Haezer Interview

We chat to HAEZER about being a bit of a punk fan, 

a dangerous stage show and being a keen film student.

Q:

So… your stage name “Haezer” is actually quite simply part of your birth name “Ebenhaezer”… tell us how “Ebenhaezer” became “Haezer"?

A:

I tried out so many names and it all just sounded so cheezy, so decided to just shorten my name. It's looks cool on paper and it's unique.  I startedHAEZER while i was still editing at a post production house and kinda didn't sleep for a year.  Editor by day, dj/producer by night.  I then started getting international shows after the release of WTFIH and the Anarchy! previews.  When the Trashbag boys from Australia asked me over i knew i had to quit my job and do HAEZER full time... That's when ebenhaezer became HAEZER :)

Q:

Some of your fame among a lot of South African fans, has come through your Remix of Oorlog Frankenstein’s “Dans,Dans,Dans” and without people actually knowing it , the incredibly tight production behind Jack Parow’s version of the song. From what I can understand, you were at school with people like Francois Van Coke and Hunter Kennedy, would you say that has helped your career at all?

A:

Ag not really. I mean my music was never associated with them and they were never really into my music till much later when i was already established and have done 2 or 3 european tours.  It was only then that Francois got more into it and even did some Mcing over Anarchy at a party i threw in the City Hall in Cape Town.  Jack Parow did like my stuff from very early on in the game...but i wouldn't say we have the same fan base really.

Q:

What is it about Belville that produces so many great Musicians?

A:

I think it was the whole punk/skate and break shit attitude. I think the bellville peeps were just not afraid to start a band, even though it might sound horrible, and then practice till it's great.  And the music is real.  Writing about stuff the bands really felt strongly about.  Me...I don't know.  I guess it's just that i started making music i like and didn't care whether it's not commercial.  As long as i think it's good.

Q:

Your particular style of Electro Trash seems to get the Rockers Raving, and the Ravers Rocking, what do you think it is about your tracks that gives it such crossover appeal?

A:

When i started my biggest mission was to make basslines that sounds like guitars.  I grew up on rock 'n roll and punk and even though it's not blatently obvious in the music, you can still hear/feel the influence.  People also respond to the dj's energy and i love playing my music out to people and i think people can feel that.

Q:

It’s not every day that you see a DJ spending almost as much time in front of the decks and in the crowd, as behind the decks… you seem to have a very strong connection to your audience… do you ever jump up and down at home, pretending to perform to a crowd in your mind, or does it just happen spontaneously when you get on stage… an energy boost because of the chemistry between you, the crowd and the music?

A:

Yeah, my performance on stage is completely unrehearsed/spontaneous fun.  It's also dangerous, cause if i'm feeling grim the people will definitely pick it up.  I'm a all or nothing kinda guy.

Q:

You studied film at AFDA, do you think the outlet of creativity through film has spilled over into your music, or is it the other way around?

A:

The workflow of editing and making music is very similiar.  Studying editing and working in the industry has taught me a lot of patience production wise and to not release songs too quickly and rather rework and rework and rework x 100 till you're absolutely happy with the track.

Q:

What are the chances of seeing a full length Haezer album in the near future?

A:

It will happen. Just not this year. Working on an album takes time and people forget you when you're not releasing anything.  And also producing an album means less shows, cause you need lots of time in studio and need to focus.  Right now i'm focused on touring and singles.  I want to see and play to the whole world!  At the moment it's mostly Europe,SA and Australia, but i've got a gig in Thailand pending and a show in America next year.

Q:

The Electronic Dance Music Scene in South Africa has always been quite small, and within that scene there are a majority of subgenres that seem to be competing as well, from House & Electro to Trance & Techno, Breaks & Drum & Bass,  yet there are a lot of DJ’s and producers who actually seem to make it on to the biggest stages in the world, where do you see EDM in South Africa going in the future?

