Getting set for the unmissable Cream Birthday this weekend in Liverpool
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Oliver, welcome back to DMCWORLD dude. Where are you at today?
“I’m in the studio with Chocolate Puma today! Working on our track.”
What can you tell us about it?
“All I can say is we are finishing up here, I am really happy with the stuff we have created…watch this space!”
Well what a friggin’ year you have had dude. All the festivals, all the clubs…some massive summer productions, how do you feel about 2014?
“I feel really good about 2014. I’ve made a breakthrough in the scene and I can’t wait to show what else I have in store for the future.”
Okay let’s get to the bottom of the whole Skrillex studio day with yourself and Diplo. Dude. You REALLY didn’t recognize Katy Perry hanging round all day. You crazy??
“Haha true. She looked different! But it’s still crazy that I didn’t make the connection between this girl Katy and Katy Perry. I felt stupid when I realized it was her, but also happy, because she told me she loved Gecko.”
Huge new track coming out with Sander van Doorn called ‘THIS’, please talk us through the history and sound of the tune…
“It’s the best of both worlds. Bringing the old techno/techy sound from Sander (which I’m a big fan of) together with my view on techy stuff and with my new “future house” sounds. It was nice to work with Sander!”
One of the most important dates on the clubbing calendar takes place in a couple of weeks, namely the mighty Cream Birthday where you will be joining Chuckie, Danny Howard, Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold, Third Party and Simon Patterson. You must have grown up being aware of the legend; it must be incredible to be finally playing for them AND at their birthday?
“Yes, that’s awesome! Creamfields was also f*cking amazing, I really love the UK crowds, so I’m looking forward to this.”
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend, please give us a few words on each track…
“Besides my own tracks:
Chocolate Puma & Firebeatz – I Can’t Understand, really love the vibes in this track. Chocolate Puma are awesome and especially in combination with Firebeatz. I still play their collab “Go Bang”
Bougenvilla – Homeless (ft. Jared Hiwat), I love how they reworked this awesome classic
My edit of Zeds Dead – Bustamove with The Prodigy – Outta Space. It has these nice UK vibes and sick breakbeats in the drop. I always play this when I play in the UK, it goes OFF!
My edit of Jauz – Feel the volume with Avicii – My Feeling For You. This Jauz drop is so freaking dirty, but also fresh. Some sick UK bassy sounds. I can’t stop moving when I play this!
My edit of The Voyagers – Crossover with Alex Ross’ Bootleg of Not The Only One. The first drop is a really good “crossover” between UK Bass and “Future House”. And I really love the 2nd drop variation, if I play this track I HAVE to let the track play till the 2nd drop.
Festival moment of 2014 and why?
“Hmm I think when I played Gecko at Creamfields. But also for me the moment I closed my set with Koala was more epic, because I didn’t expect the people would scream along with the Koala melody (although they screamed the Gecko melody louder).”
And what can youtell us about the Netsky sessions?
“With Netsky I was working on something for his album, a vocal track, bit melodic. Not finished yet, but if that’s finished we might even make another (single) track.”
Loved the little Facebook tėte aà tėte Facebook session you had with one of your fans recently, he called you “a douche bag for making deep house mainstream”. You laughed it off cool enough though…?
“Yeah, such comments are ridiculously stupid and funny. I mean, I just make the music I love the most and many people love that music, so as result more people are getting into deep house, because of my music. But why would I be a douche bag for making the music I love?”
What is your approach when remixing someone else’s music, some producers strip EVERYTHING back and just start with the vocal, some just like their signature sound in there…
“That really depends on the track. I just did a remix for Tiesto’s track Light Years Away and I only took the vocals.”
Who is the best up and coming producer you have seen this year?
“I will just name a few: Mr Belt & Wezol, The Voyagers, Pep & Rash, Bougenvilla, Tchami, Chris Lorenzo, Mike Mago…”
Highlight of Ibiza 2014?
“Playing a 2 hour set before Axwell & Ingrosso at Ushuaia. I love to play 2 hour sets and this set was during sunset and playing at a packed crowd in Ushuaia is just sick!”
We were at a show recently and we counted you playing 14 of your own productions. That dude is amazing. You must be really happy with your shows at the moment?
“Haha well, a lot of them are unreleased tracks, so you must have had a good ear to know they are all me. But yes that’s true, I play a lot of my (new) tracks, sometimes 14 yes!”
Loved the video of your dad dancing to your music, does he come to your gigs?
“I love that video too haha. Yes he’s coming sometimes, he will be at the Cream Birthday!”
And finally, what is the last piece of music you have heard today?
“My track with Chocolate Puma (which isn’t finished yet!!).”
Oliver Heldens will be performing at Cream Birthday @ Nation Liverpool this Saturday 11th October. You can buy last minute tickets here www.cream.co.uk/go/birthday
