Huge productions, Koolwaters hitting it’s 14th birthday and DJ sets at the best clubs in the world
Interview : Dan Prince
Marc welcome to DMCWORLD – where in the world are you today?
“I am in Ibiza right now, chilling by the pool after my show at Space, then heading to Amsterdam for Milkshake Festival tomorrow.”
Well it has to be said dude, this has to be one of the most exciting summer’s you have ever had. DJing all over the world, Koolwaters celebrating it’s 14th birthday in style and exciting production abound. Let’s kick off with the DJing…where have been some of the stand out clubs for you this summer?
“I have had some amazing shows this year, the one’s that really stand out were Okko in Dubai – a very chic and cool crowd, Hotel Shanghai in Essen in Germany which is an iconic underground club that has now been running for 20 years and also Cantera Club in Italy…one of the best vibes I have experienced in any club this year. It’s actually been the smaller shows this year that have really done it for me but we are about to hit festival season so that might change.”
You are over in the US in August spinning in Miami, Cleveland and Richmond. It is incredible how America has exploded in recent years with amazing festivals and clubs in the most unlikely places. How clued up musically do you find the clubbers over there?
“I think the US is pretty clued up actually. They have a massive dance scene now although the headlines are always about the big names and the fees they are commanding these days. I have played some really cool gigs over the last year in the US – all house music gigs, so its not just EDM music kicking off over there. I think that the big room sound which everyone knows as EDM has permeated university culture and it’s the thing to hear if you’re a cool teenager, so its attracted a huge amount of new blood into the scene which is very positive for everyone involved.
Vegas or Ibiza?
“Ibiza is always going to win, is that even a contest? A beautiful island in the middle of the Mediterranean with lovely beaches, an international crowd of music lovers from all over the world and some of the best clubs in the world playing all kinds of music, versus a neon jungle built in the middle of a desert with a crowd that is mainly there to gamble, spend their money in clubs by buying VIP tables, drinking champagne and who don’t generally give a shit about music and are more interested in being seen. Where is the DC10, Sankeys, Space, Zoo Project and Amnesia of Vegas? Is Hakkasan their answer? Do I need to go on Dan?”
We book you for a gig. What is on a Marc Vedo rider these days?
“Nothing special to be honest. My main thing is the hotel, it has to have a gym and spa area. Being on the road can be hard work so having a gym is essential to keep fit and stay healthy so that’s my request.”
It’s only two weeks to go until you make your Camp Bestival debut. A wonderful British extravaganza featuring the likes of De La Soul, Basement Jaxx, James, Sinéad O’Connor and Laura Mvula plus comedy, theatre and quite possibly the biggest assemble of fancy dress party goers. What are you expecting?
“I am told this festival is very family orientated so going to head down with my family for the weekend and the line up is pretty cool!! I can’t wait to see De La Soul, one of my favourite bands of all time.”
One of the most important accessories for anyone going to Camp Bestival is their costume. When was the last time you partied in fancy dress?
“Err, I don’t actually remember ever partying in fancy dress? Wow, that’s pretty poor, I might have to break my virginity at Camp Bestival.”
How does a festival set differ from an intimate club set for you DJ wise?
“It really depends on several things, my set will be dictated by the atmosphere and the time of the day I am playing.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1- Tube & Berger “Come On Now” (Set it off”
2- Daniel Steinberg “Let Me Down” (Tube & Berger remix)
3- Watermat “Bullit” (Original mix)
4- Claude Vonstroke “The Clapping Track” (Doorly Clap & Pop mix)
5- Second City “I Wanna Feel”
6- London Grammar “Hey Now” (Sasha remix)
7- Carl Hanaghan “Strings of Life”
8- Andrea Raffa “Bring it Down (Manuel De La Mare)
9- Nick Fiorucci “Warning”
10- Breach “Everything You Never Had” (Extend mix)
A recent quote from you talking about the DJ Top 100 poll…”No gimmicks, no funny head gear, it’s all about the music for me!” – in your opinion, how accurate is this annual voting competition?
“This poll is more complex than people give it credit. The guys that are getting to top spot truly are the biggest names in the world and tickets sales around the world prove this. I think it’s also a good barometer of what is happening on a global scale. This industry is a global industry so when people in the UK that don’t know much about the global scene, only their local DJs and who’s big in their own country see a guy they have never heard of before from Switzerland in Top 100, they think its fixed. But what they don’t realise is that they are massive artists in their own country and around the world with millions of followers. Just because someone isn’t big in the UK, doesn’t mean they are not big in US or Asia, so I do see value in this poll and at least we have something like this. I think the industry would be worse off without it, but because this one is the biggest it gets more slack than all the others.”
If you had to nominate the top 3 DJs in the world, who would they be?
“My top 3 DJs are probably Sasha, Roger Sanchez and my good friend from Bristol, Eats Everything.”
