something new. But I do believe that you can reach a point where you understand why they say that you have to learn as much as possible, so that you can afterwards forget everything. 5

SORINAVAZELINAillustrator and graphic designercomics / Neobservat / illustration / freelanceA place in Bucharest I always like to come back to… The Laborator Propriu pastry shopfrom Amzei.Thursday evening… I’m almost always at my computer. When I was 22-23 years old Iwas going to Ota.The best investment is always in… books, although I always borrow them and lose track.Recently, I learned that… Hokusai was a nomad, he changed almost 100 places to live.He had about 30 pseudonyms, I think.If I could travel in time… I would go to the paleolithic age to learn from the fathers of art.Creativity is for those who… don’t sit idle.If I had a superpower… I would be a germ that eats plastic.When I think of childhood… Cartoon Network! șotron (childhood game), Toate pânzele sus!(Romanian book and TV series), get inside, come eat, the vacations in Ardeal, Go Planet!3 artists that inspire me… Daniel Clowes, Saul Steinberg, and Mihai, the homeless manwho used to do oil painting sometimes.Sorina Vazelina is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and comics author. She works on interestingcollaborations, like INTERZIS, a comic book describing the life of former drug addicts in Romania, Aooleu, anewspaper entirely hand-drawn, Neobservat, where one can see through the eyes of invisible people ofBucharest. Besides this, she brings color and personality to journalistic investigations on theblacksea.eu, VICEand Scena9 through her illustrations.6

“ Drawing was always there, it was like a shadow that went “ through all my urges. I don’t know why, but I doodle since “ forever, on books, desks, for friends, for classes, for clients, because I can’t find another hiding place. Vlad Dumitrescu: In time, you worked with people from different backgrounds: musicians, emerging entrepreneurs and independent publications like Aooleu! or Hard Comics. In what way did you change your approach according to each person or topic? Sorina Vazelina: I do not realize if I changed my approach according to each collaborator. From design I learned that my goal is to find visual solutions to communication problems, rather this applies regardless of the project. Techniques vary, according to how I believe they can more effectively outline the subject, but I found no magic formula. Sometimes I think a multiple personality disorder is a job requirement in graphic design. It happens I get stuck, I do not know if I work better with vectors, pen or directly into Photoshop... design is easier instead. VD: You created a comic book, named Interzis, in which you illustrate the life of an ex-drug addict and the HIV problem in Romania. How do you illustrate things differently when you illustrate a subject so sensitive? SV: Interzis started in 2014 when Valentin Simionov, who worked back then at Romanian Harm Network, had a collaboration with a bigger project – Support Don’t Punish [...] With Interzis, Valentin wanted to raise awareness about the problem of the legal drugs and the effects they have on the Romanian consumers, in a period in which the sponsorships for harm reduction were insignificant and the HIV virus was spreading at an alarming rate. The problems are the same today and Romania is at a very low level when it comes to health care. When I get a project like Interzis, I firstly look to understand the problems then I can know in what shape I can make the content.[...]“ I am attracted by the combination of text and illustration in comic books. There is a need for new ways of communication, that are adapted to the technological and social changes around us. 7

DRAGOȘMOTICĂproduct designerutility / emotional / technique / studio A pleasant memory from childhood... when I almost drowned in a swamp because I was curious. Baia Mare... a city which, in my mind, is pretty much the same as the ones in the American films about childhood. The first thing I do in the morning... take my anti-allergics. At university, it's good to... have a passion for what you study. Sunset in Bucharest... nice and pretty in the spring when it's chilly. I disconnect... by doing sport or riding my motorcycle. Imagination... is a quality you should explore efficiently if you have much of it. You can eat really well... eggplant with garlic. A necessary change in Romania... the politicians. 3 new artists that I discovered in 2016... Olafur Eliasson, Ghica Popa, Saddo. Dragoș Motică is a Romanian product designer who founded in 2014, alongside Robert Savu, the design studio Ubikubi. It evolved fast and organically and it received awards for the \ lamp in the same time expanding at an international level in countries such as UK or Denmark. We talked with Dragoș to find out more about Ubikubi and his story. 8

