The Belgian brothers sealed their position as the kings of clubland in 2015 after being crowned the new World No.1 DJ in the DJ Mag Top100 Poll making history along the way as the first ever duo to win the much coveted award. Dan Prince checks in with two of the nicest guys in the industry as they look forward to a new year with a brand new album coming our way…
Dimitri, Mike – a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD. Well what a year 2015 was for you – huge records, headline gigs everywhere and of course the small matter of being crowned No. 1 in the DJTOP 100 Poll. Now that you have had time to digest the last 12 months and reflect, are you both happy with how the year panned out?!?
Dimitri: Absolutely! It’s been a long road but to see so many of our projects, dreams and goals come to life this year has been truly magical. We’ve enjoyed it every step of the way and the fans have been utterly amazing!
Mike: We’ve been blessed with such an incredible group of fans, from the sold-out arenas to the festival rocking shows; they’ve just been there and passionately supporting us throughout. To cap the year by winning #1 DJs was mind-blowing and such a great feeling knowing the fans were supporting us throughout.
2015 began with some downtime in beautiful Mauritius…just how regularly do you guys get to take a holiday…or is your job that much fun you don’t need one?
Dimitri: We do holiday from time to time but it’s mostly all work for us, we love this job and we love making and playing music so we find it hard to separate ourselves from it. Even when we’re on holiday.
What were your 3 biggest records of 2015…
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – ‘Lean On (feat. MØ’)…needs no introduction but what a great record! Unavoidable this year.
Lost Frequencies feat. Janieck Devy – ‘Reality’…really cool track by our Belgian brother and one that the more housier crowds loved!
And from our label Smash The House, Bassjackers – ‘Bring That Beat’…was a big record!
A famous quote from you from this year…“There’s not really a big secret to it, we just work hard and we love what we do… and try to be a bit different than the rest.” So…what is that piece of difference that you do that sets you apart from the rest?
Mike: we’re not afraid to push boundaries, we put more time and effort into ensuring the crowd get the best experience possible, we’re able to bring something different to the game!
Your favourite club of 2015?
Dimitri: Amnesia in Ibiza has been home for us on the island and this summer was particularly insane. Our House of Madness events were a huge success and one of the standout highlights of our year.
You have remixed some of the music industry’s top end royalty…Lady Gaga, Snoop Dog, Jennifer Lopez and Mary J Blige to name but a few. But who have you turned down?
Dimitri: We do get a lot of requests to remix artists from both the dance music world and outside of our scene, but for us to remix any artists it has to feel right. We always want to create something original that gives the song our style and flavor. For that reason we do turn down a lot of requests, but it wouldn’t be right to reveal the artists we’ve turned down. You never know what will happen in the future..
Your latest tune ‘Higher Place’ has to date over 10 million Spotify plays and went #1 in the Billboard Dance Club Chart. From all of your releases in 2015, was this the one you were most proud of?
Mike: For me yes, it’s a huge record and one that has generated such a big response from the fans. Also because it is the first time I’ve sang on a record it holds that little something extra.
Dimitri: It’s definitely one of our biggest records and one that has grown into something so special in our sets. Working with Ne-Yo was a really amazing experience and it’s a truly fantastic feeling having the single chart in the Billboard Dance Chart!
Your House of Madness weekly at Amnesia really kicked off this summer. What are some of your happy memories of the residency?
Mike: The closing party was an insane event! So much love in the room and sharing it with all the fans, all the artists, all the team, was the perfect way to wrap up the season.
Will you be back at the club next year?
Dimitri: We’ll definitely be back in Ibiza 2016!
Back in April you posted a photo of you eating 6 huge pizzas whilst in a swimming pool. What though is the best restaurant you have eaten at in 2015?
Dimitri: Too many to choose but the winner for me would be Mike’s BBQ’s at our villa in Ibiza, they were legendary!
You call Steve Aoki a brother from another mother. But just how close are you three? Would you say…
Take a bullet for him?
Write a hit song for him and give it to him for free for his birthday?
Let him throw a cake in your face on stage at Tomorrowlands?
All of the above…but the cake would be more fun right?
September brought us the announcement of your Bringing The Madness 3/0 shows at Antwerp’s cavernous Sportpaleis – all 40,000 tickets were snapped up within 40 minutes. Did you expect that reaction from your fans?
Dimitri: the build up to this show has been insane. The fans have been going crazy since we announced it and to sell out as fast as we did is amazing. Only the likes of Michael Jackson, Beyonce have achieved that and so to join such legends in music is a very special moment, and we can promise the show will be truly special as well!
Which brings us to that October evening at the Amsterdam Arena when you were crowned the new World’s No.1 DJs at the DJ Mag Top 100. Voted for by millions of fans from more than 170 countries around the world and toppling two-time winner Hardwell in the process. Now be honest with us, when did you discover you had won?
Dimitri: Right down to the wire. That’s the mad thing you’re waiting all this time and then it gets down to that final week and you’re still waiting. We had some pre-event commitments with press so we had time to settle into the news, but then at the show its just crazy. The emotion, the atmosphere, all of it is so crazy.
What was the first thought that came into your heads?
Dimitri: Speechless at the initial news but once it settled in it was a lot of emotions. We’re extremely proud to be flying the flag for the Belgian scene and winning the poll was a huge step for not just us, but all Belgian artists.
What other DJs sent you congratulatory messages?
Mike: We received a lot of love from fans and many DJs, great to have people like Jean Claude van Damme and Charlie sheen backing us, was very touching!
How did you celebrate?
Dimitri: With about 5 different after parties! That first week was crazy!
How much does it mean to you?
Mike: It’s an incredible experience and means the world to both of us!
Do you wanna win it again?
Dimitri: Absolutely! Who wouldn’t?
And finally…what are some of the plans for 2016?
Dimitri: We’re putting all of our energies right now into finishing our album. Expect to hear something very special from us!
Mike: We also have many new exciting shows planned for 2016. Its going to be a wild year on the road as well as in the studio.
Thank you Dan and all the DMCWORLD crew!
http://www.dimitrivegasandlikemike.com/
