More High Volume from the MB Electronics superstar. Belgium in the technodrome…
Words : Dan Prince
Welcome back to DMCWORLD Marco. Your brand new album ‘High Volume’ was released last week to huge acclaim through your MB Electronics label – your 100th release in fact. We love the way the album feels like a DJ set, building to a crescendo and then ending with some emotional piano. What are your personal favourites from the long player?
“My personal favourites are actually “Grolzham” (the down-tempo electronica tune) and “She Leaves” which has just beautiful “simple” piano and no beats, also “The Falcon” of the techno tracks.”
The album took you around six months to create, how much of it did you make whilst on tour?
“Actually all of the techno tracks I prepared on planes on Ableton, but only rough arrangements on my laptop of course. Afterwards, once back at home at my studio, I produced them with my speakers and added, of course, some things.”
I understand they are two completely different pieces of work – but what do you think are the main differences between ‘High Volume’ and your hugely acclaimed ‘Dragon Man’ from two years ago?
“The main differences are that we are dealing with two different labels for these two albums. “High Volume” is on my label – MB Elektronics – that is mainly known all over the world for the past 12 years for energetic Techno. “Dragon Man” was on John Digweed’s amazing Bedrock label which is a bit different as it is a very wide coloured label with techno, tech-house, sometimes also John releases nice down-tempo on Bedrock and progressive. Actually, only on albums do I do different music like down-tempo etc, mostly on EPs MB Elektronics stands for Energetic Techno. Also, because it was the 100th release I wanted to do this time the album on my label.”
2013 should be an excellent year for your label with artists such as Mr Bizz, Johnny Kaos, Redhead and Filterheadz to name but a few all making good stuff. What are the next releases from MB Electronics?
“Like you mentioned, these are the next ones: first my new album “High Volume” which is also the 100th release celebration on my label, then a new EP from Dany Rodriguez with a Sasha Carassi remix, then a new EP from Johnny Kaos & Matthew Jay – two great talents from Italy and already played by Dubfire etc, then a new Tom Hades EP, then a new one again from this time myself and Filterheadz, then Jon Rundell, Simone Tavazzi & more!”
What are the main factors that make MB Electronics such a good label?
“No idea! Being focused every day and trying to play out first the tracks and testing them on the floor before releasing, maybe?”
Your home country has had a thriving club scene for many years. My last few visits to Belgium however have been a bit strange with the promoters booking different genres of DJs all together such as a Techno DJ with a Dubstep DJ – all on the same night! Why is that?
“Hmmm I’m not sure about that. Maybe on different floors, or events like I Love Techno which has become not only “I love TECHNO” anymore, unfortunately. I think the big promoters also have a big influence on the education of the crowd, they can push certain artists so much and put him or her so much in the spotlight until the crowd have to swallow it and take it or leave it, after some time the crowd will often even love the act if it is now called techno or whatever, which is a bit sad”
How proud of you are of Tomorrowland – the best festival in the world?
“Very proud! These people have built up something amazing in the last 13 years. I remember I played also on one of the first festivals by them in 1999 which was called Antwerp Is Burning. It is perfectly organized and has a great location and almost every important act or DJ on the planet is playing there and it’s in our small little Belgium with more than 100,000 people attending over 3 days, so I only can be proud of that!”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
01. Julian Jeweil : Mad : Form Music
02. Marco Bailey & Filterheadz : Fifth Avenue : Bedrock – release next week !!
03. Marco Bailey : The Falcon : MB Elektronics
04. Dany Rodriguez : Gate 2 : MB Elektronics
05. Johnny Kaos & Mattew Jay : Suck My Blood : MB Elektronics
06. Luigi Madonna : New World : Analytic Trail Rec.
07. Gregor Tresher : Relevance : Drumcode
08. Mr Bizz : Suspence: SCI +TEC
09. Marco Bailey & Filterheadz : Invention : INTEC – out next month !
10. DJ Boris : Promo : Octopus Recordings
You’ll be playing at Ultra once again in Miami, have you anything new prepared to surprise us with on the day?
“I never prepare sets, I do it all in the moment. I will close the Bedrock Stage and yes I probably will be the “hardest” that day in that arena…lol. My set will include lots of new stuff on Bedrock but also my own MB Elektronics tunes, I just hope the people are in the right party mood for good music and not Top 30 hits, which you can hear on every corner of the street which some arenas play these days. Come and check out the Bedrock floor, there are always surprises and brilliant artists like Pig & Dan, Christian Smith and, of course, the big man himself – John Digweed”
As a label boss, Miami is obvious a very important event of the calendar. Years ago deals were actually done at WMC, today though I take it you just look forward to the Conference as a chance to catch up with old faces and break some new tunes and let loose?
“It’s actually a complete big party week. Every day it’s parties, parties, one after the other, seeing lots of artists and friends, but deals making? Hmm, not really. For this you don’t really need to go anymore to conferences, this goes faster by email or Skype nowadays. But it’s Hot, and there are Hot girls, the beach, the good music, what you want more?! It’s like IBIZA but then only in 2 weeks.”
