The hip-hop world is based on DJs and MCs ? but outside the jungle/drum & bass parties, how often do you see MCs in the dance/electronica world. MCs performing live to hype the crowds during DJ sets are becoming the standard on the European scene and leading the charge is the lovely Miss Vika Kova. Based in Amsterdam, she has hyped crowds for everyone from Fedde Le Grand to Sven Vath ? electro to techno to house ? and everything in between. In addition to MCing, Vika also hosts a weekly radio program and is starting to DJ herself while working on a solo album. With her vivacious energy and voracious love of all dance music, keep your eyes on Vika Kova to lead us into the future.
Vika, you're an MC. What exactly is an MC?
Vika Kova: MC is basically a master of ceremony, which can be explained in different ways, because there are a lot of kinds of MCs. But what I do is host the night's event. I make people realize the vibe of the party, I make them scream, I make them dance ? together with the DJ, of course. And I do live vocals with the DJs. It's always improvisation. We never rehearse. I have no idea what a DJ is going to play. The most important thing is that he plays non-vocals. The rest doesn't matter to me.
So you can start singing over any beat that comes up? They can play any song and you'll sing on top of it?
Vika Kova: Yes. But no vocals, please. It's respect to the production. If it's with vocals, if it's beautifully done, I keep my mouth shut.
Who's your favorite DJ to perform with?
Vika Kova: That's very difficult to answer because every DJ can do a great set, and every DJ can do a very bad one. I had a lot of fun with Tiga on the Mystery Land main stage this year. And I love to play with Marco V. because we've known each other for a while and we trust each other musically, so it's a kind of chemistry going on between us. With our upcoming star Freddie le Grand, I have really nice musical experiences, too.
Do you find it easier with house music or trance or electro? Is there a genre that you work best with?
Vika Kova: House is probably the easiest one, because it's almost asking for the vocals, but trance can be very nice, too. The last time I had to perform in Odessa, in the Ukraine, on Euro Trance Festival with English trance DJs, I was thinking, "Oh my God, all night long only trance, I'm going to get crazy." But I loved it. It went so smooth, it was so beautifully done, and the sound was great, the delay and echo and everything, no problem. I actually have a new challenge coming up. I've got to do the techno party of Cocoon, with Dominik Eulberg and Sven Vath. That's a challenge because all of them say, "We don't use MCs, we never have MCs, we don't want MCs." The thing is, the Dutch part of the organization of the Cocoon decided that they want me to host the party. So it's a challenge. But I'm doing the homework and I think it's going to be just fine.
Tell me more about MCing.
Vika Kova: Do you know that I think that Dutch promoters got it very early that MCs, just like DJs, can make your party or break your party. A good MC brings a very special vibe. Being an MC is just feeling the crowd and feeling the vibe. If you have this gift in you, you can just make people jump to the air and scream, and make them experience your party even more strongly. That's why Holland is very much an MC-minded country, because they know that. A DJ only is not always enough.
I know a couple of years ago in Europe that a named DJ would guarantee a crowd. Has that changed in Europe?
Vika Kova: That changed a lot, unfortunately, because people don't go out to see a particular DJ anymore. Two weeks ago I performed with Kenito Gonzalez, and the venue was half full. Four years ago when he came to Holland, it was sold out, for very high price (tickets). Now the people go out more for the atmosphere, for the people they know. It's more the power of the promoters to attract the people than the DJs. Another thing about the DJs, and it's kind of controversial ? it's like Tiesto in concert is sold out, for what, ten thousand tickets? But he now has his own club, right in the middle of Amsterdam, where he plays himself, and nobody comes. It's unbelievable, it's a contradiction. Small clubs, with DJ's names, nobody cares. Big events, like DJ concerts ? like we have Ferry Corsten, who comes and goes, Armin van Buuren, the top ten DJs ? people buy the tickets, they go to the events. But not in the clubs. Amazing, eh?
When you MC, do you MC in Dutch or English or what language?
Vika Kova: English, only English.
And English isn't your first language?
Vika Kova: No, it's Russian
Wordsby : Ron Slomowicz