23/11/25 – Goran [Elevin Events] & Eklektone @ Temple Club, Lisbon, Portugal.

Words & photos By Jose De Sousa

Goran – Event producer [Elevin Events]

Goran Toprek (Toprek) was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1980. He has been creating music since the DOS era. In the mid-1990s, he produced music electronically in an old software called Fasttracker. Self-taught, he struggled at the beginning of his career. But the persistence started to pay off as his work was recognized. Then, after receiving a degree in audio engineering – mastering, mixing, and producing for himself and others became a regular day job.

Thank you for your time for our conversation today, Goran. Thank you as well for organizing and producing this event with Eklektone, bringing him to perform in Lisbon again. Tell us a bit of your journey, what made you to be enthusiastic about electronic music, so many years ago?

I listen to all kinds of music. I like Heavy Metal, hip-hop as well, I like danced music too. What we had in Serbia, was music from the Viva 2 television channel, they played Eurodance music. At some point, somewhere in some party, someone played Goa Trance, and I asked what is this? They told me this is Astral projection, and I got crazy about it.

Spiritual alignment?

Exactly! Something like that. At that time, Walkman’s were popular, so I played this music on a cassette, and asked the DJ me what tracks I liked. At some point he asked me: Do you like this track? I made that one!
What do you mean, you made it? I made it on a computer, and then he showed me. So he showed me in one day, and in the next day I already started making music, and that was it! 1996 I think it was. Back then a program could fit in two or three 3,5 inch diskettes.

Have you played as a DJ all over Europe?

As a DJ I played mostly in Japan, the label that signed me was in Japan. It was a Japanese label run by an Israeli guy.

At that time, 2005 / 2006, the countries that had the most trance music, where we played, were Brazil, Japan, Mexico, some in Europe, like Portugal – it was super active, Germany, etc.

I was never in any North American Countries, neither any African countries. Just Europe, Asia and South America.

My craziest nights were in the 90’s in Lisbon. At Kapital, Plateau, Kremlin, Alcântara-Mar. There were very busy schedules…Tuesdays at Kremlin, Wednesdays at Alcântara-Mar, Thursdays at Plateau, Fridays at Kapital.

Why the name Kremlin?

I don’t know the origin of the name, the owners at that time named their clubs with names starting with K – Kremlin, after that Kapital, then a big restaurant and club, Kais. They also own the Urban Beach club, in Santos, practically in the river Tagus. Maybe it was a way for them to show the contrast, a revolution, total freedom through the music, opposite to the oppression in Russia. Freedom through the music, as the music liberates us.

It does.

I was more active in Lisbon in the 90’s. Then in September 98 I went to Ibiza for the first time, with a friend that had signed the divorce papers the day before we travelled. The first night we were there, when we arrived in the bars area near the port where the yacht’s “park”, we met a German girl, that was handing out flyers, and we asked her : What’s Ibiza like? Her immediate answer was – Ibiza is like a drug!

HAHAHA! [laughs a lot!]

It still is! At least for me, I’ve been in Ibiza 15 times!

I’ve never been.

You have to! It’s a must!

I used to have friends that used to live there, but I have never been, because most of my travelling and partying was for business. I rarely went to parties for fun.

You are a producer, not a consumer! (laughs!)

I was a consumer, I loved going to the parties, but once when that became something that you do, for work, you get to the point that you are paid, and you want to do what you were asked to do, no one cares if your mom died, or if your girlfriend left you, you have to do it, and smile! Project happiness, project energy and the illusion of the party gets broken. So, I enjoyed music very much, but partying for me is not needed anymore.

I understand, as you grow old …

(laughs) I am!

Sorry, as you grow in experience, your interests shift a bit. For instance, when I was in my 20´s I didn’t like whisky that much, when I started going out in Lisbon, then whisky appeared in my life, I don’t know why! This opportunity for me to collaborate with Zone Magazine appeared two and a half years ago. I was looking for groups about Ibiza in Facebook, and I found a group, Ibiza clubbing for 40’s +, and then one of the post was by the owner of the Zone Magazine, Paul Newhouse. I don’t remember what the post was about, but I replied to him, “Well, I’m in Ibiza, do you want me to write something?” He managed to get me a media entrance for Pacha in Ibiza.

Ohh! Nice!

