As with most producers and DJs on the planet, everything changed for Avesta when he walked into a club for the first time. He knew in an instant that all he ever wanted to do from that moment on was to be involved with was music. Without any guidance or help, he taught himself to mix and find his way around a studio with ease, developing his own unique style with always an intention of creating musical perfection. He sells out venues wherever he goes and his first records were snapped up by Musical Freedom and Mixmash – now comes his latest smash ‘Monkey Punch’ on Spinnin Records. Dan Prince gets an exclusive interview with the Swiss superstar…
Welcome back to DMCWORLD young man, another cracking summer for you and a big smash into The Buzz Chart with Monkey Punch, a title chosen by one of your fans Romain Da Rush. What were some of the more unsuitable names suggested!??
“Hi Dan, it’s good to be back at DMC. My idea was to make my fans choose the name of my next track, so I came up with that poll idea on my Facebook page. I think people who voted for Monkey Punch will have a good time hearing it all over the world, knowing they chose the name! I might do this again in the future. Here are some of the other names. By the way I loved them all…Over 9000, Nightfall, Andromeda, Blacklight.”
Tell us about the track that’s coming out on Spinnin’ next month…
“First of all Monkey Punch was so much fun to produce, it has so many different sounds in it and it felt like one long experiment. I just love going crazy with sounds, I can’t help it! The breakdown is what you would call progressive and quite joyful mixed with a bit of an anthemic feel. But when the drop suddenly hits, you just get punched in the face monkey style!”
How was the big Energy event in your native Switzerland last month, what were the highlights?
“It’s been such an incredible experience for me. I played mainstage in front of 14,000 rage thirsty people. They all recognized my own productions and began to scream like crazy. They had a 80m2 LED board and a terrific soundsystem. No doubt that with over 20 years of experiences it’s one of Europe’s finest events. Really looking forward to be back next year.”
A quote from you on your Facebook site : “More and more producers tend to sound the same copying others or themselves.” – who then are the producers who you rate at the moment?
“It’s just a general observation I do. I don’t blame anyone for that. We all get our inspiration from records that have already been out. But I don’t think that it’s a step into the right direction. Our music lives from its artists and their creative mind. We shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with new sounds and ideas. That is how new genres get created. Form me it’s also important to make people discover some music they don’t know yet through my DJ sets. I see many DJ’s playing the same records, that obviously work well on the floors, over and over again. I always try to have a good mix of what people want to hear and what I want to make them hear. I guess a similar procedure can be used for producing.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
Avesta – Monkey Punch (Original Mix)
Avesta & Senadee – Freedom (Vocal Mix) (stay tuned for this one, more infos soon !)
Digitalism – Zdarlight (Fedde Le Grand & Deniz Koyu Remix)
Dirty South & Alesso feat Ruben Haze – City Of Dreams (Original Mix)
MYNC & Senadee – No Place Like Home (Avesta Remix)
Zedd feat. Matthew Koma – Spectrum (Deniz Koyu Remix)
Burns – Lies (Otto Knows Remix)
Nom De Strip & Hot Mouth – Wear The Trousers
Deniz Koyu feat. Wynter Gordon – Follow You (Original Mix)
Afrojack feat. Shermanology – Can’t Stop Me (Kryder & Tom Staar Vocal Mix)
What has been your summer anthem?
“Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl feat. Georgi Kay – In My Mind (Axwell Mix).”
Tell us some of the highlights of the festivals in summer 2012?
“Playing with Tiesto at the Motion Openair and Energy were really outstanding experiences. Benny Benassi was playing at the Motion Openair aswell and I just met him before he went on stage. He told me that he really liked my productions, especially « Arena ». Then he asked if I wanted him to play it, I said yes of course. Then while I was doing an interview I heard Benny playing it on the Mainstage and people went crazy, that was amazing. He’s such an adorable guy. I enjoyed the Streetparade in Zurich aswell. When you play in your own country at daytime for almost 1 million people you wish it would never end. There I met people like Fedde Le Grand, Sultan & Ned Shepard who just played before me, great persons.”
How has Ibiza been for you this season?
“Great, just great! I even go back for hollidays, I can’t get enough from that island during summer. Luckily It’s only about a 1.5 hour flight from my place.”
Why do you love Ibiza, what makes it so magical?
“Every House music lover I know goes to Ibiza minimum once a year. In Ibiza everyone is equal, no matter where you come from. It’s all about the love and passion you bring along. That’s what makes Ibiza very unique for me. And of course you get to see some of the most famous clubs and DJ’s year after year.”
Who are your big DJ friends you enjoy partying with on the DJ circuit?
“Always good to see Laidback Luke. He‘s got such a great energy and I had a blast at the Madonna Afterparty in Zürich with Martin Solveig, he is so funny.”
What new territories have you discovered on your DJ travels this year?
“India was very impressive ! At this time my management is working on the US Visa. I can’t wait to tour the US!!!”
Which country always gives you the wildest reaction on the dancefloor?
“Ibiza, Spain!”
What is the strangest request you have ever had from a clubber whilst DJing?
“A guy told me to play tracks from a CD he just gave me while I was spinning. Unfortunately he forgot that I would first want to listen to them!”
You taught yourself the art of spinning and producing without any help. How important do you think that was moulding the style you have today?
“Very important ! The learning by doing process is the best advice I can give to every new artist. You will master a unique technic or sound which leads you to get your own signature in everything you do and that’s so important. At the end of the day your goal is to stand out of the crowd.”
What is the most overplayed record of 2012?
“‘Levels’.”
Other than EDM, what other artists are you listening to at the moment?
“One of my big inspiration is Hans Zimmer. He composed scores for so many big Hollywood movies. This guy is a genius. I really enjoy classical music. Other than that I really listen to everything I hear can hear on the radio or on TV.”
What was your reaction to the now infamous quote that floated around the internet a while ago…”The Swiss – they gave us chocolate and premier banking. Now they give us Avesta” ?
“A very funny and clever quote I’d say!!”
What are your plans for ADE?
“I’m really looking forward to meet fellow DJ colleagues. I will be spinnin at the Cr2 Records party at Bungalow 8. And of course I plan to attend various parties and have a good time. So let’s have a drink!”
And finally, what is coming next from you studio wise?
“‘Monkey Punch’ will come out on October 1st via Spinnin Records. Then I’m really excited to release my first vocal track with the talented songwriter and singer Senadee. The track is called « Freedom » and will come out on Cr2 Records.I also have some unreleased weapons. I tested one of them at the Energy party back in August and the reaction was really amazing. So yeah, you better be ready when I release them!”
‘Monkey Punch’ is out on Spinnin on October 1st.