“ We (or me, at least) want Ubikubi to become a home&decor “ brand in the true sense of the word. To become an important “ brand with recognition all over the world and to be validated and considered a brand by itself by Romanians and foreigners. Vlad Dumitrescu: The Romanian design scene has progressed in the past few years and in Bucharest there is also a store dedicated to local products, Dizainăr. How do you think Romania comes across as a professional medium for a young designer? What advice do you have for those at the start of their career? Dragoș Motică: At a professional level, I would say it's a disaster. The school is a disaster. I feel there hasn't been any progress from my time. The graduates, most of them, are unprepared. And this has an explanation in the lack of human resources in the Romanian universities. In conclusion, if I was a young graduate I would see two options. The first one would be to leave the country and work as interns one or two years to learn what they missed in Romania and then they can compete with foreigners for the same position. Otherwise, I don't think they could. They just don't have the necessary knowledge. The second option would be to start experimenting here, in the country. To try and adapt their creative discourse to the context. They should work even for free and make them understand the necessity and importance of the designer for the development of the company. They should stop dreaming and try all sorts of things in the domain of product design. And then we can talk about some more serious stuff in 10-15. VD: Ubikubi now has an international presence too and we can find your products in Denmark and in UK at the well-known Nando's restaurant, in Doncaster. Surely you want to go to other countries as well, what are steps that you must take to achieve this? Dragoș Motică: The fairs. We must and we are doing something about this so that we can go to specific fairs. The world must know of us. People must interact physically with our products and thus we can make them trust as to do great things.me it makes no sense to prepare the set before. What can do you if you’ve prepared something and it doesn’t work? Just go with the flow, get to the club an hour before you start to get a feel and then see what happens. special night to remember.“ Utility is very important to me, but just what I said above, and also in the case of the Flying Saucers, I tried to solve a problem, although the final project has more powerful emotional valences than practical. 9

RUBIdj and producerunusual / secret / nomadic / colourful Wednesdays are for… jazz concerts. The perfect breakfast… consists of a big smoothie and chocolate cereal. An online radio station I like listening to… is Etape.me! Magenta makes me feel… blue. I’d love to travel to… Iceland, Nicaragua or Myanmar. The first record I bought… has a special place in my shelf. My favourite shirt… has crazy patterns all over the place. The best nights start… with good friends and mate tea. When I want to unwind… I escape into nature and look at the sky. 3 festivals I dream of playing at… are Sunwaves, Sonus and Sustain-Release. Whether it’s by hosting parties in hidden venues, digging for forgotten tracks or keeping a lookout for unsung DJs, it seems that being outside the norm is the norm for Rubi. The magenta end of the CMYKollektiv spectrum packs the thrill of discovering a priceless one-dollar record and the sunny hues of current home Barcelona in her winding sets – a blend you might recognize from her podcasts for Sonus Discis, MadPiano and, just last week, our very own sound series. Join us to discuss the underground culture and how to stay unconventional with Rubi. 10

“ You’re always a bit intimidated when you write a message to “ some DJ or producer you’ve been following for some time, and in “ the end we’re all just a bunch of people who like music. Violeta Năzare: With technology so readily available, virtually anyone can give a stab at DJing a perspective equally encouraging and disheartening. As more and more artists seem to strive for „underground” status, is underground becoming the new mainstream, or has the term in fact become synonymous with educated? Rubi: I think part – part. The „underground” culture is definitely tightly linked with playing vinyl to me, I don’t think there are a large number of respected artists in this particular scene who don’t collect records. In this sense, I would equate the term with educated, since it requires a large amount of your time and energy to build something on your own. At the same time, there are obvious trends you can see in the underground in terms of the style people like – it has become fashionable to play breaks, electro etc. to the extent that this is becoming a bit mainstream now. V.N.: You’re part of CMYKollektiv, a platform which promotes upcoming or underrated DJs. How did CMYKollektiv come together and what were some of the key moments you shared? Rubi: We started the collective when we were living in Paris for one month about two years ago – we didn’t have anywhere to be over summer, so Eric (CMYK) and me decided to hang out there for a while and discover the local scene. We didn’t know many people in the city, but had been in contact with both Julien and Romain (the other two members) on the internet before. Once we arrived, we bought a set of really shit turntables and a horrible mixer just to have something to play with for one month, and the four of us got together regularly to spent evenings mixing on our terrace and discussing music.“ I’ve always collected music that sounded a bit strange and irregular to me out of interest for things that capture my attention and are different from what I’ve heard during years of going out myself. 11

NASTIAdj and producerexperiment / energy / flow / dance Sundays… always lost in the sun/roads/after hours days. In 2020… I’ll probably have a second child, many records released on my label and less countries to visit. One of the spots I feel best in is… Planet Earth and my own world. Mistakes are… experience. Pictures can… express more than just a words or even the captured moment in real time. New York… a lot of opportunities, hate and love. While traveling, I… read, writing my diary, doing sport and checking new music I collected during the week. Looking back, I can say… all I’ve done is right. Three artists impressing me lately are… DJ Stingray, Nikita Zabelin, Ricardo (always). Nastia is living proof that hard work and involvement can lead to accomplishments. Anastasia Topolskaia is originally from Ukraine and in the last 10 years she’s been gigging in over 30 countries around the globe. Her technique is flawless, the tracks are not from those you can easily recognize and the way they are blended infuses soulful energy and utmost desires to stand up and dance. You can hear her frequently playing at Arma17 in Moscow where she is also a resident or at Mioritmic and Sunwaves festivals in Romania. 12

