The US superstar producer collabs with Dash Berlin for a Trance masterpiece
Interview : Dan Prince
Justin a massive welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today?
“I’m currently in Vegas, prepping some music for a session in LA this week!”
Well you have done it again dude, a huge tune causing dancefloor damage out there. This time it’s all about your collaboration with Dash Berlin ‘Somehow’ ft. Bright Lights…your first foray into trance no less! Please talk us through the history and sound of this incredible record…
“Glad you like it! I actually started this record as a remix for Dash’s ‘Steal You Away’, but the vocal wasn’t sitting perfectly on the track, so I approached Dash about it. We both agreed that the vocal wasn’t cutting it for a remix, so we decided to turn it into a collaboration and finish the record as an original!”
So trance. Why now?
“It’s funny because some of the first project files labeled this track as a “trance idea,” but it’s barely a trance record in the traditional sense. I guess I’d call it progressive trance, because it has trance influences, but remains a 130 bpm progressive house track. I’ve always loved the epic chord structures in trance music, but I’ve always thought it lacked in energy, so I tried to hybridize both with ‘Somehow’.”
Loving your list of influences you share with us, from the beautiful sounds of BT to the French electronic sounds of M83 and big room Calvin Harris. Who though were the artists you were into when you first discovered music?
“Believe it or not, my first influences were more rock oriented bands, from Radiohead to Sigur Ros, I was listening to super epic post-rock/experimental electronic music when I was growing up. I particularly read Pitchfork religiously in high school and in my first years of college; I was singing and writing dark, more emotional indie rock music from my dorm room. My dance music influences started with Boys Noize and Justice, but I didn’t really start “producing” or listening to house music until I took a trip to Sweden and was blown away by the culture there surrounding it. Everyone was happy, excited and dancing; it was a kind of music culture I wasn’t used to back in the States that, three years ago, was still dominated by pop and hip-hop. That’s why I started making mashups; I wanted to show people how awesome dance music was, through the lens of pop, by combining familiar voices, with less familiar beats and instrumentals.”
An intriguing start to your early career, you attended Washington University in St Louis studying finance, your father runs RABCO Asset Management and you enjoyed a summer internship at Credit Suisse. Whilst all this was going on you were DJing, making mash ups and was a well-known star in the college music scene. So the obvious questions, how did you make the decision to choose music, will finance be something you can always return to in later years and what did your pop think of your choice?
“I’ve always had a strong interest in finance and business, but mainly from the entrepreneurial side. When I convinced my dad that my DJ career could become an entrepreneurial endeavor, I think that’s when my parents began to see the opportunity I had found in a genre of music, that at the time, was still in its incipient stages of mass explosion. My dad does amazing work and I’m very lucky to have a family that supports me, but I thank both my parents for giving me a hard time, because it forced me to work harder and to prove to them that I was doing something of great value, which now both of them see super clearly. I didn’t have a credit card from my parents in school, I didn’t even have my own car in high school, so I thank my parents for instilling that work ethic in me, which is a huge reason for me being where I am right now. But to answer the question most directly, finance was always an interest, music was always a passion, anyone would pick the later if they could make it work, financially.”
August 9th 2014. A big day for you my friend. There are certain moments in a producer’s life they will never forget. The first time they heard house music. The first record they played to a dancefloor and rocked it. THE FIRST FUCKING TIME THEY FLEW ME IN A PRIVATE JET TO A GIG!!! Tell us about the Tiesto Vegas gig baby…
“Hahahahaha!!! I guess my parents always used to joke that whenever I took a private jet somewhere, I would know I made it. Granted, this one is Tiesto’s, but I actually may have to take a jet between a couple shows in a few weeks for the first time, all on my own! Haha. Anyway, Tiesto has always been a super supportive friend and inspiration; hearing his perspective on music is always so educational for me, as someone who has consistently been able to reinvent himself in a scene that’s extremely volatile and where tastes are constantly changing. It was a great flight!”
We interviewed our old friend HELENA this week in the magazine, she of course is one of the residents at Drai’s…one of your favourite clubs. You are the perfect person to ask about the Vegas scene in 2014, especially now that the US has finally cottoned onto dance music in a major way. What effect has the EDM phenomenon had on Sin City? It seems the clubbers out there are certainly getting more knowledgeable?
