Mark Pledger - Interview

We chat to Mark Pledger about his famous school mates,

chances of a Smith & Pledger reunion and you guessed it... LIGHT SABERS! 

01.Let’s start at the beginning… how long have you been DJ’ing and Producing, and how did it all start for you?

From a very early age I listened to a mixture of music that not only inspired me but made me want to make my own tracks. I started learning keyboards and recording covers of TV and film soundtracks on my teachers Atari with Cubase. From then on I was recording music and playing it out at live venues, but mainly rock based stuff at that time. After a unsuccessful record contract with London Records, while at college, I then managed to get work experience for 2 days a week in their A&R department with Pete Tong and Lisa Loud. It was then that I was exposed to dance music...just one year before the explosion of Trance in 1997.

With all this behind me I went to university to study a commercial music degree in the hope to form another band or develop a role in business. However, with two drummers on the course this was a problem. In the first year of Uni I shared a flat with Jono Grant from Above & Beyond. After quickly forming a friendship he helped me decide on a yamaha sampler, so essentially I could make my own drums!

The purchase of this cool new toy inevitably meant that my music quickly took on an electronic edge. Numerous epic nights out at Gatecrasher (Sheffield) nurtured a new alternative to my traditional classical and rock roots: Trance. With so many sounds, and no pressure to conforming to just a traditional instrument, the creative opportunities were endless, something I have never taken for granted since.

In my third year of University I met Oliver Smith and collaborated and signed tracks to our friends at Anjunabeats as Smith & Pledger amongst other alias's. Then after many successful releases behind us we turned to the decks in 2003 to become producer DJ's and started touring!

02.What would we typically find in a teenage Mark pledger’s Bedroom?

Lots of Light Sabers, Keyboards & Guitars, the perfect combination of sounds!

03.These days you mostly work as a solo musician, why the break from “Smith & Pledger”

We are both pursuing solo careers after Oliver's move from London to Amsterdam, ironically like our remix.

04.Any chance of a Reunion project?

There are no plans at the moment, but you never know now he is back on English soil!

05.You’ve also had major success collaborating with the lovely “Melinda Gareh” not only on your solo projects, but also as “White Water” And “Smith & Pledger”… where and how did you discover her?

Melinda Gareh was also a student and friend at Westminster. She has a very strong voice that gives off the sort of subtle yet intense emotion that I look for in vocal tracks.

06.You’re very involved in Anjunabeats’ worldwide radio show… tell us a bit about your preparation for the show, and how you select new tracks?

I listen to all promos on the worst speakers possible so if the production still sounds good and the ideas come across, then thats a potential track for the show. If it ticks the boxes and has real emotion or a satisfying feeling behind it, then it's good music.

07.You’ve collaborated with some of the Trance Scene’s finest Producers, including Mike Koglin, Oliver Smith, Matt Hardwick and Super8 & Tab, which has been your favourite and why?

Well I have enjoyed working with all of them for different reasons so I would not like to choose. But I've spent most studio time with Mr Oliver Smith, and so will always look very fondly on those years!

08.Anyone you would love to work with in the future?

Well it's funny you say that, but someone I've been hoping to do a track with has come my way, so more about that in the near future! For a weird experimental one I would love to do a single with Tom York from Radiohead or Massive Attack

09.What is there to know about Mark Pledger, that we don’t already know?

I like Scuba diving & drinking 'Fizzy Bubbly' in the sun!

10.Best Gig you’ve played to date?

Well I think I would need a crowd noise detector to work that out :) Auckland in New Zealand was one of the best despite being severely tired after playing dates in Australia without any sleep. The crowd were really up for it and I think it was their energy that made me feel so awake. Every mix went down well and was a fantastic event to close the tour. I remember getting to the hotel before the gig thinking I have one hour, do I sleep or do I eat? So I slept for one hour and then took some of the contents of the mini bar and had them backstage: Walker's crisps and Cadbury's chocolate all washed down with Red Bull. Yuk what a combination, but did the trick!

Check out the Youtube video and see it yourself, of the gig not the junk food!

Auckland - New Zealand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewl-5poVitU

11.Any Embarrassing DJ Stories?

Oh there are many but I've been paid off to keep them quiet :-) However one that I can tell you about is the time this weird Russian DJ took over from my set telling me I'm playing till 3am only. The promoter came up to me at the bar and said, "who is that guy? Your supposed to be playing for another half hour!" It turns out he was some random in the crowd that blagged himself into the backstage. I hadn't a clue who was working for the club or who was DJing that night!

12.What can we expect from Mark Pledger in the near and distant future?

A lot of things are happing at the moment with new singles, debut album on the way and new business ventures in progress. I have recently worked with Kyler England to make a new vocal sensation called 'I Wanna Feel'. The track has a house meets trance vibe, and at 132 bpm is a much slower track to most of my productions. Up next is my collaboration with Rake and Sabrina titled 'Spinning Around'. Its a cool emotional rollacoaster of classical trance blended with techy melodies and percussion.

So keep your eyes peeled and your ears tuned for a selection of wide-ranging melodic dance music.

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Sophie Sugar - Interview

We Chat To Sophie Sugar about buying records at age 6, Working on TV, and the chance of writing a book...


Q:
So... Sophie Sugar...I know everyone asks you this, but I can't seem to find the true answer...what's your real name?