“ I always prefer small clubs cause it’s always better to create a “ very cosy and friendly atmosphere, get connected and have “ more fun comparing to big venues. Alexandru Bogdan: You are sharing Arma17’s scene with Piticu, Andrey Zots and others. Do you sometimes spend musical time with the two? Perhaps your visit to Romania will reignite some connections that might turn into future projects? Nastia: Every time if I have an opportunity and time I spend it with such guys. Of course we have a lot of things and news to talk about and sometimes we find a crosser in interests so it turns into the projects. The record number 4 on my label Propaganda Records coming out with 2 originals from Andrey Zots and remixes from Dan Andrei and Rhadoo. AB.: Did some digging trying to find out more about the tools you are into, but could not find much. Most of the pictures show you holding our dear friend in hand – the vinyl. Do you have some other affinities? How about during production, what do you use and what would you add? Nastia: My other affinities are books and pictures. Books are my best friends and neverending education. Pictures are memories and feelings, I am used to be surrounded by pictures because my father was a professional photographer and since I was a child I spent a lot of time watching how he makes and produces pictures in his laboratory. About production – I don’t have my own studio for production cause I don’t produce much and often. If I need or I feel like producing I go to my friends’ studios. Depend.“ I am never stuck and never stop discovering and trying. My inside world is full of feelings so I think because of that my production depends on my mood at the moment. 13

PAUL DUNCAperformerdance / LGBT / art / maker I find my peace… during frantic dances face-to-face with the DJs. When I was a kid… I would often imagine I was Wynona Ryder and I won the Oscar. I rehearsed by ho.lding between my fingers a statuette of a black Madonna. Magic is for me… the only possible salvation! Wednesday m“orning you’ll find me… in August at Moses Rosen retirement home. The last time I watched the sunrise… I was on my way home with Mona and Octavian and an artesian well gave us all a good scare when it started its programme. The place where I always go back happily in Bucharest… the stage of the National Dance Centre. Recently I discovered that… it’s very healthy to starve yourself responsibly. A habit that I want to get rid of is… smoking. When I’m alone… I thank my body for carrying me around with such grace. 3 artists what inspire me… Cindy Sherman, Grace Jones & Ivo Dimchev. After attending choreography and post-graduate studies in dramatical writing at the National University of Theatre and Film I.L. Caragiale, Bucharest , Paul has extended his creative area through his work, bearing a peculiar eclectic style, to include dancing, acting and now singing. He certainly makes the Bucharest cultural life more dynamic and we talked with him about how can art influence Romanians’ perception on the LGBT community and other interesting things. 14

“ Close your eyes and let your body be free! You have to know that “ dancing is one of the simplest actions and when we do it, we go “ through a neurological transformation. I, personally, think the best when I’m dancing. Vlad Dumitrescu: The Eurobarometer by the European Commission showed in 2015 that 54% of Romanians, unlike 23% of Europeans, don’t believe in equal rights for homosexual persons. Your performances are about the acceptance of the LGBT community. How do you think art can change people’s mentality about this subject? Paul Dunca: Romania is the last country in Europe to legalize homosexuality (in 2001). In our country, there aren’t many public people to come out and admit that they have a different sexual orientation from the majority. There isn’t any Romanian politician who has declared publicly that he belongs to the LGBTQIA community and I think this says a lot. So every time the LGBTQIA community is represented on a stage or in an artistic context, it becomes little by little less invisible. VD: At the Moses Rosen retirement home, together with other actors, directors, and dramatists, you created the community art centre Varsta 4 with the purpose to change the perception of old people. How did the project evolve in time? What are your future plans? Paul Dunca: Starting from the summer of 2009, we are here doing what we know best. We really wanted to point out that elderly people are very important and very productive for any society. I don’t think anyone of us would be here without those of us who were here before. I, personally, had many grandparents because I didn’t have the ones from my family. Currently, we’re working on another theatre show with the title “Domiciliu instabil”. The show investigates the way of living for the retirement home residents.“ I never ask myself if the public is open towards what I’m about to debate on the stage! I know that it’s 2016 in Bucharest! The Institute of Change uses the trans theme to help the public understand how fluid the gender identity is. 15