A:

I've mentioned this i think like 2 years ago in an interview and i stand by it.  I think more and more producers are going to surface.  At the moment there's alot of very good dj's, but not many producers.  As soon as we get more producers it's easier to market them and sell it as an unique show.  I do think this is starting to happen and that dance music in SA is growing rapidly with an international playing almost every weekend, we are definitely on the map and growing!

Q:

What’s playing on your ipod/mp3player/car radio at the moment?

A:

1. The Waterboys - We will not be lovers 

2. Can - Vitamin C

3. Fool's Rhythm - Two Fingers

4. Battles - Leyendecker

5. Paul Kalkbrenner - Aaron

6. Elbow - Fugitive Motel(RJD2 remix)

7. Tom Waits - The Black Rider

8. Nick Cave and the bad seeds - Stagger Lee

9. Burial - Moth

10. Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks Theme Song

haha, it's that precise cause i had to make  a playlist for someone else.

Q:

What can we expect from Haezer in the near and distant future?

A:

Right now i'm focused on making a killer EP and touring the shit out of the world.  Distant future - big international festivals and full album.

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Double Adapter Interview

"We chat to double adapter about broken ribs, a little film making and why you're about to have a new favorite dj act"

Q:

Dan (Apter) & Tim (Apter) = Double Adapter… that’s quite a clever play on words… it always surprises me to see how siblings get the same sort of influence, yet go into different directions when it comes to their personalities, passions and what makes them tick… yet with you guys, it seems that you share quite a few passions… was that just  how the cookie crumbled, or have you guys always been really close?

D: Yeah I guess we have always shared the same interests and have both always had a passion for music and visual elements, ie. film and art. iv always leaned more to the visual side and Tim more towards the audio. We have always been pretty close, our family is pretty small so we never had cousins and relatives around all the time so we had to amuse each other. Tim thought pulling my pants down and pushing me in a bush on occasion was pretty amusing.

T: Oh yes, that happened.

Q:

You guys recently played an incredible set at “grietfest” with the super talented Haezer… and one thing you have in common, other than a similar style of music,  is the fact that you both (all 3 of you) studied film or visual arts in some way, do you think there’s something particular that makes film & Electro Trash work so well together, or do you feel this is purely coincidence?

D: Ha Ha, thats something that iv always noticed myself. While touring europe a lot of the other DJ's we met had an interest in film. Its certainly interesting but most likely coincidence i think.

T: I think its coincidence, but obviously there are big similarities between film and music - they are both about creating certain emotions through your medium, and they seem to attract similar types of minds, so I guess the overlap is inevitable.

Q:

On an International stage, there is no doubt that you guys have been making a huge impact overseas. Yet it seems that South Africa and your home town of Johannesburg, is only now realizing who you guys are… with brands like MK, taking an interest. how long do you think it’ll take for Acts like yourself, and the emerging underground dance scene to spill over on to a more commercial stage… let’s say, something random like H20 or opening for Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto or Paul Van Dyk  when they play SA? And is that something you want? Or is the “underground” part of the appeal?

D: i dont think the Underground dance scene is going to stay underground for too much longer to be honest and i think its something that is spreading really quickly through out the country. we would LOVE to play at H2O its something that we have been talking about for a really long time in fact. We love playing to new crowds that have never heard of us and go fuck! thats awesome! so there is definitely  an appeal to the commercial scene but at the same time we will always love the underground!

T: I've never really bought into the "commercial" or "underground" mindset... to me, its always been better to look at it like "upcoming" and "established" scenes - you get the types of people who enjoy discovering new sounds (the so called underground) and then you get the type of people who are more into hearing stuff when its more established (commercial) - so I think its logical that as our genre of music grows and we become a more established act, we'll eventually start spilling over into the ears of the commercial scene -  we decided long ago to let H2O be our litmus test of whether popular music taste is changing and evolving - it'll be fun to see if it ever pans out! :)

Q:

Where can we see some of the work you guys have put to film? And have you ever  considered writing scores instead of distorted, buzzing bass driven crowd moving monster tracks?