A:
Ha ha, good opening question - i don't think anyone's asked me before!! Well the 'Sophie' half of me is real and it almost feels like Sugar is my real last name now - but it's actually 'Forsyth'.



Q:
Do you ever introduce yourself as Sophie Sugar or Stick to your real name?


A:
Well, so many of my friends & family now call me 'Sugar' that i tend to only use my real name in banks & passport offices these days!


Q:
Where and how did DJ'ing and Dance music cross your path?



A:
Dance music was when i was in my teens - i remember the moment i walked into a club for the first time and just thinking 'wow' - my friends and i would go every week without fail. Before long we booked a holiday to Ibiza and never looked back from there! At parties i would always put on my favourite tracks and soon realised i loved mixing them together! DJing naturally progressed from there.



Q:
I read in your biog that you've been collecting records since you were 6 years old...now I'm assuming at that age you weren't collecting the latest house and trance?



A:
Yes, i got my first record player for Christmas when i was 6 and my mum used to take me to buy 2 new records every Saturday! And they most definitely weren't house & trance - ha ha!! Let's just say my early collection wasn't exactly the epitomy of cool!! But ironically when i look back, most of my records were love songs or songs with lots of emotion in them!



Q:
What could we typically find in a teenage Sophie Sugar's bedroom?



A:
Records, cds, clothes, shoes, make up - typical teenage things!! Actually pretty much the same as now to be honest! ha ha



Q:
You're production's have made their way into the world's best DJ's CD Wallets, where and how did you catch your big break?


A:
Thanks! I'd say it's been more of a gradual process than having had a 'big break' as such - but i guess the first track that started to do well was 'Call of Tomorrow' on Galactive in 2005 and then 'Fallen Too Far' - my first ASOT release in 2006.



Q:
You're one of a select few top Female DJ's in the world, Do you find that most guys are intimidated by your success as a DJ?



A:
Ha ha - no - most of my male friends are DJs as well so i'm used to being within that kind of circle and they're used to me doing what i do so it doesn't seem like too much of a big deal!



Q:
Two of the most famous quotes about you are 'The First Lady of Trance' and 'The UK's Foremost Female Trance Producer...has Trance always been your first love musically?



A:
From the moment i discovered it 100% yes!


Q:
Does it ever bother you that you're categorised firstly as "Foremost Female"... and not as "The UK's Foremost Trance Producer'?



A:
No, not at all - obviously it's nice to be recognised musically aside from being a female but it would take a hell of a lot to be recognised as the UK's foremost trance producer - there is just so much unbelievable talent out there...:)



Q:
While there is no doubt that you're a very talented DJ and Producer, Some critics would argue that a big part of your success has been due to your Image and looks? and who could blame them Let's face it you are an extremely good looking woman...what are your views on statements like that?


A:
Aah, thanks - that's very sweet but i really don't think so - It takes a long time to build things up, there was no overnight success or big break due to be being a female. I always say this but trance fans are incredibly discerning with regards to music and trying to base a career in the trance scene on looks quite simply wouldn't work! Obviously being a female and being in the minority is going to make you stand out a little but the music really does have to speak for itself.



Q:
Which DJ's/Producers or Musicians to you look up to most?



A:
There are sooo many! I'm a huge fan of John Williams who composed the music for Star Wars, ET, Superman & more recently the Harry Potter films - i can't quite express in words how his music makes me feel. Also Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer & many other composers. On the trance scene Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Chicane, Agnelli & Nelson, John O'Callaghan, Guiseppe Ottaviani - and many others.



Q:
What don't we already know about Sophie Sugar?



A:
Another good question! Umm, i used to work on the show 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'...??!



Q:
You've travelled the world DJ'ing in all corners... what has your favorite gig been thus far and why?


A:
It would probably be either be a very recent gig in Argentina, Buenos Aires Trance 2, or H20 - an outdoor NYE festival in South Africa - both packed out with trance lovers and totally rocking!!


Q:
Any embarrassing DJ Stories?



A:
Ha ha, yes def had my fair share of DJing escapades! Being asked to get on the mic to compere a fancy dress competition mid set, playing at a festival where the entire crowd of around 3,000 was seated and the front row was full of government officials in suits!! The list goes on!!



Q:
If DJ'ing and producing hadn't worked out for you the way it has, what would you be doing?



A:
I'd probably still be working in TV - or i've always loved writing so maybe attempting a book of some kind!



Q:
What are your current top 3 tracks?



A:
01.Bryan Kearney, Mexican Rave, Subculture
02.Ronny K vs Spectral ft Lenka, FOTC 2010 (Dub), Perceptive
03.Filo & Peri ft. Audrey Gallagher, This Night (Alex M.O.R.P.H. remix) Vandit



Q:
Any track that you never go to a gig without... something that just seems to work every time?


A:Armin Van Buuren - Communication.


Q:
Trance has seen it's share of twists and turns since it's early days, where do you see Trance going in the future?



A:
I think it will continue to go through phases where various sub-genres are more popular for a while as with all types of music but ultimately people will always love to dance and will always love music with emotion - so i think trance will be around in one way, shape or form for a very long time :-)



Q:
You're symphony podcast is up there with the world's best... how different is your podcast to what you would play in a live set if at all?



A:
Aah thank you! Musically Symphony is very similar to a live set, although with the show i only have an hour so tend to mix in and out of tracks very quickly - in a club i play more of each track and also tend to start my sets with something slightly less melodic and build the emotion from there!! With the podcast it's straight in there as no time to waste!! :)



Q:
Lastly... what does the near and distant future look like for Sophie Sugar?