PREMIESKUdj and producerlive act / gear / studio / inspiration Livio A habit I have after every gig… I check the mood in the backstage. If I wasn’t a DJ, I would have… probably followed a career in sport or become a business owner. The ideal breakfast… All kinds of porridges. Roby The best sunset I ever saw… In Ibiza on the west side at Es Vedra. The Romanian film that impressed me the most… Beyond the hills. When I was little, I spent my summers… at the mountainside. George The first thing that I buy when entering a supermarket… random stuff. The place that I always come back to with pleasure in Bucharest… Cișmigiu Park. The last time I laughed really hard… a few days ago but I don’t know the reason Premiesku, a totally analog live act, without any computers, is something different for the underground scene in Romania. Using drum machines, effect units and synths, they recreate live their tracks from the studio and released on labels such as Desolat, Vakant, 20:20 Vision or Apollonia. We found out more about the two releases on Djebali and Desolat, how they modify their gear in order to adapt it to their own preferences and about their future plans. 16

“ [...] Firstly, we are very close friends and we always completed “ each other musically speaking, in the studio and live. Every one “ of us has different musical influences that indirectly transpire into Premiesku. Vlad Dumitrescu: Up next is a series of gigs in Amsterdam, Ibiza and London. Giving that you play music in such diverse places, how do you perceive the mood of the parties, do you find meaningful resemblances or differences? Premiesku: Every location is different from another and in each, the expectations of those present are also different, but this is the beauty of it, the places inspire us in a different way and according to each situation, our sets vary. VD: In what way did you modify your gear in order to adapt it to the live acts and sounds of Premiesku? What are the differences between making a track in the studio and recreating it live? Premiesku: The modifications were in a logistical sense but in the same time also technical. We made some different connections that match our needs during our live act. In the same time, we tried to make them as portable as possible for the airplanes but also very easy to assemble at the booth. The differences can be very small or very big, depending on the tracks, there are live tracks that are pure improvisations and then we can think about our approach in the studio which we try to reinterpret live. VD: Romanian producers prefer to experience with common elements in their sound, do you think this is a positive thing for the underground scene in Romania? Premiesku: We think that the Romanian music scene at present is pretty coloured and diverse and this is very ok. It’s true that often there are elements that we can find in different tracks, but maybe this is what defines the so-called Romanian sound.“ Because there are three of us, each of us has different sources so we have different notions. This offers us a bigger diversity and the music can evolve in interesting directions and then the inspiration follows. The live tests provide often inspiration also. 17

PISICAPĂTRATĂillustrator & muralistmural / comics / street art When I look at the sky… it means I have time. Where there’s no art… the walls and people suffer. Life is for me… a big mystery. When I’m not drawing… I’m not drawing. Before I start a work… I make a sketch. When I was 6 years old… I wasn’t sketching, I was freer. When more artists gather… they’re having a good time (most of the times). When I wake up… it’s too early in the morning. I think that nature is… too kind to us. More paint means… more work. If you ride the bicycle you will make your… leg nicer. I want a collaboration with… Branea, Noper, Kero. Alexandru Ciubotariu aka Pisica Pătrată is one of the most appreciated illustrators and muralists in Romania, and also the founder of the Comic Books Museum. Always set to work, he draws square cats and does not keep back from challenges. His street artworks signal forgotten monuments and inspire dialogue, such as Cinema Marconi or Capitol Summer Theatre. In 2016, he launched Pisica Pătrată – an artist book, a thoughtful selection of his recent works. 18

“ Everything I do, everything I feel is somehow filtered and “ surrounded by drawing. Even when I’m not actually drawing, “ everything that happens to me can be used in a future work, we can say. feeder: We would like to know what is the correlation between Alexandru Ciubotariu and Pisica Pătrată? Pisica Pătrată: Well, Pisica Pătrată was a lucky character of mine, but, in time, I started to use it as a name especially for the creation of street art or public space interventions. And from there on, everyone knew me as mister Pisica Pătrată. This name helped me a lot, especially at the beginning when I decided to intervene in the public space because it offered me a semi-anonymity which I needed back then. Under this name, I could make technical and stylistic experiments. It was my most serious childish play and I try to keep things in this playful manner. I am Pisica Pătrată. feeder: Comic books, book illustrations, street art, canvas… What is your relation with each and which is the environment closest to you? Pisica Pătrată: As I was saying earlier, everything I do completes me and challenges me in its own way. For the sake of the argument, I’ll choose one, even though it’s really hard. Comics have a special place in my heart, but for a period I would like to make more canvas… feeder: You illustrated a lot of books. How is it to try to adjust yourself after a script as opposed to a free drawing, street art? Pisica Pătrată: Even when you have a script, you have the freedom to make your own composition and graphic vision. Of course, you have to adjust to certain screenwriting coordinates but maybe this is the key to the visual reinterpretation of a written text. We’re talking about street art, sometimes this also has a rigor that needs to be followed. It could be the idea which it needs to follow the space where it will end up or the technique which will be used, all of this must be take into account.“ After many years of digital drawing, I’m rediscovering the joy and freshness of the mark left by ink from the nib. 19

