The German don keeps on giving us Big Fun out on the dancefloor
Interview by Charlotte Macartney
For D.O.N.S. it’s only ever been about the music. Having watched the dance music scene transform over the past few years, the DJ/producer is pushing his old-school style and sound more than ever. Following the release of his new track ‘Big Fun’ we caught up with him to talk about the future of the scene and how he got a whole festival crowd on the floor…
Hi D.O.N.S. welcome to DMCWorld! Where in the world are you right now and what’s the first thing you can see when you look out the window?
“Hey guys, happy to join your world! I’m currently in my hometown, London looking at The Shard and the London Eye from my apartment.“
You headed to the Amsterdam Dance Event last week, one of the most anticipated weeks of the year for most people in the dance music industry – what do you most looking forward to while you’re over there?
“Being an ADE old-timer it’s mainly the same as every year. Meeting friends, networking, hearing the latest gossip, promoting my two current releases, presenting our labels and artists and of course playing my gigs. I just love ADE and Amsterdam, every year me and loads of my mates join John Digweed at Melkway.”
If you were going to be on a panel at the conference and could choose any subject within EDM to discuss, what would you choose and why is it important to you?
“It would definitely be about how DJing has changed over the past few years and how the industry took over and commercialised the whole scene. What is the difference between a DJ 10-20 years ago and “DJs” that got voted in the Top 100 DJ Mag without really playing a single gig before. Is it a good or a bad thing? Or is it just a sign of the times and we all need to go with it? Of course it would include the question: “is a DJ a DJ if his sets are pre-recorded to match the visuals on a festival stage?” And “what talents must a DJ of today have to become famous and successful?”
Where can you picture the world of dance music in 10-15 years?
“The scene is becoming a mirror of today’s society, especially the EDM/big room circus. Our society is becoming more technical and superficial and people care less about quality and authenticity, and so the EDM dance music industry will also change and lose its original quality and authenticity and will become ever more technically driven than it is now. Faking it has become so common in our society so it’s no surprise that it finally arrived in today’s dance music industry; Facebook likes, Soundcloud plays, Beatport, YouTube, Twitter etc. I think this change will effect all dance music genres until at some point the underground will rise again and people realise it’s all about the music and the feeling.”
What’s the difference between the scene in Amsterdam/Europe, compared with Miami, for example?
“I lived in Miami for about a year. It’s a great life but it’s where the commercialisation of dance music /EDM started. The majority of Miami clubs are a spectacle where it’s all about being seen and where people go to show off. The club owners tend to book the most expensive DJs, start creating the hype, increase the prices and then get people in with no real knowledge of dance music. Luckily some Miami clubs have recently put a stop to the insane prices. I went to parties where Top DJs were playing and the dance floor was empty but the bottles were flying around with sparkling lights like being at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge for NYE. It wasn’t the DJ’s fault, it was the uneducated crowd and the difference in interest of the “clubbers” that created this surreal situation. In Amsterdam and Europe there is still a big crowd of music loving clubbers that have an education and know their DJs. Amsterdam is definitely one of the leading cities in Europe, along with Berlin and London. The clubs are not as shiny as they are in Las Vegas or Miami but have a better vibe and atmosphere if you love the music being played.”
It’s a big week for you as you’re releasing the 2014 version of ‘Big Fun’ featuring Terri B!. Other than the fact it’s a tune, why have you decided to release it again?
“‘Big Fun’ was voted as one of the 25 best cover versions of all time by DJ Mag in 2005 amongst artists like Madonna which made me really proud, especially as it’s one of my all time favourite tracks that got me hooked on house music. It was actually Terri who called me asking to do it again and I answered yes in a split second.”
You’ve been in the game a long time now, how has the whole scene changed in the time you’ve been doing your thing?
“Back in the day, the DJ played for pretty much the whole night and didn’t just stick to one sound. Later on the sound became more specialised with the House/Techno/Trance/Hardstyle-Gabba movements and their Warehouse parties and raves. The good DJs were able to read a crowd, pick up the vibe and respond to mood changes. Nowadays it’s 1-2 hour sets, mostly organised in one folder or even pre-recorded. If a pre-recorded set fails there’s no way back. Checking music was also an event back then. Finding time at least once a week to check out your local record dealer or even fly to London, NYC or Berlin to get the hottest vinyls or dub plates was a ceremony. The record dealer always had some goodies for you that nobody else had, or he made you believe that you were special enough to get the last copy. Now music is constantly available and you can’t really show off with the hottest tunes. There are now sensational festivals where DJs are presented like popstars on the same level as Madonna, which I think is fair enough. The top players are now a product/brand on a level nobody would have expected it 10 years ago.”
In that time you’ve played a LOT of countries but have a massive fan base in France, why do you think you’re so popular with the French?
“In 2008, I was voted the second best international DJ and producer in a poll by the number 1 DJ magazine in France. I think Laidback Luke was number 1 but Tiesto, AvB and many more were behind me! It was a massive surprise, I had no clue! I also speak pretty good French as I spent most of my childhood in France so it makes it easy for me to communicate with French Media, promoters, clubs and fans.”
You’ve played some huge festivals this year, including Electro Addict in France, what’s the best festival you’ve ever played and why?
“The EMF Festival in Port Bacares this summer was one of my best. I headlined the beach stage and the atmosphere was just amazing. At some point I managed to make thousands of festival goers sit down with me and then jump up and go crazy again. Just insane. Another one was a festival in Spain I headlined after I did ‘Nighttrain’. There was 300,000 people in front of me. When I got on stage I almost had a heart attack as I’ve never seen so many people in front of one stage and didn’t expect it but it was an amazing experience.”
And finally – you get to listen to a fair few new tracks, which DJ / producer, in your opinion, should we be keeping an eye on?
“Definitely my artist, Hansol and The Warp Brothers (yes they’re back again!).”
‘Big Fun’ featuring Terri B! is out now on Carrillo Music!
http://www.beatport.com/release/big-fun/1379551
D.O.N.S. socials…
https://www.facebook.com/donsdj
