| |
 |
| The Netherlands' |
Alex O'Rion
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Define your style, Alex...
Most people will know me for my trance sets but now and again I like to experiment with other styles such as progressive, techno and minimal.
What is your biggest track to date?
For me personally ‘Like a Box of Fluffy Ducks’ is a real favourite, but my ‘Metropolitan’ remix really gave my career a boost.
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
In my opinion, nowadays one can't exist without the other, but if I had to choose I'd probably say a DJ. Nothing compares to the feeling you get from seeing a crowd react to what your playing.
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
I'm sure Ferry Corsten has played my ‘Metropolitan’ remix more often than I've listened to it!
|
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
My performance on the main stage at the Euforia Festival in Poland last August. Absolutely crazy!
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
When I heard I had been signed to booking agency Integrity AM.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
My remix of one of my all time favourite tracks, ‘Maniac Psycho’ by The Phunklife. Aside from that the first Alex O'Rion vs. Richard Durand production is on it's way.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
I'm working on my first album ‘The Bigger Room’, which will contain heaps of new material and is set to hit the shelves this May. May also marks the start of my own monthly radio show also called The Bigger Room, in which I'll be playing my favourite tunes.
|
|
|
| America's |
Audien
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Define your style of trance, Nate...
A blend of electro-house & progressive house are basically the sounds that inspire me. My style of trance can be soft, melodic, but on occasion, hard and complex.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
‘Eleven Eleven’ was my highlight of the year. I just started releasing my material in 2010, so that one definitely had the best response.
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
Producer first, without a doubt.
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
Undoubtedly Ferry Corsten is my biggest DJ and radio supporter. He played my first track ever, ‘Rise and Shine’, which was released on his Flashover Recordings.
What’s you favourite go-to, never fails bit of studio kit?
|
Definitely my MAudio Oxygen 49 Midi controller. Without this I wouldn’t be able to stumble upon the progressions and melodies I come up with.
Which labels do you release music on?
I release my music on Flashover, Enhanced Recordings & Black Hole. I also remix for many other labels like Armada, Alter Ego, and Perceptive Recordings.
What inspired you to begin producing?
Simply, the music... I was a listener before I was a producer, of course. I have always been inspired to create from what I hear.
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
Seeing videos of my material played live is always exciting for me. It’s a feeling of success.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
A track called ‘People Do Not Change’ on Enhanced Recordings. I’m really looking forward to this release.
|
|
|
| The Netherlands' |
DJ Ram
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Ram, how would you describe/define your style of trance?
I like all trance from progressive to uplifting. It’s always an energetic mix of different styles, depending mainly on what set time and which party I’m playing.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
That would be ‘RAMsterdam’. It was no.1 pretty much everywhere... thanks to Armin.
Which labels do you release music on?
My singles are on ASOT from Armada and I remixed for RESET, S107, Borderline and Lost Language last year.
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
I haven’t got one unfortunately. I’ve played at parties like Dance Valley, Sensation, Mysteryland, Trance Energy and many, many others. It’s very hard to pick!
|
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
DJ first, definitely!! Since I started that was my first passion. I could not live with out it.
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
That would be a closing down the Uitmarkt (* the opening of Amsterdam’s cultural season) for 80,000 people. That gave me goosebumps right through to my bones!
What do you think is the most influential trance track of the last 10 years?
There are so many... For me though the best song is still Cygnes X’s ‘Orange Theme’.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
My next single is ‘RAMazing’ on ASOT, which will be released in the second half of February. I’m also starting some material under another alias with more tech-trance sounds to them! |
|
|
| America's |
Fei-Fei
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Describe your style of trance for us?
It’s rock and roll baby - music with balls!!
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
Probably the biggest was ‘Daksa’, which rocked the charts. It stayed at no.2 on Beatport for over a month, was no.1 on Trackitdown and no.2 on Siriuis XM’s top 10 countdown.
Which labels do you release music on?
I released on VANDIT and Armada when I was first starting out, and most recently decided to do my own thing with Feided.
DJ first or producer first?
