Mihalis Safras: No stress, only dance!

Mihalis Safras, a celebrated Greek DJ and producer, has established himself as a powerhouse in the electronic music scene, renowned for his contributions to the tech house genre. An Ibiza DJ Award winner and one of the most charted artists on Beatport and Resident Advisor, Safras has released music on prominent labels like Relief, Hot Creations, and Moon Harbour. His label, Material, showcases his dedication to the industry. Known for his energetic productions and dynamic DJ sets, Safras has earned global acclaim, remixing for legends like Marco Carola and collaborating extensively with Green Velvet. With millions of streams and a reputation for filling clubs worldwide, Safras continues to influence the tech house scene and excite audiences with his musical prowess.

ー Hello, Mihalis! We are happy to see you on the pages of Tune in Mag! How are you? If you had only 30 seconds for introduction, what would you tell about yourself?
ー I\’m a Greek artist and producer that likes making beats and funny faces:)

ー You\’ve navigated through various genres over the years, from minimal to techno to tech house. How do you think these transitions have influenced your current sound, and what drives your exploration across these styles?
ー That is so right. Started back in the days with Minimal to Techno, to House, to Tech House, and so on. Basically for me it is all about dancing. The dance culture evolves so I was on board all the way. Of course, every single release affects you as a producer so on my end I feel that I have done a 360 degrees production trip. After all, good music is good music, no matter genres.

ー What were your main compositional- and production-challenges in the beginning and how have they changed over time?
ー For me the biggest challenge is the vinyl vs. digital controversy. As a vinyl dj for 2 decades I wanted my productions to be different cause vinyl market is different than digital market. The last couple of years my production style has been affected by that. But all in all is all about making people dance. After so many years I realized that no one cares if music is good and people are dancing.

ー Could you go into the creative process behind your latest remix of \”Bailaito\” by Manu P and Federico Rosa on Shaman Records? What attracted you to this track and what inspired you to remix it?
ー My team sent me the files and the tracks from the guys and I felt it. The vocals and the groove got to me so I instantly said: “I\’m on board!” The key is not to reconsider but if you love a track from the 1st second, you listen to it then it\’s a go. Also Manu works with our label, Material, so happy to work on that.

ー In your experience, what is the most important factor in creating a successful collaboration between artists? Who is on your dream collaboration list and why?
ー There is no dream list as you can create a huge sound working with an up and coming artist or a huge sound working with a legend. Obviously, if I were to single out anyone, my guys would be Ivan Henkins and Green Velvet. Also, producing with someone means you love their personality more than their production skills.

ー Reflecting on your career, could you share a pivotal moment or challenge that significantly impacted your personal and professional growth?
ー Hard to say, but I think about when my kids were born and started reading The Bible. These moments affected me in a way that I\’m stress free. No stress, only dance:) 

ー Considering your Greek roots and now living in the United Kingdom, what can you say about the current Greek electronic scene, comparing it to scenes from other countries?
ー You gotta live in Greece so you understand it:) Nuff said:)

ー We offer you a short blitz survey:) Share with our readers your favorite:
ー track that always inspires you: Bronski Beat “Smalltown boy”;
ー book: The Bible or anything from C.S. Lewis;
ー film: I like Aronofsky movies I’d say, “The Whale”;
ー dish: Shrimp tartar by my fav “Kitchen Dim Sum”;
ー drink: Mimosaaaaa!

ー Maybe you want to share something with our audience that we didn\’t ask?
ー You didn\’t ask how I maintain such a form haha:) Eating only greek souvlaki when I find it.

ー What can fans look forward to in terms of upcoming releases, collaborations, or projects you\’re currently excited about?
ー There is truly a lot going on at the moment, as 2024 is the year I mark 20 years in the game of music. We have a huge release coming up with my brother Green Velvet, so have your eyes and ears open. It will be our 13th single, so special for me.

ー Congratulations! Thank you for the interview! We look forward to your releases!
ー Thank you so much!

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