1. Your latest album "Life from the Other Side" is clearly a new step for DJ Vadim. Would you say that this is true? Can you explain the difference, or is there one, between "Life..." and "U.S.S.R. Repertoire?"

The latter seems to represent a lexical history, while the former seems to exude a more "audioaphiliated" standpoint of music.

How would you describe the difference?

I see it just as a progression of what came before. The difference now is that this album I feel is more rounded, focused, got vocals., the songs have more structure, arrangement.. feeling, direction... I basically took the bit's from the first Lp that worked and added to them - a bit like an iterative process. It took about 2 years to record.

2. The genre on "Life..."is clearly turntablist, do you see any changes in your style now or in the future? How long have you been DJing? Producing? Owned a label?

I started DJ'g in 1989, started producing in 1992, started my own label in MArch 95 on my own label (so as to release my own music).

3. Another obvious influence in your music is the great "Mother Russia." How exactly does your homeland influence style and the DJ Vadim sound? For the record, what is the Russian stance on music now as compared to the past? Is there more creative freedom, is it essentially the same, or would you say that it is still evolving?

Everything is very different. Basically Russia is trying to catch up on 50 years of youth pop culture in 10 years so things are very slow. Few magazines, little distribution, no radio play, few shops, people don't have money to buy the stuff...

4. Do you or have you ever encountered any opposition anywhere that is clearly against your upbringing as a young Russian DJ? What do you think of the current trends in hip hop?

I think there are good things and bad within each genre but whatever the climate there will always be a remnant of 'good shit.'

5. If you could enforce a 5 year plan to change or "reintegrate" hip hop into the mainstream as is being done worldwide nowadays, how would you do it? (i.e. year 1 - mandate technics for school age children, year 2 - assassinate the top 40, etc.)

I wouldn't want to, music is something you discover, work for, love and cherish. You can't be forced to like it... you have to discover it for yourself - and that's where the fun lies in finding new amazing stuff by people you have never heard of from towns in the middle of nowhere.

6. You release all of your music on the Jazz Fudge label, your own. What is it like to own a label and produce your own blend of innovative music? What is the mission behind Jazz Fudge and where did the name originate?

7. What are some of your favorite labels of all time? Artists? Producers?

DJ Premier Marly Marl BOB Mantronix Yarah Bravo DITC DJ Krush Beat Junkies VInyl Reanimators Mark B Creators.

8. Who is the most revolutionary DJ of today (beside yourself) and what is he/she doing to change the face of music and/or hip hop? What would you say needs to be done to this effect?

ISP - what Q bert is doing is amazing trying to create an orchestra on turntables also DJ Krush, Scratch Perverts, Beat junkies, Kid Koala Basically, turntablism is in it's infancy, there is still so much more to find out I think the sex song Q did and the Kid Koala LP are probably the best 2 turntable made songs.

9. What is your advice to aspiring artists/producers who would like to release their own music on a self-owned label? What are the pros and cons of owning a label?

the best advise is 1. be original, creative 2. work hard, in fact work very hard because you might be the dopest but if people don't hear you, what's the use of that?

10. What other artists are being released on Jazz Fudge? Do you have any say in what they sound like as artists and DJs?

Check www.jazzfudge.co.uk Mark B/ZBlade Isolationist Swollen Members Mc Mello Phi Life Cypher Task Force.

11. Any little known facts about Russian music or lifestyle? The music scene there?

Da Boogie crew Illegal Business Via Chappa Da 108.

12. How is life in the UK different than that in Russia now and in the past? What was it like growing up with these similar/different vistas? Childhood? Family? Etc.?

Well obviously there are more opportunities here in the UK for work... than in Russia.

13. What about the American influence in music? How would you describe this conglomeration? Is it 2-sided?

Well, I like some American music but I also like stuff from everywhere else.