Milo Savic is one of the most talented and esteemed House music DJs in Belgium. Recognized for his technical expertise, he quickly rose to prominence in his home city, allowing him to perform in clubs and large events around the country and the globe.
From You Night Club in Brussels to Fabrik in Madrid (Dj Mag N°33 world top club) and Le Cirque Du Soir in London or Brussels Summer Festival to Mawazine Festival in Morocco (largest African Festival), Nikki Beach and The Forge in Miami, passing by Home and Duvet Club in New-York or The Queen and Redlight in Paris, Milo Savic never forgot his love for the music, which led him to launch (and manage) Radio Vibration which soon became the top underground electronic radio in Brussels.
As an entrepreneur, Milo Savic created “Extrazone Shop” (the largest DJ vinyl shop in Europe) to give his fans with high-quality electronic music; he stopped these operations to focus on his producing career.
In 2022, he released a remix of Stromae’s song “Santé” as well as a completely new single titled “Change the World,” which was filled with positive energy. This song is an Eric Clapton cover. This track was co-produced with the brilliant guitarist and arranger Ollin Kan, who also played guitars on the track. The vocal performance is provided by Pirhate, an enormous belgo-turkish rising talent. Alia Schafer, a Greek-German sound engineer residing in Barcelona, produced the drop’s background vocals. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
MILO SAVIC: I’m a dj-producer from Belgium, born in Serbia. Everything started for me in Brussels, one day a place here gave me the opportunity to have do a test and show what I can do, and it never stopped from that day. I became dj, then I started producing music, and touring.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
MILO SAVIC: I’m totally self-taught, I watched Carl Cox and Roger Sanchez on tv when I was 10 years old, and then I got the chance to have some older friends who got some dj equipment, then I tried to understand, practice & reproduce what I watched.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘MILO SAVIC’?
MILO SAVIC: As a kid I was influenced by balkan music, English and French pop and soul. When I grew up, I became eclectic and keep all my kids music, but also involved myself to electronic music and hip hop, rock, then I discovered world music with Cesaria Evora, Astor Piazzolla, Angélique Kidjo, …
I directly felt in love with all those different influences you can have … a mix of lot of different culture, like in balkan music, you can also find that.
Balkan brass music has a big influence on me and some of my songs.
For my name, first I was called « Dj Milo » and the problem after some years, there was lot of artist with the same name. I remember Bob Sinclar and Antone Baduel (Radio FG boss) saying to me : « You have to change your name, there is too many Milo … There is also Mylo and his Drop the pressure song »
Both of them had the same words … I had to think about …
And in 2013 I finally changed and put a surname to Milo, it became Milo Savic.
Everybody called me Milo as a kid, it was my surname and the 1st 4 letters of my Name.
To find Milo Savic, I just took my real name : Milosavljev, and made it a little more simple to pronounce :)))
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
MILO SAVIC: My sound is a deep-pop-eletronic – house music with a touch of orchestral and symphonic mixtures and sprinkled with some world music.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as Dance POP & Electronic?
MILO SAVIC:
It’s all about music passion ! First I wanted to become one of the best in dj-ing then I began to produce my own music. When you produce music without any limits and any pressure, just with the feeling of the moment’s mood; that’s the best process for me to be original in music. So that’s the way I love to work in studio. I’m very eclectic and I love that !! So here with « Change the world », I wanted a fully good vibes song, because the 2 first releases of my fairy music project were more nostalgic. So I wanted to crossover with more positivity. I consider eclecticism as a strength to move towards different influences and styles, the originality comes also with the mix of all that music diversity. And to wave in all that eclecticism, I first learned history of music and lot of his different trends, to understand the music culture. For example, as a house music & electronic dj, disco music had a huge influence, so I learned lot about disco, to be able to better understand, all that electronic song who came after. Then you build your way through all the influences you discovered since you’re a kid, and you choose to explore this or that music trend. And for me, pop and electronic were the conclusion of all that discoveries I made during years by listening music.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
MILO SAVIC:
I’m always trying to be engaged & defending causes. In June 2020, I have produced and performed a tribute show to Cpvid-19 most affected European countries, and we raised funds for artist with the King Baudoin Foundation et Live Nation.
In november 2021, I’ve produced a song dedicated to all events, horeca and entertainment sectors, to make the voice of all those people heard. And it worked, we received a lot of support of the people, and medias.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
MILO SAVIC:
Music is my first love since I’m 3 years old … And I have the chance that music became my job also. As I said before, it’s all about the music passion ! If I have one more thing to ask, it’s touring in more & more countries to share music and emotions with lot more people.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
MILO SAVIC:
Usually, I start a production with all the drums part. I love to put the rhythm colors and then built a melody in.
For melodies, when I have an idea, I recorded it in my phone, and then I choose the more relevant I recorded.
When my instrumental is done, then I start on vocals, sometimes I write lyrics, but most of time, I collaborate with singers, and I really like to built a song in collaboration.
9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
MILO SAVIC:
10 years ago, I had a tinnitus in my left ear. It was a big trauma, my ear was totally closed, and I’ve lost 5db.
I had to cancel lot of gigs, and I remember to have a gig with a big dj.
But also, 1 month after that accident, I was to go touring in Miami for the 1st time …
I was afraid to have to cancer that too and to miss a huge career crossover.
I remember the doctor saying : You can chose to continue to play and to destroy your hear, or you cancel the gigs, we gonna try to save it, and maybe you gonna be fit for Miami …
And yes that happens, I cancel the gigs, I took care of my ear, I recuperate 4,8db.
So I was fit on time to play in Miami … Unforgettable moment ! An epic gig and a deliverance !
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
MILO SAVIC:
Playing at Mawazine festival was a big honor ! I had the privilege to be one of the 2 only dj’s playing in the biggest festival of Africa, alongside Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue, Enio Morricone, …
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