Pianist first, then a DJ, then Producer!
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
The Lovefest Parade in San Francisco. Moving float + 70,000 people + downtown SF = pure chaos!
|
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played
Paul Van Dyk picked up on my very first releases, ‘Hangar One’ and ‘Everglow’.
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
Launching Feided… Total control, total freedom – it’s the best feeling in the world to be able to put out the stuff that you want, when you want. There’s something very satisfying seeing an indie label kicking some ass out there!
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
‘Fire Complex’ is the first release of 2011 and I might also release a very special remix that everyone has been hounding me for. Has something to do with a G6!
|
|
|
| France's |
Ferry Tayle
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
It’s uplifting, with a lot of emotional melodies, combined with nice drive & euphoric bass lines!
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
I have 2 tracks, I think. ‘Metaphorique’ under my other alias Capetown and last year's was definitely ‘Trapeze’.
Which labels do you release music on?
Enhanced Recordings mainly, because for me they're the best trance label these days. We have the same view on music. That’s really cool!
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
I’m a musician first, then started producing & DJing later.
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
It’s definitely Trance Energy. It was a dream to play there and I never expected it to happen so early.
|
Who inspired you to begin producing?
First it was Jean Michel Jarre! But when I started to produce, it was a meeting with Laurent ‘Airwave’ Veronnez that inspired me a lot to go beyond my limits without give up. I have the chance to work with him under our Capetown’s Project and it’s still my best way to learn a lot!
What do you think is the most influential trance track of the last 10 years?
I will definitely answer Rank 1 ‘Airwave’ because the Original & the Dutch Force Mix are exactly what I call trance.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
I just released my latest single 'The Prestige' few weeks ago, and my next will be my first vocal track, but I don’t have news about a release date. I just know it’s soon.
I’m also working on my 3rd album (my 2nd in solo) - that could be released around this summer.
|
|
|
|
| Sweden's |
Jonas Stenberg
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Jonas, define your style of trance...
Uplifting big room sounds with a solid, dark and driving groove.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
My remix of Marco V’s ‘Simulated’ is high up there, as well as my own tune, ‘Trademark’.
Which labels do you release music on?
My solo releases are out on Musical Madness and High Contrast, and I also release collaborations with artists on Armada (W&W) and Spinnin’ (Evol Waves).
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
I started out as a producer long before DJ'ing and the studio will always be my real home. That said, to share my music with the crowd is an amazing feeling so nowadays combining both is essential for me!
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
The biggest venue was the amazing 6000-crowd EnTrance Festival in Poland, March 2010, where I played with crutches due to a broken ankle!
|
The biggest gig in well-known club must be The Gallery @ Ministry Of Sound in July 2010. That for me was a real milestone!
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
Undoubtedly Marcel Woods, who has supported me heavily since he discovered me back in 2007. He first dropped 'Climate', part of my first release on Musical Madness.
Your next project out of the gate will be?
A techy collaboration with Evol Waves entitled 'Go', out on Musical Madness in February.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
Blend my favorite styles of music in new tracks and compile unique edits and bootlegs for my sets to develop the Stenberg sound further. |
|
|
|
| The Netherlands' |
Jorn van Deynhoven
|
|
|
 |
|
|
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
I think the biggest track was definitely my remix of DJ Ram’s ‘RAMsterdam’.
Which labels do you release music on?
Originals tracks on Armada Music, remixes on BlackHole, Euphonic, Solaris, Enhanced, Future Sound of Egypt, Garuda and many more…
DJ first or a producer first?
Producer first.
If you do spin what’s been your biggest gig to-date?
A State Of Trance 450 in Wroclaw in front of 10,000 people.
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter?
Armin van Buuren is the biggest supporter of my music.
|
What’s you favourite go-to, never fails bit of studio kit?
Logic 9.1.3 + some virtual instruments and of the Access Virus Ti.
What well-known trance track would you most like to have produced yourself?
Future Sound Of London ‘Papua New Guinea’.
What do you think is the most influential trance track of the last 10 years?
