DJ Morg - from the dark Swedish forests to international DJ

"I played in an experimental rock band for a while, but after my first trance party I wanted to use my synthesizers to produce trance music instead".

Morg discovered psychedelic trance after going to a party deep in the dark Swedish forest in 1993. Soon after he began writing his own tracks under the name Katayama and had his first releases on the Spiral Trax label, newly founded by his friend DJ Anti (Anders Enqvist). "I started Katayama in 1993, and it started out as a very full on pumping night style project with big fat hard body bass lines and a heavy kick".

Following these first Katayama releases Morgs involvement in the Swedish trance scene increased and he soon found himself behind the decks, as DJ Morg, and organizing forest parties.
"We had a few years with a blast of excellent parties between 1992 and 1998 in Sweden. Almost all the well known artists and DJs from Sweden, Germany and England have played at our forest & indoor parties. Then the big hassles with the police started and the only thing to do for those of us who loved trance was to start producing music. So the reason why Scandinavian trance is so popular today seems to be a result of the police's hard attitude towards parties, and our long cold winters when the best place to be is in a warm studio".

Despite the police crackdown on the Swedish dance music scene, Morg is still organizing forest parties. "For the last couple of years we have been organizing more private parties with only 200-400 people. But I have a feeling this is going to change soon. The police don't have the resources anymore because of increased political terrorism and demonstrations. We don't organize so many parties per year but those we have are really good ones, with loads of energy and good music".

With several record releases under his belt and a growing reputation in his home country and among the visiting international DJs, Morgs own DJ career became international. Some of the countries DJ Morg has played in so far are the UK, Greece, France, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Holland,Slovenia and Israel. But one of his favourite party experiences was playing at Voov Experience in Germany in 2000. "I like to play long sets with a steady flow of energy, and at Voov.yeah it was just amazing to see 10 000 crazy tranceheads full of energy, giving you the best response.an unforgettable and indescribable experience. A dream come true. Voov is the mother ship of trance, dance and fun". Nowadays he plays regularly at various clubs and parties in Germany.
And last year he visited New Zealand and Australia for the second time. "I played at The Dawning festival in Byron Bay and at Rainbow Serpent [in Victoria]. Both parties where fantastic with the right kind of freaky people and with a very nice vibe. I met some very nice people so I am really looking forward to coming back to Australia in December".

Besides Djing at parties in Europe and around the world Morg is also currently working on several new musical projects. Logarhythmic is his collaboration with another Spiral Trax artist Human Blue. There is also a project called Battery Inc with a release on Microgram Records. Some new Katayama tracks are also in the works. Last July the German label Hadshot released the compilation "Hosted Vol. 1: Morg" which contains 8 previously unreleased tracks compiled by Morg, including a new track by Katayama.

DJ Morg will play at the French Island 3 New Years Eve festival near Melbourne (<http://www.thetimeisnow.com.au/>).

Henrik Stromberg- illusions@spray.se
Boris Leshinsky - borisL@mad.scientist.com Tags

• morg
• french island