Brilliant monkey stuff from the Dutch superstar
Welcome to DMCWORLD Bart, a superb new track ‘King of Kongs’ which has smashed to the No. 1 spot in the world famous Buzz Chart. Talk us through the history of the tune…
“When I started to work on this one, I tried to let go of everything people would expect me to do, didn’t even have a clear view myself of where it was heading, I just started to work on it and did just… well, what I liked. Sounds so obvious but it seems that, even if these days all edm genres getting so much closer, many edm fans try to protect the borders of their own favourite genres with a bigger passion than ever before. You should take care not to let it hold you back renewing yourself, getting to different places, it’s too easy sometimes to get a little stuck in safe patterns. The result is just what I wanted to achieve: something fresh. ”
Your home country the Netherlands has been one of the pioneers of dance music for decades You caught the dance bug early thankfully. Who were the artists that captured your imagination when you were growing up?
“Oh, there were so many tracks and artists that I loved, starting back in the nineties when I first discovered electronic dance music. Never had like real heroes or something, enjoyed everything from that James Brown Is Dead tune to Chocolate Puma to Prodigy to Ferry Corsten. So much good stuff!”
You built your first home studio in your parents attic – what did they think of that – didn’t it drive them crazy?
“No, everybody loved it, the neighbourhood as well luckily. In hot summers I just worked with the big window open, don’t think anyone ever minded that really.”
You started to play the piano at the age of five, were you pushed into that or did you enjoy learning the instrument which has come in so handy today…
“I wasn’t pushed really, as long as I can remember I was always touching those piano keys. Well, I do think that pretty much any parent once in a while does have to push their kids a little to keep on practicing on the instrument. But I’m only happy they did!”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Let’s be modest and not include my own releases for a change. Hard to put in any order, so let’s consider these 10 equally loved tracks at the moment. ..”
Pierce Fulton feat. Bebe Rexha – Sink Or Swim [CR2]
Miike Snow – Pretender (Deniz Koyu Remix) [Robotberget]
EDX – Touched [Toolroom]
East & Young – Coda [Fly Eye]
Probe – Carpetbagger [Fuel 2 Fire]
Jewelz & Scott Sparks – Toxic Rush [Flamingo]
New World Sound – Bantam [In Charge]
Dubvision & Project 46 feat. Donna Lewis – You & I [Spinnin]
M-3ox feat. Dan Brown – Next To You (Duher Remix) [Heat]
Dinka – Polarity [Unreleased Digital]
What have been the stand out festivals for you this summer, and what was the most fun you had at one of them?
“The Luminosity Beach Festival in June was a lovely atmosphere, also had a great time at the Zürich Street Parade! Rescheduled my pick up back to the hotel quite a few times haha. ”
How does it feel as a producer to begin a record with the vision of it being played in an underground club, to then see radio pick it up, play the short mix and it become mainstream?
“Happened to me quite a few times before, and usually with tracks when the last thing you’d expect is it to be played on high rotation on mainstream stations. It’s a great feeling, but also a bit weird, as you can actually hear the track becoming mainstream the more often you hear it being played. But I enjoy it. Nothing better than an underground track becoming big in a natural way, instead of all those tracks that were actually produced to be IN the charts, that’s way less exciting.”
You once admitted being a self confessed loner in the studio, very fussy and hate people watching you. Is that still the case, have you ever had any tantrums with fellow producers?
“Oh no, not at all! Sounds kinda harsh, did I really say that? No, I do work together in the studio sometimes, not very often though. What I like is to work with someone where things really add up, so you get to different places and levels. What I don’t like, and what is likely to happen often with me I guess, is if you’re in the studio with someone and you’re both trying to do exactly the same thing, just being in each other’s way. I for example probably couldn’t handle someone else working on the computer, knobs and sliders, and me sitting next to it. I’d eat all my nails and fingers within the first 30 minutes. ”
We know you have a love of a wide variety of music, from jazz to classical to film scores. What artists outside of EDM are you listening to at the moment?
“I always have these periods when I order lots of new cd’s, been some months now I think. But I love listening to many different things, I love Muse, I love that Chet Baker Sings album, Nina Simone, Philip Glass, Michael Jackson, John Williams movie scores, the Andrew Bayer album was massive, M83… Lots. ”
Your first hit ‘On The Move under your Barthezz guise opened up so many doors for you, travelling the globe as a DJ. What was that first six months like for you, one minute you are nestled in the Dutch countryside, the next spinning in Japan and Russia?
”Pretty much like that, yes. I loved it. But I must say that when you look back at it, you realize it was even more special than you noticed back then.
”
As EDM explodes in America and DJ fees soar to $250,000 – what are your feelings on how dance music has exploded around the world in 2012. Is it in a healthy position?
“Well, that’s definitely not my fee haha. I think the position is very healthy at the moment. Loving everything that’s happening in these last few years. Styles grow together to something much much bigger than before. The music has got this sparkly freshness that I hadn’t heard so much anymore since the end of the nineties, 2000, 2001. Enjoying this a lot.”
One of the things we admire about you is that you are a stickler about who you remix. If the record doesn’t interest you, you pass on it. What makes a great remixer in 2012?
“Well, you gotta make your choices. Many remix offers are really tempting to accept, when I hear a good melody line or vocal I already start hearing the possibilities and would love to do it. But I noticed that many new ideas and sounds end up in those remixes instead of in my own productions. I mean, I’m just not interested in delivering remixes that sound exactly like my last single, it bores me, so I try to do new things, which consumes a lot of time that I can’t invest in my own productions. Therefore I do think it’s good to make choices, and only do the really interesting ones, and only when there’s enough time.”
What is coming next from you studio wise…
“A few singles first, followed by an album! Have always worked from single to single, but this time an album was my goal. That’s why I seemed a bit silent last year, but I’ve got loads of tracks on the shelf now, so a lot will get out there soon, pretty exciting.”
What club or event throughout your career has given you the biggest thrill to play at?
“At least once every year there’s this just perfect night that makes you feel like you’ve got the best job in the world. In the past few years, the Creamfields Tour in Australia was my personal favourite. 5 cities in 2 weeks, great group of DJs and crew, massive parties, don’t think I’ll ever forget that one.”
Who are the new, up and coming DJs/producers we should be watching out for in 2013?
“I mentioned Tom Fall before, and he’s the first one that comes to mind again. Also loving those new East & Young tracks, and this guy Duher is delivering big work as well. There’s at least like a dozen people to watch out for!”
And finally Bart, you are from the town village of Asten, the home of Vivian Jansen who came 5th in the Miss Universe competition a few years ago. Did you ever meet her?
“Haha, no I didn’t. You know, I’m ashamed to say I don’t even know what she looks like. Let me google that in a bit…”
http://www.bartclaessen.com
http://www.twitter.com/bartclaessen
http://www.mixcloud.com/bartclaessen
http://www.youtube.com/bartclaessenmusic
http://www.soundcloud.com/bartclaessen
http://plus.google.com/u/0/1136516201275…
http://bartclaessen.tumblr.com
