Vicky Devine - Interview

We Chat To Vicky Devine about being Being a Master Biologist, spending half her life on a Party Island, and playing a little R&B...

01.You’ve been involved in the Dance Scene for well over a Decade, how did it all start for you?

I got into Dance music when I was at college - I was definitely a weekend raver as I'd spend all week studying and then spend all weekend out. I don't think there was one weekend when I wasn't out partying somewhere at that time!!! I got to know the people working in the clubs and this led to all kinds of things such as dancing, magazine reviews and eventually DJing. I used to go round to my mates house after college to practice mixing and then I eventually got my own decks. The rest is history as they say!

02.What were you doing before?

Well I was studying Biology at Uni and I eventually came away with a Masters Degree and I worked in a hospital as a Medical Technician during my first few years of DJing, but it eventually all became too much and I had to go one way or the other. Of course the music won!

03. What was The First Track You ever Bought and Do You Still Have it?

The first dance track I ever bought on vinyl was called The Key, The Secret by Urban Cookie Collective when I was at school..... I was into dance music even then and yes, I still have it. I have all my old vinyl from then and from my first 5 years or so of DJing and will never get rid of them!!!

04.Having DJ’d across the world in some of the world’s biggest venues, are there any event’s you haven’t played and would still love to?

There are loads!!! During the time that I have been DJing many clubs have closed and many new ones have opened. Same with certain brands - lots of new ones have appeared and some have disappeared. Its forever changing and there is always something new I want to do or somewhere else I'd love to play.

05.You’ve been a staple in Judge Jules’ Judgement Sundays for some time now, how did the meeting with Jules come about?

I actually went to the opening party of the very first year of Judgement Sundays back in 2000 when I was on holiday in Ibiza with some friends. I hadn't been DJing long, but I remember being stood on the dance floor saying - one day I'd love to be a resident here. From that moment on it became a kind of mission for me. When I started working in Ibiza, I'd go to Judgement every single week without fail bugging the hell out of the promoters and eventually they gave me a set. From that I was given the residency and have now been there 6 years.

06.Any embarrassing DJ stories?

There are a few from my vinyl days when I took the wrong record off or even more recently when I've stopped the wrong CDJ - schoolgirl errors are always embarrassing!!!! And there was also a time when I was walking across the front of a stage to go and say hello to someone in the crowd. Unfortunately I didn't see that the stage had been split into 2 and I just fell right down the gap in between the two in front of everyone!

07.Who do you admire most in the Scene and in music generally for that matter?

God there really are so many. I have such a diverse range in my taste of music that I admire so many people in so many different genres for so many different reasons. It probably sounds a little cheesy with me being the Judgement resident, but I do really admire Jules and all he has achieved in the scene and also on a business level. 

08.You’re obviously a very beautiful woman, do you feel extra pressure to keep up your looks as a female DJ?

Why thankyou sir!!!!! I think most women feel pressure to a certain extent to keep up with their looks don't they!??? Whilst I've always said you have to use whatever you have to your advantage, I've always tried to be the best that I can with my music as thats what its about for me.

09.I am a huge fan of “Starfire” especially what Sean Tyas has done with it… were you a fan of his work before he did the mix… and how did it come about?

I've been a huge fan of Sean's for many years now - his tunes are always spot on and he's been a regular at Judgement Sundays for quite a few years so have DJ'd alongside him many times. I just asked him if he'd be up for doing the remix, he liked the tune and it went from there. I'm not embarrassed to say that I almost cried when I heard what he'd done as I was that bowled over with it, and am just so happy that it received the support that it did last year.

10.Best Gig you’ve ever played?

Hmmm difficult - there are so many Judgement Sundays that I could mention that have been absolutely amazing. Closer to home I would have to say The Gallery at Ministry of Sound in London and further afield it would either be a gig I did in Edmonton, Canada alongside Lisa Lashes or a massive event that I played in India one New Years Eve which were both phenomenal.

11.Worst Gig you’ve ever played?