A:
The near future's looking great! I'll be continuing to play around the world over the coming months including FREQ at the Warehouse Project on Boxing Day and Gatecrasher Moscow on NYE both of which i'm really looking forward to. Production-wise, my next two tracks Arlanda - a collab with Tom Colontonio - & Skyline - the follow up to 'All For You' will both be out soon. I'm also busy at the moment on a re-work i've been wanting to do for years which is almost finished :) With regards to the distant future, i'm a great believer in fate and what will be will be so who knows?! I'm just trying to enjoy every moment along the way!

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Shane Halcon - Interview

We Catch up with Shane Halcon, And chat to him about moving to Holland, Managing First State and Playing Cricket...

 01.So, long before DJ’ ing and Dance Music came across your path, you were quite a successful Cricket player… tell us a bit about the transition from Cricket to DJ’ing, Producing and Managing one of Dance music’s Finest Acts came about?

To keep a long story short…I was in the UK in 2004 for my debut international season as a Cricketer, I stumbled across the London clubbing scene. On a rare weekend off, I ended up at a club called Canvas, the lineup on the night was Matt Hardwick, Scott Bond, Paul van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell and Judge Jules.  I was so blown away after the event, that the very next morning , quit cricket and decided that I wanted to be a DJ. Since then I progressed from being a music sales rep, to working in a record store and being a DJ instructor , then moved up to being Label Manager at Sheer Music… and now manage FIRST STATE as well as Co-Own the  umbrella of “FIRST STATE MUSIC” record labels.  While working my way up through the “day jobs”, focused non stop on learning the ins and outs on the performance and production side of the music industry too.

02.Do you still swing a Cricket bat around from time to time…?
The last time I held a cricket bat was around 5 years ago. I gave  Baseball a shot though, just for the hell of it… but leaving a nightclub club at 6am on a Sunday morning to play Baseball the rest of the day… well.. lets just say I spent more time sleeping in the changerooms then actually on the field!!

03.What would we typically find in a teenage “Shane Halcon’s”  Bedroom?
My father and grandfather were in the cinema industry … so I grew up as a huge movie fan. I  collected any merchandise I could find.. Star Wars, Superman, Batman… my room was full of action figures, replicas etc. That, plus all my sports equipment.

04.Now, as far as I know the rest of your family’s last names are “Santos”… Where does Halcon come from?

Well, actually Santos is my mom’s maiden name. Halcon is the Spanish translation of my real name which is a Persian name, which in English translates to “Falcon”.

05.Dance Music in South Africa has a very small yet very dedicated scene, Before being the Artist Manager for First State  you were label manager at Sheer Music in South Africa, getting Artists like Armin Van Buuren & Paul Van Dyk distributed to a market better known for being into “Braaivleis & Rugby” did you find this to be a difficult task or are South Africans broadening their Horizons?

Getting names like Armin and PvD out into the market was never really a problem. They both have huge fan bases in South Africa. But trying to introduce a new artist , or lesser known artist rather, was always a little tricky. But lately, seeing that Dance Music is becoming more a part of Pop-Culture then before, people are definitely expanding their horizons to
the Electronic Dance phenomenon.   

06.Since your days at Sheer , Armada’s rights in the territory have been bought over by Next Music, home to most of South Africa’s pop music, Do you feel they will treat 

Dance Music with the same respect Sheer did?

Yes. I think that Next Music have always been a great label, and they wouldn’t have grown to where they are now if they didn’t handle things in the correct manner. They have some huge Dance releases on the shelves, and ultimately that’s what its all about, getting the numbers. 

07.You’ve recently been back in SA for the closing gig of the legendary Club E.S.P, having been a resident there and catching a lot of your breaks through the Club, what will you miss most about E.S.P if anything? 

ESP was like one big family… the staff, the dj’s , the regular clubbers… I met some amazing people and life-long friends there, and it was a first step towards my “big break” internationally. So I guess theres a lot to miss really.

08.These days you’re based out of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, working as Artist Manager for First State as well as doing quite well as a DJ yourself, what have the biggest changes been in lifestyle since leaping across the ocean?

It’s a huge difference in lifestyle… and I’ve still not completely adjusted yet. Cycling lanes , Reliable public transport, higher taxes, smaller houses, taller people, windmills and dykes , legal marijuana and red light districts … I’m still culture shocked!!  But it’s still the best place to be, I’m only an hour away from one of Europe’s biggest travel hubs (Schipol airport), and from there… getting anywhere in the world is just so easy.

09.How did the management deal with Sander (First State) come about?

In April 2009, I worked with James G and ESP to bring FIRST STATE to play at the Slippery N Wet party. After their tour, I kept in touch with Sander, and we shared similar ideas on the industry, and ultimately we both wanted the same thing. So we discussed the idea of me being his manager ,as well as helping to  set up and run the record labels.

 11.Tell us a bit about “First State Music”?

First State Music is the registered name for the company, which comprises of 3 record labels, namely “First State Music” (Trance), “First State Deep” (Progressive) and “First State House” (House) . We’re a sublabel of Black Hole Recordings, who as you may know, was initially set up by Tiesto.  Our aim is to help promote new and quality releases from established as well as up and coming artists. We already have artists signed up from around the world…. Russia, South Africa, UK, America…  We’ve launched our debut track, Jason van Wyk’s “Dream On” and that’s been receiving some great support from Above and Beyond and Sander van Doorn for starters. We’ve also debuted a new artist on the House label, “Propaganda” and his tunes are doing pretty well on the Progressive House scene too.

