The new Wizard on the block – superstar alert
Interview : Dan Prince
Jay welcome to DMCWORLD – where in the world are you right now?
“Thanks! I’m in Amsterdam right now, about to travel to Malta to play at a festival there.”
Well young man, what a few weeks you are having with your collaboration with Martin Garrix ‘Wizard’. It is FLYING! Tell us the history of the tune and how you two know each other…
“Martin and I have known each other for about three years now and we’re always playing each other our new music and projects we are working on. So when we are in the studio we have a lot of fun and sometimes we create new music. ‘Wizard’ is really a bunch of projects and ideas from both of us, merged together in one track. Just like we did for our collab ‘Error 404’.”
The world was set alight by ‘Wizard’ a few weeks ago by Hardwell On Air and then last week when Pete Tong played the record for the first time on BBC Radio1 – where were you when they both blasted the tune out?
“When Hardwell played it in Hardwell On Air I was at my parents house with the radio on full volume haha! They couldn’t be more proud. When Pete Tong played it I was in Prague for a show, so I missed that.”
Did yourself and Martin both know you had created something very special when you had completed the tune?
“Well we both knew we liked the track, but we couldn’t imagine it becoming so big and talked about so much. It’s really awesome to hear from so many people that they love the track.”
Who got to road test it first – or was it a joint gig?
“Martin had the honor of playing it for the first time in front of a crowd. Based on the response of the crowd we also tweaked the track here and there to try to make it as good as possible.”
Have you any future plans to record together?
“We don’t have any real plans, but we also didn’t have actual plans to make ‘Wizard’ haha. So, maybe, maybe not…!”
ADE must seem like a million miles away now, but what an experience for you! The Tiesto gig was pretty mental huh?
“Wow it was incredible to see Tiësto and Martin on stage together playing our track! Goosebumps all over! It’s really cool that legends like Tiësto and Hardwell love and play the track.”
What else did you enjoy about ADE, this was by far the best yet…?
“Hardwell played the track at AMF when he was just announced as the No. 1 DJ. That was really sick! And I love ADE in general. The parties and meeting new people is always great in that week.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
It’s actually pretty hard for me to give a top 10 of what I’m spinning. I always have my own mashups and edits for my sets. I try to make different mashups everytime. So this top 10 is more of an indication what tracks I think always work live, if played at the right moment…
1. R3hab, NERVO, Ummet Ozcan – Revolution
2. Martin Garrix – Animals
3. Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike & Wolfpack – Ocarina
4. Deorro – Dechorro
5. Deorro – Yee
6. Hardwell & MAKJ – Countdown
7. Sebastien Ingrosso & Tommy Trash – Reload
8. Steve Aoki, Tujamo & Chris Lake – Boneless
9. DVBBS & Borgeous – Tsunami
10. MAKJ – Springen
Who is the best new producer you have heard in 2013?
“That’s a tuff one, because there is a lot of new talent. I think Thomas Newson and Oliver Heldens are both gonna be big. Really love their music.”
You signed to the mighty Spinnin’ Records and MusicAllStars Management team last month. Why was this pen to paper move so important for you?
“Yes, I’m really happy to be part of the Spinnin’ and MusicAllstars team! They are the biggest label of this moment. But next to that the team is really great and personal. They are down to earth and know how to help with the development of my music and me as an artist.”
Where have some of the stand out DJ gigs been for you this summer – you have been at some sick festivals!?
“Yes I played at Mysteryland this year, one of the biggest Dutch festivals and it was really great! The atmosphere and the people are awesome!”
Apart from ‘Wizard’ – biggest tune of 2013?
“Martin Garrix – ‘Animals’. This track really exploded and opened new doors for instrumental house music. Next to that, the track is awesome to play out live, because everyone loses their minds haha.”
Tell us about the world record you broke for longest club DJ session back in the summer?
“That was fun, it was a world record attempt with a lot of DJs. So meeting some friends and new DJs there was really fun. And we broke the record, so I’m part of a world record now, which is great.”
Okay some quick fires…what is the record…
You wish you would have made?
“Tiësto & Allure – ‘Pair of Dice’.”
You are the most proud of creating?
“‘Wizard’.”
You are ashamed to love as it is so cheesy?
“The Outhere Brothers – ‘Boom Boom Boom’.”
You can’t get out of your head right now?
“Deorro – ‘Dechorro’.”
How old were you when you discovered dance music and who were the artists/producers you first respected?
“I always had music in me, I had a small keyboard and could play songs by ear. I also listen to every kind of music, I don’t really care what kind as long as it has beautiful musical elements in it. When I was 15 I discovered FL studio and it was a revelation. I finally could create the songs that were in my head. Tiësto has always been an example for me because he was (and still is) the biggest DJ in my opinion. Next to that are Afrojack, Laidback Luke and Vato Gonzalez. From them I learned to think outside the box and create music the way I want to create music.”
Can you remember the first club you ever played at and how much you were paid?
“It was a small club in the town I’m from, Drunen. The club is called Utopia and my friends where hosting a party there. I was paid around 100 euro’s I think, which was pretty much for me back then haha.”
Who would your dream collaboration be?
“Hardwell or Calvin Harris.”
And finally – what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“I’m working on a lot of tracks right now. Got a couple solo tracks ready, and I’m hoping to collaborate with a lot of big producers in the coming years.”
