INSIDES: WELIA

DUE TO COVID-19 WE ARE IN LOCKDOWN WITH CLUBS BEING CLOSED. AS WE STILL WANT TO KEEP UP WITH MUSICIANS AND DJS AROUND, AND FEEL THAT DIGITAL STREAMS ARE IRRETRIEVABLY LACKING THE SOCIAL ENERGY OF LIVE MUSIC EVENTS AND ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR IT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONSOLATION IN WORDS. IN THE END MUSIC IS A SOCIAL PRACTICE. INSIDES FEATURES VOICES FROM VIENNA’S ELECTRONIC MUSIC SCENE, LOOKING TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, FIND MUTUAL INSPIRATION AND EXIT STRATEGIES, ENTERING PERSONAL REALMS.
11.05.2020
SHILLA STRELKA

Hello, how are you?

I am fine.

Where are you right now?

At home, 1070.

Which sounds surround you?

Mainly silence & leaves rustling in front of my window.

Have you been productive so far? What are you working on?

My own definition of productivity is quite extreme so no matter how much work I do, at the end of the day I’m never fully satisfied and think I could’ve done more. While I most certainly do not recommend this mindset to anybody, I guess neutrally speaking I have been productive. Did a very first live set with Florian Bocksrucker, recorded podcasts, made future plans, and then some.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=511070509572542&t=2

What inspires you right now?

I often find inspiration in clothing. Charlotte Knowles / Barragán / Marine Serre / MOB Industries.

Reading material you can recommend?

I don’t read as much as I used to. Mostly it’s random stuff in Greek or French as I’m trying to improve my language skills or at least not forget what I already know.

“I often struggle to find the magic in music when forced to consume it only digitally.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20S64pMbfVs

To watch?

I’m not into movies or series. Sometimes I watch excerpts from RuPaul’s Drag Race on Youtube.

What’s your opinion on live-streams? You see any alternative ways to support the music community?

I guess they’re a necessary evil? If you can’t play out music in a club then at least reach out to an audience online. It’s somewhat understandable but it’s not the same though and it’s not really my thing. There were already way too many podcasts and streams before the pandemic started, now it’s become oversaturated and at times annoying. I often struggle to find the magic in music when forced to consume it only digitally. I miss partying IRL, I miss discovering new locations and seeing familiar faces, I miss getting to know new people, I miss loud PAs blasting music through my face & body, and yes sometimes I even miss afterhours.

What will change you think?

I doubt big changes will happen but I hope people will shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle, stop eating meat and other animal products, stop buying crap they don’t need or at least buy second-hand, recycle more, think twice before buying cheapo plane tickets, help those in need if possible etc.

What is the gig or occasion you were most looking for, that was cancelled in this period?

I really enjoy DJing and having people dance to my records so I was equally looking forward to every opportunity to do so. I was supposed to play in Linz with Mehmet Acuma, among other events that obviously got cancelled.

Are you still able to pay your rent?

Yes.

(c) Piero Chiussi

Welia