Budding Glaswegian DJ Denis Sulta Talks Influence and Success Before Nov 17 Dada Night

Tom Arnstein | Nov 13, 2017 4:00 pm | Add a comment | 1280 reads

With his boyish looks, bleached crop of spiked hair, and euphoric we’re-in-this-together-behind-the-decks presence, the world of dance music has taken notice of young Denis Sulta’s early flourish as a well-respected DJ. The 24-year-old Glaswegian will come to Dada on Friday (Nov 17) to give us a slice of his feel-good disco-inflected house.

Sulta, AKA Hector Barbour, began DJing in clubs around his hometown in 2011 before trying his hand at making his own beats. After his breakout with 2015's "It's Only Real," and now with several releases under his belt (most notably his Nein Fortiate EP and Our World (With A Boy On Its Shoulders) 12-inch single, both released earlier this year on his own Sulta Selects imprint), Sulta is looking more assured than ever, having shaped some hard experiences into tracks that translate into bliss live.

Sulta is the second booking from new Beijing-based promoters Suanpan, going two-for-two on prominent Glaswegian DJ acts, having hosting famed DJ duo Optimo back in September.

Below we caught up briefly with Sulta to talk about what advice he'd give to fellow aspiring DJs, his own inspirations, and what he hopes to see in Beijing.

TBJ: The past 18 months have seen you go from strength to strength, including placing as the highest new entry on Resident Advisor’s 2016 DJ poll and a DJ Award nomination for best new DJ. Apart from the hard work and late nights, what would you say you owe your early success to?
Denis Sulta: The late nights definitely had a part to play, haha. However, I'd say persistence is the key to succeeding at anything.

You have a knack for using vocal samples to evoke big emotions on the dancefloor. How has your love of disco shaped the way you approach making music?
Disco was a big part of my childhood as my father was dead into a lot of Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic, and Nile Rodgers. There is a magic in disco music that just cannot be denied and really tugs at my heartstrings.

You’ve mentioned that Denis Sulta is a more upbeat version of your DJing persona, as opposed to your darker Atlus output. What do you attribute this change to? Is Atlus something you’re likely to revisit?
Atlus was a project that was very focused on my mental state at the time. Dark, furious, and naive. The naivety still very much exists in me but now I'm a bit more of a positive person, or at least I try to be. This was the reason I moved away from Atlus, turned it on its head, and came out with Denis Sulta.

You’ve spoken about lapses in confidence at certain points of your career. If there was advice that you could give other aspiring DJs and producers, what would it be?
Don't give up! Lack of confidence is such a killer. Never let other peoples' opinion of you validate your worth as an artist. Enjoy what you do and be proud of what you create.

If you were to choose five tracks that mark your early ascent and evolution as a DJ and musician what would they be and why?
I usually don't like these types of questions but George Duke's "Reach Out" is my number one favorite song of all time and that has a lot to do with where I am today.

Finally, what are you most excited to get into in Beijing?
I really hope we have some time to see the Great Wall even if just from afar, but I could not be any more excited to visit Beijing and can't wait to see you all!