D: well you can catch a music video i shot for a band called The Stella's currently on the MK top 10.

T: and of course, the Double Adapter Adapt or Die documentary which we made in April this year... its on Youtube as 6 short teaser videos, and 3 long ones of the whole doccie. Interesting that you ask about scores... I'm actually writing a symphony now as a project to test myself and see if I'm just a poser or if I can actually write something serious for a change!

Q:

A big part of your stage show is your physical performance or “Stage Antics”. do you guys consciously make a point of going all out, or does it just happen naturally? And have you ever sustained an injury or two because of it?

D: we always go into a show with the attitude of making it fucking awesome and really getting into the performance but after that it just happens naturally and we fuck out to the music that makes us want to fuck out. ha ha, iv cracked 4 ribs from falling off a stage.

T: I've fallen off a lot of stages - I tend to just rock out so hard that I lose my balance. Its fun!

Q:

Are there any DJ’s, Producers, artists or acts that you guys specifically look up to, and would love to share a stage with or colab on a track with in future?

D: Yeah definitely, acts such as Soulwax and Digitalism got  me into this scene and it would be a dream to share a stage with them.

T: I'd kill to be on the same bill as Soulwax or Justice. I really look up to anyone making ANY music - good/bad/whatever: its possible to learn from and draw inspiration from anything, even if its a case of what NOT to do.

Q:

You guys obviously have creative talents coming out your ears, are there any hidden talents that only a select few know about?

D: well im actually a pretty huge nerd and ill kick your ass at pretty much any Xbox game.

  

T: I can handle my tequila pretty well... unless I haven't eaten. Then I'm screwed!

Q:

Where do you see Dance music in general and especially in South Africa going in the future?

D: well hopefully we can only see it move forward and evolve with the times. id like to see electro move more into the public domain and for more people to experience it.

T: I think we're definitely going to see a shift away from DJ's being the be all and end all of electronic music - its been so long since a fresh electronic band has found ground in SA and definitely also the world - So I'm hoping we see a shift towards electronic BANDS making dance music and putting on shows that are special to the people that attend them.

Q:

What’s playing on your Ipod/Mp3 Player/ Car Radio at the moment?

D: Iv been listening to a lot Monarchy and Metronomy at the moment, both really great bands.

  

T: I haven't really been listening to much because I've got my own music in my ears all the time, but if you're looking for something super cool and interesting, go to youtube and search "iamamiwhoami" - amazing amazing fusion or art and music.

Q:

What can we expect from Double Adapter in the near and distant future?

T: The big focus for the next 6 months will be designing refining and rehearsing our live band show, which we'd like to do exclusively from November onwards... There are plans in the works for more international touring, on three continents, but we don't want to give it away until its confirmed.I'll also be putting a lot of time into studio work over the next month or two.

We also really badly want to try and take electro into the towns in Southern Africa that don't get it a lot, but might have fans there - we get a lot of requests from PE, Potch, Bloem, Durban, and even Namibia and Botswana - so if you would like us in your town, please hit up our facebook page (facebook.com/thisisdoubleadapter) or our twitter @double_adapter and most importantly, ask the clubs you like going to to BOOK us!

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Tania Zygar Interview

We Chat To the lovely Tania Zygar about Starting her singing career on Fischer Price Toys, Baking Pastries and chances of a full length Artist Album.

Q:

 So give us a brief history of Tania Zygar, some info on who you were

before some of the world’s biggest DJs decided that you were the vocalist

they wanted to collaborate with? How did you choose EDM vs. other genres

of music?

A:

I grew up in Europe for part of my childhood and music was always part of

who I was. I was only singing on my Fisher Price karaoke toy and bugging

my parents while I was banging on the keyboard! As far as getting into

EDM, I was doing a lot of writing and playing acoustic guitar when a

friend randomly approached me about doing an EDM-style track. It was a

great experience being able to explore other genres aside from what I had

been accustomed to. I’m constantly seeking to evolve my sound, and EDM has

given me that opportunity to experiment within my sound.

