Gazin’ up at the stars
Jesse Voorn is one of the rising house stars in the Netherlands. His name is buzzing around everywhere at the moment with solid productions and remixes that serve a mix of tech-house, house with a touch of progressive on labels such as Roger Sanchez’s Stealth, Robbie Rivera’s Juicy Music and Germany’s We Play. And he returns with a monster dancefloor anthem in ‘Gazin’. Dan Prince gets the lowdown…
Hi dude, welcome to the DMC World! You grew up in a house full of music, your parents both classically trained musicans and you learnt the paino early on. Did you have a love of these sounds back then before you discovered the urban sounds of Hip Hop and also rockier artists – or were you pushed into classical?
“At home we were mostly pushed into classical. My dad had a few Bob Dylan, Beach Boys and Donovan records, but that was about it. So I discovered it all myself. But it was great, though not always at that time, when you had to play an instrument as a kid. But my parents were not too fond of other genres of music and I had to argue to listen to my own kind of music. But afterwards I’m glad they pushed it that way, because it helped me in my musical point of view and also now by producing tracks. And after all, classical music remains the base of all music anyway.”
Who were the Hip Hop artists you started to feel in the early days?
“Mostly Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, N.W.A., 2 Live Crew, Stetsasonic, Run DMC, stuff like that. I got my first hip hop album on cassette, which was ‘Paul’s Boutique’ by the Beastie Boys; still their best album ever by the way. I bought my first hip hop 7″ single from a classmate in highschool, which was ‘I’m Bad’ from LL Cool J.”
Could you breakdance?
“ I wish. I have tried it, but was way too stiff for that.”
You quickly decided that you wanted to be on the other side of the decks and started to buy records to be able to become a DJ. Can you remember the first record you bought?
“I started out playing vinyl and always bought a lot. I still have quite a collection. The first record I can’t remember. It easily might be something from Agoria or so.”
Did you get paid at your first gig?
“No. But it was prime time at one of the best events here in Amsterdam, called Motion, on NYE. I was playing at 1 am and everybody was partying like crazy. So I didn’t care too much. It was good for me.”
What was the moment when you suddenly realised, that yes, I have a career in music…?
“That feeling slowly came upon me. I never thought of it that way, I just wanted to play records for other people. But after that first gig, the guy took me on to his booking agency, so that was the first step I guess to a career. More bookings came in and I was like, this is nice. Then I started to produce, with my first record out in 2007, and it all came together.”
A fantastic year for you in 2011, congratulations. The Netherlands is going crazy right now…your sound is different from some of the other big players out there at the moment, which is refreshing. How would you describe your sound?
“Thanks. I would say a mixture between house and progressive. It basically comes all down to house music anyway. I also throw in some techy tunes as well. I don’t want to narrow myself to genres or boxes in that way. If I like a record, there’s a good chance I’ll play it.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning this week?
Jesse Voorn – Gazin’
Lex Da Funk – S.T.U.K.
Donati & Amato – Falling (Jesse Voorn remix)
Bastian van Shield – Terminal One
Haze & Full Intention – Signification (Main mix)
Mark Simmons – Tear Us Apart (Mark Simmons remix)
Michael Calfan – Resurrection (Axwell’s Recut Club version)
Jozsef Keller – Move On
Jesse Garcia & Kevin Andrews – Party (Jesse Garcia Big Room Mix)
Carl Tricks – 9000
Massive tune swinging our way on Strictly Rhythm,what tunes / artists have you been a fan of from SR over the years?
“Thanks! Loads of great tunes coming from Strictly, during all those years. For me one of the biggest tunes was ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ from Wink, fantastic track. ‘Witch Doktor’ and ‘Scion’ by Armand van Helden, South Street Player with ‘(Who) Keeps Changing Your Mind’, The Don with ‘The Horn Song’ was nice, ‘Tell U Y’ by ATFC and of course Wamdue Project with ‘King Of My Castle’. More recently I love the Norman Doray and Haze & Full Intention releases.”
