Category Archives: Uncategorized

Meet the Team Series Volume 3 – Roman, our new intern

View Comments
Filed under Jobs, Office, People, Technology, Uncategorized

In Volume 2 of our “Meet The Team” series we introduce our new business & marketing intern at the Play.fm office, Roman:

blogpic_roman

See what he says in the following Question & Answer:

What is your job at Play.fm?

As a marketing and business intern I am working on different special projects as well as on daily routine jobs. I do the research and concept for a possible Play.fm desktop app. Besides that I am working on an exploitation strategy for our Augmented Reality research project. Keeping in touch with our Slovenian and Croatian content partners is also an important part of my work and since I speak Slovenian and Croatian fluently it’s also good fun for me.

Last but not least I am mentoring and analyzing the download and sales figures of the Play.fm Apps.

Why did you apply for an internship at Play.fm?

As Business Management student at the Carinthian University for Applied Sciences (CUAS) I have to do a 3 month internship. I was never a fan of huge companies and I never wanted to do my internship in a company with a strict hierarchy and a 2000 m² office. I prefer to work in smaller companies with creative teams. During my research for an interesting internship I listened to some DJ-Sets on Play.fm and after I searched for a few hours I thought “Play.fm would be the perfect place for my internship”. I checked their website and found out that Play.fm offers some interesting internships. I transmitted my letter of application and since 2 months I am here in Vienna.

Whats the feature on Play.fm you like the most?

I am an iPhone and music junkie. I can not live without those two things. So it’s easy for me to answer this question. The feature I like the most is of course the Play.fm iPhone App. But I also like the Genre-Cloud on the Play.fm Website.

Tell us something about yourself. Which activities fill your (everyday) life?

As I said before I love music. Listening to music, searching and buying new music, those things fill my everyday life. Since 2007 I am working as a DJ (DJ Ray Vientta) and since summer 2011 I am also producing my own tracks. At the moment I am putting all my energy into producing my own beats and melodies. If I am not motivated for producing or DJing I like to meet my friends or watch a DVD with my girlfriend. During cold winter months I like to play hockey and in summer it is the coolest thing to relax on one of Carinthias beautiful lakes.

Whats your favourite mix on Play.fm?

I really do not have ONE favourite mix. I like Progessive and Tech House and I love the sound of  Scandinavian and Russian DJ´s like Alesso, Cazette, Axwell and Arty.

Tell us your dream DJ equipment, regardless what it costs.

It would be nice to have the Pioneer 2000 series (CDJ 2000 and DJM 2000 + Recordbox). I also love to make my own music and therefore it would be cool to have a small but efficient studio in my basement.

Who would be your favourite DJ to perform with live?

Laidback Luke or Sebastian Ingrosso.

What makes you go mad?

Casting Shows, KAC (rival hockey club), my old car and Science Fiction movies.

Whats your favourite music video of all time?

I like all videos of Daft Punk. But if I must choose one I would say “Da Funk” is the winner.

…and the best movie of the last years?

I am a fan of all kind of medieval movies like 300 or Load of the Rings. But i also like movies like “21″. And I am a big fan of Dave Chappelle … His show is crazy!

Can you remember the first album you ever bought?

Hmmm. That’s very embarrassing. I was 8 years old. The first Album I have ever bought was Scatman´s debut Album “Scatman´s World”. OMG

Tell us the most embarrassing tune of your youth you still like?

Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal

Whats the first thing you do when you come home after work?

The first thing I do when I come home is … I am checking if my MacBook still works. I know it´s freaky…

Name the best club you’ve ever been to.

As Progessive House fan I’m in Zrce (Croatia) every summer. If you like this kind of music Club Papaya is the best place to be. Papaya always hosts an amazing Line-Up and I’m curious which artist i’m going to see this year.

Your 5 all time favourite tracks:

Timbaland – Oh Timbaland
Falco – America

The Fray – How To Save A Life

Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Laidback Luke feat. Deborah Cox – Leave The World Behind

Stardust – Music sounds better with you

and many more…

We are hiring interns starting from June 2012 to work with us at our Viennese headquarters. If you like working in a small team and you love pushing things forward then join us and make the world a better music place with Play.fm.

For more info check the Play.fm Job section.  http://www.play.fm/jobs

Meet the Team Series Volume 2 – Esi, our Chief Editor

View Comments
Filed under Office, People, Team, Uncategorized

In Volume 2 of our “Meet The Team” series we introduce Esi, founder member of Play.fm and Chief Editor.

teampic_esi

See what she says in the following Question & Answer:

What is your job at Play.fm?

I’m Chief Editor and responsible for all editorial content featured on the website and our social media channels. I’m also taking care of all cooperations with festivals, labels, artists & clubs around the globe. Additionally I’m doing the graphic design for the website and all upcoming new features.

How do you choose your features, like the “Set of the Day” on Facebook or the website frontpage features?