12.You’ve also signed a 2 year deal with Menno De Jong’s Intuition recordings, how did this come about?

After spending a few months in studio with First State, I was really inspired to find a new sound for me , and I think I did just that with the tracks “Solid Ground” and “North Gate”.  I’ve always been an admirer of Menno’s work, the Intuition Label and some of the best parties in Holland… the Intuition festivals. I sent Menno samples of the new tracks, and he loved them so much, that he signed them right away and decided that he was gonna hold on to them as exclusives for his new cd compilation. The label are also about building an artist’s profile , so I think I made the right decision.

13.Best gig you’ve played far?
There have been many. But to name some of my favourites… “Nu Wave & Perfecto pres. Paul Oakenfold” , First State @ Slippery N Wet  - April ’09 and my International debut @ Club SE One in London back in ’07. 

14.Worst gig you’ve played?

I was booked for a gig in Plettenberg Bay in May ’09. The “club” I was supposed to play at,
didn’t have a  proper sound system, nor a DJ booth, nor any DJ equipment. Their setup comprised of 2 x hifi speakers from 1981 I guess, 1 LP player , and a Sony “discman” cd player.

The club manager argued that he didn’t know HE was supposed to supply the equipment and blamed my booking agent for not keeping him informed. Yet the club had signed my contract which had my technical rider written into the contract, so he clearly didn’t read what he was signing.
There were people wanting to hear me perform, so I couldn’t let them down. The club had rushed to hire CD players that I could mix off… and I played for a few hours, to the delight of all 20 people that could  bear to stay behind and listen to the distorted speakers that were probably last used when the new Bee-Gee’s LP hit the shelves!!

15.You’ve shared stages with some of the world’s best Artists & DJ’s… who has been your favorite and Why?

Being on the same lineup as Paul Oakenfold was a dream come true. I was listening to Oakey’s tunes before I even knew that HOUSE wasn’t just a thing that you lived in.

Other then that, sharing line ups with First State, Menno de Jong, Jon O’Bir, Jose Amnesia, Lisa Lashes, Armin van Buuren, Kyau & Albert  and so many more.. there’s just so many great moments and memories.

16.Lastly what does the future look like for Shane Halcon?

For the near future, I’ve got my debut EP coming up soon , and I’ve got a few great gigs up ahead… Including the Intuition Sessions Vol. 2 CD launch, which will be at the biggest Electronic Music Festival around, the Amsterdam Dance Event.

And for the foreseeable future, I’m aiming to pump out the releases, build the record label, and try to squeeze some big remixes too. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

  

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First State - Interview

We chat to First State about Power Tools, Adopting South Africans and his brand new Album...

 01.Other than being quite a powerful tool in carpentry, Sander is quite a powerful name in Dance music, including DJ’s Sander Kleinenberg,  Sander Van Doorn and of course yourself Sander Van Dien… is there some kind of magic to the name or is it pure coincidence?

HAHAHA!!  *Laughs*  Perhaps its in the name… perhaps its because we’re all Dutch. Who knows?

02.I’ve had a couple of  experiences where people outside of the scene confuse Armin Van Buuren with Armand Van Helden, as well as Sander Van Dien with Sander Van Doorn… has anyone ever made this mistake when meeting you?

When meeting in person, maybe a few times. I know that there has been confusion
with the Sander van Dien/Sander van Doorn  thing, that’s why I keep presenting myself as “Sander-First State” as seen on my Facebook account.

03.Since “Falling” with Anita Kelsey, First State has been a constant in Sets by Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk And Armin Van Buuren, just to name a few… how did the meeting with Anita and the song come about?

I had an idea for the track, and contacted Anita’s management because I really liked her voice. I asked her to write some lyrics and send over a demo recording, which she did.
Once I received the recording, I produced the track around the demo she sent. At first  Anita wasn’t too happy because I had left out around 70% of the lyrical content. I  don’t think it was too bad an idea… because the final result of the track was phenomenal!

04.Are you sick beyond measure of hearing and playing “Falling” yet?

Yes AND  no. “Falling” was my breakthrough track, and one of the first steps that lead me to being where I am today. But an artist shouldn’t sit back in the comforts of a single track that was done years ago.  I like to keep my sound modern and fresh, constantly evolving and moving forward. 

05.You’ve brought a very fresh sound to Trance in recent years, what do you do to keep your production relevant yet fresh?

I’m my own biggest critic. I’m never happy enough with anything I produce because I always feel that there’s something that could be bigger and better. I guess that this is what keeps me on my toes and , as I said in my previous answer, keeping a fresh , modern and constantly evolving sound.

06.Tell us a bit about your writing process, what do you do to get into the right headspace before starting production on a track?

It’s just completely random, and depends on the moment really. Sometimes I’ll have an idea which I will interpret , other times I’ll experiment and play around with sounds, and build on that. Of course a person’s mood and mind-set have a lot to do with it as well.

07.You’re managed by Shane Halcon, a well-known DJ and producer in his native South Africa, What was it about Shane, that made you decide to pluck him all the way from South Africa?

He’s got the knowledge, experience and dedication to his work, and we also share the same ideas on career directions for our music and the label.  We were also good friends before the thought of working together even came about.

