Deeprhythms

Verbal wears many hats as a DJ, producer and label owner – originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, and now based in Berlin. From running the Summoning label and party series to building intimate DJ sets, Verbal’s approach is all about connection, exploration, and pushing boundaries.

Dive in as he shares insights into the electronic music scene, future plans, memorable experiences, and the excellent mix he’s prepared for us!

Hi there Verbal, what’s been keeping you busy lately?

Yes I’m both a DJ and a producer, last gig I had was a label showcase of Summoning and Warning in Club TES, Tbilisi, Georgia, now mostly focused on building new connections and contacts in EU since I moved to Berlin last month.

I run a Label/Party Series in Club TES, called “Summoning” with my friend and my brother, we started in late 2010’s and released our first vinyl record just this year.

As for late i’ve been planning a small tour to Scandinavia, Norway, Denmark, Sweden usw. 

Do you have any fond musical memories from your childhood?

I remember the moment I listened to Kerri Chandler, Daft Punk, Prodigy for the first time, also my core memory is exploring the grounds of Drexciya, Moritz Von Oswald.

What about DJ’ing, and how did you get started?

Initially I wanted to give out good vibes and energies on parties and let people seek escapism and comfort zone on the dance floor but as it evolved more as a profession, the relationship with the art of DJing itself changes with time.

Name a few records or songs that had a big impact on you in your early days and why?

Acidwolf – Blue Morning Drive, 

Round One – I’m Your Brother, 

Basic Channel – Quadrant Dub,

Drexciya –  Black Sea / Neon Falls,

No words, just feelings. 

Do you have any memorable experiences to share from your early days as a DJ?

I remember playing in Griesmuehle Garten in early days, which was  truly a special place for me 

Tell us a little about your vinyl collection and how you go about finding records to buy?

I don’t have many records, but I always get one I love, therefore my vinyl selection is more intimate and feels like cheating in a way to build up chemistry on the dance floor in comparison with full-time digital performance. I mostly dig personal collections on Discogs, which is really handy if you find a collector in the same city as you.

When you select records for your sets, what’s your approach like?

I normally put all my bangers in the bag and go instinctively on the floor, but I always have a playlist in Rekordbox with all the neighboring genres of music which might fit the venue im performing at.

Name three to five secret weapons that you almost every time carry in your bag?

Mosca – Bax

Blaze – Lovelee Dae

Man with no name – from within the mind of my 909

Palms Trax – Equation

HVL – Sallow Myth

What have been your most memorable record finds? Any good stories?

It is for sure Nachti XX release with by that time had 20 min of unreleased works from Giegling, KLM (kassem moose, lowtec, mixmup) and many more super interesting tracks.

Do you have a comfort record, one you can put on that makes you feel good no matter what?

Round Four with Tikiman. 

How have you evolved as a producer? 

I’ve been around the DAW’s for more than 10 years but I didn’t really had big, fast steps, my evolution was slow but whatever i’ve learned I was trying to squeeze all the knowledge out of it.

Are there any new tools or musicians or artists who have recently inspired you?

I get inspired by listening to other tracks, sometimes some sample gets stuck in my mind and I just have to use it as a reference while in DAW.

Out of your own releases, which do you have the strongest bond with and why is that?

SUM001, because we worked so hard and long for that.

Where do you find the music and the artists for the label? 

Normally the search is conducted between friends and friends of friends.

What has been the most rewarding part of running the label?

Holding Vinyl in your hands and listening in clubs how other dj’s play your vinyl.

What’s your take on the current state of electronic music?

The trends are not changing in the same pace as it was in 2010s and early 00’s, clubs and promoters are in a comfort zone for too long and it’s getting a bit boring to go out and listen to the same sets played by different people. I think the whole industry needs a shake up.

Can you name a few local Tbilisi acts, events or locations that should be on people’s radar?

I mean obviously TES, Bassiani, Left Bank, Mtkvarze, all of them are unique places and definitely worth a visit, I would also mention Morevi Records Shop, which just relocated and opened a new spot in town.

So the mix, can you tell us a little something about that? 

This is a livemix from our Party Series, when I took over the dancefloor from Simon, resident of Warning, the party it self was a showcase of Warning and Summoning at the club TES, in general you could say its a Trance Mix with a house twist.