Talk us through your ‘Gazin’ track…
“’Gazin’ was one of those tracks that just happened. I basically had the main melody in my head and I took it from there. I wanted it to be a simple, but effective track. After the main melody I did all beats and percussion, and a little later on some variations on the theme, with some of the melodies going up at the end, for some extra contrast. For the big break and specially after that, I wanted to have it a little rougher, so I basically bounced the midi of the theme to audio and started cutting it. I felt it needed one more thing, which turned out to be the arp you hear during the track. It was done quite fast.”
What has been the biggest tune of 2011 for you?
“’Loser’ did very well, so I’m very pleased with that one. ‘Magic Is All Around’ on Stealth as well. What I can remember from my sets the last months, I’m playing the David Jones remix from Flying Eggs from Robbie Rivera a lot as well as El Cabron from Anel Ramos and Benny Royal.”
So we rock on back to yours after a club, what are the 10 Back To Mine (non house!) tunes you spin us to carry on the groove?
Massive Attack – Man Next Door
Pixies – Gouge Away
Prince – Sometimes It Snows In April
Kid Frost – La Raza
DJ Shadow – Organ Donor
Public Enemy – Don’t Believe The Hype
Elvis Costello – I Want You
The Album Leaf – Another Day
Brian Eno – Here Come The Warm Jets
We Are Augustines – Chapel Song
Cool set DJ! Who were your early DJ heroes when you started out?
“I never had particular heroes. I always liked to check out many dj’s, see what they did. When I started out I definitely could feel what dj’s such as Felix da Housecat, 2 Many DJ’s, Erol Alkan and David Guetta were doing. I started out by playing more electro and fidget, so that’s the direction you have to think in.”
What is the biggest crowd you have ever played to?
“One of the biggest was the Machac festival in Czech Repuplic with around 10.000 people. Global Gathering in Russia, two years ago, also was massive.”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Herb Alpert – ‘This Guy’s In Love With You’. Faith No More also did a great version.”
Hero of 2011?
“Prince. For still being out there and rocking it.”
What has been the best club of 2011 for you?
“Ministry of Sound in London is always great. Love going there.”
Which crowd around the globe give you the best reception?
“I just came back from Mexico, which was huge. Amazing response. Other than that, Russia is always as well having fantastic crowds.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“My condition could be better. I need to go more to the gym.”
Best and worst thing about living in Amsterdam?
“I feel at home here. It’s a big city, but it feels like a little village. But the local government is not that good, they’re slowly tearing it apart.”
Tell us about the Jesse Voorn radio show…all around the world twice over!
“It’s a weekly show, that I’m doing now for more or less two years and I’m on episode 185 now. What I basically want to do, is to show people what dance music I like. I’m getting in so much promo’s every week, so I have lots of choice. I’m playing tracks from renowned artists, but I also like to put in tracks from unknown dj’s, who just started out or haven’t built up a strong profile yet. And also it’s a nice platform to play out my newest tracks or remixes, so you’ll most likely here them first on my show. There’s the two hour show, which is hosted and there’s also a one hour version, which is just a mix. And I’m very happy it’s broadcasted on so many stations.”
Favourite festival story?
“Well, it was not exactly a festival, but I’ve got on for you on my gig in Dubai, two years ago. I was booked to play NYE there. I arrived at the hotel and was resting, because I was quite tired. Then the promoter called me, that I didn’t have to play that night. It turned out that the Sheik of Dubai forbid all festivities with NYE, out of solidarity with Gaza, that was on war with Israel at that time. So in the evening I went to a shopping mall and was sitting outside at a bar, drinking 7Up or so at 00.00, because alcohol was not allowed. That was my most silent NYE ever. The famous Dubai fireworks also were forbidden. The next evening, just before I had to go to the airport, I played the party, which they moved to 1 January, but on that day hardly anyone from Dubai is going out.”
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Stay with both feet on the ground. And, maybe next time don’t drink so much vodka and Jagermeister all together. Lol.”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Pjanoo from Eric Prydz always works. Great record.”
Weirdest request you have ever had whilst DJing?
“You get a lot of weird requests. I was playing in Germany some weeks ago, and this girl came up to me and asked if I could play r&b for 15 minutes, because that’s what she liked so much. Also someone asked me once to sing happy birthday during my set, because it was her birthday.”
What is your New Years Resolution?
“Loads of new music and more Jesse Voorn coming to you!”
