Interview to ZELJKO KERLETA

How did you get involved in music business?

I've been into music for a long time. I even had a band as a teenager in 70's. Later on I became a passionate collector and then DJ. Since I moved to London in 1988 my record collection started growing really fast. In mid 90's I had my own radio program called Cosmic Sounds and at that time I was helping one promoter from Belgrade. We brought many DJs from London to Belgrade (Patrick Forge, Kevin Beadle, just to mention few) Also I took Roy Ayers to Belgrade and that was a huge experience for me. Being with a legend of that size for a few days, travelling with him and talking about music day and night is something to be remembered. Music was all around me and I decided to do something on my own. Initially it was only supposed to be for my home use and as a soundtrack for my architectural 3D animations. People kind of liked it and the Timewarp even licensed it for their compilation 'Warp Factor 2'. That was a start. Soon after that I finished my first album.

Could you describe the history of Cosmic Sounds Label?

I started label with intention to bring out to light some of the pieces from my collection of Eastern European Jazz that I thought was neglected and poorly presented in west. On top of that I had my new material and few more bands in mind. At that time I also met Dusko Gojkovic who kindly offered me his entire archive of masters. Of course you can't refuse such a thing. So I decided to start two parallel series. One called 'Discoveries' specialised in re-releasing the best of Eastern European Jazz & Fusion . I mostly do compilations because most of these names were not common in these areas and needed some kind of introduction. Intention is to present each of the countries.
Second series is going under the title "Fresh Sounds" and will give chance to young artists who experiment with the new Jazz forms and are more orientated to current Jazz and club scene.

Which difficulties do you find in getting underground music from Easter Europe?

I don't have any difficulties in getting it. There is a lot of quality music out there. What I found difficult at the moment is to sell them. These are all unknown names and some of them quite difficult to pronounce (like mine). People find difficult to remember it. It doesn't stick easy in their mind. Also my label wasn't well known so shops were reluctant in ordering 'no name' artists on 'no name' label. I knew that it was gonna be difficult but we are getting there. Label is getting more and more respect and is becoming familiar name around the globe.

Listening to the latest releases of Cosmic Sounds Records I was wondering if the artists you selected to be on them, for example on "Wizard", are they being played in Czech clubs or not. Are they still active?

I can't say anything general about that. First at all I am based in London so I don't go to these clubs but I guess that they haven't been played over there. It is difficult to trace all of them but I know that some are still quite active and still recording and touring like Dusko Gojkovic, Milan Svoboda, Jiri Stivin…

How do you feel about the acid jazz (and similar sounds) scene at the moment?

Acid Jazz?? Does it still exist? I think that Acid Jazz was very useful in early 90's to introduce some nice groovy Jazz to younger audience. It wasn't much original as a style but it was cool, funky, Jazzy, groovy. But it didn't keep my attention for a long time. I do respect what is happening now. There is so much original music around and a huge variety of styles. Of course you have to dig hard to find them and exactly what you like because majority is in a main stream that is quite polished and simplified in order to reach wider audience. I understand them completely, you have to make living somehow. I can afford not to compromise to please the market because I still make my living working as an Architect. All the releases that I do I really do out of hearth and because I love it and not because I think it will sell (although hoping). I can also spot others doing it in a same way and I feel a lot of respect for them. You can also see some of these guys after releasing their first work which was a masterpiece turning into cheese stuff. Of course they will. Giving yourself completely and knowing that you did something good and later seeing that it doesn't sell makes you think.

You are a musician too. What did you grow up listening to?

I wouldn't call myself musician, rather producer. Anyway, I used to listen rock and blues in late 60's and early 70's. Then I discovered James Brown, Sly and Family Stone etc. So I went funky. I was listening to some Jazz but now I see that I was just fascinated by it and not understood it properly. I started digging Jazz in late 70's. Groove was always the part that I loved in any of the styles. I must say that London was a turning point for me. I moved here in 1988 and started discovering many other styles like Latin, Brazilian, African and also many different shades of Jazz like Japanese and European Fusion, names like Sahib Shihab, Pharoah Sanders, Leon Thomas and some obscure ones. I also like some folk-funk, Ezo, soundtracks and library music and still searching and exploring. And of course, some of the styles from the current scene also influenced me strongly. I could say that the track "Mescalin" by Akasha inspired me to create my own music. Still sounds very strong when I play it.

What's influencing you at the moment?

Since I started Cosmic Sounds label I don't have much time for my music but all kind of ideas are going through my head. I am very inspired by some original ethno records from Latino America, Africa and far East, 60's and 70's soundtracks and all that in combination with some Jazz standards. From the new stuff I would pick out Cinematic Orchestra and Alexander Sopchek as two of my favourites. They both sounds so fresh and still have preserved original roots in the best manner and created their own recognisable style (but very different).

Do you promote Cosmic Sounds music by live acts or DJ sets?

Yes, of course. Occasionally I do DJ sets in Balance @ Plastic People. I will also perform my album live for the first time on 21st October with help from the band COXLESS PAIR from Belgrade. For that purpose we gonna be called ZELJKO KERLETA & THE SPACE RUNNERS. COXLESS PAIR recently signed for Cosmic Sounds and will also play material from their debut album "Contemplation" that just came out today. Another CS band from Belgrade MENSON BENSON SEXTET will appear same night playing stuff from their debut album "Sharpenin' The Milestone" that also came out today.
On 22nd October both bands from Belgrade will play live at Jazz Café in London and also there will be Janko Nilovic Trio and Abdul Forsyth and myself on decks. ZELJKO KERLETA & THE SPACE RUNNERS will appear live at Transmusicales Festival in Rennes, France on 1st December. I am also organising Dusko Gojkovic's concert at Jazz Café in January 2001. So, it's happening. I think it's not that bad for the start.

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