Any where the turnout hasn't been great! I've also done a few where the promoters have really had no idea about music policy and its really frustrating to be asked to play R&B as a trance DJ!!!!! lol

12.What are  your current top 3 tracks?

oooo now there's a question. For warm up sets I'd have to go for Nick Larson's track Numbers which was released a few weeks back. I've been working quite closely with Nick on a few projects and I love his sound - and Numbers is a real builder with techy influences and I always love a bit of tech! On the harder tip I absolutely love The3hold's H.A.A.R.P which was also released last month - its such a clever track and ticks every box for me. And then from a personal point of view I've been working for some time now on my first vocal release as a collaboration with Marcos and Hayley Parsons - its a first for me to do something vocal and more uplifting and I'm really happy with the results so hopefully everyone else will think the same!

13.Any track that you never go to a gig without… something that just works every time?

Any remix of an old classic or a good remix of something current. At the moment I've been taking a remix Ian Bett's did last summer of Iio's "Rapture", Claudia Cazacu's remix of "Cafe Del Mar" and great little mix of Rhianna's "Love the way you Lie" which was done by Laura May last year. People always love something they recognise and all three of these are great remixes.

14.As a female DJ, do you ever feel that some of the Guys don’t take you as seriously?

I think its difficult for anyone male or female to be taken seriously sometimes for different reasons. Bottom line is to focus on what you do and do it to the best of your ability with what you have available to you - and thats what I have always tried to do.

15.You’ve got a Biography that reads like an Encyclopedia… is there anything you haven’t done in The Dance Scene… And if so… any plans to do that?

Haha - well I've always loved the music so I've always wanted to be involved with it in whatever aspect that I can. I'm currently working on a number of projects actually which is going to see the development and expansion of the business that I currently run with my fiance Brett........ and this involves a number of new dance music related websites. So those are going to be taking quite alot of my time up as well in the foreseeable future. I'd also love to do an album at some stage.

16.When you’re not DJ’ing or producing… how do you spend your time?

Well as I said in the previous question, I am also working hard on a few websites!! But outside of that and my music, I'm a hardcore Manchester United fan so I love going to the games or watching them at the very least. I also try and get out and about to see my family and friends as often as I can as I miss out on quite a bit being in Ibiza all summer so its always good to catch up with them when I can. And I am also turning into a bit of a fitness freak so I'm spending more and more time on the crosstrainer as time goes on!!!

17.Anything we would be surprised to find out about you?

Apart from being a Master in Medical Microbiology and a hardcore united fan........... errrrr, I'm a bit OCD when it comes to tidiness and filing. Ask any ex flatmates and my fiance!!! haha

18.Will you be DJ’ing till your last possible breath, or is there a White picket fence somewhere in the distant future?

I really don't know about that to be honest. I'm just taking everything as it comes and enjoying the times that I have. Priorities change for everyone at some stage in their lives and I'll just cross those bridges when I get to them.

19.Where do you see Dance Music going in the future?

Thats a difficult one to answer as well because you think its heading in a certain direction and then either a new act or new piece of equipment comes up that changes everything. Thats what makes it so exciting!!!

20.Lastly what can we expect from you in the near and distant future… any exciting projects?

As I mentioned above, my new track with Marcos should be out and about every soon. I also have a new track with Nick Larson called Lunar Love which will be coming out on Fraction and some remixes for other labels which should also be out soon. DJing wise I will be playing at MOS Red Sea at Hurghada in Egypt at the end of this month which I am really excited about as I have never been to Egypt before let alone play there and I have some further exciting international stuff planned for later in the year. I love travelling so international stuff is always something that excites me! I'm continuing also to work hard on my podcast - Dual Velocity which is gaining increasing support, and then we obviously also have Ibiza 2011 to look forward to!

Website - www.vickydevine.com
Myspace - www.myspace.com/djvickydevine Twitter - www.twitter.com/vickydevine
Facebook - www.facebook.com/djvickydevine

Skype - djvickydevine

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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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