Hailing from the burgeoning dance scene of Romania, Egal 3, AKA VID, has continued to impress since his first release back in 2010. His minimalistic yet captivating style, reflective of his country’s flourishing underground scene, and has seen him collaborate with big names like tINI, Livio & Roby and Andrea Oliva, as well as releasing on labels such as Edec, Fear of Flying, Memoria Recordings and Monique Musique.

His musical career started with production but it wasn’t long until he tried his hand at DJing, and before long he was being booked to play all over Europe. His next release sees him return to Sound of Vast, a Japanese label based in Amsterdam that Egal 3 inaugurated last year. I Voice caught up with him to find out a little bit more.

Well, I have a lot of aliases just because I don't have an exact style. I always like to experiment within a lot of different areas of music...You have 2 aliases that are most known, VID and Egal 3, but apparently you also have some others. Can you tell us more about these?

Well, I have a lot of aliases just because I don't have an exact style. I always like to experiment within a lot of different areas of music. Cumsecade is probably my favorite alias because I can create low tempo techno that I really love the sound of.

Why have you kept these less public?

This is because I want people to listen to different kinds of music simply because they like it, not just because they’re associated to Egal 3 or Vid. They should want to check out new and interesting releases, much like a story. You make it, finish it and wait for people to say "yes" or "no". Sometimes I also use the ‘Unknown Artist’ alias, just because I want them to understand the track from the first second until the last. Otherwise if they already know the artist they will immediately compare it with other releases from the same artist.

What sort of sounds do you experiment with when using your other personas?

I experiment with everything, from classical music to jazz, hip-hop, breakbeat etc. It's like being in a library where I choose all the different genres of books.

Your latest release is for Sound of Vast - can you tell us a bit about this?

This release is like a little memory from last year when I was in Tokyo. Some of the sounds have been recorded on the train from Tokyo to Osaka. It's a little different because I experimented with some fresh sounds and different percussions - I just hope people will understand it.

Growing up in this industry wasn't easy and it's very hard to get people interested in your work, because there will always be another artist that is making music better then you...This is your second release for Sound Of Vast since you presented their debut release. How did your relationship with the label start?

I always had a good connection with the Sound of Vast team. They are my good friends and I see them every year in Japan. Yuki is a very good artist and when we first met he told me the idea of the label and I was 100% on board. They are different to other labels in a very positive way, and are very professional so I will definitely continue working with them.

The underground/party scene in Romania is thriving at the moment. Can you tell us more about your musical experiences growing up and how things have changed?

Well Romania is a country full of music, with different styles from genre to genre. Of course the clubbing scene is growing every year and everyday because of the new and old artists that are always trying to make art in their music. Growing up in this industry wasn't easy and it's very hard to get people interested in your work, because there will always be another artist that is making music better then you or playing better records then you so you always have to work and give it 110%.

Where are you based at the moment? Do you think you’ll move elsewhere at any point and if so where would it be?

I am from Bacau a small city from Romania. I moved to Bucharest 2 years ago but now I’ve moved back. Some people like the big city life whilst some don't. My plan is to work more and more so I can move to Berlin or Frankfurt, for me these are two cities that are very special.

What have you got lined up in coming months? Any gigs, releases or projects you’d like to mention?

I have another tour in Japan this year, will also be playing at Dommune for the second time, as well as working towards a USA & Canada tour - I just hope I will get my visa! Haha. I also have a new release on Pleasure Zone called ‘Timpurinoi’ under my VID alias.

And lastly, aside from your music, how else do you enjoy spending your time?

I always like to have a full schedule and sports are very important for me so that I can have a healthy body and mind. I always go for a run with my dog, spend plenty of time with my friends, as well as going travelling and fishing.

Egal 3 Online