08.I’m a huge fan of Three Drive’s Greece 2000… you did an amazing mix of it not too long ago, how did it end up on your plate?

The track is owned by Massive Drive Recordings, managed by TON TB (a.k.a Three Drives ) who was my bookings agent at the time. From time to time labels like to breathe new life into classic tracks, and I was approached by Ton  to add my touch to the remix package.

09. I’ve got to admit “Your own way” with Elliot Johns is one of my all-time favorite tracks, how did the meeting with Elliot come about?

After hearing Elliot John’s voice for the first time, I was really keen to work with him, So I contacted his manager, and took it from there. As with “Falling”, Elliot sent over the vocal recordings, and I constructed the tracks around them.  

10.Most DJ’s might have great success with an album, and then go completely off the rails when it comes to a follow up, but as great as “Time Frame” was… “Changing Lanes” seems to be even more superior… what did you do differently on the second album?

Changing Lanes had to be bigger, bolder and more diverse. Going “off the rails” is not an option for me.  I’m always considering what sort of outcome will follow one of my releases. After the resounding support from “Brave” , “My Sanctuary” and “Cape Point”, I knew that I was on the right track with the album.  I was more focused on the production of Changing Lanes, because I was hell-bent on making it a bigger success then the first album.

11.Who do you look up to  most In The EDM scene and Musical world in general for that matter?

I’ve always been an admirer of The Swedish House Mafia, collectively, as well as their individual guises, Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastien Ingrosso. I also enjoy  stuff from Eric Prydz  and Deadmau5.

12.Any track that you never go to a gig without…something that just seems to work every time?

I normally prepare a new set, and burn new cd’s for every gig. I always have a few tracks that I keep in the cd case longer then others. But there are a few of my own tracks that have  a permanent slot in the cd holdere, that may be called into action from time to time, like “Falling”, my remix of Dash Berlin’s “Waiting”, “Brave” and a few others.

13.Lastly… what does the future look like for Sander Van Dien  First State?

I have just signed on to a new bookings booking agency that are highly rated, … and I plan to make inroads towards regular performances at bigger festivals worldwide… a New mix compilation, some big releases from my label,  the release of my debut music video, and a few other bits that will all be revealed in time!

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Arnej Interview

We chat to Arnej about Fruityloops, an Offensive Twitter Account as well as the return of 8 Wonders!
Q:
So born in Bosnia, grew up in Canada, and now Admired by the world… tell us a bit about how you grew up, and how that eventually led to The Producer/DJ We know today?

A:
I grew up no differently than most kids did. I played outside a lot, got into trouble every so often and probably didn't spend enough time doing my homework! Most people may find it a surprise (or not) that my musical beginnings didn't happen till much later on. You'll often read about artists and it will say they grew up with music in the family, they've listened to so and so since early on and so forth. Such was not the case with me. I had no interest in music until my mid teens, back when Aqua were the latest and greatest group. Eventually I stumbled across some early electronica music mostly thanks to the advent of the internet.

Q:
Give us a short description of what we mind find in a teenage Arnej’s bedroom?

A:
The truthful answer to that is not much. We migrated to Canada just before the war bled into the region we lived in. Most of my early to late teen days were spent as a poor immigrant. Often we'd improvise and make our own toys. When you are poor, your imagination is all you need!

Q: 

I’ve recently discovered that to my shock Canada has quite a catch of big DJ’s and Producers including you off course, how does the Canadian scene compare to the Scene Worldwide for you?

A:
To be honest, I don't know much about the Canadian scene. The only two relevant names I can think of in my eyes would be Joel Zimmerman (Deadmau5) and Max Graham, besides them I think the talent is pretty slim pickings. The music as a whole is still growing here, as well as globally, so only good things can come as a result. Most people imagine Canada as this huge country and it is physically, but our population is less that of New York and Los Angeles combined, to put it in perspective. Only the people in the major cities of the country have any sort of exposure to the music, which leaves you at about 6 cities or so that you can play in Canada.

Q:
I recently Interviewed Lazy Rich, originally from the UK, but now living in Canada as well, he told me that he could live anywhere as long as he could make music… would you agree?

A:
I would definitely agree with that. You can write music anywhere with any decent computer these days, provided you also have access to the internet, that is key ;)

Q:
Who were your biggest influences musically growing up, and how does that compare to your current influences?

A:
As I was a late bloomer, musically I had no inspiration or people I looked up to. There are some early EDM producers who's work I grew to love and respect, some key names that stand out would be Man With No Name and Astral Projection, of the psy/goa genre fame. These days I appreciate the works of orchestral composers like Hans Zimmer and Newton Howard, that is some real music there.

Q:
Thanx to a string of major releases and Support from some of the world’s biggest DJ’s, most people know you as a Dance Music Producer, but what a lot of people might not know is that you create sound tracks and FX for Games… how did this come about?

A:
I've been involved in game development for almost 10 years now. Most people don't know that my beginnings were of that in the graphic design field rather than music. Sound design came shortly after, which initially began with me just fiddling around and creating sound modifications for games. Music was actually the very last step in my career. Being a naturally inquisitive person, I think this was just a natural step in trying to create something with a different art medium.

Q:
I heard somewhere that you’re quite a fan of Fruityloops, what are your views when it comes to purists that say Software can never do what Hardware does?

