Around the world in 365 plays with US DJ Of The Year!
Markus welcome back to DMCWORLD and congratulations on an extraordinary twelve months for you – rounded off by recently scooping the America’s Best DJ for 2012 Award by DJ Times and Pioneer DJ. This month also sees the release of your stunning Markus Schulz World Tour – Best Of 2012 double album, your compilations in years gone by represent what you are trying to do right now and often fuel your DJ sets for your DJ sets for the next few months as they feature new tracks that you’ll soon be spinning out. So what is the idea of this exciting release?
“Well Dan this is something different, in as much as it’s more retrospective. The album has a unique angle that makes it even harder than a regular compile-and-mix release. ‘World Tour – Best of 2012’ is me working together tracks that have been recorded live as different gigs around the world over the course of the year. So in terms of listening experience, it’s not like anything else out there. Say on one track you’re hearing the sounds and shouts of clubbers at Mandarine in Buenos Aires, the next crowd-feedback from Privilege, Ibiza, the next whooping and cheering from the Metro in Sydney. So it all evolves into this intense, kinda atmospherically kaleidoscopic mix! It does make it something of a challenge to put together. Not only do you have to pick the best tracks of the year, you also have to mix the live recordings of them and get that crucial representative ‘all-around-the-world’ club-by-club feel.”
And what a journey you have brought us along on the album. You begin in Los Angeles, a city you represented with your Los Angeles ’12 comp earlier this year – a city you called the “epicentre of the whole dance music explosion here in the United States”. A very bold statement with cities such as New York, Vegas and Miami vying for top claiming stakes…?
“What I have been saying was LA was one of the epicenters of the whole dance music explosion here in the United States. Having covered Las Vegas’ explosion with my City mix-comp in 2010 and Miami on the 2005 one, 2012 certainly felt like the right time to do Los Angeles. New York though, completely – its time must be near!”
Looking back at the past twelve months, EDM has certainly taken over both America’s dance floors and airwaves. Now that the disco dust has styled somewhat, how should everyone be feeling at how the United States has began their dance music journey?
“It’s a funny one isn’t it? Technically the US began its journey before anyone else. Musically though the country as a whole had its mind on other things. So I like to think of it in terms of ‘it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get there, as long as you get there in the end’. From a personal standpoint it’s greatly increased the audience for what I do in the studio and in clubs, which I can only be grateful for.”
The album continues and heads off to the dancefloor at the world’s largest club Privilege in Ibiza. The island is certainly a lot different from the days when you were a resident at Amnesia, the millions are now pouring in bringing us new clubs, bars, hotels, spas and restaurants that can rival anywhere in the world. Are we in danger of ruining such a beautiful hippy island with corporate businesses or will this Balearic gem always retain its unique charm?
“Well it wasn’t so long ago that I was at Amnesia, so I don’t feel it’s changed a huge degree since then. Since the Millennium though, it’s undergone a considerable transformation. To my eyes that change seems very centralized in its urban areas. Step outside them and you can still find plenty of sanctuary spots, up in the foothills, at the agroturismos, etc. The island’s original hippy charm is still alive and well.”
What are your plans for Ibiza 2013?
“That all kind of gets sorted in the first three months of each new year. As such it’s a little early to say at this point. Privilege was really good in 2012 though – better even than I imagined it. Great nights at ASOT, and plenty of them! You can’t ask for more than that!”
Does it make you mad when people talk about DJs simply being jukeboxes when they spin in America?
“No one’s ever accused me of playing like a jukebox, so no, it doesn’t make me mad at all!”
The cheers from the world famous Ministry Of Sound in London rolls in with Yura Moonlight’s ‘Harrier’ – a venue that is really back at the top of the tree at the moment. Every DJ loves getting in that booth! Why do you think the UK has such a poor club scene at the moment, you can count the great clubs on one hand right now…?
“I’ve been going to the Ministry as a clubber and a DJ for 12 years and their bar hasn’t dropped an inch in that time. The Gallery especially draws a great crowd every time I play down there. The same can be said for Gods in Birmingham and Digital Society in Leeds. I do see where you’re coming from. It’s not 2000, with a club on every street corner anymore. To my eyes though there’s a place I play in the UK, within striking distance of every major metropolitan area, the length of the country. That’s good enough for me!”
The 20-track mix concludes with your ‘Love Rain Down’ track live from The Arma Music Hall in Moscow – a country now producing some brilliant producers, coined the Russian House Mafia by the press! Who though have been the young producers from around the globe that have got you excited this year?