It was crazy! You know about the subway in Lisbon, that gets crowded in the morning and afternoon rush hour? It was even worse! It was so crowded that after entering the door, I couldn’t arrive to the dancing area! It was completely packed, you couldn’t literally move!

How is that fun?

No, it’s very dangerous! I felt bad because I couldn’t move! To go to the toilets or to cross the dancing area to get a drink, it was half an hour!

I’ve been in a few parties like this, it’s horrible!

In Ibiza, the parties are really dominated by the superclubs. This year opened a huge club, that can hold around 15 000 or more people. Before it was called Ku, then Privilege, and now it has opened as UNVRS.

UNVRS, Pacha, Amnesia, Hi, Ushuaia, they dominate. Because there is an industry, and the smaller clubs have their place, however most people go to the big ones. But the smaller ones sometimes even get more interesting parties.

Meanwhile Eklektone arrives……….

Eklektone is an emerging Spanish artist (DJ and producer) with a sound that moves between melodic techno and deep/progressive house, combining immersive atmospheres with powerful grooves and a clear club focus. His approach is characterized by its narrative structure: constructing sets and productions like a journey, with progressive crescendos, well-paced tension, and moments of melodic release, paying close attention to timbre and emotional depth.
Having officially been a DJ since 2023, he has developed a profile geared towards the extended set format, where his identity is particularly distinguished by continuity, development, and sonic coherence. Live, Eklektone has steadily built his presence on the European circuit, sharing a club vision focused on progression, journeying, and sustained energy.
Among his most notable performances are dates within the NOTMAINSTREAM by ELEVIN scene, with a particular focus on Lisbon, where he has played at renowned venues such as Temple Club and KØMPLEX, reinforcing his growing career and a clear identity within melodic techno.
Eklektone has solidified his sound with releases like “Kairos” (released by Synergy Recordings, 2024), “Rust” (released by Three Records, 2025), and “The Strength of Fire” (2025), works that showcase a balance between melodic emotion, groove, and punch.

Hi Eklektone, Spain is so big, why playing in Lisbon?

Things from the destiny…

Ah, you are also spiritual?

Yes! I have met Elevin that organizes this party, and that’s how it happened. In Spain there is a lot of competition and in Lisbon there was this opportunity.

Have you been in Lisbon before?

Yes, I have been in Lisbon twice, let’s see how’s things go forward! I love Lisbon, the city, the food, the people.

How do you feel the energy of the people when they listen to your music here in Lisbon?

They welcomed me, and I’m here again, so this means that there is interest.

I listened a bit of your video that is in Youtube, and I have enjoyed your music because it has energy, but it is not the typical boom boom boom that annoys. I.e., it has diversity, it is more melodic, it’s appealing! Just by listening at home, while I was showering, it gave me energy, it made me want to move, inside the shower!

The music is powerful, yet melodic, it is not that close-minded, individualist.

And do you believe that your music helps to create relationships between the persons that listen to you?

I like to make music, music very open, melodic, with more notes, with more harmony.

For how long are you a DJ? What has inspired you to enter this world?

I am DJ playing for a long time, about ten years, at home. I am a percussionist. I play music since I was 6 years old. In my group of friends there were people that had interest in electronic music, and I never dedicated much attention to that. However, since 3/ 4 years ago I am DJ in public, showing me to the public.

In what countries do you usually play more?

Until now, only Spain and Portugal.

Hopefully this article can open new doors for you! The Zone Magazine is owned by a British guy that lives in Spain. The magazine is also online, I hope this can bring you new opportunities, it is a way to promote your work, to reach more markets.

I’d like more people to listen to me, to know me.

Where can we find your music? Only on Youtube or also on Spotify?

On Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music. On all the platforms.

Even if you have your music on the platforms, being with you alive is something else.

Of course! (laughs)

What message would you like to leave to the readers of Zone Magazine?

That the enjoy my music, that they feel it, and that they feel free. That they forget a bit the day-to-day life. For me it’s like a release valve. On the days that I have more tension and pressure; it’s the day that I more wish to play, it’s the day that I want to listen to music, and to make music. Music for me it’s a valve to overcome the stress, the day-to-day problems.

It’s your sport.

Yes, it’s my way or releasing tension.

What feedback have you received from the people that listen to your music?

I have received very good feedback. I am a person that doesn’t believe much in myself. I am not a very ego centrical person. People’s opinion has made me value myself more, to grow.

