Ilija Djokovic has made massive strides as a producer over the last couple of years, going from being a relativity unknown name to releasing his energising brand of techno on labels like Filth On Acid, Terminal M, and Drumcode.
The Serbian artist now enters a new chapter of his career, as his latest 2-track ‘Quasar’ EP marks the launch of his own record label, Point Beyond Records.
We got to talk to him about the new label, what to expect from its first release, and what has planned for both Point Beyond, and his own music in the near future. Get the full discussion with Ilija Djokovic below.
Hi Ilija, I hope everything is good with you at the moment, what have you been up to this week so far?
Hi guys! It’s been a quite rough past ten days as I was positive with COVID-19, but I’m getting back to the right shape and I’m already in the studio working on some new music and preparing my RekordBox for my upcoming gigs this weekend.
We heard you’re about to launch your own record label, Point Beyond Records, why is 2022 the right time for you to become a label owner?
I feel like I’m missing a platform where I can be completely free, far away from hype trains or any boundaries. The other thing which led me to this decision is the opportunity to create my own road to success. I will do my best to make it happen, let’s see.
The first release comes from yourself in the form of ‘Quasar’, how would you describe the track in your own words?
‘Quasar’ is a perfect example of my signature sound, an epic combination emotion and power. It’s a certified dancefloor killer.
It also includes a remix from Argentinian producer Flug, what was your initial reaction to hearing his edit for the first time?
I’m a BIG fan of Flug’s production and I’m so happy to have him on board. He made a hard-hitting interpretation and my first reaction was “This is going to be played by the big techno heads!” and I was right, Amelie Lens has already played it at Awakenings Festival.
And who else can we expect to see on the label in the near future?
Well, the initial idea for the next 12 months or so is to stick to my productions, singles and collaborations with good remixes, as we did with Flug.
Your music has also come on labels such as Terminal M, Filth On Acid, and Drumcode, will you be working with these guys again, or is it strictly Point Beyond from now on?
Of course, I will continue to co-operate with these guys, they are a crucial part of my musical journey. I’ll keep my release schedule busy in the coming months.
What lessons did you learn from working with those kinds of labels that you will carry into running Point Beyond?
The biggest lesson I learned is that you have to invest in your product. You can’t expect good results if you are doing poor marketing or your brand doesn’t have a unique visual identity. There are plenty of important things, but that’s just a few.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to speak to us, is there anything else you would like to mention before we go?
Thank you guys for having me, it was a pleasure! Cheers.
Ilija Djokovic – Quaser EP is out September 9th on Point Beyond Records.