It was your birthday last week and you celebrated in Ibiza. What went down…?
“I played Space main room which is always great fun and special on your birthday, then went to bed!! Haha, no partying for me, I am here with my family so we spent the next day chilling on the beach and went out for a quiet meal. Sorry, not very rock and roll!!”
A quote from Faithless’s Sister Bliss this week…”I think people will become bored with the stock crude generic sounds of EDM and the artists themselves may be somewhat musically bankrupt (David Guetta even admitted as such in a recent interview) as there is only so much touring you can do before it impacts on studio time and having space to think creatively.” Thoughts on that?
“Yes, I agree. Every single EDM DJ I have heard plays the same music, over and over again, the sound has reached its threshold…just like trance did in the late 90’s and there is nowhere for it to go now. The formula is so over used and dated now I just don’t see where its going to go? I mean, you can add stupid lyrics in like “let me take a selfie” but how musical is that?”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
De la Soul “Ring, Ring, Ring”
…always gets you dancing?
Prodigy “Out of Space”
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
Red Hot Chilli Peppers “Under the Bridge”
…you wish you would have made?
Michael Jackson “Thriller”!!”
Koolwaters is something of a phenomenon in clubbing terms. Your beloved night celebrates it’s 14th Birthday this year and whilst the likes of Slinky, Sundissential and Passion have all fallen by the wayside, your west country night keeps attracting the numbers. What are some of the reasons that your night just keeps on rolling?
“I think the main difference between Koolwaters and those other brands you mentioned above is that none of them moved with the changing times. Music evolves so quickly, over the last 14 years I have seen so many musical shifts and you need to adapt. Koolwaters has always been about good music, from breaks to house, techno and trance. Now we only play house music and have done for many years but I have experimented with all sounds in the past, even Drum & Bass, Hardcore, Hardstyle…”
Your first night with Sonique cost you £3000 to put on, you only had £400 in your bank account. Seriously Marc, did you shit yourself?
“Yes, I was pretty nervous to say the least. It took so much work to pull it off and the waiting on the night for people to arrive is the worst part. It still gets me every time, I hate it, I just want the club to be full so I can relax.”
Who has been your best ever Koolwaters guest DJ?
“That’s a hard one, but for me it has to be the early parties with the sadly missed Tony De Vit and also the Chemical Brothers in Turkey. We were the first promoters to bring them to Turkey so that was a special moment in time.”
What 1 song always reminds you of Koolwaters?
“Stardust – ‘Music Sounds Better With You’.”
You spend a lot of time with one of the most famous faces in the world, Mr Boy George. You DJ together, create music together, travel all around the world in each other’s company and he is even the godfather to your child. Sum up this man in one sentence…
“Well, we do pretty much everything together and have done for many years now so we are best friends first and foremost. But also very business minded and we like to have laugh, with a few arguments thrown in for good measure!”
If you could change one thing about Boy George, what would it be?
“Think first before flying off the handle! Hahaha!”
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.” Discuss…
“DJing is two things; mixing tracks together by beat matching and choosing the right music to play to the crowd. I do think that one of those skills is being taken away, but on the same note we have more equipment – FX units and other interesting software that is pushing DJing art form to another level. Mixing with synch means you don’t have to beat match but you still need to play the right songs in the right order and that’s an art in itself. I know many new big names pre-progamme their sets and that isn’t great. Crowds change from venue to venue and people don’t want to listen to the same shit over and over again so some improvising has to be done.”
Who is the last GREAT young DJ/producer you have spotted around the world?
“Dusky – but they are no longer that small!”
Away from dance music, who are some of the artists you are digging at the moment?
“I love the likes of London Grammar, Jess Glynn and Ed Sheeran amongst so many other artists…”
What is the strangest request you have ever had from a clubber?
“Play some heavy metal, none of this boom, boom shit!” I quickly hit them with a heavy piece of metal I had in the DJ booth! Lol.”
The proudest moment of your career to date?
“This is a tough question, so many great moments in my career that its hard to pin point one! Just being able to travel all over the world every week like I do makes me proud of what I have achieved. Running my own business is a proud achievement, being able to make money from what I do is amazing. I feel very lucky to be doing this and sometimes I pinch myself that someone has paid for me to travel all over the world to stay in a beautiful place I have never seen before and play music to thousands of people!!”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Since 2012 I have had a pretty hectic studio schedule, expect a new track every month until the end of this year. My next release is a 2 track EP on Sphera Records, coming out 4th August. I collaborated with legend Roland Clark and with Mila Falls for two very different tracks, one is more house and the other one deep house.”
Marc Vedo will be appearing at Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline July 31st – August 3rd alongside a host of fabulous artists including De La Soul, Basement Jaxx, James, Johnny Marr, Laura Mvula, DJ Yoda and your host Rob Da Bank. Fun for all the family!! All info at http://www.campbestival.net/
For all information on Marc Vedo check…
