Interview with Dropout Productions- 2005
Dropout Productions is located in San Francisco, CA, and is dedicated to encouraging psychedelic trance and art that is able to skyrocket dancefloors into full power overdrive, unfolding a clear state of awareness and unity. Their mission is to amplify, strengthen and celebrate psychedelic soundscapes and atmospheres. Their vision embraces healing sound, ecstatic dance, tribal culture, and the unifying of ancient traditions with new emerging technologies.
This interview takes place in the “Blue House”, San Francisco 's psychedelic headquarters – with trance-dancing mayhem in the background via Ocelot…
What is the concept for Dropout?
Marian: We were on a bus somewhere traveling in Europe when the name and concept came about. We have both been a part of the psychedelic culture for a long time and realized that no matter how alternative and innovative, it still gets stale – elitism, intolerance, competition, etc - just like any other scene. We decided to make a conscious effort to take the psychedelic culture in a new direction. We wanted to bring it into the spotlight and at the same time remind ourselves and our world, that no matter how comfortable and cozy the box, it's still good to 'dropout' once in a while and expand your horizons.
Lars: The concept for the name spawned from being in the scene for so long, organizing parties, getting to know artists, and hearing so many stories of people getting fucked and frustrated with it all. It's really hard to live off your art, especially in this scene. We are creating an intelligent infrastructure, where artists and anyone involved are compensated properly, while pushing this genre out into the world. There are many professional musicians out there, and it would be sad to keep it in a small circle. These musicians are not being recognized… and we want to change that.
What is your history in psytrance culture?
Lars: The first party I went to was around 95 when I went to the forest and had a psychedelic experience…. it became clear to me that I wanted to share this with the world. In 96 I organized my first party, and from there it grew and grew. A highlight was the Goa Gil party in 2000…Albert Hoffman showed up! He came up to me and said, “Hey man this was (and is) my favorite place for LSD”. In 2003, I organized the big ‘60 years of LSD' celebration. It's been a lot of fun. Now, Dropout!
Marian: I was going to parties in Israel for a while, but didn't really get it at first. I moved to California and stayed away from it for a while. Then it became clear to me what I needed to find and I became active in the San Francisco psytrance community. I've been involved in a lot of projects, mostly with Goa Gil, funny enough. I've seen it from many different angles, from organizing parties, to promoting artists like Neuromotor and Ocelot. I want to support this music because it moves me, and since I am mostly left-brained, I contribute my organizational talents. That's how I fit into this craziness…the organization of chaos!
Tell me a bit about your first compilation.
Marian: It's called Alien FM. The Nommos (USA/India), Kindzadza ( Russia), Jellyheadz (France), Quasar (USA), Ocelot (USA) and other international artists contributed music to the compilation. Some of it is experimental, some ancient and some is just psychedelic trance madness. It's an awesome compilation. The art was created by the incredible visionary artist, Punkadelik. We are planning to release mid-March.
So I hear you're having a cosmic wedding in Switzerland. Congrats! What are the details?
Lars: Last year we decided to get married. Incidentally, this gets us an all night party license in Switzerland! *laughs* Last year while we were at BOOM we saw how there were so many different styles of music. We are drawn to a special type of psychedelic trance… which is what people are calling 'darker psy music'… so we decided to plan a festival.
Marian: With an emphasis on PSYCHEDELIC. Electronic music is branching out and lots of styles of trance are being made, not all of them psychedelic. Some people are just into dance, or dark, or whatever sound, but the emphasis for the Cosmic Wedding is unique, mind-bending, psychedelic trance.
Lars: Also, the term 'Cosmic Wedding' means two energies coming together to create a new harmony…our personal wedding symbolizes that. Our fun time will be merged with our working time…the label, event management, the wedding, altogether. A cosmic wedding of energies…
Who is going to play?
Lars: Nothing is 100% confirmed, but so far we have Kindzadza, Para Halu…
Marian: Penta, Meteloids, Ocelot, Grapes of Wrath…
Lars: And tons of other people who would like to come – we could plan out a two-year festival! Wouldn't that be great!?
*telepathically, everyone agrees that this WOULD be a great idea and all begin organizing this festival in their heads – the beginning of a two-year trance festival!*
When is the Cosmic Wedding planned?
Lars: July 30 th through August 1 st . Two nights and three days of having a lot of fun!
Who are the artists that Dropout is promoting at this time?
Marian: Ocelot, Yohimbe and DJ Olowanpi (Lars).
What are your plans for Dropout?
Marian: We know the first year is the hardest, but we're planning on bringing the world 2-3 more releases this year, along with the festival and CD release parties…We're going for it!
For more information about Dropout Productions, please explore the following links:
Published Link: Doof Central Copyright© 2003 by Doof Central. All rights reserved. For citation information or permission to reprint contact Tena Moore
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