A:
Fruityloops was and is the staple in my productions. I've been using it since the very first version and I absolutely love it. Long gone are the days of software not being up to par with hardware and there is much less purist attitude towards software. Ask any top DJ/Producer what they compose their music with and I bet you 9/10 will say software, even with a super composer like Hans Zimmer has a dedicated farm of computers that he composes his orchestral pieces. I've always been a firm believer that you can make anything with anything as long as the passion and patience is there, and of course not being afraid to fail, which is the only way to success.

Q:
Is there a specific track that you never leave home without? Something that just works every time you play it?

A:
As arrogant as it may sound, any one of my own productions. Many fans who come out to see you perform at a show want to hear you play your own records, it's what they associate with you as a performer. Those tracks will always get the best crowd reaction.

Q:
What are your current top 3 tracks?

A:
My top 3 would be 1) Arnej - The Day Will Come 2) Sied van Riel & Radion 6 - Another Heater 3) Track 12 of the Inception Soundtrack :)

Q:
If there was anyone you could work with or do a remix for who would it be?

A:
Good question! I think Benno (of Rank 1 fame) and I could do some serious damage in the studio, but in all honesty I am a difficult person to collaborate with due to my perfectionist nature. I can totally see myself annoying the other person with my constant changing of everything, hell I even annoy myself sometimes ;)

Q:
Any embarrassing DJ stories?

A:
Probably the most embarrassing story was when I was playing at a club, the CDJ cables were suspended, oddly enough. I was mixing on the headphones, doing my thing as I finished mixing the next track and took the headphones off, much to my surprise there was no sound in the club! Apparently because the cables were suspended, the speaker cables got disconnected, leaving me to enjoy a good minute of music all to myself. I probably turned 10 different shades of red that night haha.

Q:
What would we be surprised to find out about Arnej?

A:
I do all my own art, including press photos!

Q:
If DJ’ing and producing hadn’t worked out for you the way it has, what would you be doing?

A:
I'd still be doing what I am doing now, which is game development. I am still not where I can be in the DJ game but as with anything, patience and hard work will get you there.

Q:
Best gig you’ve ever played?

A:
The best gig I've played was in Montreal in a small club called Living. It was a last minute gig, I was asked to replace Ashley Wallbridge because he couldn't make it due to volcanic ash. Easily one of the best nights for me. Intimate crowd atmosphere, amazing vibe and an surreal live performance of my track "Free Of You" with the talented Sally Saifi. She is a local Montreal girl and it was awesome to see a lot of her friends come out in support. Her performance was so flawless, that we ended up playing the song twice!

Q:
Worst gig you’ve ever played?

A:
Worst gig was oddly enough in Montreal as well. Not to anyone's fault, it was a beach party with terrible weather. Who wants to go to the beach when it rains right?

Q:
Who do you admire most in the Scene? And music in general for that matter?

A:
I admire anyone who is doing this because I know the passion and hard work it takes, but If I have to give out a big shout out to anyone it would be to my closest friends in the scene, Sied van Riel and Blake Jarrell, love those guys!

Q:
I’m a quite a big fan of your 8 wonders project, any chance of seeing something new there?

A:
Funny you should ask that as I am working on a new 8 Wonders EP as I type this!

Q:
What can we expect from you in the near future? Any exciting projects in the pipeline?

A:
Probably the most exciting bit of news at the moment would be my exclusive digital compilation on Armada. It features some of the best Arnej songs to date, in addition to 3 new ones. It is scheduled to come out September 24th, so look out for it!

Q:
Lastly... any parting words and where can people see you, and get hold of your music?

A:
I try to keep up with my social networking sites as much as I can, so you can check me out on twitter.com/arnejsecerkadic and facebook.com/arnejofficial. Be warned though, some of the things I tweet about may offend you, viewer discretion is advised! As for upcoming shows, I will be making an announcement soon regarding this, so again keep your ears peeled! You can grab most of my music on all relevant download portals, such as beatport and trackitdown. A few cool and exclusive updates are coming to youtube.com/arnejsecerkadic so make sure you subscribe to be the first to hear them! ;)

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Derek The Bandit Interview

We chat to Derek The Bandit about being a Barney Simon fan, Falling asleep on the Job and his time in the Scene

Q:

You've been involved with Dance music and Radio for close on 20 years, Tell us a bit about life before that...

A:
before that I was a kid at school!, Always wanted to work in radio since the age of 13...so just followed my passion!

Q:

How did Dance music come across your path?

A:
it all started on my first weekend show on 5FM called The Late, Late Early Show......I introduced the first hour of the show as Totally Dance..

Q:
What could we typically find in a Teenage Derek "The Bandits" bedroom?

A:
Pictures of the band Japan & David Sylvian, was brought up listening to Barney Simon, so I have strong background in Alternative music...

Q:
You are without a doubt an integral part of The Scene in South Africa, you know it from every possible side,
what are the things you both love and hate most about the South African Clubbing Scene...

A:
I loved my time in the scene, it was full of excitement..... but things change and you have to move on!

Q:
You're quite famously a fan of both Paul Van Dyk & Graham Gold, what is it about them that stands out for you? is it purely about the music...or is there more to it?

A:
Graham Gold is like my big brother that I never had, did my show from Kiss 100 London, twice while he was still there and he just a great bloke. Paul Van Dyk has always been an inspiration, had the pleasure of playing with him 3 times and numerous interviews....

Q:
What is the story behind "The Bandit"? how did that come about?

