Exclusive Interview with Finnish Deep House Talent Smok

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW : Smok’s latest work showcases his sultry deep house signature set to the enslaving vocals of talented UK-based singer/songwriter SOPHIE MARIE.

Smok, also known as Juha Moisala, hails from Oulu in Northern Finland. His DJing debut on the local club circuit dates back to 2002, and he has since become a cornerstone of the deep house music community in Northern Finland. His evolution from club-goer to DJ and now music producer has been a progressive journey during which he has refined his auditory and production abilities.

Smok’s preference for deep house resonates in his works released on various labels, including the well-received singles “Dance Tonight” on unquantize (DJ Spen remix) and “Helix” on Atjazz, plus multiple others on Viva, Phat Elephant, Salted Music and Youth Control.

Most recently, Smok returned to fellow Finnish independent dance label Youth Control alongside talented UK-based singer/songwriter SOPHIE MARIE to deliver the stunning vocal-led “Desire.”

To mark another impressive release, we caught up with Smok for an immersive chat about his own music, life, the industry and much more:

Hey Smok, thanks for joining us. Please start by giving our readers an introduction to your musical journey. 

Back in 1999, when I was still a minor, a good friend of mine took me to a local event. Three different stages, big sound systems, and music I had never heard before were things that really got me into electronic music. The most intriguing thing was house music, and I just wanted to hear more of it and understand what these DJs do on the stage. After that event, I started to attend more parties, met like-minded people, made new friends, and found a local DJ who taught me how to mix records with turntables. Not long after I started DJing, I got interested in music production, and since then, I’ve been constantly learning.

What can you tellus about your latest release? 

Desire has some influences from afro house and melodic techno, for example, but essentially, I would say it’s a deep house tune. Making Desire was a long process, but the time I spent honing it was worthwhile, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I’m honoured I got to work with Sophie Marie, and when I first heard the topline she had come up with, I knew she was the perfect singer for it as her vocals perfectly fit the vibe of Desire.

Tell us about the electronic dance scene in Finland. 

From what I have seen, heard and discussed with people, it seems the electronic dance scene has partly gotten back to the underground. There are more and more younger generation DJs and promoters who are organizing underground events where you need to know people to find out about these events, and you get the location of the event just prior to the event.

Do you have any musical aliases or side projects? 

Actually, there is one I created just a month ago. I’m not going to reveal it just yet as the first songs are not yet out, but I can say that it’s totally something different than house music, and you will hear about it in the near future, so you should really keep an eye on my socials for more info when it’s time!

What hobbies do you have outside of music? 

I like to play beach volleyball and badminton. Besides music, I have noticed that sports are also a very good way to take care of my mental health and escape from reality, as you need to concentrate on the game to be able to keep up with your opponent.

What was the last album you listened to?

LaTique – Deep in Africa. It’s a fantastic deep house on one of my all-time favourite labels, Atjazz Record Company. Solid production, nice vocals, interesting soundscapes and vibes throughout the album.

What is your biggest gripe with the music industry, and how would you fix it? 

From my point of view, it is the business side in general. I would love just to enjoy the music and great events but all of the legal stuff with complex agreements, etc. I would happily hand it over to someone else to deal with!

What advice can you give any artists trying to develop their sound? 

Be persistent! Listen to others’ music, do your thing, learn new things, and keep developing your craft.

Lastly, do you have anything coming up you’d like to shout about? 

As mentioned, I have a new alias, which I’m planning to use for something completely different. So far, I have finished two remixes, and they are coming out on Youth Control records in the near future, so stay tuned!

Smok’s “Desire” (feat. SOPHIE MARIE) is now available to download/stream via Youth Control

STREAM / DOWNLOAD

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