SALOMÉCALVINOdj and producervinyl / fate / energy / lioness My favorite thing to do in the morning… drink tea, smoke a cigarette and listen to a vinyl. I think that in a past life I was a… lioness. I love wearing… jumpsuits, so easy and comfortable. Family is… important. If I were to star in one last ballet performance, it would be… Kitri in Don Quixote, my favorite role to dance because it’s really energetic. Vacations are best spent… with friends and music. A movie which made a lasting impression on me… Samsara, a beautiful movie with beautiful images of the world; made me want to travel everywhere. My role model… my mum, the most powerful, independent and intelligent woman I know. She teaches me a lot. Something new I’d like to try… Tai Chi. 3 releases which caught my attention lately… René Audiart – Omid [Blank Slate] Traian Chereches – Cauldron [TC Studio] Christopher Ledger – Opus Pluvia [Ada Kaleh Romania] As her athletic silhouette emerges behind the decks and the kick drum starts brewing, you know you’re in for a treat. Turning from the opera stage to the club dancefloor, Salomé Calvino developed quite a knack for surprising crowds with minimal and techno tracks enriched with subtle influences from both her classical music days and her artistic family background. You’ve probably seen this vinyl lover and Romanian sound convert perform live, since local promoters have taken quite a liking to her – as she has to Bucharest. 20

“ The majority of the artists here are really passionate about “ what they do, they don’t do it for fame but just because they “ can’t live without it. Violeta Năzare: Vinyl vs. Digital – what side are you on? Which factors determine the choice? Salomé Calvino: Well, for myself, I will always choose vinyl, just because I’m addicted to the sound, pure and unique, but as I said before everyone should choose what they feel better with, as a DJ you have to feel comfortable with what you play, or else you can’t share your emotions with anybody, so I will never judge people who choose digital over vinyl, what’s the most important is the music and passion. V.N.: Your musical heritage is quite impressive: a jazz-singing mother and a composer father part of the French underground hip hop movement. What was it like growing up in such an artistic family? Salomé Calvino: When I say music is my life it really is from day 1. I didn’t really grow up with my father but every time I saw him as a little girl it was around studios and his friends – mostly musicians – or in a musical environment of some sort, and with my mum it was music every day, singing, listening to jazz, rock, soul, French variety, house music, classical, I even recorded in the studio with her when I was around 5 years old. I feel blessed because they gave me the passion for music from a very young age and they always support and push me further in this field. It was hard sometimes but also magical to be raised by artists. V.N.: And how’s production going? Is there a release on the horizon? Salomé Calvino: Well it’s been 3 years since I started producing but I wasn’t feeling ready for a proper release before, I’m a perfectionist and I was also searching for my sound, I wasn’t mature enough and to be honest I wanted to be able to mix down my tracks by myself. It took time for me to learn because I didn’t have help but now I feel ready and there is something that is going to come out soon.“ Before, you’d be considered a junky to go out to this kind of party and to listen to this music, now it’s seen as normal, but the festivals created afterwards helped democratize music too. 21

OANA dj and producerconnection / emotion / journey I would like to go to… space. Diversity is… like salt for food. In the EST I’ve discovered… how small the world really is. A software I use on a daily basis… Logic Pro. On the train… I write poetry. Big cities… inspire me. I never go on a trip without… headphones and music. When I see people smiling… I smile too. Colors release… sound and vibration. Three tracks I lately play on repeat… Erykah Badu – The Healer Groove Is in the heart – Deee-Lite Quixosis – Bloodrush (feat Carmen Crow) Oana is a Romanian DJ and producer born in Craiova. She’s been to places some of us probably still dream of. As for music, she played in Netherlands, Germany, Finland, India only to finally feel a strong call, back to the roots, from the motherland. The way creation takes place with Oana completes her creative spectrum through warm and personal sounds with a storyline in between, almost always. What will follow is an extended dialogue with Oana about life, connections, music and a unique voyage. 22

“ Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember and “ I was introduced to electronic music through Jean Michel “ Jarre’s “Oxygene”album, when I was 6 years old. Alexandru Bogdan: We would like to thank you again for the feeder sound 70 mixed by Oana! As you already know, it was very well received. What are the elements you use to project the frequencies of the universe and how do you interpret people’s relationship with those elements? Oana: Once again, I thank you for the shared time, for me, to be part of your story is an amazing experience. I’ve studied the way music interacts with human consciousness for quite a long time and observed how the latter can come at peace, or the opposite, it can become agitated, I saw how the heart opens and the way people get united through music. Moreover, I’ve personally tested it and it seems to me the most efficient healing method. We are all energy, with all that surrounds us so the musical frequencies can regulate our energy field and state. I use music as therapy which means I connect to the source which unites us all, from where I send out peace, happiness and high vibes, LOVE. A.B.: Now you are working on a track scheduled to come out on Lilith’s Concept 44 label. How did Lilith and you connect and how is your collaboration unfolding? Oana: At the moment the production for Concept 44 is on hold, I am working on something very special and I want to have the right mental environment to complete this track. I’ve met Lilith in Hamburg while playing together for the Deep Square showcase, at Baalzaal. Later we’ve met again at ADE, on account of fortunate coincidences. We get together when we can and always talking about music and production methods.“ When it comes to the groove I prefer making organic sounds, as close as possible to the human essence, with strong, clear bass lines, a slight tribal percussion of the drums, connecting into an almost shamanic dance rhythm […] 23

VHILSstreet artistcreation / chaos / unexpected / streetsCreativity grows when… chaos begins.Lisbon is a city where… cracked walls are beautiful.Something that inspired me lately… Adam Curtis’ latest documentaryOne of the most important inventions in human history… Human history itself.The last book I read… “The Gospel According to Jesus Christ” by José Saramago.In 2087 there will be… another year.I’ve always wanted to visit… Antarctica.On weekends I like to…sleep.Art should be… public.3 new artists I discovered in 2016… Felipe Pantone; Mots; Ana Aragão.Alexandre Farto, aka VHILS, is a street artist from Portugal. Having studied at the University of the Arts inLondon, Central Saint Martins, and Byam Shaw Fine Art Skills and Practices, Vhils carves human portraits intothe walls of the city in order to tell the story of its inhabitants. He is inspired by the way city walls absorb socialand historical changes that take place around them and he thinks that our social system, like us, is the productof layers upon layers of social and historical fabric and he wants to eliminate some of the top layers with hiswork in order to accomplish a more pure form, a very symbolical process.24

“ When I began working with stencils around 2004 it occurred to “ me that instead of adding more layers to these walls I could use “ what was already there, digging into them and exposing some of the past history they had managed to capture in the process. Vlad Dumitrescu: You are inspired by the way city walls absorb social and historical changes that take place around them. Why do you think this happens and how do you integrate this process into your artworks? Vhils: The idea to work with these layers came about from my observations on city walls and the urban landscape in the days I was an active graffiti writer. From seeing how walls seemed to grow thicker over time, I came to realise how they were like a repository for what takes place around them. Growing up I was fascinated by the remains of the old political murals that had taken over public walls after the 25 April 1974 revolution, which were everywhere in Seixal as it was a politically-active industrialised town. VD: You said that our social system, like us, is the product of layers upon layers of social and historical fabric and you want to eliminate some of the top layers with your work in order to accomplish a more pure form, a very symbolical process. What do you find when you eliminate those layers? Vhils: Yes, I believe that, both as individuals and communities, we are a sum of all the interactions we’ve experienced over the course of our lives, from the nurse that slaps our bottom when we first come into this world to the person who served us in the grocery store this morning while we were out shopping. Life is a constant process of turning this chaos of random experiences into order so we can adapt and respond to the surrounding environment. My work aims at making us reflect on these formative experiences, on what composes us. What I’ve been finding is that, despite each location still retaining some of its cultural and material differences, the more recent layers and becoming increasingly similar around the world. This is a clear reflection of how the global model of development is operating, eliminating differences and making the world an increasingly uniform place.“ I try to make them realise that you can create beauty from acts that used to be seen as merely destructive or worthless. I try to merge art with the vandal aesthetics of graffiti, contrasting the beauty and poetics of the results with the destructive, brutalist force of the means. 25

RIZI design studiopop-up / event / installation / studio Nature helps… to make you feel free. Tuesday evening you’ll find us… at the office. Bucharest has become… a very lively city. Creativity rises… when you’re relaxed. The last TV show we watched… The Man In the High Castle (don’t forget about the book, kids). If we were an animated series… Stewie and Brian. We never thought that… Firea will be the mayor of Bucharest. The best memory from a summer… Every summer is beautiful. All summer. My laptop wallpaper… geometry / a picture from the city. 3 design publications that we follow… We follow design publications, art, politics etc but we’re not loyal to one in particular. I think it’s best to have a diversity in the long run and to change as often as possible what you read, as a subject and where it comes from. The only publication we’re fans of is Formaje, but we may be biased. Rizi is a design studio which comes up with online and offline projects and offers custom design for objects, installations, and commercial spaces. The professional interaction between the two main members of the project, Alina Rizescu and Bogdan Ștefănescu alongside the mix of know-how and creativity of the extended team make the world of RIZI one worth exploring. We talked with Alina and Bogdan to find out more about their project. 26