A:
nickname from school, let's face it Richardson isn't the best radio name! Hahah

Q:
You took what was essentially quite an underground movement and brought it to National Radio at least once a week, and quite honestly had a huge hand in the building of the scene we know today... did you ever feel like an outsider...as in that guy from the Radio on the Club DJ's turf? or was it smooth sailing all the way?

A:
Oh there was always bitchiness and jealously but you just have to get on with it!

Q:
You were responsible for helping some of todays best known DJ's get that essential foot in the door... who
is your favourite discovery?

A:
Roger Goode!

Q:
Any embaressing DJ stories?

A:
Falling asleep while doing the 2am to 6am radio show....only happened once, never again :-)

Q:
You've shared stages with some of the world's best DJ's and acts... who has stood out for you most and why?

A:
Just too many to say really, but obviously Paul Van Dyk

Q:
There is a season for everything, and for a very big part of your life DJ'ing, clubbing and Dance music was that season,please forgive me if I'm wrong... but it seems your clubbing days are over for good... what would have to happen for you to get back into it?

A:
You have to face reality in life, I had a fantastic platform on 5FM which now belongs to Roger Goode... The Bandit will continue to live online through my monthly Podcasts! When it comes to club gigs I wouldn't mind doing one or two here and there........

Q:
A lot of SA's original pioneering DJ's have moved on to other things... Do you have any advise for Young DJ's who are struggling to get in to the scene...

A:
Don't think you can be a DJ forever, always have a back up plan!

Q:
What is your current top track?

A:
Tim Berg - Bromance (Aviciis Arena Mix)

Q:
Best Gig you ever played?

A:
Best gigs ever were Mother, ICE & Camel Experience

Q:
Where do you see Dance Music both in SA and Internationally going in the future?

A:
There will always be a dance scene it's just evolving all the time.....

Q:
What is playing in your Mp3 player right now?

A:
My podcast!

Q:
What was the first album you ever bought?

A:
Queen single

Q:
The last album you bought?

A:
Faithless, love those guys!

Q:
Lastly what does the future look like for "The Bandit"?

A:
Find The Bandit online - www.soundrepublic.co.za

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Lazy Rich Interview

We Chat To Lazy Rich about Maple Syrup, The Future of Electro and find out just why he's so lazy... 
Q:
As one of Dance Music’s hardest working DJ’s... It’s quite Ironic that you call yourself “Lazy Rich”, I’m assuming of course that your parents didn’t have a look at you and thought “Let’s call him lazy”... where did the name come from?

A:
It's from the track by x-press 2, ages before I remixed it I did a bootleg version of it, and basically decided the name 'Lazy Rich' worked pretty well (my dj name before that was AWFUL, although I'm not telling anyone what it was).

Q:
You’re currently one of the Scene’s freshest and most recognized DJ’s... Where did it all start for you? Has it always been the Electro sound people know you for now?

A:
Yeah when I started producing electro was really popular so it was an obvious choice, but before that I used to DJ funky house.

Q:
You've recently remixed Fatboy Slim’s Classic Weapon of Choice, how did this come about?

A:
I did a bootleg of the track 'Lazy' by X-press 2, which I sent to Skint and they decided to release. I kept bugging them for new projects and eventually they gave me the parts for Weapon of Choice.

Q:
Any artists you would love to Remix?

A:
I'd love to have a go at a Wolfgang track, just because I think there would be some amazing parts to use, he uses some really original sounds. Other than that I'm actually going through some old funky house tracks right now, picking out some that might be good to remix, I used to love labels like Defected and Swing City, so I think I might take a crack at them.

Q:
You've gone from a country very well known for it’s Dance Music, and decided to move to country
Best known for Maple syrup, Ice Hockey, Celine Dion and more recently Pioneer DJ/Producer Deadmau5... Why the big change?

A:
Not for the music actually, I just came to Canada for 6 months but liked it so decided to stay. I've been here for 5 years now and still enjoy it, but I think I would be happy to live anywhere I can make music.

Q:
How would you compare the Scene in the UK compared to Canada and the ever Growing American Scene?

A:
I don't actually play in the UK very often so I don’t know too much about the scene there nowadays, but Im hoping to play there later this year. The scene in the states is quite strange I find, there are some amazing huge parties, but I find the crowd can be hard work sometimes.

Q:
The “Electro” sound has evolved and changed quite a bit from the original 80’s sound to the “Electro House” we know today... with it now being incorporated into all forms of Dance music from House – Trance & Beyond... where do you see Electro going in the Future...

A:
I really don't know to be honest. It seems to be flying off in all sorts of different directions now, and even the straight old-school type electro is coming back with Dirtyloud really taking control of the charts right now. I'd love to see electro staying strong for a good few years yet.

Q:
The Best Gig you’ve played so far?

A:
I really enjoyed Club Heaven in Korea, and Ad-Sutra in Brazil was insane, playing to 10,000 people is a huge buzz.

Q:
The Worst Gig you’ve played so far?

A:
I played a festival in Portland recently that was pretty terrible, unorganised people shouldn't throw parties.

Q:
Any Embarrassing DJ stories?

A:
None that I want to share :)

Q:
What are your current top 3 tracks?

A:
01.Porter Robinson - Say My Name
02.Lazy Rich feat Lizzie Curious - Get Out (Keemerah Remix)
03.Chrizz Luvly - How We Roll

Q:
Any tracks you never go to a gig without? Something that works every time?


