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Vaiper Despotin at City Sounds: Lithuanian groove and a joint project with the Warsoul crew

Vaiper Despotin connects Lithuanian groove with Poland’s production scene in a shared City Sounds and Warsoul proposal. Inspired by Satta Outside, the project with U Know Me introduces beatmakers, unexpected rhythms and sets in which the performer also takes the microphone.

From this season, City Sounds is joining forces with the excellent Warsaw crew Warsoul. Together, we will regularly invite you to events featuring exceptional artists, DJs and producers unafraid to cross genre boundaries. Here are the details of our first joint booking!

THE MUSICAL PASSIONS OF BOTH NATIONS

Unexpected imports are our speciality. While everyone focuses on UK selectors, we explore less obvious territory. That took us to Lithuania’s Baltic Satta Outside festival. The Lithuanian scene, its atmosphere and musicians’ skills exceeded our wildest expectations. Inspired by that madness, we decided to repeat 1569’s actions, creating a “new Union of Lublin” to unite both nations’ musical fascinations. Vaiper Despotin, originally due to visit Poland late last year, will bring the power of Lithuanian groove.

Unfortunately, his explosive showcase had to be cancelled following Austin Peralta's unexpected death. In late February, through a collaboration between City Sounds, U Know Me and Warsoul, this leading representative of Vilnius's urban scene will strike with renewed force, in Warsaw on 22 February and Wrocław on 23 February.

It is difficult to define these events precisely, primarily because of Vaiper's broad musical interests and the guests sharing his stage. Expect the unexpected, especially as he often uses a microphone in his sets, whipping the already excited crowd into an even greater frenzy.

VAIPER DESPOTIN (LITHUANIA)

Vaiper Despotin and friend Shmekla released I.K.E.P., legendary in Lithuania, a milestone of its hip-hop scene still considered an absolute classic. That was not his only success. Vaiper won Lithuania’s first online beat battle and subsequently produced numerous local artists. In 2004 came the album by Despotin Fam, a collective of DJs, MCs and producers responsible for contemporary Lithuanian urban sound.

Today, Despotin Fam are local legends, comparable to Wu-Tang Clan or Poland’s Kaliber. They headline Lithuanian festivals’ main stages and have legions of loyal fans who approach them in the street for autographs. The “Despotin Beat Club” radio programme began in 2007 and still educates a wide audience while collaborating with the international beat scene’s leading figures. Three years later, DJs and producers Vaiper Despotin, Harvey Clef and Emylis founded Renegades Of Bump, a label helping young Lithuanian artists develop.

The label also releases Vaiper's solo productions. Often in a nu-beat vein, they set new trends in contemporary dance electronica. Despotin has also created a new alias, Oogle Vision, reflecting his love for the UK bass/house and garage scene. This is why events featuring the Lithuanian artist defy labels and classification.

MACEO WYRO (POLAND)

A Warsaw native born in Finland. The first DJ of the legendary Filtry. Dziani Wąsacze on Radiostacja. A Red Bull Music Academy graduate. Co-founder of the Niewinni Czarodzieje collective. Host of Warsoul Sessions. Creator of the Kosmos programme on Radio Roxy. A music lover and dreamer. An enthusiast for new sounds.

NAPHTA (POLAND)

A Wrocław-based producer, DJ and promoter, host of Purpurowe Rejsy, Red Bull Music Academy graduate and one half of DJ/production duo Pvre Gold. He develops the nationwide Loud & Clear event brand. He participated in the International Beatmaker Challenge at Lithuania’s Satta Outside, sharing the stage with Maceo and Vaiper Despotin. His sets and productions embrace eclecticism, and he is equally at home at hip-hop events and the fiercest techno parties. Southern rap and R&B are closest to his heart, and he readily combines them with old-school techno, acid-house and house influences.

Event details

VAIPER DESPOTIN

Date

22 February 2013

Venue

Gradient Club

Wrocław