“ The idea behind Pier-to-Pier came from the need of connection “ between Cluj Arena and the neighbourhood on the other side of “ the river, where the distance between the closest bridges is 1km. We also wanted to create a relationship with Somes, not only with its shores Vlad Dumitrescu: Atelier Pinion, a place dedicated to people with love of bicycles which you projected, is the first place in the BTLT 2015 poll on feeder.ro. How did you integrate the specific elements of bicycles in your design and what does this result mean to you? Rizi: The arrangement from Pinion came about from the desire ti create a space that can bring together the bicycle community from the city. That’s why we integrated a little from the atmosphere of contemporary cabins and custom objects inspired by the geometry of bikes. We avoided using bicycle parts. We preferred to get the constructive details from the bike frames and create original objects with the metallic structure, sharp angles and slender lines. Meanwhile, Atelier Pinion has extended and it has a garden and a store. This is the biggest satisfaction, to see how a place grows and you participate at every level keeping the original spirit. Otherwise, the fact that it was the first place on Feeder is (another) confirmation that in Bucharest are more bikers than it seems. VD: You participated in the Night of the Architecture Studios from this year organised by the Romanian Design Week. How was the experience to invite people into your own studio? How did you connect with the visitors and what subjects did you debate? Rizi: The house from Popa Petre 23 is generally an open space, where we enjoy the visits of everyone, whether we know them or not. The Night of the Architecture Studios was a nice occasion to do this more officially and more organised. It was very nice to collaborate with the other offices from the house for the installations that we exhibited and to see that the effort was appreciated. All in all, it was an experience we would like to repeat.“ We are a studio which offers design services for local or international businesses, from start-ups to big companies, so the commercial part is important. At the same time, we think it’s natural to spend time and to put your abilities to use to make the environment you live in a better place. 27

AURAL EYE visual artistvisuals / mapping / VJ / underground Home means… being around friends. In Bucharest, it’s good to… smile. An essential quality for a man… is to the best in others. 5 years ago, this day… we were dreaming of doing what we are doing today. A world without Facebook would be… like in this print which Alina made a while ago. The perfect vacation… is bare feet. The biggest invention mankind ever made… is time. Favourite desert… is vegan for some, a cigarette for others and for the rest it’s with mustard. We’re addicted to… electricity. 3 artists that inspire us… Quayola, David Jien, Simon Posford. This was by far the question with the most editing. Aural Eye is a video-mapping, digital art, and live visuals project. A party is not complete without live visuals and Aural Eye can find a connection between sound and visual in order to create a perfect atmosphere. Surely you were hypnotized by their visuals at events such as Waha Festival, Spotlight Festival with the Holoface, The Mission Dance Weekend, Airfield Festival or, more recently, at Ozora Festival in Hungary where they projected their visuals on the Mirador tower for 4 nights. 28

“ At the beginning, it wasn’t very clear who has to do what, but “ things picked up naturally and now we know when we get a “ project what we have to do. It’s pretty much like Captain Planet, except for the rings. Vlad Dumitrescu: Waha Festival was certainly an intriguing experience with a fresh and hippie vibe, something we don’t encounter in Romania that often. How did you feel the vibe this year? With what sensation do you think the public left after the festival? Aural Eye: For us, Waha is by far the most authentic Romanian musical event of the summer. It’s the kind of place where you cleanse yourself – you get rid of the telephone signal, of the ads, of all the things made just for money. All of these things don’t make any sense in the sunny clearing. Although some of us were present and we supported them from the first edition, it feels like only this year Waha truly earned its name of “land”. It’s a magic land and all its charm comes from the fact that is has a clean foundation. We hope that the people who came felt this and left being closer to some values that in Romania are becoming really rare, we hope that everyone got a part of this unconditional love conglomerate and that they are eager to show that to the people who weren’t there through their actions in the rest of the year. VD: For a visual to be a success, there has to be a connection with the music so that the effect created to send a positive vibe to the public. How do you see this connection between sound and visual? How do you prepare for this kind of gig? Aural Eye: First of all, we usually don’t accept gigs from musicians we don’t believe in. It’s obviously important for the music to sound good to you in order to connect it with the visual, but it’s good to be opened and flexible to new things. Very often, it doesn’t matter how prepared or unprepared you are, besides the music’s vibe, the people’s vibration comes in and the deeper evenings you feel this energy that moves your fingers on its own.“ […] It’s just like any other job – with every minute you dedicate to your work, be it in the forest with a camera, at the office in After or Photoshop or contemplative scrolling searching for inspiration, essentially you set up the groundwork for a work flow which becomes very important. 29

