Release Radar: Silat Beksi - Do Or Donut [CADENZA137]

For more than twenty years, Silat Beksi has been steadily carving out his own path through the underground. From his early days discovering electronic music in Ukraine to building a home and studio in Barcelona, his journey has been guided by curiosity, experimentation and a deep emotional connection to sound. Alongside a growing catalogue of releases and performances around the world, he has also dedicated time to mentoring emerging producers and sharing knowledge with the wider community. Now joining Cadenza with Do Or Donut, we caught up with Beksi to discuss the experiences that shaped him, the creative process behind the release and what lies ahead.

You recently spent some time in the Swiss mountains, how are you feeling after your trip? Do you find time in nature influences your mindset creatively?

Trips to the mountains or out into nature are always a chance to step away from routine and disconnect from the digital environment. This time I managed to combine it with meeting old friends and a performance in Zurich. That kind of reset always has a positive effect on my mental state and clears my head from accumulated information.

What was your first connection to electronic music and what was the scene like growing up in Ukraine?

My first club experience happened in the early 2000s and by 2003, I had already decided that I wanted to become a DJ. I’ve loved music since childhood, improvising on any instruments I could get my hands on, even though I never had a formal musical education. Everything was intuitive and by ear. The early 2000s were when I started going to clubs and that music had a direct and lasting influence on me.

You’ve been based in Barcelona for the past few years. How has life there been treating you and has the city influenced your sound in any way?

Over 20 years of my career I’ve traveled all over the world and during the last decade on tour, I often asked myself when visiting a new country: “do I feel at home here, could I actually live here?” I felt that connection a few times. First in 2019 while traveling across Portugal from south to north, and then in Australia, where I also felt a strong connection to the land and the people.

Before moving to Barcelona I had never been here and I had no idea it would become my favorite city - a place where I feel complete freedom and warmth, like home. As for the influence on my sound, I think we all grow and change, absorbing the places we live in, their culture and environment. But to me, sound is more about mindset. As you evolve as a person, your perception of the world changes, and with it your understanding and feeling of music.

What does your studio setup look like these days? Did you bring any key pieces of gear with you when you relocated?

When I relocated, I brought all my equipment with me. The first six months I was focused on finding a place and building the studio. During that time I also added some new gear and a few Eurorack modules I had been hunting for. Right now my setup includes Elektron Analog Rytm, Electribe MX, Electribe ER-1, Moog Minitaur, Behringer Neutron, Korg Minilogue, Roland TR-8, and two cases of modular gear.

When did Cadenza first come onto your radar, and what does it mean to you to now have a release on the label?

In the early 2010s I moved to Odessa, a beautiful Ukrainian city on the Black Sea. At that time there were incredible parties happening there with underground legends, and that’s when I truly fell in love with a new sound that left a deep mark on me as an artist.

I clearly remember the CAD11 release by Thomas Melchior & Luciano. I literally played those tracks to the point of wearing them out, and I still consider them masterpieces. Cadenza brought a very distinctive sound into the culture and completely hooked me. So having a release on the label now is something very special for me.

Did you have a specific concept or direction in mind while working on tracks for this release?

I wanted to combine a strong dancefloor element with an emotional drive, which is something that has always been present in my work. At the moment I planned to send music to Luciano, I already had a solid amount of fresh material that I hadn’t shared with anyone. Later I expanded the pack even more, so he could choose exactly the right sound for Cadenza.

You’ve been sharing production tutorials on the Sooper.app platform, how important is it for you to pass on knowledge and techniques to the next generation of artists?

For me, learning production in the early 2000s was a real challenge. I didn’t have a personal computer, no internet and no access to information in my environment, so I had to figure everything out by trial and error. It was a tough but very interesting path, and it built the patience and discipline that are essential in making music.

I know very well how difficult it can be to start and take the first steps. Having a mentor, or at least a clear direction, can be a key factor. It gives confidence and strength, allowing you to focus on doing what you love and enjoying the process. In my view, sharing knowledge strengthens the whole community and raises the overall quality of music around us. 

What’s next for you? Any upcoming releases or projects you can share with us?

Right now I’m working on a solo EP that will be released on my vinyl label MODEIGHT. It’s going to be one of the more anticipated releases for me, with fresh and interesting material. I’m giving myself more freedom, experimenting with sound, doing more sampling and integrating modular elements.

At the same time, with mentoring and launching educational courses on Sooper.app, I’m balancing between production, performances and video tutorials. It helps me shift focus and avoid burnout from doing the same thing all the time. I also have several vinyl releases already signed and I’m just waiting for them to hit presale.

Check out Do Or Donut on Beatport and Bandcamp.