Many people count down the days for Halloween for reasons like trick-or-treating, dressing up or simply giving scares to one another. However, there seems to be a vibe among the University crowd like never witnessed before during this period….. In an exclusive interview with Mark Grech and Stefan Balzan, two of the masterminds behind the concept of SOUND SALON, we managed to collect some answers to your typical FAQ questions that are asked to the biggest event held in Malta.
How, when, and from where did Sound Salon originate?
We had been discussing the huge leap between local events and foreign ones for a number of months and the maltese clubbing scene was going through bit of a dry patch mostly because of the lack of new ideas there was in the scene. One day Stefan started working on the concept of the SOUND SALON he started playing around with the name and the image and brand it would represent and slowly we started developing the idea and building a team of people who are passionate about music and the entertainment industry.
Our idea was to start small and controlled and to have a very limited DJ line up in order to ensure that every DJ gets the exposure he deserves whilst giving him the creative liberty to define his own style and not just be used to get people. Through this we started exploring different music styles as we wanted to try and establish a kind of environment and music Sound Salon would be known for and not just any other night.
Our aim was not to create an event like any other but to create a community of people who loved the same music and wanted to be entertained. Being close to our people has always been a priority for us.
When was the first event you ever had, and have you ever imagined you would end up at this stage?
Our first night was on 11th July 2012. At that point we had never imagined what would happen from then on. We were confident of our product and we knew people will like it (if they actually come) but we had no idea of how it would unfold. We spent the last few hours before opening our doors for the first time worried that something might go wrong or that no one would turn up, however when the people came and the night started progressing all of us realised that we had a certain chemistry between us that brought the best of our creative side.
What plans do you have for the future?
Our plans for the future depend on what the people want. Our philosophy has always been to give the people what they want and it will naturally progress. During the past years we have always brought every club to the limits of what can be done within it and have always tried to raise standards of the entertainment factor throughout the night. In the future we plan to keep growing on this path and keep pushing that limit of what is being done within the club on the night. Our plan is not to grow but to create a solid brand which is close to its followers and keep the high level of standard during each of our nights. This extends from smooth logistics and entertainment from the moment you go into the club to the moment you leave.
Then again, even though the entertainment factor has been very important to us, MUSIC has always been our number one priority and will always be. One of the reasons we do not have a lot of rotating DJS and stick to the same line up every event is because we have a dedicated DJ team who are constantly being pushed to create new music and explore different genres which can be incorporated within the SOUND SALON portfolio.
What motivates you to keep coming back bigger and stronger?
The smile of satisfaction on people’s faces after each and every event and the feedback we gather after each event. We actively seek both positive and negative feedback to improve on the experience the following week.
What are the aspirations for the Sound Salon team? Thinking of going abroad?
Our aspiration is to keep delivering an ’experience’ style of event, pushing the limits and solidifying our brand into a lifestyle brand and maybe who knows some day we would also be able to develop into a label. At the moment we are working hard on developing a mobile app which will make our music more accessible to everyone. It will have much more functions obviously but everything will be revealed at the right time.
What is your fondest memory of the Sound Salon adventure?
There is a special moment during each event where everyone would have warmed up to the place and their surrounding and when everyone lets loose and starts enjoying the moment. This particular moment has been the centre piece of some of our fondest moments, that moment when everything is in place, the crowd is enjoying itself and the show has begun.
Also another particular fond memory is this year’s closing night at Club Phoenix is when we managed to pull off lighting up an 8 meter sign on the building of Gianpula.
One embarrassing fact on a couple members of the crew!
Oh so many! We’re quite a funny bunch and one could say it’s like we’ve all become brothers. We’ve had music with pen drives getting lost or broken before gigs, the infamous last minute light bulb when we come up with a new idea a day or a couple of hours before the event and we need to pull it off a few hours and also minutes before* This sometimes leads to last minute crazy moments. Having said all this we always end up with the desired result, but If only one could film us during these moments .. It would be a complete comedy.
What should one expect next Friday?
SOUND SALON at its very best. After every event we end up saying what the hell can we do next to top that off. This time I believe we have managed to go the next step. We’re going to be having a great set up within the club turning it into our own circus for the night whilst having a huge amount of surprises all throughout. The devil is in the detail and that is exactly what we have done for this Friday. Obviously, Music will and will be a priority and our DJs have been preparing their music for the past weeks and are ready to impress.
For those of you who had their doubts on how to spend their Halloween evening, fear no more. Don’t forget to buy the last few tickets left for a night to remember, and see you all at SOUND SALON.