A:
Anything by Miles Dyson is a dead cert, but the all time get out of jail free track is Jeff T's remix of Electric Boogaloo.

Q:
What is playing in your IPOD/Mp3 Player/Car Radio at the moment?

A:
My latest mix www.lazy-rich.com/lazy-rich.mp3

Q:
If DJ’ing had not worked out for you the way it has, what would you be doing now?

A:
I would be a programmer - I still do a lot of programming nowadays, I make tools for record labels - www.label-engine.com

Q:
lastly what can we look forward to from you in the near future and any last words?

A:
Tons of new remixes, tours of Europe, Asia and Australia, and hopefully big things for the radio show. Be sure to tune in on www.di.fm the third thursday of each month. Thanks to everyone that has been playing / buying / listening / dancing to my tracks

Cheers,

Rich.

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Royal K Interview

We chat to Royal K about his secret love for Trance Music, Food & Beverage Management and the fact that he has no embarrassing DJ stories.


Q:

So first things first... how did you get into DJ'ing... how exactly did the bug bite?

A:
Well it all started out at my mates house the one day, playing around on his decks and an old mixer, and after that day i kinda got hooked, went and bought myself a mixer and some old decks and gave at it for a while you know.

Q:
Royal K... how did that name come about? Any true blue blood in those veins?

A:
haha many cant figure it out, but my surname is Alroy and if u play around wit the letters u get royal, and k from kyle.

Q:
Most people know you as one of SA's top Electro/Fidget DJ's, but a lot of people might not know...
You started out playing Trance... Why the transition?

A:
well when i grew up trance was the in thing u know, and for a while i played commercial in some of jhb';s clubs, but needed to break away, i really liked the electro/fidget sound and decided to stick with it,

Q:
If the SA market allowed it... would you rather be playing Trance? or Is House your true love now?

A:
Trance has always been my passion, nothing beats a good melodic trance tune, but the SA market isn't in favour of that unfortunately, however i do love all types of house music,

Q:
Any DJ's, Producers or Artists that you specifically look up to?

A:
Wow there are so many hey, local guys, Kyle Watson, Nick Supply, Chris Sen, Ryan Murgatroyd, Mark Stent etc,
international, Stupid fresh, hijack, nom de strip, eats everything

Q:
When you're not out doing major Damage on dancefloors around SA, where would we find Royal K?

A:
ha ha well, I'm from JHB, most of my time i spend at home in studio working on new stuff, and besides DJ'ing which i do 3-4 times a week i don't go out that much, like to chill and relax at home.,

Q:
Was there ever a different plan for you... if DJ'ing hadn't work out for you the way it has, any other passions?

A:
well before djing came along i got a degree in food and beverage management, in which i worked for a while, but djing is my passion, and I'm really glad it worked out!

Q:
You've released singles across the world... is there a specific country outside of SA that has specifically shown a lot of attention towards your productions?

A:
Its quite hard to know where your stuff is getting bought or downloaded, but when fidget was still big, a lot of guys i know from the UK and Canada paid attention to my music :)

Q:
Trends come and go... like fashion, 10 Years back it was uplifting trance, and more recently things like Electro and Fidget... the buzz word among party goers at the moment seems to be "Tech"...where do you see electronic dance music in South Africa and the world for that matter going in the near future...

A:
To be honest hopefully back to uplifting trance, its never really died. but ye tech is pretty popular at the moment, music is constantly evolving, its always like a cycle, electro will come back again just in a new form.

Q:
Is Dance Music and The scene as good now as when you started out or better?

A:
it has its moments u know, like i said i started playing commercial, and i think more people these days are open minded and willing to listen to new styles of music, which is great for us! so i think its better these days!

Q:
What are your current top 3 tracks?

A:
01.Jack beats - revolution
02.Jayye Jackin & Dappa D pres. Mr No 1 - Come With Me (Royal K's who's with me Remix)
03.Royal K And Kabz - Hillbilly bass (jho fm remix)

Q:
Any embarrassing DJ'ing stories?

A:
Not that I can recall actually

Q:
Is there a track that you never leave out of your box... that just seems to work every time?

A:
There a couple of those, all time classics, just newer versions u know, like a newer show me love or something along those lines

Q:
The best gig you've played up to now?

A:
H2O has to be the best so far!!!

Q:
The Worst gig you've played?

A:
been a few of those, private parties that just don't get going and u kinda stuck haha

Q:
Anything you are looking forward to in the near an not so near future? any exciting projects coming up for you?

A:
Yeah i got a few new releases coming out soon, few different styles as well ranging from regular house, tech prog etc, tunes like disco lover (ep) a remix ep on flexual records, a tech remix on miniflex, and a couple others.

Q:
You seem to make a lot of your remixes and tracks available for download, for free... what are your views on
the downloading of mp3's both legally and Illegally?

A:
well i make alot of bootlegs of commercial popular tunes for my own sets and then i hand them out for free after i played them a bit, just to make my sets unique and also to give somin to the supporters.

Buying music is the right way to go at the end of the day, cos it shows that u truly support artists, and what they do.

Q:
If you could work with anyone on a track or DJ alongside anyone who would it be?

A:
i would love to watch the Swedish house mafia in studio as they are amazing.

Q:
Lastly where can people get hold of you and check out your work?

A:
on facebook look for Royal K, myspace http://www.myspace.com/royalkdj and on soundcloud look for royal k

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