Stavroz

Formed in 2011, the Belgian group Stavroz was born from the meeting of DJs, musicians and sound engineers gathered around a project that celebrates openness and multiculturalism. Stavroz was formed in 2011 by IJsbrand & Gert, both dj’s and sound engineers looking for a way to channel their musical antics. Soon thereafter, Maxim & Pieter joined on live shows and in the studio. Their first vinyl on Délicieuse Records was picked up on international blogs, resulting in a n°1 position on the Hype Machine and was chosen vinyl of the month by the German ‘Faze Magazine’. Known for injecting an overall ethnic, acoustic and organic vibe to electronic music, these four friends pocketed releases for Kindisch, Bedrock and their own label ‘Moodfamily’ in Ghent. Their intimate live set and unique dj sets were quickly picked up, sending them on regular trips abroad. Only to return home for some fifa and their weekly show on Belgian National alternative radio ‘Studio Brussel’ where they display an uncanny ability to combine the old with the new and the East with the West. Ijsbrand & Gert had always wanted to create balkan inspired music, and hence came the duoStavroz. Beyond just sharing the same musical tastes, these two buddies bond over both being sound engineers (live for Ijs, studio for Gert), which makes them real “goldsmiths” behind each and every production (such can be seen in this short clip which presents their title “The Ginning”).Their music is imprinted with original inspirations while keeping to a jazzy/burlesque influence, leaving little to be left displeased. The bridge, so it seems, borderlines between minimal and jazz-house. The first title of the EP, “The Ginning" is constructed around guitarist, Max Honckelinx. The track’s instrumental harmony is skilfully constructed by the duo as they borderline minimal and deep house. The second original title of the EP, “The Finishing" is merely a dialogue between a rhythmic stratospheric universe and the sax of Nathan Daems, well preserved from the first studio recording. The end result leaves us with 8 minutes of lyricism soaked in sophistication and technicality. In regards to the remixes,Felkon,who has been presented several times before on the Délicieuse, takes on “The Ginning” by including vocals which create a more dance-like ambiance. Britta Arnold, a legendary pioneer from Bar 25 and Katerholzig, worked on “The Ginning” as well with Sascha Cawa. They delivered a version more obscure yet wickedly effective.As for the remixes of “The Finishing”,Powelcontinues to captivate us while executing his deep and melancholic twists. He entirely redesigns the piece’s structure by retiring the “voice” of the sax. And then there’s our man,Viken Arman, who spins his version of “The Finishing” by refiguring the rhythm pattern and adding a new dimension to the bass.