“Firstly, club-goers are DEFINITELY more educated to the point where as DJs, we can get away with a lot more when performing. Three years ago, it was pop music or get off the decks, now listeners are a lot more flexible with their tastes. There are SO MANY new clubs opening because nightlife has become THE sought after, enjoyable activity of our generation, so I guess it’s supporting the demand, but we’ll see what happens. A lot of people think club reputations and fancy lights are what attract consumers, but since they’re getting more educated, those “easier” experiential deliverables from a club night are less unique. It’s all about the music, the performance, and what DJ people want to see at the end of the day.”
Your favourite mash up you have ever created and why?
“That’s a tough one, but I think it’s this deep house mashup I did, coming out on the new mashup album. I don’t know, there’s just something about how it that feels different for the mashup world and the dance world; we’ll see what people think. The track includes Tchami’s remix of Martin Garrix’s wizard and features Ariana’s ‘Break Free’, Zhu’s ‘Faded’, Wiz’s ‘We Dem Boyz’ and Tinashe’s ‘2 On’ acapellas.”
The 5 big records in your box this weekend…
1. Pierce Fulton – Kuaga
2. Botnek – ID remix
3. Porter Robinson – Lionhearted (Arty Remix)
4. Mightyfools – Shaolin (Original Mix)
5. Martin Garrix – Virus (Original Mix)
The Forbes DJ Rich List 2014. Discuss.
“Haha. Well, I think a lot of people think about this list as “who is deserving of this level of financial success” when in reality people should be asking “does this person provide $$$ amount of value to the world at large.” The answer to the later question is always yes, you can’t deny that, it’s not debatable, because that’s the price society placed on X or Y DJ’s head. That being said, people can have opinions on HOW DJ’s provide that value and whether those methods are CREDIBLE. Personally, I would rather make dope music and have success and $$$ as the BYPRODUCT of my hard work, than be a super unhappy, unfulfilled mega-rich fuck who no one respects. That’s my take.”
I see you gave the DJ Mag 100 Poll a mention on Facebook a while back, we interviewed Arthur Baker last week, he remarked…“there are too many DJs and genres for a realistic competition, it needs to split”. What are your thoughts on that?
“No comment.”
Paris Hilton earning $200,000 a pop at Amnesia in Ibiza. Has the world gone crazy?
“Nah, the world’s always placed value on silly things, it balances out eventually; good news is that there’s no longevity…I hope.”
You caused all sorts of mentalism on your socials back in July with your post about how mixing isn’t a talent and that anyone can mix. Now that the dust has settled, what are your thoughts on the whole post and your views?
“Interesting. I stand by what I said, that’s my opinion. People got butt hurt about it, but I didn’t mean “mixing” I really did mean the act of “beatmatching.” Technically everything boils down to mixing so that was a poor choice of words on my part. Of course, people target those and attack. The truth is, the stream of sound people hear from a crowd is what any set should be judged by, the method by which it’s delivered doesn’t matter, because it’s instantaneous delivery no matter how you put it. The way you play a set isn’t UPS next day air or one week shipping on an iPhone 6. It’s whether you drive in a Ferrari or a Lamborghini when you pick it up from the store…who cares, you still came home with an iPhone 6.”
Who are some of the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Audien, Botnek, Nom De Strip, MakJ, Deorro – the people that are making the big boys work harder to maintain their standing. Younger people, who are less established, ARE making better music than some of the most established. We’re hungry and we’re coming in hot.”
So we come back to the 3LAU Crib after the club…what is the 3LAU Back To Mine 5 you spin us to chill the vibe…
“Right now it’s the entire Ryn Weaver album; the best music I’ve heard in years. I’ll let it speak for itself.”
Loving your new ‘NOW ACCEPTING BLAU JOBS’ t-shirts…had any takers?
“Hahaha, maybe in the next round of merchandise we’ll actually make one, maybe not.”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
Radiohead – All I Need
…always get you dancing?
Pryda – Allein
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
Damien Rice – 9 Crimes
…you wish you would have made?
Porter Robinson – Language
2014 has been a major year for you…skip forward 12 months…what do you want to have achieved this time next year?
“I want people to hear the record I’m singing on. It’s called “Don’t Wait.” I don’t really care how it “does” in the dance world, I just want people to hear it, feel it, and hopefully gain something from it.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“TOO MUCH, I have so much to finish so I’m going to get to that and wrap up this interview. Can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”
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