Straight from the heart of the Gate – ‘Wake Your Mind Sessions 001’ smashing it on Armada
Interview by Dan Prince
Nic, Bossi – a massive welcome to DMCWORLD…where are you guys today?
“Hello guys, thanks for having us! We are up in the air, on the way for some shows in Israel, UK and Germany.”
What was the first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed?
“Honestly, it was 4am wake up today and after three or four hours of sleep max. and rushing to the airport, the mood was not like listening to any music at all for once…”
Well what a twelve months you have had! Wake Your Mind Radio, the new ‘Start To Feel’ album, a run of Beatport #1s & iTunes Top 10s, the launch of WYM Records, a coast-to-coast US Bus Tour and a huge jump up the DJ Mag Top 100… you must be ecstatic?
“Thank you, wow, reading this we get excited ourselves!. What can we say, we had a fantastic 2014 indeed, but we are not the types to just look back, as good as it was, we focus on what comes next, which as we see comes up in the next question!”
A really exciting start to 2015 with the imminent release of your Wake Your Mind Sessions 001 mix album through Armada. How hard was it finalising the final 33 tracks and what is the overall aim of this new series?
“The overall aim with WYM Sessions 001 is simply to give the listener an idea about how we sound as DJs, introduce the range and style we play, starting more deep and progressive on CD/Mix one, slowly build things up, and on CD/Mix two end up more on Primetime/Mainstage kind of sound. Overall it is not easy to find good music for us, we are pretty tough judges somehow, plus both of us have to be down for a tune to end up in one of our sets or here on WYMS 001. We have gone through a few hundreds of tracks for sure, we do anyways basically every week for our radio show, and we hope WYM Sessions 001 as said gives a proper view on our current sound as DJs, but will work for a long road trip as much as loud background music at home.”
What were some of the tracks that just HAD to be on this double album?
“WYM Sessions 001 of course features a lot of new music from ourselves, for example Jes’s brilliant new vocal additions to ‘Yai’ (‘Here We Go Again’), or the New Club Mix of our collaboration ‘Going Home’ with Emma Hewitt, just to mention two essential ones. In general it’s so much music, 33 tracks and 150 minutes of sound, we are sure people for most part will find their song, and hopefully enjoy the flow of the mix in one.”
How freakin’ good was ASOT700 in Ultrech last week? What was your take home memory from the night?
“You are absolutely right, the overall take home was that in our eyes the crowd was maybe one of the best ever in Utrecht! The crowd simply was on a natural high somehow, us as DJs did not have to push a lot, the energy was very natural. It was a very giving crowd, we simply loved it and had a blast and we have heard similar statements from other DJs too, we are looking forward to ASOT Utrecht in 2016 already!”
Miami week is round the corner…what have you got planned for us this year?
“We have our yearly boat cruise on the Saturday, this year offering an even bigger boat. It will be a sunset cruise for the first time and offers an open bar on top, we are very excited for the new setup! On the Sunday thenwe host club Space, Jerome Isma-Ae, Orjan Nilsen, Audien and a still tba special guest will play with us, come to Miami and join us for the shows if you can!”
Favourite ever Miami WMC story?
“Catching a huge Hammerhead Shark on a Fishing trip like in 2003 or something.”
What are the 3 bucket list adventures you would like to do in your lifetime?
“Climb the Kilimanjaro in Tansania, salmon fishing in Alaska, 3 weeks vacation without a Laptop or Cell.”
A young up and coming producer to watch out for in 2015?
“Steve Brian.”
The festival you cannot wait for in 2015?
“Tomorrowland Brazil.”
And a festival mishap you’d rather forget?
“Wearing brand new sneakers for the always amazing but muddy Creamfields, rookie fail!!!”
What do you think are each others best qualities as a producer?
“To have the same kind of taste and ideas in the end, otherwise it won’t work that good for so long.”
What is on a Cosmic Gate rider in 2015?
“Vodka, Jaeger, Coconut water…”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“New productions, some collaborations, remixes…we will keep you guys posted.”
Connect with Cosmic Gate:
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soundcloud.com/cosmicgateofficial
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twitter.com/cosmicgate
Wake Your Mind Sessions 001 Tracklist :
Disc 1:
16 Bit Lolitas – Deep In My Soul (Radio Edit) (04:05)
Greenhaven DJs – Portal (Radio Edit) (03:42)
GusGus – Crossfade (Maceo Plex Radio Edit) (04:04)
Azotti feat. Bagga Bownz – Day And Night (IRA’ presents 8Kays Radio Edit) (02:51)
Diversion – 505 (Radio Edit) (03:18)
Roger Shah & Sian Kosheen – Hide U (Jerome Isma-Ae Radio Edit) (03:46)
Rodg – Pendejo (Radio Edit) (03:39)
Fehrplay – Pyara (Radio Edit) (05:19)
Yoel Lewis – Paradox (Radio Edit) (03:09)
Cosmic Gate & Jennifer Cooke – This Will Be Your Happyness (Steve Brian Radio Edit) (02:52)
Cosmic Gate & Kristina Antuna – Alone (Maor Levi Radio Edit) (03:03)
Gareth Emery – Long Way Home (Cosmic Gate Radio Edit) (03:07)
Genix – Durban (Radio Edit) (03:22)
Cosmic Gate & JES – Yai (Here We Go Again) (Radio Edit) (03:16)
Ilan Bluestone – Big Ben (Original Mix Edit) (03:45)
Alex Di Stefano – I’ve Got The Power (Radio Edit) (04:11)
Cosmic Gate – Wake Your Mind Sessions 001 (Full Continuous Mix, Pt. 1) (73:44)
Disc 2:
Arty – Flashback (Radio Edit) (03:46)
Cosmic Gate feat. Denise Rivera – Body Of Conflict (Vocal Radio Edit) (04:10)
Above & Beyond feat. Alex Vargas – Sticky Fingers (Radio Edit) (03:02)
Steve Brian & Tabasco Bob – Time & Time (Radio Edit) (03:18)
Cosmic Gate & Orjan Nilsen – Fair Game (Radio Edit) (03:16)
Cosmic Gate – Falling Back (with Eric Lumiere) (Radio Edit) (03:39)
Simon de Jano & Bottai – Delorean (Radio Edit) (03:41)
Nic Chagall & Jonathan Mendelsohn – This Time (Radio Edit) (03:12)
Cosmic Gate & Jerome Isma-Ae – Telefunken (Festival Edit) (03:34)
LTN feat. Christina Novelli – Feeling Like Yeah (Alexander Popov Radio Edit) (02:59)
Bart Claessen – E.T. Astronaut (Radio Edit) (03:38)
Cosmic Gate with Emma Hewitt – Going Home (Club Radio Edit) (02:59)
Stoneface & Terminal – Caligula (Radio Edit) (04:24)
Axis – Lush (Radio Edit) (04:01)
Cosmic Gate – So Get Up (Radio Edit) (03:41)
The Thrillseekers – Synaesthesia (Andrew Bennett Radio Edit) (03:42)
Super8 & Tab feat. Julie Thompson – No Frontiers (04:53)
Cosmic Gate – Wake Your Mind Sessions 001 (Full Continuous Mix, Pt. 2) (77:59)
