“We’re coming out of a huge global explosion where the dust is settling and talking a lot about what is going to happen next“. Exclusive interview with one of the team responsible for the most important week in electronic music…Ibiza – are you ready?
Interview by Dan Prince
Ben welcome back to DMCWORLD, we think you are officially the busiest man in electronic music right now. When was the last time you put your slippers on and had a chill?!?
Actually I wore slippers ALL DAY on Sunday at the University of Toronto for the CNTRL tour daytime lectures! I left my only touring shows on the CNTRL artist bus, checked into The Drake Hotel to shower, and then had to go back for the lectures but left my shows on the bus. Luckily I seem to always bring a pair of unopened Ibiza Gran Hotel slippers back to America with me on every trip and I had a fresh pair in my bag. So preceded to wear them all day. It was such a luxury. But yes I was working at the same time. Kind of says it all really…!!
First of all a massive congratulations on the third IMS Engage at W Hollywood in Los Angeles last week. An unbelievable event, hats off sir. Let’s kick off with the conversations and some inspired pairings. Chuck and Seth was always going to be an interesting one, loved the moment the Public Enemy dude told Seth that “everything today is electronic music unless you’re Joni Mitchell strumming with a guitar”. And also Seth likening the commercialization of contemporary electronic music to that of hip hop in the 80s and 90s…something many agree with. Did you expect more fireworks from these two, did you enjoy it?
Well I didn’t make it to the event! Richie Hawtin’s CNTRL music-education tour launched on the same day as IMS ENGAGE. I woke up at 5am in Boston to fly to LA for the opening of Engage but felt I couldn’t get on the flight due to what was needed to launch the tour. As a result I didn’t get home to LA during CNTRL so thank god for the slippers!!! I have four partners in IMS and it’s credit to them that they understood my dilemna without complaint. We’re a strong and diverse team, and have done 11 conferences in seven years, so we run a tight ship we like to think. But it was actually fascinating to feel the event from Boston through social media and see how our event translates around the world so I took some positive leanings from it. I am watching the videos as they go live this week like everybody else – the Seth Chuck D chat kind of sums up our entire concept with the Engage ‘in conversation’ format! We’ve chased Chuck D for two years, and dreamt of getting Quincy from the minute we conceptualized the IMS Engage format…we’re proud of the event but its time to work out where it evolves from here…
Watch the recap here…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD9op4q2o_k&feature=youtu.be
Wowzer. So, this was year three for IMS in LA. In those few years what are some of the major changes in electronic music, the business side of things and the future prospect/feeling within the community over there in North America?
The feeling in Los Angeles is very powerful. There is such a nice crew of people who live and breathe this scene. Some are a little detached due to their huge financial success, but they still seem to care hugely about where this scene evolves, but there is a healthy young vibrant scene of people driving the scene forward from an underground level also. I’ve been to some amazing events in LA from underground techno to a bizarre Korean dance event – its all here. I feel its important to integrate into what’s happening in North America. I’ve always loved the scene there and after three years in Miami in 2002-2005, I feel like I’ve found a great platform for what I do here in LA.
The Quincy Jones and Pete Tong pairing was intriguing. Quincy’s tales of bootleggers in 1930s Chicago, personal hardship and of course producing Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ amongst many others was a joy to behold. He also stayed on stage for 90 minutes posing for photographs and chatting, a real superstar. One thing he touched on was the fear factor in making music, “you can’t get an A if you’re afraid of getting an F”. Do you think that’s applicable in today’s day and age in electronic music where people can make and send a new track to a hundred labels at the press of a button?
It’s incredible how our scene has changed and evolved. I love what Chuck D said at Engage: “The thing I admire about dance music is you as a scene are very clear about what you ain’t. As opposed to what you are.” I had to think about that comment for a minute and I think it says a lot about the attitude of how our music presents itself to the outer world. If we maybe evolved into being clear about what we actually are – we may get to even higher levels of acceptance by those who still don’t buy into the scene overall. I think it’s true everything is open access now, but still if you want the A&R guy to actually listen to your music properly, it still helps if somebody can put in a word. References still count for so much. It’s the same as good curation.
Check it here…https://youtu.be/m0swZJjVdqw
One quote from David Grutman of MGM Nightlife and Miami’s LIV which will lead us onto the white isle was…“I came back from Ibiza and said, ‘We needed EDM, confetti and naked people’ – and we went from $25 million to $40 million.” Jason Strauss of Tao Group who he was in conversation with him then admitted…”We used to look to Ibiza for nightlife trends, now North America is starting to lead the charge.” Is this simply another case of the US picking up on something, calling it their own and then dismissing where they discovered it? How important to an artist is Ibiza in 2015?
It’s funny. I was in the VIP at Ushuaia that day when these guys saw it for the first time – Ron Burkell, Andrew Sasson, Gruttman and Strauss. And incredible what they went and did. Funny they don’t seem to come to Ibiza every year like they used to. I guess they’ve seen enough…interesting that any attempt to recreate a DC10 out there has failed – because money can’t buy that kind of authenticity or that relationship to core underground A&R and talent. I’m not being critical – I love Jason, Noah and Gruttman. But it kind of really shows how much of a gap there is in Las Vegas right now between developing electronic music of the future versus making hay while the sun shines. Ibiza is still hugely relevant. You only have to look at the investment into live music being made by Cirque du Soleil with their HEART project in Ibiza – a whole other level of creativity and commitment to Light in Vegas. I think Ibiza will always show the way musically.
Which brings us to Ibiza. A quote from you that I would you to discuss…“this feels like a critical year for electronic music – probably the most important since the year IMS launched eight years ago when the genre was rock bottom and nobody wanted to know us.” So, what are your concerns, what potential do we still have and what are the retractions you are worried about?