Q:

Your vocals have found their way into some of the worlds biggest DJs,

playlists, anyone you would love to work with in future?

A:

I’ve been blessed to work with so many great artists at such an early

point in my career, but if I could choose anyone, I’d definitely love to

work with Wolfgang Gartner, Swedish House Mafia, Martin Solveig and Armin

(that’s a given! haha!)

Q:

Every now and then you'll find, a new vocal seems to be the trending

topic among DJs and producers, people like Jan Johnston, Justine Suissa,

Jes, Kirsty Hawkshaw and Tiff Lacey have all had a chance to be the new

girl on the block, and now are established names among the EDM community.

Do you look up to any of them, or is there a specific singer you find

absolutely incredible?

A:

Sarah Howells has a beautiful voice, and Jaren does some amazing writing,

so if I had to pick it would be those two. I also like Fisher's tone of

voice--it's very soothing.

Q:

To my surprise I’ve recently realized that Canada has quite a few famous

names when it comes to EDM, people like Arnej, Lazy Rich and Deadmau5 have

all made a huge impact on the world of dance music, how would you compare

the Canadian scene to places like Europe and the USA?

A:

I think some parts of Canada are still conservative when it comes to

listening to newer EDM styles. Other parts, like Toronto & Vancouver are

bursting with talent. I was in Vancouver with tyDi last year, and I was

amazed at how many fans came out to support him. I’m actually moving out

of Ottawa to Toronto, where there are more opportunities to further

advance my career in music.

Q:

 Is there a country or event that you have performed at that has

specifically made an impact on you since being part of the EDM community,

and is there a place you would really love to perform in future?

A:

Definitely! One of my favorite performances was this past May, where I

opened up and introduced Armin Van Buuren for thousands of people at a

festival right outside of Montreal. It was very moving to see the crowd

singing back the lyrics that I wrote! The support was amazing--I even got

to autograph my first man-boob! haha! As far as future performances, I

love to travel, but ultimately, I’d love to be able to perform during the

annual Winter Music Conference in Miami! I definitely think that would be

an experience to perform in front of that many fans and peers.

Q:

What inspires your lyrics... Is there a certain process you go through?

A:

Some of my best writing usually will come to me very quickly. Intense or

dramatic moments in my life always inspire me to write something that

everyone can relate to. I use my writing as a therapy tool. Once I have

completed a project, I feel like there is closure with the subject at

hand.

Q:

 What do you like to do when you're not writing or singing? Any hidden

talents?

A:

Ask my boyfriend, Simon! ha ha, just kidding. I hope my mom doesn’t read

this and interpret it the wrong way! No, seriously, I enjoy baking

pastries. I love getting back to my French roots and exploring the

culinary arts. There’s nothing more enjoyable (other than music) than

seeing my loved ones enjoy my cooking!

Q:

A huge player in EDM at the moment, is the super talented young

Arty

how did the collaboration with him come about?

A:

Will Holland from Enhanced Recordings approached me about working with

Arty. After I heard the track, I knew I had to jump on it. I am so excited

about it being officially released! I am very proud of the acoustic

version that I produced which is featured on the EP. It is due for release

very soon! I did the acoustic version in one take, and I think it really

shows a different perspective of my vocal capability, which I am very

excited to show everyone.

Q:

What are you listening to right now? Any favourites on your ipod/mp3

player or Car Radio?

A:

Lots of Ellie Goudling, Lights, Imogen Heap, and Metric and ADELE. Those

are my big main influences.

Q:

What can we expect from Tania Zygar in the near and distant future?

