PROFF

London-based electronic producer and Anjuna mainstay Vladimir Ershov, better known as PROFF, ventures into downtempo territory for the first time with his 11-track psychedelic chill-inspired LP, ‘Missing Places I’ve Never Been’, released on Anjunachill.

Hailing from the outskirts of Moscow, Ershov was raised in a musically-rich environment by a classical musician father whom he describes as “one of the best Russian English horn and oboe players”. Nevertheless, Ershov spent his formative years enamoured by a different type of artistry, and a music scene that felt a million miles away.

Before his breakthrough as an artist, Ershov spent several years teaching and producing for commercials and TV shows in his native Russia. Though often uncertain about his next move, his deep-rooted desire to create drove him forwards.

In 2008, he stepped onto Anjuna as PROFF with 'My Personal Summer’, first featured on Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats Volume 6. He later released on Anjunadeep, and in the years that followed, he became a consistent presence across both labels, and his deep, organic productions earned him widespread appeal among the Anjuna fanbase.

The title of his debut downtempo album, ‘Missing Places I’ve Never Been’, stems from the curiosity and caution the contemplative Ershov has had since his teenage years. “Since I was 20 years old, I knew one day that I was going to write an album with this name - and it took me almost 17 years”, he says. The idea stayed with him for almost two decades, but it wasn’t until he had the right tools and set up that the project truly came to life.

“I’ve been building a modular synthesiser for almost seven years, carefully choosing what goes in and out, its interplay and capabilities,” Ershov explains. "I started experimenting and recording my jams once I felt confident enough. Every track on this album started as a modular jam.”

What started as a four-track EP evolved into a full journey of self-expression and discovery. Each of the 11 tracks is inspired by a different place, memory or feeling, with the LP itself evoking Vlad’s personal journey from his hometown to London. Each track tells a story, from opening track ‘Vlorë’, inspired by the Albanian location Ershov was enamoured with on his travels to Anjunadeep’s Explorations festival, to ‘Memory #3’, a one-of-a-kind modular jam recorded in a single take, and devoted to lost loved ones.

Moving away from the ‘rules’ of dance music, the album explores the slower tempos and atmospheric, textured soundscapes, influenced by ambient and psychedelic chill music. A different sound for PROFF perhaps, but just as considered and nuanced as his more uptempo productions.

Pre-order PROFF’s debut downtempo LP ‘Missing Places I’ve never Been’, due July 21 on Anjunachill. The album is also available on a limited run of vinyl copies, exclusive to the Anjuna Music Store.