A great quote from you in an interview last year when talking about why it has been so difficult for techno to break through in America…
”The US has been brainwashed by these unreal and unrealistic shitty DJ pools like DJ Mag etc. which are based on lies and pure nonsense. Some promoters especially in the US believe in that which I think is sad, they don’t check Beatport to see what guys are making good music – they just follow these crap magazines and that’s sad.”
So what has made the difference these days that has allowed cool techno artists and their music to finally make a mark?
“I’m happy that the big promoters from big festivals are bringing more and more Techno artists on board in the US. EDC, Ultra etc. are having now people on board playing good cool music like Techno, House, Deep House, and it’s not only trance or trash electro anymore luckily! Actually, every gig I played this year and last year in the US I really enjoyed and liked! As I say it again, I really think big promoters doing the big events have a really big impact on the education of their crowd. It’s not only in Belgium or Europe like that, it’s in America the same, they are the ones that can make an artist stand in the spotlight and make him or her shine if the artist is good at what they are doing.”
You are without doubt one of the hardest working people involved in dance music. How does it make you feel when you see DJs buying ready made albums made for them by secret producers like the guy in Germany or the the Spaniards who have been buying interview pages in magazines to get their faces well known? Where is it going to end? And whilst we are on the subject of getting things off your chest, what are your thoughts on the legion of superstar EDM artists who use fancy dress outfits or props like cakes and stuff as part of their act?
“Every day there are 100 new “DJs” born, more and more and more, also more girls, who are mostly there to be in a spotlight without making their own music sometimes or without even being able to mix right because they let their tracks SYNC in Traktor by someone else. Some label owners and promoters are even so stupid they don’t understand that and support these people full-on and after 2 years make them a star – so even people with not even one quality can make it these days, its a very sad situation. The same as these ridiculous DJ polls – Top 100’s – like DJ Mag etc. 50% of the “chosen” top 100 DJs can hardly even correctly mix two records they never touched before, but they are chosen because some promoters and management people have pushed them so hard that they have become very popular for the outside world and money of course. Quality is being hidden very carefully and unfortunately is not important anymore. It’s very, very, sad. Ibiza is also a big thing in this. If you are having a night over there that works and have a lot of money behind you, you get to be a popular DJ, whether you are a great DJ or not, mostly they are lucky. All the “Techno” DJs I know that have a party there are AMAZING DJs and artists, but trust me, there are some not so as well.”
I hear on the grapevine you are planning to move to Ibiza in perhaps five years. What is it about the island you love?
“I’m not sure yet, I would love to live there for the nature and for the spirit it has had all over the years. But not anymore for the parties because it has lost a bit of the spirituality for me. If you see what money is needed and the fights between the clubs to have it full every day etc. etc. it is not good. Luckily, there is still the magic Cocoon afterhours party on the beach, this is still a magic party for me without all that crap what is going on during the night regarding “money”! Of course, Carl Cox’s night at Space I will ALWAYS support 1000%, not only because the big man has always supported me, but also because he is there for more than 12 years and never had one bad night and stayed always at the same trusted place without changes and has the best results!”
Great answer. What has been the best gig you’ve had over the winter?
“In the winter there were a lot good ones: Chateau Techno Festival (Amsterdam) in Holland was amazing, Smart Bar in Chicago, Pacha in Buenos Aires and of course The Egg in London a couple weeks ago! Really there were quite a few which were absolutely amazing last winter!”
Best record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Oh my god! I can’t choose!!!!!! Well…I have been a DJ for 22 years, so let’s start at the beginning:
1. U2 : Where The Streets Have No Name
2. Guy Gerber : Stoppage Time : Bedrock
3. Hugg and Pepp : Snabbeln
4. Twin Hype : Do It To The Crowd
5. LL Cool J : Mama Said Knock You Out
…and Dan I can still write down 100 more amazing records of course!”
And finally, Motorsport plays a huge part in your life. Have you ever taken out any of Carl Cox’s bikes from his collection out for a ride in Australia?
“No dammit not yet! I have already told Carl that I want to drive with him together – finally! But he is mostly doing this when he is down under in Oz which is a bit far for me to join him sometimes, unless I finally will play there again maybe? The difference is actually Carl is more into race bikes like Valentino Rossi etc. and I am more into the motor-cross which is mostly out there communing with nature and with lots of jumps. To this day that is really my first love, but for doing a professional sport and to have success in that you need to be in perfect physical condition and after being so long now in the nightlife business, that’s become impossible for me…but it is still a wonderful hobby.”
Marco Bailey – High Volume LP – MB Elektronics – out now…
http://www.beatport.com/release/high-volume/1030806
“HIGH VOLUME” ALBUM TRAILER ON YOUTUBE: http://youtu.be/0nrvVXmgXpk
VIDEO: Marco Bailey “The Falcon” http://youtu.be/Hx_DAXNUBcY
VIDEO: Marco Bailey “The Fox” http://youtu.be/5awPvaaOVcU
www.facebook.com/officialmarcobailey
www.discogs.com/artist/Marco+Bailey
www.soundcloud.com/marco-bailey