A:

I'll have more tracks out next year, and I'm ultimately hoping to one day

have a full on Tania Zygar artist album with different DJ's remixing my

stuff. That'd be amazing! I'm working on putting a team together behind my

music right now, so you'll just have to wait and see where the branding

goes! Thank you for offering me this interview; I want to come to South

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Giuseppe Ottaviani Interview

We chat to Giuseppe Ottaviani about not actually being a DJ,

his brand new GO ON AIR Compilation and Barbecues.

Q:

 Giuseppe Ottaviani is a name that’s been synonymous with high quality dance music for a very long time, tell us a bit about yourself from before you became the DJ/Producer we all know and love…? 

A:

Well it’s quite a long story but just in few words I’ve been involved in music since a very tender age, I studied piano for over 7 years and around 14 years old I became a dj playing around my area and having already my own radio show. Later I started to create my own music and finally I made Dreamland, the track that changed my life. I’ve got signed on Paul van Dyk’s label Vandit in 2001, my starting point as professional musician and producer, and since then I’ve been part of the family that allowed me to develop my career and actually to write this interview now 

Q: Italy has provided us with some of the biggest names in Dance Music, people like yourself, Manuel Le Saux, 7skies, Mauro Picotto and Benny Benassi just to name a few… and much earlier than that, Italy has been pioneering Dance Music, with groups like Cappella in the early 90’s and even earlier than that the original father of Disco, Mr Giorgio Moroder… how did Dance music cross your path, and what made you decide to make it such a big part of your life… 

A:

Music has always been a big part of my life, classical music at the beginning, EDM then. I used to be a huge fan of Mauro Picotto and all the Italian 90’s groups as well and that was the time when I decided to move to dance music. Then I started to look around for more music and I fell in love with what the rest of the Europe was calling Trance. Paul van Dyk became my favorite artist and the biggest inspiration for my own music…..i guess you can hear a little bit of it. 

Q:

You’ve just released an epic compilation called “Go On Air”, which shares a name with your show on afterhours.fm, tell us a bit about the compilation as well as the actual show?

A:

First thing you gotta know is that I’m not really a DJ but a producer and live act instead and I usually play my own music only but the thing is, there is so much good music around and I wanted to make my own selection and share it through a radio with my audience. Here’s the idea of a monthly radio show and afterhours.fm was the right choice. I started the show back in February and it has got a great feedback, that’s why I decided to release the compilation just few months later. I tried to make the compilation as much special as possible working hard to get exclusive tracks on it and to make remixes and reworks plus two brand new tracks exclusively for this compilation. I’m really happy about the result and hope people enjoy it too. 

Regarding the name Go On Air, well, we played around my name and actually GO stands for Giuseppe Ottaviani, On Air is obviously related to the radio activity but also it refers to “being on air” when I travel, spending part of my life into a plane, and mixing the radio shows when I’m on it. From here also the idea of being the “captain” of an airline that “sounds great” J 

Q:

It’s no secret that Paul Van Dyk is big fan of your’s, even back in the NU-NRG days, how did the meeting with PVD come about? 

A:

The first contact with Paul happened when he wanted to include Dreamland on his compilation The Politics Of Dancing and a year later (2002) we met in Berlin for the Love Parade. The Love from Above (PvD’s own party for the Love Parade weekend) was my first gig ever and the day after I played on the Vandit truck, floating through something around 1 million people who attended the Love Parade in Berlin. What a great memories! 

Q:

 Any artists you see coming up at the moment, that you think might be the next big thing? Someone to look out for in future? 

A:

I think Arty is one of the most talented producer of these days, he’s young and he sounds big. Not always my kind of music but I have to admit he’s just great in whatever he does. 

Q:

You’ve produced an arsenal of amazing tracks and remixes, which would you consider to be your personal favourite?

A:

Hard to decide but probably my favorite one is Linking People, first of all because I love the melody and secondly because that was my first track and starting point as solo artist. Just like Dreamland made my NU NRG days, Linking People is the starting point of Giuseppe Ottaviani solo career. 

Q:

What’s playing on your Car Radio/IPOD/Mp3 player at the moment? 