Seems this quote touched a nerve. A lot of media has picked up on it. Eight year’s ago when 150 like-minded PASSIONATE industry heads all met for the first IMS, we did feel like the industry had to rebuild and reposition itself and think twice about how it talks about itself. Since then we’ve seen incredible heights, but now there is a lot of leveling out going again, a lot of tours not working, and general signs of a slowdown. So I just feel this year’s IMS needs to really think hard about its future, about the fights it picks to resolve to better our cause, to get rid of some of the ridiculous in-fighting. As divisive as Seth Troxler can be in his public talks, listen to him talk about our music with Chuck D. After 60 minutes he says some quite fascinating things and really calls for our world to resolve its internal issues. I think its something many of us hope to see happen.
A lot of people are really excited about you landing Alexander Ljung, the founder of Soundcloud as the main Keynote Address. It doesn’t get much bigger…?
Yes we’ve has to move his talk to Friday 5pm for the finale largely due to his schedule but I think it’s going to be an incredibly powerful ending. I think most delegates care what he has to say. I am a fan of his. A real music guy with his heart in electronic. I fear for his future, but he’s become an important discovery destination, and may have his platform to thank for talent they’re working with, or artists they’ve helped break. I am pleased he’s willing to sit in public and face the electronic community as I’m sure people will have some tough questions for him. I had high regard for him and then last weekend at Further Future Festival in the middle of the Nevada desert he came to the DJ booth where Rob da Bank was playing a sunrise set, said hello to me, and then started playing piano over Rob’s set – incredibly well. I could see him and Nils Frahm on stage. HE’s a good guy. He loves music. We should help him get his platform right, and not let the major labels hang him out to dry.
What did the legend Trevor Horn think about coming back to Ibiza?
He was very open to it. I have to thank Danny Donnelly on this one as we weren’t getting much traction and then Danny was with him at Christmas and told him he should come. And here is…he’s now on Thursday with Pete Tong interviewing him – that will be special. I am a huge fan of the production sound of Trevor Horn – early dance music in my life and there’s just something about his sound which defines my youth. And still sounds incredible today.
One of the panel topics at IMS this year is State Of Mind presented by B Traits. Basically a discussion about drug usage within the industry and beyond. What is the feeling on this matter in the US and what are your thoughts on this matter this side of the pond…?
Firstly, I commend B-Traits for bringing this to the forefront of discussion. I am excited to hear her discussion which now includes Mark Lawrence from AFEM: Association for Electronic Music. Basically education is at the heart of everything, as Lyor Cohen said at IMS Engage (“everything can be solved through education”). I feel she’s really putting herself out there in a positive and constructive way and stimulating a debate that needs to be had. At AFEM, learning the nuances between drug issues and incidents versus other parts of the world has been quite an eye-opener.
Dalt Villa returns with two spectacular events. Thursday May 21st sees you basically pulling out the big guns with Sven, Solomun and Luciano whilst Friday sees Rudimental and LK joined by three really interesting acts: Thalab, Kidnap Kid and ZHU. There are so many great artists coming through these days, why did you choose these three?
Personal taste of all us. Zhu’s cut-through track is one of our favourites and we love the act and believe he’s a really insightful artist who sadly wont speak at IMS! Kidnap Kid always delivers and represents the London sound. And Thalab are making waves out of Barcelona. I think it’s also all music that sounds kind of Balearic and incredible in the open-air!
“IMS Grand Finale Festival is an event that could join Alfredo’s ’87 Amnesia sets and Grace Jones dancing naked in the rain at Privilege in Ibiza’s cultural history books” you recently said. Can you think of a better venue in the world to have a party in, you must always be pinching yourself when you look around?
http://www.be-at.tv/b…/dalt-vila/ims-dalt-vila-2015-thursday
Ha did I say that? Brilliant will hold onto that thought. Yes it’s always been amazing, every date, every year. We now have two Annie Mac presents shows up there this year including a Disclosure date. It remains a special historic venue for all of us at IMS. I still think it’s the best outdoor venue in Ibiza right now.
Looking back after your debut year at Hard Rock in 2014, was it a case of huge sighs of relief all round and a general case of ‘thank fuck we’re here now’…or are there still things you wanna improve on this year and beyond…
We always want to improve. We visit so many conferences around the world and see how things are done differently. We get some right and some wrong but really proud of what we’ve achieved. I hope the Hard Rock works better this time round. We’ll find out shortly…
I wanted to pick on the Ibiza DJ thing for a moment. The 80s saw the likes of Alfredo and Jose Padilla wow the open air dancefloors and install themselves as Balearic legends. Speaking to a well known Ibiza resident DJ this week they said they couldn’t understand why an Ibiza resident had not made superstar status. “Can you imagine Hollywood actors without American actors?” was their quote. Thoughts on this…?
Yes it’s sad these guys have not made a mark globally and maybe they were right to so aggressively defend their position against international promoters back in the early 90s – as every single night on the island now pretty much ignores their existence. A huge shame Dan…
THE IMS LEGEND AWARD this year goes home with Sven Vath and Cocoon, joining the ranks of previous winners that include Nile Rodgers, Carl Cox and Pete Tong. What are the qualities and relevance that made you choose Sven and his brand in 2015.
Do I really need to explain? Honesty, integrity, consistency – kind of sums it up. Sven was here before every big DJ on the island. I was lucky to be in Cocoon year one, I used to go with Scott Barton and Tommy Ryan from Cream, and we were mesmerized by the decadence of it all. So to see what they’ve achieved feels very special. We’re honoring Sven AND the Cocoon team as the two are hand-in-hand and helped change the face of Ibiza with high quality concepts and brave musical curation. It’s still one of the best things about Ibiza. We love Sven and it feels so right for him to have a night in his name. I can’t wait for this moment.
