This is how the Dutch legend rolls
Interview by Dan Prince
Hey Bart welcome back to DMCWORLD, where on planet dance are you today?
“In my studio, finishing up PLAYMO002!”
Really exciting time for you at the moment with the launch of your own label Playmo Sounds and firstrelease ‘How I Roll’. Let’s kick off with the label. Why now and what is the idea behind it?
“This just feels like the right moment for me. I’m doing this together with Raz, we talked about it a year or two ago, but that wasn’t the right time. I was still finding my way into this, for me, new world of house music, finding my style as well, he was just starting some of his own labels. Two years later and I know exactly what I want and where I want to go, he’s got everything nicely up and running, felt like this is the right time. It’s also good to draw our own plans, make our own release schedules, not being dependent of any other label. Many of the labels have a very distinct style they’re after, which is not always mine. I can feel totally free to produce whatever beat I like, cause I know I’ve got my own label to release it on. So even if I would offer a track to another label (I will still release at other labels as well), and it might be not for them, I know I don’t have to look out for another and feel worried about having an empty release schedule for too long, cause I strongly believe in that track myself, put it out on my own label and go for it.”
The Buzz Chart crew are all over the first release, loads of energy, massive on the dancefloor…please talk us through the sound and history of the track…
“The original idea comes from a track I produced about three years ago. I wanted to make an album, and halfway found out my style had shifted too far to be able to work with the labels I had worked with before. Suddenly I was a new name in another genre and had to start all over again, releasing an album felt more and more like a useless idea. So I ended up with a big shelve full of tracks getting old, and not sure what to do with them. The basic ideas of most of the tracks still stand strong though, so I decided to start with one of them, produced it again from scratch (original version was nearly 9 minutes long, probably half of that was breakdown), that’s the story of How I Roll.”
When I told Buzz Chart boss Guy Garret I was interviewing you today, he shouted across the room…”we love Bart, it’s so difficult to pigeon hole him into one sound and this tune is definitely a secret weapon for many big names.” Thoughts on that little comment?
“Love it when people say that! I generally just do what I like, taking interesting bits from everything I hear. I simply cannot produce a track without doing something weird to it, or I’ll find it too boring.”
What are the 10 big records in your box this weekend?
How I Roll
Francesco Diaz & Young Rebels – People
Hellberg – Saviors
Autoerotique & Mercer – Murda Dem
HeRobust & Snails – Pump This
Jerome Isma-ae & Ilan Bluestone – Tension
Arston feat. Jake Reese – Circle Track
Mapei – Change (Shift K3Y remix)
Duck Sauce – NRG (Skrillex , Kill The Noise, Milo & Otis remix)
Sebjak & Jaz Von D – Into The Wild
I remember a few years ago in an interview you were talking about collaborations, you were saying now and again they are okay but you would much rather be on your own as you don’t like being watched in the studio as you are so fussy and need time to perfect the smallest things. Anything changed since then?
“Not much. Collabs are still interesting, but I’ve usually got too many ideas of my own that I’d like to work on, to think too much of collabs. Too much inspiration can be an annoying thing really. In my head I can never really finish something because when doing one track, at least two new ideas come up, which I write down, record, whatever.”
Paris Hilton earning two hundred grand a gig at Amnesia in Ibiza. Thoughts?
“If, when putting her name on a poster, enough people find that interesting enough to pay entrance fees high enough to make that much money, I think she’s the one who deserves to put it in her pocket. That’s how economics work. I never really understand how people like her can be a threat to any other DJ.
A great quote from you…”I start making and combining sounds I like until I end up somewhere. That could be…well, anywhere!” With that in mind, how often do you end up deleting a day’s work because where you went with a track wasn’t good enough?
“I never really fully delete things, I try to find another way instead. When I’ve worked hard on something, there’s at least something really exciting inside. I don’t wanna throw that away. I can work many days on something though, then ending up changing the whole theme and deleting half of all the sounds. That’s the way it is if you’re pushing yourself.”
The last great live gig you went to?
“One of the last Toos Thielemans concerts. As old as he is, such a great musician.”
It’s that time of year again, the annual DJ Top100. I interviewed Arthur Baker this week, he remarked…“there are too many DJs and genres for a realistic competition, it needs to split”. What are your thoughts on that – do you actually give a shit?
“You know how it works with those competitions. You don’t give a shit till you’re in, or nearly in. Then it’s fun to be there. Could be split into genres, but then you’ll get the whole debate about who belongs where. But actually, no, I don’t really care too much about it.”
The latest studio toy you treated yourself to?
“Vocodex vocoder. Thought it was time to finally get a nice software vocoder to play around with!”
Favourite tune of the summer of 2014?
“Wouldn’t be fair to not mention Bullit by Watermat.”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“Personally I love to be able to hear it when a DJs mixing. Supertight mixed tracks sound too digital / inhuman to me. I understand though with the trend of more and more tracks played per hour, little time is left for beatmatching. Oh well, they’re all 128 bpm aren’t they? But honestly I kinda feel the same as with the Paris-question. There is no “true DJing”. Everyone is doing their own thing, and has their own fans that love what they do. There is no good or bad, only taste.
The Forbes DJ Rich List with DJs earning over $20m a year. Opinion…
“Good for them!”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
“Wreckx-N-Effect – New Jack Swing.”
…always get you dancing?
“Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me.”
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
“Björk – New World. Sad brilliant soundtrack to a sad brilliant movie.”
…you wish you would have made?
“Snails & Botnek – KRMT. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a track with a wow-factor this big!”
And finally young man, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“That might either be my new single ‘Donk coming out on Big & Dirty end of October, or the next release on Playmo Sounds, close call!”
http://www.bartclaessen.com
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http://www.youtube.com/bartclaessenmusic
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