Spinner RPM: Derek Plaslaiko

Posted on Mar 27th 2008 4:00PM by Mike Spinella
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A fixture in Detroit's ever-notable minimal scene, Derek Plaslaiko represents a new generation, building on the foundation laid by Carl Craig and Jeff Mills. After gaining notoriety with a residency at Detroit's legendary Motor club, Plaslaiko relocated to New York with his cutting edge selections, which maintain the aesthetics that shaped the early days of D.C. hardcore and uphold them in the techno community. Simply put, if you're going to hear Plaslaiko play, prepare to hear something new, every time.

"I guess I get labeled as a Techno DJ, but I've always thought of myself as being somewhat of a wildcard," Plaslaiko tells Spinner. "More often than not, I show up to a gig with little or no plan as to where I'm going to go with the music I play. Before coming [to New York], I thought it would be such a big city and, to be honest, more superficial than Detroit. I really didn't move to further my career. I was perfectly happy for the experiences I had through DJing in the Midwest, and felt it was quite a ride. I figured New York was just too big to get noticed. Now, I'm currently on a 15-city tour. Not bad for someone who thought it was all over."

Plaslaiko has been shaking things up in Brookyln with a residency at the Bunker, were he often brings in some of his Detroit collegues for a night of tweaked-out mayhem. You can also catch him scoop up fresh vinyl at Halcyon, which he considers to be the "last of the DJ shops in NYC that cater to a wide variety of techno and house." "Intensity is what I look for in a track," he says. "It doesn't have to be hard. It just has to have tension. There's no distinct sound. I try to cover as many sides of the electronic spectrum as possible."

Although the Motor City spinner is noted far and wide for his live set, Plaslaiko hasn't done much in the way of production or commercial releases just yet. But he has a home on Ghostly's Spectral imprint and is planning on unveiling his first official productions later this year. "It's my main focus right now," Plasaiko says. "Before this tour started, I was spending as much time as I could in the studio. I've been dabbling since 1999, but never released anything. Once this tour is completed, I will be locked in my room a lot more, and trying to get some things finished. I never wanted to really hunker down on production until I felt the time was right. And it seems like it's now or never."

Be on the look out for Plaslaiko's production and mixed CD. In the meantime, enjoy an exclusive mix, featuring Plaslaiko's handpicked gems. In addition to his forthcoming tour, Plaslaiko will make an appearance at the Winter Music Conference in Miami, on Friday, March 28, at P.S. 14.

Derek Plaslaiko, 'Spinner RPM Exclusive Mix'

01: Colin Zyskowski, 'Untitled' - Four Recordings - FOUR.1
02: Gel Abril, 'Very Wrong' - Be As One BAO004
03: Mikael Stavostrand & Franco Cinelli, 'Money Talks' - Sunset Diskos 08
04: Pitto, 'Sexvibe' - Arearemote - AREA002
05: Etienne Jaumet, 'Repeat Again After Me' (me Remix) - Versatile - VER054
06: Marco Resmann, 'Candle Dipper' - Upon You - UY007
07: Ltzenkirchen, 'She Is Me' - Platform B - PLATFORMB03
08: Marascia & Dusty Kid, 'Plumbi' - Boxer Sport - BOXER053
09: Maxime Dangles - Agujas - K2 - K229
10: Luca Bacchetti, 'Like A Sadhu' - Wagon Repair - WAG032
11: .xtrak - Cut To The Chase - Yore Records - YORE007
12: Raudive, 'Pylon; - Drumcode - DC38
13: Mikael Stavostrand feat Big Bully, 'Please My Pain' - Thema - THEMA006
14: Nihad Tule & Nima Khak, 'Chess' - Truesoul - TRUE1217

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