A:

I’m playing Armin van Buuren’s ASOT episodes, Paul van Dyk’s Vonyc Sessions and Ferry Corsten’s Corsten’s Countdown episodes as all three of them are strongly supporting my latest tracks and remixes at the moment and I love to listen to my music being played from others DJs on radio, especially if those DJs are the biggest ones 

Q:

What do you like to do when you're not DJ’ing or Producing? Any hidden talents? 

A:

Not much time left to be honest and not really hidden talents. When I’m free I just love to relax with family and friends, going out, spending most of the time at the beach, BBQs and so on. A very normal life.

Q:

What can we expect from Giuseppe Ottaviani in the near and distant future? 

A:

Now that Go On Air has been released I finally had the chance to start working on my new artist album. Only one track is done and there is a lot to do, but hopefully I will be able to release it not too late. Beside that I have a new collaboration coming up on Betsie Larkin album, it’s called Toys and we are looking to release it as a single in the near future, so keep an eye at www.giuseppeottaviani.com and www.facebook.com/giuseppeottaviani 

Thank you and all the best, 

Giuseppe

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Fergie (Robert Ferguson) Interview

We chat to Fergie about the chances of managing Manchester United, listening to Johnny Cash

and find out what some of his tattoos are all about.

Q:

You share a nickname with quite a famous duchess... Have you ever had situations where people were expecting to meet her instead of you?

A:

Ha Ha……hasn’t happened yet, although when i checked in to my hotel in Bulgaria a few weeks ago they had me down as Alex Ferguson ( Manchester United Manager )

Q:

 You've been DJ'ing for more than half your life, yet you've only just entered your 30's... What were you up to while other kids were busy with school work?

A:

The Djing all started in Larne in Northern Ireland. Me and school didn’t agree and I left school at 13 and pestered the local promoter to give me a job at the club….brushing the floor, cleaning the toilets and clearing the tables…but I didn’t care because he let me play on the decks and eventually I got to do a the warm up set but my first actual professional gig….the first one that I actually got paid for…… was at Airport 2000 in Antrim which at the time was one of the biggest clubs in Northern Ireland…… I remember finding it hard to put the needle on the record as my hands were shaking so much….I thought I had it made….I was 14 years old!

Q:

You were mentored by the late great Tony De Vit... How did this meeting come about? And how much would you say this meeting changed you as a person?

A:

Most people will know the story of how I met Tony De Vit who was a great inspiration to me. Tony was playing at the club on one of the nights that I was warming up and he heard me play and invited me over to England and introduced me to the club scene…Tony took me under his wing and I really appreciated his guidance and advice. I was lucky Tony helped me a lot not just about DJing but about the importance of reading the crowd, making time for your fans, getting down among the crowd but I was also very focused and knew that I wanted to be a DJ …I think about Tony a lot and I know that he would be pleased about how things have turned out for me…I still miss him. Sometimes when I look back its feels like I’m reading a book about someone else….the people I have met and the experiences I have had are way beyond what I would have ever imagined. Its crazy to think that my first ever tour was actually in South Africa for Vibe Magazine! I played in Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, it was a great experience and I met a good friend called Flavio de Stfanis…(hey Flavio if you are out there please contact me) The crowds in South Africa were amazing and I still hold those first memories of playing there with Tony close to my heart. I look forward to my return and who knows perhaps I will bring some of the old tracks I played when I first came all over a decade ago :--)

Q:

 A lot of Hard-House's biggest DJ's including yourself, Anne Savage, BK and Lisa-Lashes have moved on to things like Breaks, Electro, Techno and Trance... What would you attribute this to?