For me personally Sasha – Xpander. But that was 11 years ago!
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
I working currently on my first Jorn van Deynhoven EP. I’ve just done a remix for Gareth Emery, which will be released soon on Garuda and I'm working at the moment on a remix for the new Aly & Fila track.
|
|
|
| Sweden's |
JPL
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Joni, define your style of trance?
Dreamy, chugging and very melodic progressive trance that pours with emotion.
What's your biggest track to date?
‘Green Astronauts’ - Tiësto made it big by playing it a lot and putting it on In Search of Sunrise 5. After that it caught on and got played by DJs from the trance to the techno spectra. Otherwise 'People I Used To Know’ and ‘Whenever I May Find Her’, both featured on different In Search of Sunrise compilations.
If you spin what’s been your biggest gig to-date?
I headlined a packed city hall in Torun, Poland for Christmas Day in 2007, and it was bliss. The whole evening was magical and it’s the most up-for-it, educated crowd I’ve played to yet.
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
|
Definitely when I first landed a track on ‘In Search of Sunrise’… It seemed unreal but also exciting to me at the time, as I was still a high school guy who lived in his parents’ basement.
What well-known trance track would you most like to have produced yourself?
Solarstone’s ‘Solarcoaster’. I’m amazed every time I hear at how good it really is, and it’s been a great influence on me since I first heard it all those years ago.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
I have a single that’s coming out on Anjunadeep titled ‘Drifting Off’.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
Work harder push my sound further and try to stay unique!
|
|
|
| India's |
Lost Stories
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Describe your style of trance...
It's ever changing. Recently we've shifted to more of a progressive house groove + trance break combination.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
Our first single ‘False Promises’. Also, our latest remix of Nadia Ali’s ‘Point The Finger’; we never imagined that we’d have remixed 3 Grammy nominated musicians before we turned 25!
Which labels do you release music on?
Mainly Black Hole but we've done remixes for numerous record labels like Coldharbour, Smile In Bed (Nadia Ali), AVA etc
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
The main-stage of the Sunburn festival in Goa in Dec 2010 that also featured Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk, Richard Durand and Aly & Fila.
Who is your biggest DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
|
Markus Schulz. Our first track that he supported was one of the best tunes in our remixography to date, Mr Sam’s Menkayo
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
When Armin Van Buuren played our first tune ‘False Promises’ on his radio show as the Tune Of The Week.
What well-known trance track would you most like to have produced yourself?
Above & Beyond ‘Home’. Hopefully we get a chance to put our spin on it one day!
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
Bigger cross-genre collaborations including with Indian musicians, playing at bigger festivals, and making India proud when it comes to Dance Music.
|
|
|
| Indonesia's |
LTN
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
I feel that my style that I play is more into progressive/melodic trance. I try to put some of my emotion into the track.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
My fave track is 'One Night in Ibiza' and 'Dim Sum 24'. They’ve been supported by big names.
Which labels do you release music on?
My labels now are Solaris, Enhanced , Alter Ego and System Recs.
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
I am a DJ first, I started my career as a DJ first and then after a couple of months, I started to produce my track just to express my ideas and discover how to make sounds.
|
What do you think is the most influential trance track of the last 10 years?
It is Paul Van Dyk 'For an Angel' It has cool basslines & the melody is simple but it works on the dancefloor.
Most exciting moment of your career to date?
When I won Solarstone's and Trance.nu Next Big Thing competition.
Who inspired you to begin producing?
Markus Schulz inspired me to begin producing. I like his dark sound, melodic & groovy basslines
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
LTN's 'Forbidden Zone'. It is uplifting melodic, more like 'Sunday Trance'!
|
|
|
| The UK's |
Luke Terry
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
Bigroom epic melodic trance!
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
‘Arpora’, which was released on Subculture last year, and had an amazing remix by John O'Callaghan.
Which labels do you release music on?
Unearthed Records, Subculture.
If you spin what’s been your biggest gig to-date?
Playing at the famous Sugarshack trance event in Middlesbrough at Empire with Paul van Dyk.
