With over two decades of dedication to dance music, Peter Makto’s journey is not just about creating tracks but weaving narratives that resonate with a deeper, almost spiritual essence. His recent contribution to the esteemed Balance Selections series, number 276, perfectly encapsulates this ethos, offering listeners a voyage through soundscapes that are as introspective as they are invigorating.
Peter Makto’s rebellious spirit, a cornerstone of his artistic identity, thrives on the creative liberties afforded by electronic music. This freedom is not just a medium for expression but a tool for exploration into the realms of the spiritual and the cosmic. His approach to music and life is underpinned by a belief in universal laws, a theme reverberating through his work and stewardship of Truesounds Music and Zenebona Records.
In conversation, Makto sheds light on his process and philosophy. His dedication to authenticity and creative freedom shines through, challenging the norms and trends that often constrain the electronic music scene. His mix, a reflection of his soul, is a testament to his ethos of being true to oneself, regardless of the risks. With no expectations for what comes next, Makto focuses on the joy of creation and hopes that his music will connect with those who share his passion for depth and originality in dance music.
As Makto continues to explore and evolve, his work remains a beacon for those seeking depth and authenticity in dance music.
Balance Series Mix: Peter Makto
Interview
How did you first get linked up with the Balance Team? How did this mix come together?
Honestly? I couldn’t believe it, or I didn’t grasp it. At first, I thought this email wasn’t meant for us. The request came to the general contact email provided on my social media platforms. My colleague read it first and forwarded it to me, saying ‘something about a podcast’ – I glanced over it, and with the momentum of ‘ahh, this must be a mistake,’ I moved on to another daily task. It didn’t register.
Then, about thirty seconds later, the information exploded in my mind about what I had read, and I retrieved the email again. That’s when it hit me. My name was there, the exact details of the request. What I needed to accomplish, what was the deadline? It was December 3rd last year. Since then, I’ve been on edge about it, and simultaneously, I’ve been very happy. I’ve dreamed about so many things and focused on so many other things. Balance wasn’t even on the mental map. That’s what made this so incredibly special.
How did you approach this mix, and how long were you prepping and compiling tracks?
From the moment I grasped this task, I was mentally invested. I gathered the tracks, quickly listened to them, and sorted them into a folder. I observed the feeling each track conveyed and followed their energy.
Of course, I included my own tracks and those from my labels as well – but I had a prior agreement with myself that if something didn’t fit into the mix, whether it was mine or tied to my labels, there would be no problem – my ego was the first thing I consistently rejected.
Then, I waited for the right moment. About a week before the deadline, I felt it was “NOW” to sit down. From then on, I spent four days in my pajamas. Only the music, food, and the creative field were present. The word ‘BALANCE’ was the direction. I wanted to create a mix that featured multiple styles without leaning too much into any of them. Furthermore, we delve into deep internal matters halfway through the mix, moving towards darker directions, but from there, we rise again, returning to the initial state. The nearly 100 minutes are in balance. Stable!
Do you have any tips for putting together a curated mix like this for other producers aspiring to create a similar one?
Observing trends, many consider these opportunities as part of industrial expansion. It’s beautiful to support each other, but when the selection of labels and tracks for a podcast or mix is predetermined along specific interests, it kills creative freedom. All I can recommend is what I heard in one of my favorite old house tracks in Celeda’s voice, ‘BE YOURSELF’ – it may be a risky path and it may be more challenging, but there are fewer and fewer genuine personalities emerging among the new ones.
They professionally align with trends and build huge careers, which has made our scene completely clichéd. My mix isn’t trend-following either, but it speaks from my soul, and that’s why I appreciate it so much. It’s an honest creation.
This is a massive milestone! What other opportunities are you hoping come about now that this mix is released?
This is also a good question. Just as this opportunity emerged out of nowhere, I let this process happen and unfold on its own path. Whatever will be, will be. There are no expectations, no hidden desires. The universe decides.
I’m already so happy about this that I could jump to the moon.
Everything that comes after this is already in the realm of dreams. If nothing happens? – I’m still grateful because I loved creating this mix!
Is there anything else you want your fans and listeners to know about this mix that I didn’t ask?
Actually, there’s nothing much.
I appreciate this opportunity to speak about something important to me in front of your community! I trust in hard work and belief in our music. Hopefully, those who find what I represent interesting will follow my journey! Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that there is a more extensive and detailed interview on the Balance Music website.
There, I also talk about the communist era, how limited our lives were under the pressure of the systems, and how important and life-defining it was for music to flow into my childhood. Those encounters with music are also part of why there’s a Balance mix next to my name today.
Tracklist
01. ADHM – I See Paradise (Mirrors Label)
02. MRSFLV – Can’t Sleep (Truesounds Music – unreleased)
03. Nicolas Soria – Through The Sand (Original Mix) Zenebona Records – unreleased
04. Wassu – Endless Love (Songspire Records)
05. Liozen – Apsara (Zenebona Records)
06. Molac – The Sense of God (Sendas)
07. Kabi & K Loveski – Lost In Roses (Maezbi Remix) Juicebox Music
08. Paul Thomas – Hippias (Extended Mix) UV
09. MakhmuriaN – Boulevard De Paris (Movement Recordings)
10. Fran Baigo – Othala (Peter Makto 5AM Mix) Truesounds Music
11. Peter Makto – Muladhara (Zenebona Records) unreleased
12. Matthew Sona – All That Is (Zenebona Records) unreleased
13. ReiRei – Forgive Me (Phagamast)
14. TVM & Boral Kibil – Petra Roasting (Circle Of Life)
15. TVM & Boral Kibil – Mario (Circle Of Life)
16. Yonderboi – Outro (Snippet)
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