A:

Changing my music was one of the biggest challenges I have faced as it was such a drastic change it took a long time to re-establish myself….. the best part of the past 10 years. It has been a tough journey with lots of ups and downs but it gave me a great sense of fulfillment as I was leaving everything I had built up to try some thing new and i feel i helped open the door for other djs to make the move. As a dj I have played quite a mix of music from house to the harder end of that genre and lots of weird bits in-between. I have never been afraid to try out different styles of music some good choices and some not so good but I have had a great time along the way finding out what I liked. I would say over the past 6 or 7 years that I have never felt more passionate about music whether that’s been playing it in clubs or making it in the studio.

I was pigeon-holed for such a long time with the whole hard house label, which was ok as that’s were I made my name and enjoyed playing it for a long time, but I felt that hard house changed quite a lot so it was time for me to move.

To say that I will never play hard music would be presumptuous. If I play a 3 or 4 hour set I still like to kick the arse of it but that’s all part of the journey. As I said before I’m playing the best music I have ever played, some of it’s hard some of it’s not. It’s all just great music!

Q:

Trends come and go, and while some things manage to stand the test of time, a lot of things seem to fall away... Like for example in "Dance Music Culture", your average "raver" used to dress a certain way... And the harder and faster the music was... The better... But today the scene in general seems to cater to a wider audience... Where do you see Dance music going in future?

A:

Yeah I think that was the case for a while but I think we are now in a much better place as I think the term techno is so broad now and less genre specific its all back under one umbrella so to speak which helps to keep everything fresh and lost of different aspects of techno merging together. I think its good to have a sound but to also be flexible, people want to hear different things now so its good to keep moving about with styles but still try and have your own.

Q:

What would we be surprised to find out about "Fergie"?

A:

I played for Northern Ireland Under 16s…I might have been a footballer instead of a DJ but I just had to follow the music 

Q:

 Are your tattoos decorative or is there a story behind them?

A:

The very first tattoo was just a Tribal Tattoo on my arm…I got it done in Ibiza and they guy who done it was so proud of it that he put a big picture of it in his window…however what happened then was that a lot of my fans who were in Ibiza to support me all went to him and got the exact same tattoo…..at the clubs we looked like we were in some kind of gang!

I have ‘Lost in Music’ tattooed across my stomach. When I changed my music I didn’t want to be ever pigeon-holed again…I just wanted to be lost in the music and to go wherever it lead me.

I have the word ‘Maktub’ tattooed on my forearm. I am a big fan of the author Paolo Cuellol who wrote a book called The Alchemist which was where I first came across the word MAKTUB, it’s an old Arabic proverb that means..’ It is written’. I was never a big reader but this book was different….I would go as far as to say that what I read in it changed my whole outlook on life.

Q:

What's playing on your MP3 player/ Ipod/ Car radio at the moment?

A:

I like nothing better that driving with the car hood down with Johnny Cash ‘ Get Rhythm’ blasting out…. TURN IT UP!

Q:

Where would we find you when you're not DJing or Producing?

A:

I love just chilling out with friends…talking about life’s experiences and just messing about playing old records from way back then!

Q:

What can we expect from "Fergie" In the near or distant future?

A:

I recently released my first album ( Dynamite & Laserbeams ) and I just heard that it has won the IDMA Award for Best Album 2010… I am very proud of it…I love every trak on there so I’m pleased that people liked it enough to vote for it. I am just completing a remix project for my album…..I picked a handful of producers who have inspired me the most over the past year and asked them to choose a track from the album to remix so that’s very exciting. Also, keeping to the Excentric philosophy which is to push new talent , we will be releasing our first compilation on Excentric Muzik with the super talents of Mr Henry Von who is one of the most promising dj/producer around and it has been a privilege for me to watch him grow and develop within Excentric Muzik fold.

Check out more on the legendary Fergie 

http://www.excentric-fergie.com

Interview by Johan De Kock

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Cristina Soto Interview

So… If you’ve been involved in the global Dance music scene at all for the last couple of years, the name “Cristina Soto” would have come across your path quite a bit… 

Q:

your work with Tritonal, and more recently with ATB has seen your voice travel the world from radio shows to major events all over the world… tell us a bit about “Cristina Soto” something we don’t already know?