Who is your biggest DJ supporter?
Since I started producing Ferry Corsten has played a lot of my tracks. |
What’s you favourite bit of studio kit?
My JP-8000 - there's a lot more to it than just the supersaw!
What inspired you to begin producing?
I'm a fan of 80s electro music, stuff like A Flock of Seagulls, etc. When I heard stuff like Chicane's 'Offshore' thoiugh I knew that trance was the music for me.
What well-known trance track would you most like to have produced?
There a lot of the old tracks that I am particularly fond of, but Solarstone ‘7 Cities’ would probably be at the top for bragging rights.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
6 original tracks already scheduled for release & some other exciting projects in the pipeline.
|
|
|
| Australia's |
MaRLo
|
|
|
 |
|
|
What's your biggest track to date?
Definitely the MaRLo remix of Ferry Corsten's Brainbox, it still gets played by Ferry Corsten (and me) every set.
Which labels do you release music on?
Spinnin and its sub-labels Reset and Liquid. I’ve previously released on Armada, Black Hole, Flashover, Noys, Neuroscience and many more.
What’s been your biggest DJ gig to-date?
Either Trance Energy 2008 (Utrecht, Holland), Trance Energy 2009 (Australia), Sensation (Australia), Uitmarkt 2008 (Amsterdam).
Most exciting moment of your career yet?
Playing at Trance Energy 2008... just because it felt like I had come full circle. The event that inspired me so much at the start called me and asked me to play. I had to pinch myself and ask "Is this real!?"
|
Which well-known trance track would you most like to have produced yourself?
Mauro Picotto ‘Verdi’. I think it was well ahead of its time - techy, creative, driving...
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
I recently finished a collaboration with Sied Van Riel which will be out soon, I also have 2 more originals as well as 2 remixes for 2 big names in the trance world coming up in the first quarter of 2011.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
I'd really like to play Asia a bit more and perhaps explore the USA. I also plan on launching a radio show in 2011, which I'm super excited about!
|
|
|
| Czech Republic's |
Michal Poliak
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Define your style of trance?
In my trance I use the elements from other styles like house, techno & progressive, since I've been producing those before. My trance is based on strong driving bass, sometimes deep, groovy percussion, drive and shorter strong breakdowns with surprising outcomes!
Which labels do you release music on?
Blackhole, In Charge, Wax, Mosp, Patterns, Propulsion, Yin Yang
If you spin what’s been your biggest gig to-date?
Transmission, Creamfields and warming up for Faithless' tour…
Are you a DJ first or a producer first?
I’m a musician first, before being producer & DJ, but I started to be producer and then later a DJ.
|
Who's your biggest DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
Carl Cox on ‘World Republic’ & Eddie Haliwell on ‘Carpathia’
Most exciting career moment to date is?
The storm that smashed away the main stage on Creamfields in the Czech Republic. That was kind of scary-exciting! But people came back after the storm and I had great support finishing my set in the morning playing tag-team together with DJ Preach and DJ Wehbba.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
A remix for Bastian Salbart on Black Hole.
|
|
|
| Poland's |
Piotro
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
Microprog! It's a mixture of Sasha & Digweed-inspired progressive trance, ambient, minimal and glitchy elements.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
I'm still waiting for my solo releases, but I'm really proud of 'Everyone Has Their Own Secret Place'. It will be released on Molecule...
Which labels do you release music on?
At the moment only Solarstone's Molecule Recordings. I think that 2011 will bring more music on various labels.
What's been your biggest gig to-date?
Definitely the Gdansk Shipyard back in January 2009.
|
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter and what was the first track of yours they played?
I think Solarstone’s going to be the first to play my single. Industry support is not that important to me. I know that 'the greatest' trance Djs won’t play my tunes because I’m not following the commercial trance scene.
What inspired you to begin producing?
After 10 years of being in love with music, I just felt that now was the time to do some!
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
It’s recording the guest mix for Solarstone's Solaris International radio show, for sure. I couldn't sleep!
|
|
|
| The Netherlands/Germany's |
Sequentia
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
It's mainly uplifting trance; lush emotional melodies, a driving beat, heavy basslines and huge pads….