Do you have any example of someone that has commented a positive impact that you may have had on their life with your music?

Maybe that specific I don’t remember, I think not.

Maybe people are a bit shy to share these types of things.

(Laughs) Or maybe they have their heads very busy with their own issues and when they listen to the music, it liberates them, however, they cannot individualize any specific impact.

Do you believe that it’s possible to enjoy this kind of music without drinking drinks with alcohol, without drugs?

Of course!

So, the music can be your “drug” / “pill”?

That’s exactly it! That’s the idea, that nothing is missing, If you take alcohol or drugs you cannot appreciate properly.

Maybe it’s a way to promote this music – Awaken your senses!

What question would you like me to have asked you that I haven’t yet.

That is very difficult to answer! (Laughs a lot) What I want is that people enjoy, that can feel the moment, in the here and now, without pressure, without other things in their heads.

For in the moment of the party, I am the least important person, I don’t want people to pay attention to me, I want people to pay attention to the music, to the moment, to their sensations, in a way that they forget about me. First the music!

So you are the vehicle?

Exactly! I don’t have that ego.

I just remembered something, maybe aligned with what we are talking about, would you say that your music can also help to improve people’s mental health, sometimes?

The music is a friend of the soul, is sensations and feelings, in the moment that one is bad or down, music frees you, makes you forget, even if it is for a moment.

Being in the moment, and not letting your head wander in other things.

What plans do you have for next year? 2026.

Most likely to come to Lisbon again, in the summer, in Spain I already have some dates booked, to keep searching and looking for new opportunities to expand my music, that more people knows me, my music.

Where would you like to play? Without limitations, think BIG!

In some festivals in Barcelona, Madrid, in the South of Spain.

Have you been in Ibiza?

Not yet, it is a kind of a dream.

You know that Ibiza is dominated by the superclubs. Elevin has told me that he has been in Ibiza many years ago, but now it’s very hard to be able to enter there.

Yes, it’s very closed, with their own group of DJs that they already know. I have friends in Ibiza that tell me about this situation. It’s all very organized and planned. It’s very difficult for new DJs to be able to have opportunities.

How do you prepare yourself to create your music? What do you do in a normal day that inspires you to create music?

When I create music, I create it in a very free way. I don’t have a methodical way to create music, it depends of the moment, depends how the day is going. I start in a way, start in another way, as it ‘s for my own internal “healing”, I let myself go, mostly on the first idea- I try to consolidate that one. Then on another day I am able to develop that idea, to work on that. Mostly, the first idea I let it flow, and only then the technical part comes, to structure, to mix.

On those moments do you already think about the persons that will listen and dance to your music?

I mostly think about it before. When I am creating, even if it’s internal to myself, I think about the sensations that I want people to experience.

I see, you are your own guinea pig? If it works for you it may work for the others?

Exactly, first to myself. For me I am very demanding, I am a bit perfectionist, I discard many ideas.

How has appeared Elevin in your music life?

I made my first song, that I have produced, I sent it to several music labels, to several reproduction lists, including the one that Elevin has, he enjoyed it, he has put it in his list, and we started to talk, and that’s how it started. With time, I kept sending him more songs, he has enjoyed them, until it has arrived the moment that he told me that he organizes events and invited me to play in one. He has been very supportive.

I know that he provides support to artists that are starting.

Yes, what he is doing is phenomenal!

He has created a foundation to do that?

Indeed!

He thinks big!

His playlist is one of the most listened to, worldwide!

What do you expect for this night in the Temple Club in Lisbon?

Only that people that are here, and that will come, to have fun! That one feels good with oneself. That they enjoy!

Some days after your shows do people contact you?

Some people add / follow me in Instagram, they send me messages. The last time I was here in Lisbon, many people have messaged me saying that it was a very good session, they have sent me some videos they have done in my show.

Thank you for your time, and for sharing your life and experience, Eklektone.

Thank you as well for the opportunity for this interview.

The magazine where the interview will be published is Zone Magazine. In psychology there is a concept named “Flow” – it can be translated as well by: “To be in The Zone”. It applies to Sports, Music, to Life, time doesn’t exist in those moments.

Time expands!

I wish that you are in the Zone tonight!

Thank you!

FEATURE INTERVIEW – Goran & Eklektone @ Temple, Lisbon –