Artists Asking Artists: Avision & Victor Calderone

Renowned US DJ, Producer, and Label Boss Victor Calderone’s 20+ year track record speaks entirely for itself. Considered by many an influential and inspirational talent, Victor has entertained millions of people, both as an individual artist and the driving force behind his well-respected MATTER+ Recordings imprint. The latter is being resurrected impressively in May. Victor welcomes his cousin and fellow industry titan Avision to the table for the label’s relaunch in a scintillating collaborative EP titled ‘Chemical’. 

 Stepping back into the fore five years after the last MATTER+ release, Avision picks up where he left off, teaming up with Victor to curate the label’s future releases and help steer the brand. In the first instance, he’s on hand to deliver an undeniably head-turning body of work alongside Victor that will undoubtedly put the label well and truly back on the map as a pioneering Techno imprint. 

 With two MATTER+ events already booked in the calendar, you can catch the guys playing at Public Records in Brooklyn for the launch on the 1st of June, and then in Stereo Montreal on the 24th of June. 

 “Collaborating together on music has been a goal of ours for quite some time. It was all about the right time and the right sound. We finally feel like we have a sound that can be timeless and relatable to the new and old club generation. We are very excited to continue to work on collaborating more and pushing the envelope musically.” adds Anthony. “The timing couldn’t be better for the MATTER relaunch. Avision and I have always been musically aligned, and we are ready to share this next chapter for the label.” Says Victor. 

To help us learn more about their partnership and what the future holds for their new venture for the latest installment of Artists Asking Artists. 

Avision asks Victor:

What was the first moment where you realized you wanted this career for the rest of your life?

It was the first time I stepped into the Fun House nightclub in NYC. I will never forget the anticipation while waiting in line to get in, and the sound of the exit doors rattling from the bass pressure coming from the Richard Long sound system inside. The moment I walked in I realized I had discovered a world I needed to be a part of. I knew from that point on it was clearly going to be in my future.

Favorite NYC club from the 80s to early 2000’s?

Hard to choose as there were so many incredibly special clubs back then. In my opinion, nothing can compare to the magic of The Paradise Garage. The freedom, the diversity, the community, and that SOUND SYSTEM! With the genius of Larry Levan driving it. It was perfection. It instilled a reference in me that will be with me forever.

Original Sound Factory would be a close second. It was similar to the Paradise Garage in many ways. Again, one of the best more recent sound systems I’ve heard in NYC in years. It was during Junior Vasquez’s residency, and he was at his absolute best. Incredibly inspiring to be on his dance floor at that time. I can say with certitude that there has not been anything like it in NYC since.

Top 3 classic house records of all time?

Whoa, that’s a tough one. X-Press 2 “Muzik Xpress”, Marshall Jefferson “Move Your Body”, H2O featuring Billy “Take Me Higher”.

What was your breakthrough record? What were you feeling at that time?

That is clearly “Give It Up” released in 1996. I was just coming off a 4-year hiatus after a short-lived attempt to break into the industry. It was literally my first time back in the studio in years. I went in not knowing what I was going to do, but also with a lot of built-up emotion from feeling like I had given up on my dream. There I was, back in to give it another shot. After that session, I clearly remember the moment I handed a rough mix on a cassette to Manny Ward at the Eightball record shop in NYC. He immediately put it on and everyone in the shop rushed to the counter to ask what it was. I knew at that moment I was on to something special.

A career can have many obstacles, it can be defeating, and rewarding at the same time. How have you been able to keep peace of mind at times? What have been some of your obstacles and biggest rewards?

Our industry is filled with obstacles and challenges. It’s how we navigate through them and learn from them that makes us wiser. Being in this business for 30 years I’ve learned to follow my instincts. Whenever I go against them, I would regret my decisions. Self-doubt is something we constantly battle with as creatives. Constant touring can also get exhausting, burning you out and making you feel uninspired. The remedy to that is to reset and refuel your creative cup. After some neglected time off from production, it became abundantly clear that I needed to challenge myself to get back in the studio and recalibrate — to explore what I wanted to and needed to say musically. That creative exploration proved to me that putting in the time and effort back in the studio creating and collaborating has paid off tenfold.

The reward has been sharing all this renewed energy through the music that was created and seeing the positive feedback from my fans and colleagues. There is nothing quite like hearing and seeing the crowd respond to your own productions! Such a great reminder to always engage in the symbiotic relationship between DJing and production — they really must go hand in hand.

Victor asks Avision:

I know your dad is a very talented musician and vocalist. Have you ever collaborated on any music together that you released?

He sure is lol, I have used him a few times on some of my records. The last record I had him jump on was from my album called “In My Mind” – he sang all of the harmonies. Other than that, we used to collaborate a ton when I was a kid learning everything. I will say it is a true blessing getting to have his ear on my tunes sometimes, he’s always listening with a different mindset which I love.

How has your sound evolved since you started and where would you like to go with it next?

My sound has definitely evolved over time. I would say that when I first started the Avision alias, I was really inspired by the roots of Techno which helped me get to where I am musically today. Now, I just go into the studio with a clear mindset to make something that is me- whether it is Techno, House, Deep House, or whatever I’m feeling at the moment. I’d love to work with a few vocalists next and try to have an approach of just writing good timeless music. Winning a Grammy or working with an amazing artist has always been one of my goals since the beginning, but I feel like it will all come together as long as I write music that I’m happy with.

If you can go back and tell 20-year-old Avision a bit of industry advice what would it be?

Take a deep breath, stress less, continue to work hard, and take risks. It’s not an overnight success, it’s the journey. The journey is what makes you who you are, have patience and trust your process. I’ll be honest, some of this I still tell myself.

What producer has had the biggest influence on you and why?

Tough question because there are so many producers who have inspired me. If I narrow it down to one producer, it would be the GOAT Quincy Jones. I used to listen to Michael Jackson’s “Off The Wall” album on repeat, I loved to hear all of the “ear candy” in the background of those records. All of Quincy’s music has been timeless and done so tastefully, there’s a reason why he is the greatest, and I’m always taking notes when it comes to Quincy.

Do you prefer festivals or intimate rooms?

An intimate room, 100%. Playing a festival is amazing, and I’m lucky to play some of the best of them. Although, there is something about a small room that makes me feel so inspired. I love a small, packed dancefloor and a good sound system that gives me that itch as a DJ to try certain records, and truly captivate a connection with the crowd.