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
Even though we’ve had a lot of success with several tunes in 2010, our track ‘Infinite Horizon’ from the year before is still the biggest.
Which labels do you release music on?
We've worked with too many labels to mention, but from this year on we're exclusively working with Enhanced Music. We really fit well there, and we think Will Holland does a great job promoting his artists.
Who is your biggest DJ supporter?
It's probably Armin. I think he played all our singles.
Most exciting career moment to date is?
|
Playing our first ever UK gig at Digital Society in Leeds. The atmosphere was crazy and we met so many interesting artists and fans there!
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
In the past few years we’ve mostly done remixes, and now we're gonna release more originals. We're also planning to work on a vocal project and there will be a DJ promo mix every month.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
There’s lots of singles and remixes coming out early 2011, mostly on Enhanced Music. However, first up is a long overdue single called 'Gone Missing' on Infrasonic Recordings with remixes from Nitrous Oxide amongst others.
|
|
|
| Romania's |
Suncatcher
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Describe your style of trance...
Driving, uplifting, melodic trance.
Your biggest track to date?
'Wildflowers', and my biggest remix has to be the one for Vast Vision’s 'Behind Your Smile'. Both released on Enhanced Recordings.
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
I think it has to be seeing my tracks chart so highly, and hearing them being played at events such as A State of Trance 450 by Armin himself, or at Trance Energy 2010 by Simon Patterson. It was an absolutely massive moment - all those people going crazy to my tunes!
What inspired you to begin producing?
I think ‘Who inspired me?’ is the better question here. It was my best friend and flat mate Mihai Mogos. He helped me learn the basics and practically helped me discover my passion.
|
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
I have a new track under a new project name coming out soon, can’t say more about it now, unfortunately, but you will hear it first on the next Digitally Enhanced album. My next remix I think is going to be for Vitodito's 'Napoli' on Harmonic Breeze.
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
Well, I’m going to begin my DJ career for starters with some great international gigs lined up… I also plan to work more on my tracks and remixes - and I have some really huge projects in the pipeline that I'm so excited about, but at the same time I've been careful to pick what I'm working on.
|
|
|
| America's |
Tyler Michaud
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How would you describe/define your style of trance?
Freaky high-energy no-holds-barred electronic music - mixing elements of techno, industrial, rock, progressive, tech-trance, and electro.
What do you feel is your biggest track to date?
I’d have to say Moonbeam & Tyler Michaud ft. Fisher ‘Love Never Dies’. The vocals in that song resonated with lots of people, and not just in the EDM scene.
What’s been your biggest gig to-date?
St. Maarten Music Conference in the Caribbean Islands where I headlined along with Crystal Method on a beachfront venue. That one was a blast!
Who is your biggest single DJ supporter?
Without a doubt Paul Van Dyk, he has been a big supporter of my career since day one.
What’s your favourite go-to, never fails bit of studio kit?
|
Definitely a toss-up between the Virus TI & Native Instruments Massive Plugin. Need an intense razor-sharp bassline for your track? Look no further!
Most exciting moment of your career to date is?
Probably being mentioned as the Worlds Most Under-Rated DJ by Paul Van Dyk in DJ Magazine.
Your next single/remix/music project out of the gate will be?
My new track featuring vocalist Tiff Lacey, entitled ‘London Sky’
What plans have you made to rule the dance-floors and radio waves in 2011?
This year you can expect higher quality productions and collaborations with some of dance musics biggest names, my own ‘New School’ label night in Boston hosting some great international DJ talent, and more consistent tour-dates. I’ll also be launching an entire website dedicated to hosting the remix parts of some of my best productions to encourage interaction from fans and aspiring producers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
December's
roll-of-honour competition winners were:
Ali Wilson's Phenomenon: Mark Roberts.
(UK), Jat Malhi (CAN) & Cyan von Gija (Australia)
Congratulations to you. Prizes are on their way! |
|
|
|
