Bjorn Akesson Interview

We chat to Bjorn Akesson about Engineering, Tennis & just a little Trance...

Q:

Bjorn is quite a common name in your part of the world… with which of these Bjorn’s can you relate better and why… Bjorn Borg (Tennis Champion) or Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA)?

A:

Definitely Bjorn Borg, I'm going for #1 too and love to win! Also to mention I love sports and competition.

Q:

Scandinavia seems to be the breeding ground for all that is truly great in the world of Trance music these days, with artists like Super8 & Tab, Daniel Kandi, Paavo Siljamaki (P.O.S ,Above & Beyond) Boom Jinx and yourself of course leading the charge, how long do you think it’ll be before a Scandinavian DJ makes it to the number one spot on DJ Mag’s annual poll and who do you think it will be?

A:

Probably a few more years, we do have the Swedish house mafia going strong, so I think any of those will reach number one if any.

Q:

Your track "Painting Pyramids" was one of the most played tracks during Armin Van Buuren’s ASOT 500 celebrations, is there a specific meaning behind the song’s title, or a connection to the fact that it was released on Egyptian duo Aly & Fila’s label "Future sound of Egypt?

A:

Being released on Future Sound of Egypt does not really have anything to do with it, I'm doing my thing no matter what label I release on. I wanted the use an interesting name that would fit the track and since it has an Egyptian touch to it I found a suitable title on that basis. I wanted to use the word pyramid and ended up thinking it would be fun to use a title that's a bit odd and uniqe.

Q:

Sweden is quite famous for it’s Pop music as well as quite a host of Metal music, is there an alternative world where you would have liked to be part of a Metal Band or Pop sensation , or has it always been Trance Music for you?

A:

It hasn't really all been trance music for me, I grew up with drum'n'bass, electro and techno music before I really got into trance. I'm not sure if I would ever try being a part of a metal band but I do love some of it so you never know. Pop music is more interesting though, not closing any doors on it, I would certainly consider producing pop music for other artists.

Q:

You don’t seem to be big on collaborations with other artists, are there any specific artists or vocalists you would like to work with in future or do you prefer working on your own?

A:

I do prefer working in my own, but I do like collaborating with other artists. It would be tons of fun making a track together with Skrillex, whatever that would end up sounding like.

Q:

What is your production process? What inspires you? And what do you use to produce with? are you a hardware or software man?

A:

These days I'm working 100% with software for my solo productions, I'm using Cubase with various VST instruments. It's really hard to describe the process, it just happens really.

Q:

.Having been on stages all around the world, where are the best and worst gigs you’ve ever played?

A:

I have to say that my favourite gigs this year is a tie between digital society in Leeds and Luminosity in Amsterdam. Crowd was amazing on both nights and I got to meet so many new nice people, was so much fun. Also my set flew by really smooth on both nights. I've played some lousy gigs in sweden in my early days, I think that's very normal for the first gigs in every dj's career.

Q:

Where would we find "Bjorn Akesson", when he isn’t DJ’ing or producing music? Do you have any hidden talents, hobbies or passions?

A:

I'm currently finishing my engineering studies so mostly you will find me at the university. Other than that I enjoy going out with my friends, going to the gym, play soccer or just watch a movie.

Q:

Is there a specific track that always seems to find a place in your sets? Something you never leave for a gig without? Something that just works every time?

A:

I always play my track "Perfect Blue" for being my break-through track!

Q:

What can we expect from Bjorn Akesson In the near and distant future?

A:

Anything!

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Ronski Speed Interview

We Chat To Ronski Speed About who his heroes are, what inspires him and some of his favourite gigs.

Q:

I recently read somewhere, that you were born “Ronny Schneider”, tell us a bit about “Ronny Schneider” and how it happened that he eventually became “Ronski Speed”?

A:

Actually i think it is clear that Ronski is not my real name, actually it came from my name Ronny converted to Ronski and the 80's with a similar name.

Q:

I remember seeing the name “Ronski Speed” for the first time in the booklet of Paul Van Dyk’s “Politics Of Dancing Volume 1” album, in the credit section for “Mirco De Govia’s Epic Monolith”, since then you have been a constant feature in Paul Van Dyk’s sets, would you consider him to be one of your musical heroes? And are there other DJ’s, producers or artists that you specifically look up to? 

A:

He is definitely a hero and a pioneer, furthermore i really respect the great ideas of Ferry Corsten very much.

Q:

You’ve been a major part of German based label “Euphonic” (Owned by trance legends Kyau & Albert ) since it’s establishment 14 years ago, how did this meeting come about?

A:

A friend of us brought us together, they build up their label and were searching fr artists and a certain sound. So we started to build u the label together.

Q:

Aside from a very impressive library of original productions and collaborations, you’ve remixed some of dance music’s biggest anthems including “Above & Beyond – Alone Tonight”, “Armin Van Buuren – Burned With Desire”, “Binary Finary – 1998”… is there a track that you would love to remix… but you almost feel it’s impossible to remix?

A:

Hmm, not really every track depends on a try. 8)

Q:

Your collaboration with Filo & Peri, called “Propane”, is yet again making a huge impact on dance floor’s around the globe, how did the meeting with “Filo & Peri” come about… and is there anyone you would love to collaborate with in future?

A:

Actually we played together in New York's Pacha and talked about doing something. After a few months and many many tries we finally came up with this tune. So i think we are very happy with it.

Q:

What is your production process? What inspires you? And what do you use to produce with? are you a hardware or software man?