VIKA TONU jewellersymbol / alchemy / talisman / minimalism Perfect mornings... deserve a real coffee. My amulet... an equilateral triangle made of silver. The most loving memory from the college years... my cool teachers. Favourite colour... black. Bucharest charmed me with... its contrasts. My brother... may become the president someday. A film I would recommend to my friends... La Belle Verte. I don’t travel anywhere without... at least two books, to be sure. This summer I want... to get a tan. 3 artists whose jewelry I would wear with pleasure... Giampaolo Babetto, Roxana Davidescu, Bjorg. From Chișinău to Bucharest and Huddersfield and then in everyone’s hearts – Vika Tonu’s path has enabled her ideological and emotional depth which she delivers in her totem-jewellery, all covered by a mysterious force. An interdisciplinary artist, Vika Tonu juggles with print and collage, while her versatile jewellery takes the essence out of the energy exchange between her and her collaborators like Alexandru Nimurad, Imaculatura or WOLF25. 30

“ In the system of correspondences (physical, spiritual, cosmic), “ every element is associated with a part of the human body, a “ temperament, a zodiacal sign, a metal or a season of the year. Violeta Năzare: Your collections are always full of symbols. How do you transfer the symbolism to something you could wear and what inspired you for the collection at AUTOR 2016? Vika Tonu: They’re full of symbols because I believe with all my being in them. The word „symbol” comes from the greek „σύµβολο” and it means something that is close, an understanding, a connection. I’m impassioned with Greek culture and I try to understand the power of the four elements – circle, triangle, square, and semicircle – towards the four universal forces – water, fire, land, and air, which I try to blend into my creations and to associate and reinvent. V.N. Your relationship with jewellery was rather one of love and hate. You want through all kinds of feelings – curiosity, despair, stubbornness and acceptance before you got to the current symbiosis. What took you by surprise while exploring this domain and did you overcome the difficult times? Vika Tonu: It’s incredible how complex is this job – sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed – so many techniques, theory, materials, new and old tools. There is the technical and the practical side – you first have to become accustomed with the metal, the fire and with the tools and afterward, you have to understand the conceptual side, the shape and the equilibrium of the future object. I have had many difficult moments, I think I’m still small and I know few things, but I overcome them thanks to the people who believe in me and they appreciate and wear what I create. Their encouragement and happiness make me go on.“ Sometimes I create and I have the elements in front of me but if I feel that they don’t have an equilibrium, I let them a few days to “breathe” and I come back afterward. It’s like a collage – in the end, everything finds its place. 31

Thank you,this moment’s reader, the wonderful artists who took their time to talk about their endeavours andthe pleasures of life, and friends without whom it wouldn’t have been as nice: Ada Kaleh, Adrianho, Aitch, Alcalina, Ali Nasser, Amanda Kaiser, And.id, Andrea Wenger, Andreiana Mihail, Animated Sounds, Art Alfie, Atouck, Blond:ish, Bonbon, Borusiade, Christian S., Ciresharii, Crihan, Cristi Cons, Dan Perjovschi, David Sandu, Deepzana, Dinara Drukarova, DJ Vasile, Emi, Emilia Păunescu, g76, Gabriel Aldea, Ghica Popa, Golan, Gus Gus, Industrial Tattoo, Ioana Sisea, Irlo, J.P. Sievert, Jannick Roth, Jessica Goodchild, Jessica Pearson, Julie Marghilano, Julien Britnic, Karim Rashid, Kevin Rodriguez, Kitra, Kozo, Lainie Copicotto, Lilith, Livia Coloji, Lorenzo Magnozzi, Marcus Price, Matias Aguayo, Matze, Michael Mayer, Mihigh, Mîndru Andrei, Mineo, Miss I, Motiv, Mounya Rezzoug, Mr. Tophat, Naomi Williams, Nastia, Nico S, Oana, Olga Berar, Olga Ziemska, Orbit, Pavlov, Pisica Pătrată, Pitt, Plusculaar, Primărie, Rachel Passe, Radu Mirică, Rejjie Snow, Robert David, Roman Tolici, Ruval, Saddo, Săvulescu, Seek One, Sorin Milea, Soundopamine, Suciu, Suzana Dan, The Model, tiNI, Traian Chereches, Translucent, Trepid, Tulbure, Vlad Caia, Will Lawes, Xandru, Yomsnil. feeder.ro



feeder.ro/e-book 500copiesinsider series Published in RomaniaBucharest 2017 / 500