“Well from the Russian quarter specifically, Omnia. His track ‘The Fusion’, which came out on my Coldharbour label was one of the biggest breakout trance tracks of the year. This year I’ve signed a first group of artists to my Schulz Music Group development project. So in terms of people I’m particularly excited about, its guys like KhoMha, Mr. Pit and Grube & Hovsepian and singers like Adina Butar, who have produced some wonderful music this year. Proper set fuel!”
Europe is on fire at the moment club wise, January 19th sees you headlining Transmission in Prague – the biggest indoor Trance event in Central and European Europe. That looks a stunning gig to bring in the new year at… Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, what cities do you always get excited at seeing in your DJ diary coming up?
“Well Prague for definite. That was the setting for my 2011 City album. I’ve had a very long association with Transmission shows over the years, doing the event anthem for each one, etc. The productions are truly impressive affairs. If you’ve never been, I couldn’t urge you more strongly to check one out!”
Disc 2 sees Markus Schulz in an 80 minute live peak time whirlwind live from Ruby Skye in San Fran – what are the big tunes on this mix we should be looking out for in future weeks…?
“The mix starts with a new Dakota track that I’ve been using as a secret ID weapon over the last couple of months. It’s now titled ‘Doors Open’ and is one of those classic kind of mix ‘overture’ tracks. Then there’s Fisherman and Hawkins’ ‘Apache’ which I’m certain is gonna blow up huge when its released. It’s got a lead line on it that just sticks in your head for hours! Also there’s the Basil O’Glue & Styller Remix of Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic vs. Broning’s ‘Relict’. Bit of a mouthful but OMG what a tune. Basil O’Glue & Styller doing what they do, but with extra ‘lift’! So those are just some of them.”
You have an apartment in Berlin and a house in Miami to help with your constant traveling around the world. All your fans see is the ‘superstar’ DJ up on stage, checking into five star hotels in glamorous destinations and stepping out of private jets en route to another club. Being a DJ in 2012 however has to be one of the most tiring careers there is – no sleep, endless airports, never in your own bed, studio work through the night on your days off. Discuss…
“Every year you use a combination of psych, adrenaline, passion and excitement to power you through. The downside of is you’re rarely in one place for more than a handful of hours. Or that’s how it feels at any rate. Truth be told as long as the transportation is running right, I’m all good!”
What is the current 10 you are spinning…?
01. Markus Schulz featuring Ana Diaz – Nothing Without Me (Markus Schulz Return to Coldharbour Remix)
02. Fisherman & Hawkins – Apache
03. Ferry Costen & Markus Schulz – Stella
04. Khomha – Dusk Riddles
05. Matthew Peterson – Stingray (Styller Remix)
06. Wellenrausch – Echoes in the Night (Gai Barone Demode Remix)
07. Skytech – No Need for Words
08. Planet Perfecto – Bullet in the Gun (Gary Maguire Remix)
09. M.I.K.E. – We Are
10. Guy J – Vaga
And what are your big three tunes from 2012…
Beat Service – Fortuna
Omnia & Ira – The Fusion
Khomha – The Dark Knight
What is coming next from the Markus Schulz studio vaults?
“The current single is ‘Nothing Without Me’ with Ana Diaz (which has been dubbed the Stalker Anthem in some quarters!). Lyrics aside, check out the video on YouTube and you’ll see why. Next up after that, we’ll we haven’t made up our minds quite yet. Based on feedback from the fans, there are several tracks vying!”
And finally, have you a message for the thousands of Markus Schulz fans reading this as we head off to another exciting new year…
“Guys, have fantastic festive period and I look forward to seeing you all out there, somewhere over the course of 2013!”
Markus Schulz Official Quote after winning America’s Best DJ…
“I’ve just found out the amazing news that I’ve been voted America’s Best DJ – it’s a huge honor and I want to thank everyone for their support. It is has been an extraordinary time for dance music in the United States over the last couple of years. I’d also like to thank the promoters and all the industry people that have worked so hard throughout the years to help DJ culture come of age. Our scene has been built from a foundation of respect and admiration for the music. When I’m on stage doing what I love every week, winning awards is the last thing on my mind. So to win this really means an incredible amount to me, and I am humbled by everyone out there who believes in what I do. I’d like to thank DJ Times, its readership and my hugely loyal fans for their incredible degree of support in this. I’m very proud to represent the booming scene in the US.”
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