dig dis!cover with Timmo

How are you today and thanks for taking the time.
Thank you for having me. It's really my pleasure!

You started Hypnostate, your label, in 2021. Why did you decide to start your own label and what was your purpose behind it?
Well, I had this wish for many years before I started the label. I even came up with the name a few years before it launched. It was actually a track from some good friends from the Netherlands,called "Hypnostate," and I really loved it. So that kind of inspired me to make it happen. I've always wanted to have a label not only to release my music but also to curate other music from other artists and express my vision for electronic music.

Before starting your own label, you also released music on multiple other labels. Was it difficult for you to get your music recognized by them?
Actually, the biggest label I released on was Drumcode. The first interaction was not that difficult, but I really waited for the right time to send my demos to Adam Beyer. You know, I wanted to release on the label, but for one or two years, I waited for myself to get better at music so I knew I had a better chance. And from there, I just sent the email, I sent the demos, and he replied to me. I think what’s important is that if the music is good, you will get the attention you're looking for.

How do you decide on the right music for the label? And what do you look for when signing new artists?
The right music for the label is obviously what I like to do in the studio, and it revolves around that. When I receive demos, it's not just about quality. For me, I need to feel something special in a track—something that makes me want to dance or evokes strong emotions. That’s the most important thing for me. If it gives me emotion, then I’m happy to consider it.

Do you manage the label and listen to demos alone or do you have a partner to help split the work?
Officially, I do it alone, but I couldn’t do it without JackRock from the duo Balthazar & JackRock. He’s my best friend, and basically, every track I consider signing goes to him as well because I value his opinion a lot. I think it's really good to have a partner in this kind of situation because you don’t always make the right decision in the moment. You need a different perspective and a second opinion.

You also have really colorful cover artwork for your label, which is great for its identity. Did you design it yourself?
I’m behind the creative decisions, but again, JackRock helps me a lot. He has a design background, so he really helped me in a territory that was unfamiliar to me at the time. Additionally, I always check how the artwork will look on Beatport, for example, compared to others. It needs to stand out.
 

How did you first connect with dig dis!?
It was at the end of 2023. At that point, I hadn’t thought about changing distribution because the label was only two years old. But then I got contacted by Kaspar, an incredible producer. I love this guy. We’re also label buddies at Monika Kruse’s Terminal M. He asked me about my distribution and what could be helpful for the label in the future. From there, he introduced me to the dig dis! team—to Oliver and Luca—and everything just happened naturally.
 

Great! We’re happy to have you on board. What differences have you noticed so far?
First, the platform is super easy to use. I can upload a release in 5 to 10 minutes, which is incredible. Also, dig dis! really helped me and the label grow on Spotify. I was eager to see how my first release with dig dis! would perform, and we got the first editorial playlist for the label, Electronic Rising. That was a huge moment. Another important thing for me is the personal connection with Luca. I can go to him with concerns, ideas, or questions, which is amazing. Also, this distribution feels like being part of a team. It’s not just about uploading releases and moving on.

Great, thank you. Speaking of Spotify and your artist name, how did you come up with the name Timmo?
It wasn’t originally an artist name; it was a nickname. I think I got it in 10th grade. It’s funny because we had this event called Green School, where we went on a one-week trip. Some younger kids, maybe five or six years younger than us, started calling me Timmo. I have no idea why, but it stuck. Since then, I decided it was a cool name to use as my artist name. Now, I’m more used to being called Timo than my real name.
 

What I find interesting is that when I check your Spotify stats, your top listeners are in Berlin, Frankfurt and other major German cities. But you're originally from Bulgaria, right? How would you describe the difference in the techno scenes between the two countries? And why do you think your music resonates so well with German listeners?
First of all, Germany is kind of the capital of techno—that’s obvious. Comparing Bulgaria to Germany in terms of the electronic scene can be tricky. Because of the economic situation in the Balkans, everything is mostly concentrated in the capital. For example, in Sofia, where I live, we have an amazing electronic scene. We even have big concerts—Ed Sheeran was here recently. The scene in Sofia is really strong. During the summer, we also have festivals and beach parties on the Black Sea coast. But outside Sofia, there isn’t much happening in the smaller cities. So I would say that Sofia is on the level of many big cities in Germany when it comes to the electronic scene, which is great to see.

What about the clubs in Sofia? Are they similar to, for example, Lehmann in Stuttgart? Or are there big differences in the party culture?
Yeah, we have some great clubs. The best one here is called EXE. It has a no-photo policy, which is amazing. They book great artists all the time, and they also host larger events outside the club. 

That sounds really cool! In your bio, you mentioned some clubs and festivals where you’ve already played. Is there a dream festival or club where you'd love to perform?
Every producer dreams of playing at Tomorrowland or Awakenings. Those are obviously on the list. Time Warp as well—it’s impossible not to mention Time Warp. That’s definitely part of the wishlist.
 

You’re a label manager, a producer, and you play gigs on weekends. How do you manage everything? How would you describe a typical day for you?
A lot of coffee. Seriously, a lot of coffee. During the day, I mostly do office work—managing the label, planning releases, replying to emails, searching for new music, listening to demos, and so on. But in the evening, that’s when I get most creative. At night, everyone is asleep, there are no distractions, no phone calls, so I can fully focus. That’s why I usually don’t get much sleep—maybe five or six hours.

What are your plans for 2024 as an artist and for your label?
I’m currently working on my next batch of tracks, which will take at least another month. For the label, I just released my latest single, and the next release is from DI SUN, a talented  female producer based in LA, who has already worked with Deadmau5’s Mau5trap and Drumcode. It’s one of the best releases I’ve heard recently.

That sounds exciting! I’m looking forward to hearing it. It’s great to see more female artists being featured—we definitely need more diversity in the industry!
Thank you Valerie for your interesting insight.