The community of hip-hop and rap music in the USA has welcomed IVAN. His music is causing a stir across the nation with collaborations with Santa Cruz and !LLMIND among others. Ivan’s album with Santa Cruz, Thoughts About One, has received 130,000 plays and this number is growing each day.
So, who is the DJ and sound producer, IVAN? What does he think about the current Russian music scene?
Who Is IVAN?
IVAN Meshcheriakov is a DJ, sound producer and expert in digital marketing from Rostov-on-Don, Russia. He has 14 years of DJ-ing experience and making music under a variety of pseudonyms, including Johny Saver.
IVAN has released several dance music records under the name Johny Saver. He now creates hip-hop beats and writes and produces music under the name Ivan. He is also a strong advocate for other artists, including his fellow Russian producers back in his native country.
Alongside his musical prowess, IVAN also has proved to be essential in the world of digital marketing. He works at LUNA Digital, which was one of the Top 22 Social Media Marketing (SMM) companies in Russia in 2020. Ivan also finds time to teach and train DJs, and those interested in the world of sound production, and even founded the Star DJ Academy in Russia.
A Nation of External Influences
IVAN is currently located in Los Angeles, USA and has enjoyed working with many artists and producers including Grammy Award winner, !LLMIND.
He believes that “...the USA is a country of expatriates...everyone brings their own culture and sound.” This way of thinking leads IVAN to combine different sounds and elements when writing and creating his music because there is a rich tapestry in America, and Russia, to choose from.
How Russian Producers Should Change
IVAN’s biggest criticism of his fellow Russian producers back home is that they don’t value themselves as highly as they should. He says, in a recent RAP.RU article, “I am not advocating making music for the sake of money. And I’m not even saying that money is the most important resource in life.”
IVAN goes on to say that “...I want to remind you that work should always be appreciated. Price forms a professional attitude towards you. Living for today is cool, but thinking constructively, planning, and not just dreaming about the future, is even more interesting.”
IVAN’s belief is that if you give a beat to a producer for a very low price, they will never pay you more in the future. However, if you charge a reasonable and professional rate for the same initial beat, then, as your success grows, you will still command that appropriate and professional income.
In IVAN’s eyes, this will bring many more opportunities for collaborations with other producers and session musicians. This will increase the quality and reach of music throughout the world. His thinking is that the “...Western market is stagnant…” and Russia can create something new.
What Will the Future Bring?
The future is looking bright for IVAN as he plans to work with many talented millionaire Tik Tok stars in Los Angeles and produce music through collaborations with many more American artists. He is also moving towards the promotion of other artists.
One such artist is the independent musician from the USA, Ruben DeVILL. He recently released a new track - https://youtu.be/TMBYjVUxBag. Ruben DeVILL is being promoted on Instagram and other online sources by IVAN. He is aiming to record a series of EPs with this artist.
IVAN continues to grow his own fanbase on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/Ivanfromrnd) and is looking to shake up the world of music as a whole.
Top comments (0)