In Music We Believe: An exclusive with Vlad Starque and Indie Elephant

Vlad Starque from Lithuania and Indie Elephant from Ukraine met online through their shared love for music. With over a decade of experience, both are accomplished producers who decided to start their own label, In Music We Believe, to take full control over their musical vision for the future.

Photo credit: In Music We Believe – Official

Their first EP, including tracks ‘Hello’ and ‘Soulmate,’ was released in May. Both tracks have a uniquely fresh vibe, fusing live instrumentals, funky basslines, and groovy vocals.

We caught up with Vlad Starque and Indie Elephant (Artur) to discuss their path through music and the creation of their label. We also discussed all the challenges they have had to go through to continue making music together, which has been especially challenging given the current war in Ukraine.

EG: Hi guys, thanks for joining me. Let’s start at the beginning, how did you guys meet?

Vlad Starque: I texted Artur on IG because I liked one of his tracks and then we started chatting and realized we have similar taste, similar ideas, and a good vibe, so we have been working together since. A year later, I went to Kyiv to meet in person and work on our first collaboration.

EG: With you Artur being in Kyiv and Vlad in Vilnius, what have been some of your challenges in working together?

Vlad Starque: Well, for example, during Corona, Indie Elephant was booked to play in Lithuania but when he arrived he wasn’t able to enter the country because he wasn’t vaccinated. Then of course the ongoing war makes it very difficult for me to visit and Artur can’t leave the country, so I went to Kyiv in March 2024 to have a studio session together. We spent three days making music in between running to shelter because of the air attacks. No matter what the conditions in the world, we keep smiling and making music, young, wild, and free!

EG: That must make producing together tricky at times, what has helped?

Vlad Starque: We do video calls to play parts of the track to each other, or send clips back and forth. Then I am able to test the tracks in clubs to see the crowd reaction and see if there is anything that needs changing.

“No matter what the conditions in the world, we keep smiling and making music, young, wild, and free!”

EG: Do either of you come from a musical background?

Vlad Starque: No, we just learned by practicing and YouTube tutorials, so mostly self-taught. We have both been inspired since we were teenagers to make music.

Artur (Indie Elephant): The first time I saw the Swedish House Mafia I was so inspired because they had such a wide audience and any track they had was played around the world.

EG: What made you decide you wanted to start your own label?

Vlad Starque: We have both had some successful tracks released on other labels and played on radio stations in Lithuania and Ukraine and then one day in Jan 2024 we were complaining about the release times and how long it takes, like sometimes over a year to release it. Also, the labels weren’t promoting the music, so we decided to start our own label. We could then have full control to choose the artwork, the timing, sound. Some labels ask to change a lot of parts of the track and then they release a track that isn’t the same as we originally made. With In Music We Believe, we believe in the music we are making, the artwork shows the church as music is our religion. We launched the label on Indie Elephant’s birthday and I already got a tattoo of the label’s logo.

EG: Tell us about the first release and the inspiration behind it.

Vlad Starque: The first track ‘Hello’ is an introduction of the sound we want to showcase on this label, which contains sounds with live instruments, funky breakbeats, unexpected styles, and rock, it’s something different. Right now a lot of the music is too similar and people are just standing around filming. We want to make something that we are proud of, a piece of our feelings that we can’t describe with words but through music.

EG: How are you finding your inspiration for your tracks?

Artur (Indie Elephant): Firstly we define the main sound, the melody or loop, and then build everything on top of that. We try to imagine a backstory to the track and a feeling, so start playing around with some sounds like Afro-house, and live elements, and then go from there. We mix the music with weed and emotions!

“We want to make something that we are proud of, a piece of our feelings that we can’t describe with words but through music”

EG: What other labels have inspired you?

Vlad Starque:  No Art affects the direction of sound we try to make because they are something different. ‘Relax My Eyes,’ was a big one, they had a lot of live instruments, and we like that direction.

EG: What is coming out next on ‘In Music We Believe’?

Vlad Starque: ‘Before Tonight’ is our next release on May 31st. It’s a track you need to listen to before you go to the club. It gets you into the vibe to dance at a club or festival. The 2nd track on the EP is ‘Stronger’, which is a mix of breakbeat and funk with strings of Romanian opera, something very different. We are also planning music videos for the tracks. Overall for us having fun is what is important.

Indie Elephant, Vlad Starque, and Double O’s ‘Before Tonight’ is now available on In Music We Believe. Stream and download here.

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