A:

Usually I'm searching the key idea the hook of a track an build everything else around. Getting inspired by everything around me, from music to travelling etc. When i started it was mainly hardware but now after some years it got banned from the studio as software is so much easier to work with. I'm a Cubase user from the scratch. 8)

Q:

Having been on stages all around the world, where are the best and worst gigs you’ve ever played?

A:

There are so many good ones, like especially in eastern Europe also Asia and America as well. remembering love parade or nature one festivals which were big.I have had 1 specific gig in USA where the FBI was stopping the party, this was like in a movie. half an hour later the hall was empty and i played on my own with some dancers. later the audience got back. sounds like an American anti party movement. 8)

Q:
Where would we find “Ronski Speed”, when he isn’t DJ’ing or producing music? Do you have any hidden talents, hobbies or passions?

A:

Usually relaxing and doing computer stuff. I like watching good movies and TV Series.

Q:

Is there a specific track that always seems to find a place in your sets? Something you never leave for a gig without? Something that just works every time?

A:

Actually one of my biggies "The Space We Are"

Q:

What can we expect from Ronski Speed In the near and distant future?

A:

Right now working on new own stuff. We are releasing my new single "Out Of Control" very soon on Euphonic and re-release "To Be Loved" with brand new remixes on Spinnin.

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Pierre Pienaar Interview

We Chat to Pierre Pienaar about heading up Nukleuz, being a neat freak, and a  secret love for Brooklyn Bounce.

Q:

So, you come from a country that’s known for a couple of things… being mostly dry and desert like… and share a surname with quite a few famous sportsman including Francois Pienaar,Steven Pienaar,Ruan Pienaar and Gysie Pienaar… by what miracle did you manage to get into Dance music?

A:

I grew up in a household where music was always abundant...My first exposure to dance music was when my sister came back after studying in Switzerland..there was tracks from Sash!, Brooklyn Bounce, Faithless, Da Hool etc on it and at that time it really hit the spot for me...and then the internet came and I just got deeper and deeper into the different EDM styles and sounds.

Q:

You’ve been involved with “Nukleuz” for quite some time, how did this meeting come about… and how did you end up heading the “green” department?

A:

Andy Whitby and I used to chat a lot and he was supporting a lot of my tracks at that time. He used two of my tracks on his Frantic Residents CD which was released on Nukleuz and through that I got in touch with Dave Louca who is the Head of A&R there. I ended up doing a few remixes for them and after a while Peter Pritchard contacted me to ask if I would be interested in heading the Nukleuz Green imprint. Nukleuz was always one of the brands that moulded my love for the EDM scene so it was amazing to get the opportunity!

Q:

You’ve done a lot of your best work under various pseudonyms including “Melodia, P.H.A.T.T. and ReBirth”, is there a specific story linked to why you chose each of these?

A:

There's no specific reason why I chose those exact names, but I'm kind of a neat freak..so when I started experimenting with different sounds and styles I had to categorise them and using different aliases worked well..it also gave me freedom to venture into different directions without dropping my old sound.

Q:

you’ve collaborated with a couple of great producer’s in the past including Jason Van Wyk most recently… anyone you’d love to work with in the future?

A:

Yes I'm working with Jason at the moment...we've been talking about doing a collab for years now and just never got to it, but I'm very excited about the track we're working on and I'm positive that our respective fans will love the outcome! There's a lot of producers that I'd like to work with from various genres...Liam Howlett from The Prodigy, Rolo who produces for Faithless and Dido...but in trance terms it would be Sean Tyas for a nice uplifting track, Simon Patterson for something techy and Mat Zo for the more melodic stuff...but my list is pretty much endless!

Q:

Best and Worst gig you’ve ever played?

A:

It's hard to pinpoint specific gigs as my best or worst...I've had a few gigs which I'd rather forget but funily enough they are always the ones you recall the most and in a funny way you look back at them as good memories! The most epic gig I've played though was H2O Africa...that was just massive!

Q:

What would surprise us about “Pierre Pienaar”?

A:

Well if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise hey? ;)

Q:

What are you currently working on, anything exciting?

A:

Apart from my collaboration with Jason I'm working on a few projects outside my normal scope..I'm working on a commercial album and at the moment I'm having auditions for a lead singer. Apart from that I'm constantly working on new singles and remixes under my different aliases and there's a few P.H.A.T.T. releases lined up..the next remix that'll be out is the one that I did for T.O.M & Alpha Force called Paradice which ventures into a more progressive sound but still has a lot of balls (am I allowed to say balls!?)

Q:

Where would we find “Pierre Pienaar”, when he isn’t DJ’ing or Producing music? Do you have any hidden talents, hobbies or passions?

A:

I'm a very chilled guy...maybe I'm just showing my age but these days you'd rather find me chilling on the couch, watching DVD's than consuming large amounts of Jaggermeister! Regarding hidden talents, I like working in the kitchen and cooking tasty food..but I'm no Jamie Oliver, so I'll stick to composing music as my profession!

Q:

What’s playing on your Ipod/MP3 player or car radio at the moment?

A:

There's quite a mixture of music in my Car shuttle...I always have the latest Podcasts from Ferry and Above & Beyond in there, but there's a mix CD tthere with random tracks which I actually listen to more..After working all day in the studio it's refreshing to just sit back and listen to a bit of Pitbull or Eminem...I love music too much to constrict myself to only listening one style.

Q:

What can we expect from “Pierre Pienaar” In the near and distant future?

A:

I'm currently at a crossroads with my life and career and I'm assessing what I want to do and the direction I want to go in..so your guess is as good as mine! But watch this space...

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