A:

hmm... Well this may not be news if you already know me, but I grew up in Idaho. It is a remote mountain state in the Northwest. Whenever someone tells me they're from Idaho, I feel like I already know a part of them. It may sound silly but the state is so beautiful and I'll always associate it with being a kid. 

Q:

What would we typically find in a teenage Cristina Soto’s bedroom?

A:

I can tell you what you wouldn't find: a white wall in sight. I covered my bedroom from top to bottom in pictures, photos, and inspiring print media. There may have been a Jared Leto or Leonardo DiCaprio poster in the mix. No shame. 

Q:

You’re from Texas right? Now, I would Imagine that the stereotypical view of Texas goes something like this… 10 Gallon Hats, Cowboy Boots, Bible Belt, Heavy Accents, Country Music, Guns, A controversial ex-president…And just maybe some American Football… but the last thing I would Imagine coming out of Texas is one of the world’s top Trance acts! How did the meeting with Tritonal and Dance Music in general come about? and are there any stereotypical Texas customs you actually do enjoy?

A:

I met Tritonal through a mutual friend in the electronic scene here in Austin. Jesse Brede (shoutout!) put us in a room one day and we wrote our first song in a few hours... I'd like to think we've evolved and improved our sound since it takes us much longer now! As far as Texas customs, I’d say the food has been my favorite. I really love BBQ and Tex-Mex. Austin is a different kind of town though, so I don’t see too many 10-gallon hats in these parts. If Texas has taught me anything in the summertime it is to be close to a body of water whenever possible. 

Q:

Any chances of seeing a Cristina Soto Solo Album… and if so who would you like to work with?

A:

There's no solo album in the works at the moment but I'm keeping busy with single collaborations and the album release for the joint project with my brother, Suther & Brista. If I end up doing an album in the future, I’ll probably want to produce it with someone I know. It’s important to have a good relationship with your producer/engineer. As far as other artists I’d work with... I'd probably be all over the place for a diverse set 

of tracks.

Q:

I’ve always been a really big ATB fan… and really feel he’s quite underrated… how did the meeting with “Andre” come about?

A:

Our publishers made the intro and the project started immediately. We made both tracks over email and Skype! It was a crazy experience to work with someone at that level who I grew up listening to. 

Q:

Any question you’ve always wanted to be asked? A question you would love to answer… and if so… what’s the answer to the question?

A:

Haha I don't think I've ever wanted a specific question. I’m still surprised people want to interview me. One question I get a lot though is “how old are you?” So curious! 28. There :P

Q:

Out of all the tracks you’ve worked on, which stands out for you most and why?

A:

I think “Forgive Me, Forget You” will always have a place in my heart because it was such a transformational song writing process and chapter in my life. I literally wrote the song on my massage therapist’s table. The track went through a long journey of creation, rejection, and revival when it finally released.

Q:

Where would we find “Cristina Soto”, when she isn’t singing or writing music? Do you have any hidden talents, hobbies or passions?

A:

When I’m not doing music stuff, I’m geeking it up at my real job. I am a technical consultant by day… shhh don’t tell anyone ;) I ride my bike a lot, cook and bake up scratch meals for my people, and volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. If I’m not doing one of those, I’m plotting mischief (which must remain top secret). 

Q:

Is there any track ever written, that you wish you had written or done vocals for… or for that matter… would love to do a cover of? 

A:

I find myself wishing I had written a verse/lyric or a vocal run more than a whole song. I'd love to cover something from the 80s. 

Q:

What can we expect from “Cristina Soto” In the near and distant future?

A:

Near Future: What time is it? Lunch. 

Really though - I’m always singing so tracks are in the cards... possibly a music video... and more live dates with Tritonal. Stay tuned ;) 

interview by Johan De Kock.

Check out Cristina's Website for more on the amazing Singer, Songwriter...

http://cristinasoto.com

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