It’s hard to choose the perfect set each day. I’m constantly going through our archives and look out for what our partners upload on Play.fm. I would say the key is to keep balance between well known DJs and more unknown newcomers. I’m trying to vary musical genres and most importantly go beyond my personal musical preferences.

You can also send me “Set of the Day” recommendations to office@play.fm

What are you currently working on, are there any special projects?

I’m currently working on planning our Festival Season 2012 which means I’m deciding with which festivals we’re going to team up with to record the best performances for you.

I’m also planning our Social Media activities together with my intern Fabian for the upcoming months. We’re always trying to keep you guys entertained by posting interesting stories, competitions, and videos on our Facebook page or blog.

Lastly I’m finishing up the screen design for some exciting new website features (get yourself prepared for an all new dashboard and user profile) that will be released soon.

There’s always a lot to do, my job never gets boring.

Whats the Play.fm feature you like the most?

Something super simple – I actually really like our genre tag cloud because of the immediate access to sets from a certain genre.

Your favourite mix on Play.fm?

Can’t really decide on one favourite mix. I do like the whole No More Pop Series a lot, though.

Is there a special memory concerning Play.fm you can share with us?

There was that one night at the 2009 Miami Winter Music Conference. We were invited to a private Gigolo Records party at a club called Goldrush which surprisingly turned out to be a 1000 square feet strip club. We ended up having the biggest fun in between tons of naked women and some friends from the industry while DJ Hell, Peter Kruder and Christian Prommer played some fantastic sets.

Icing on the cake was the clubs “host”, a 60 year old beardy trucker guy who worked as some sort of moderator/MC and introduced all guests to the girls stepping on/off stage and announced “lap dance happy hours” while the Djs where playing.

We recorded some parts of the night but unfortunately weren’t allowed to put the recordings online afterwards. Nevertheless here’s an one hour snippet including the trucker host doing his “thing”.

Name your current favourite DJ’s / Artists?

- Scuba
- Four Tet
- Aaron Carl (even though he passed away, saw some crazy good sets by him)
- Pearson Sound
- Julio Bashmore
- Dark Sky
- Koreless
- Zed Bias

this list could go on forever…

What are you doing on your day off?

Snoooooooz!

What was your favourite Youtube Video in 2011?

Queen B performing live at the Billboard Awards 2011 – watch here

The best TV series quote ever?

“There’s always money in the banana stand.” (Arrested Development)

Whats the first record you ever bought?

7” NKOTB – Step by Step 1990 !!

Tell us the most embarrassing tune of your youth you still like?

Still in Love with: George Michael & Aretha Franklin – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

Whats the first thing you do when you come home after work?

Prolly put on my sweat pants? :)

Your 5 all time favourite tracks:

That’s a hard one – so many great songs out there…

Prince – Purple Rain

Jorge Ben Jor – Take it Easy My Brother Charles

Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke

DJ Assault – Ass’n’Titties

R Kelly – Ignition

plus millions more…

YAY! 30.000 Fans on Facebook!

View Comments
Filed under Uncategorized

YES! We are super happy that we just reached 30k fans on Facebook. Thanks to all your support and the love you share with us.

Guess what? We are giving away five goodies of your choice from our merchandise shop at http://www.play.fm/merchandise

Just send an email to win@play.fm telling us what you would like to win, your full name plus your adress (don’t forget to include your size).

All Winners will be announced on Facebook at the end of the week.

THANK YOU GUYS for following us!! <3

blogpic30k

AVANT/GARDE Update: Meet Mazdack Rassi, head of Milk Studios

View Comments
Filed under Uncategorized

Mazdack Rassi is the mastermind behind the Milk Foto Studios in New York which is more than just a commonplace foto studio. By stepping through the doors you enter an area which reminds more of an convenient hotel. This is where some of the most distinguished photographers in the world shoot the big campaigns and magazine covers.

“Milk was the first studio to open with sort of a hotel management mentality … it was all about service, it was a neutral space.”

Mazdack sees his brand also as an educator because he always tries to advance one step further and away from the conventional. For him avant garde means to take the responsibility of creating something really special. Conquering new grounds and combining different kinds of art is part of his successful concept.

blogpic_avd_videoscreen_mazdack

Read More »

AVANT/GARDE Update: Modeselektor and their view on the Avant-Garde

View Comments
Filed under AVANT/GARDE Diaries, Art, DJ-Sets, Internet, People, Uncategorized

Here’s another pick from our AVANT/GARDE  Diaries series:
Say hello to Modeselektor!

German electronic music duo Modeselektor featuring Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary are currently playing a tight schedule of gigs throughout Europe and are as energetic as their mind-blowing shows. Pinning these guys down is no easy task. Between their arrival to London and soundcheck, our friends at the AVANT/GARDE Diaries managed to sit them down and get a few minutes of their attention in order to ask them about their view on the avant-garde.

“Today, avant-garde is a very blurred term,” Sebastian says “this is due to the mischief that was done to it in the 20th Century. The term’s current connotation probably reflects something completely different.”

blogpic_avd_modeselektor Read More »