From producing records to organising parties for thousands of people, music has always been an important part of Vadim’s life.

We spoke to him about the nightlife in his home city of Odessa, releasing his own music, starting again in the Netherlands, and why he thinks every DJ should know how to play on vinyl.

Vadim Shuttle played at Amsterdam Vinyl Club on:

• 30 July 2026

Meet Vadim Shuttle on Instagram, @shuttle_dj

An interview with Vadim Shuttle

First, tell us about your musical background.
I began playing piano when I was a child and attended music school. Later, I learned to play drums and horn instruments.

My father was a sailor during the Soviet era, so he travelled all around the world. He’d bring home vinyl records by artists such as Queen, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.

Those records were my introduction to vinyl. I became fascinated by how vinyl works and how it sounds. After that came cassettes and CDs, but vinyl was where everything began for me.

How did you first become involved in radio?
A good friend of mine, DJ Necto Lucas, and I worked at the same radio station in Odessa. We each had our own projects there.

The studio was on one of the city’s main streets, and it had large windows facing outside. People walking past could approach the window and watch the DJs broadcasting.

It was an amazing place and an exciting time.

How did radio lead to organising parties?
We began putting on our own events. There was no internet or Facebook, so we promoted them through flyers and by telling our friends.

The parties became increasingly popular. Eventually, thousands of people were attending, and we invited international DJs to perform.

Odessa had an incredible nightlife scene at that time. I started playing at more events and eventually began managing clubs in Odessa and the surrounding region.

What made you begin producing your own music?
After working in clubs for a while, I felt that I needed to do something more creative.

My first tracks weren’t perfect, and I wasn’t always confident about them – but I kept producing and gradually became more experienced.

Eventually, I launched my own record label, UA Digital. I began releasing music internationally, including through labels in the Netherlands, and people started asking me to create remixes for them. It developed step by step.

What are some of the releases you are most proud of?
I released a lot of music over the years, including several tracks on the Colombian label, Deux Minds Records.

One of my tracks – ‘Hello World, Hello Miami’ – was selected for a DJ competition connected with the Winter Music Conference in Miami in 2017. The record was collaboration with Tunisian producer and DJ, Amin Orf, and it was released on his label, Fever Sounds Records.

The producers of the most popular tracks were invited to the United States. Unfortunately, we were given very little notice, so I wasn’t able to arrange the journey. Even so, being selected was an important experience for me.

I also created a remix connected with the British house act Digital Enemy (‘Fallen Angel (Vadim Shuttle remix)’). That release became very successful and appeared across many platforms, including Spotify.

Have you also worked with Ukrainian artists?
Yes. One of the tracks I plan to play at Amsterdam Vinyl Club tonight is ‘Surfer’, which I produced for the well-known Ukrainian band, LATEXFAUNA.

They invited me to work on music from their first album, and I’m very proud of what we created together.

It feels special to be able to play one of my own productions during a DJ set.

Does your relationship with music change as you get older?
As I became older, I got married and had more responsibilities.

Like my father, I also became a seaman. That became my main profession, but I never missed an opportunity to play music.

DJing and producing have always remained important parts of my life, even when I have had other responsibilities.

What has it been like trying to establish yourself in the Netherlands?
I’ve lived in the Netherlands for around five years, but Amsterdam Vinyl Club is only the second time I’ve DJed here.

It hasn’t been easy to become part of the local artistic and DJ community. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right contacts or meet the people who organise events.

It made me especially happy to be invited to play at AVC. It felt good to have the opportunity to share my music again.

Why is vinyl so important to you?
This is my favourite question. I believe that, to be a real DJ, you have to understand the roots of the culture. Technology develops, and of course people can play music using whatever equipment they choose, but they should know where DJing came from.

Vinyl is the history of DJing. It’s become fashionable again but, for people from my generation, it was always the foundation. You can touch the music and feel it. I even love the smell of records and the special excitement of opening a new one.

For me, knowing how to play vinyl is an essential DJ skill.

Do you prefer playing vinyl to using digital equipment?
Yes – I’m an old-school guy, so I prefer to play vinyl.

I accept that technology has moved forward, and I respect the new generation of DJs. Turning up with a USB stick is certainly easier than carrying several heavy bags of records around the world.

But, for me, records are still better.

Is most of your record collection now in the Netherlands?
Unfortunately, only part of my collection is here. My full collection is very large, and it wasn’t possible to move everything from Ukraine to the Netherlands.

I’m still buying records, though. There are many excellent record shops and fairs in the Netherlands, and I’ve already filled another two boxes since arriving.

Whenever I travel around Europe for work, I look for record stores. I was in Hamburg recently and, naturally, one of the first things I wanted to do was find somewhere selling vinyl.

What kind of record shopping do you enjoy most?
I love digging through old boxes. The most interesting records are often hidden in a forgotten corner at the back of a shop. That’s where I always want to look.

I once visited a huge record fair in the Netherlands. I’d never seen so many records in one place! I only had two hours there – so when I walked through the door, I didn’t know where to begin.

I felt as though I needed an entire week to explore everything properly!

Does your wife share your enthusiasm for music?
My wife also plays music, and she understands my passion. She’s eight years younger than me, though, and sometimes she still becomes frustrated when I spend too long searching through records.

She understands why I love it, but that doesn’t mean she always wants to wait while I investigate every box in the shop!

Have you ever found a record you'd been searching for unexpectedly?
Yes, one day I was walking through Amsterdam with my family and found a record shop by chance.

I started digging through the first box and discovered a sealed, brand-new copy of a record I had been searching for over many years – ‘Bye Bye Superman’ by Geyster. The shop sold it to me for only three or five euros.

Those moments don’t happen very often – but, when they do, you feel as though you’re in heaven.

Are there records you would still love to add to your collection?
One is ‘Another Chance’ by Roger Sanchez. It’s a very well-known track, but even the cheapest copies can cost around €100.

There are also several records by Dimitri from Paris on my Discogs wantlist. I keep checking to see whether the prices have fallen below €80 or €90.

I don’t want to pay those amounts, so I keep searching and waiting. Perhaps one day I’ll find another unexpected bargain hidden in a box.