From Sweden with love. DMC gives respect to a producer repaying his fans
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey Mikael, welcome to DMCWORLD once again. Where in the world are you right now?
“Hey, thanks for having me again guys, always a pleasure! I actually just got back to Sweden to finish up the last pieces of musicweapons before the summer madness starts.”
What was the last piece of music you have heard today?
“I just finished listening to the just released Disclosure album ‘Settle’ for the third time. Yes, I’m obsessed.”
Well, a massive new single causing mayhem around the world right now, talk us through your new ‘Panorama’ track…
“Ah yes, the new single has finally landed. As you hopefully have read in the description on Soundcloud, this is a track that’s been sought after by my fans since the first time i played it on Tiesto’s radio show and it was therefore the right track to give back to the fans as a token of appreciation for all the support I´ve been getting. If you haven’t read the “story” behind it, it’s all in here :
http://soundcloud.com/mikaelweermets/panorama
Where was the first club you roadtested it – and did you know right there, right then you had created a monster?
“I played it at festival in Czech Republic actually for the first time, almost a year ago now. The crowd’s reaction was far beyond my expectations
and that’s when I had my first clue about what it was that I actually created. Every time I played it to friends and people in the business, they all just sort
of lost it, so from the first second the feeling was good.”
One of the things we love about your attitude is your ‘fuck genres’ stance on things and also your answer to journalists when they ask you what you think is your greatest accomplishment to date. You always say you expect nothing, you are just happy being busy. That my man are two quite refreshing attitudes in this billion dollar business. How do you keep your feet on the ground?
“I think everyone just needs to remember that this is (even though its a billion dollar business) music we are working with here. Music for me is happiness and I just don’t see any point in trying to act superstar-ish or try to prove to anyone what I can do, or what I have done. I basically just make and play music I like and respect – and if you are willing to follow me on down that road, I’m thankful for that. The day I stop having fun in the studio and in the booth is the day I´ll go back to pushing mops and brushes (see below).”
There is an incredible story behind one of the most exciting new stars on the planet, for years you pushed mops and brushes as a janitor doing a 9-5 job. Did you ever give up hope that maybe your musical dream was never going to happen?
“Yeah well, I guess it’s time to admit that I never even finished high school. I just wasn’t school-material, and I had to make a living somehow and that was pretty much what I qualified for. By then I didn’t even dream about it to be honest, and to be even more honest – I kinda stopped expecting things a year or so ago. I just see everything going on as a big bonus.”
Who were the DJs and producers back then you were looking up to?
“As always, dear papa Tiësto has always been the one to look up to for me. Influences changes over the years of course, so if I would start lining ‘em up I´d need my own issue and as much as you guys love me (shameless self promotion) I’m not sure your readers would appreciate that, haha!”
What was your first real break into the music industry?
“My first record signing at Sunhouse Records back in 2000-something. It was a real shit record on a small label but it helped me move forward a lot, it made me feel like I was doing it for real. I believe that even if you regret some releases during your career, they have been significant to you during the time of the track process and that is something you should cherish.”
Right then young man, a few friends of mine was at Ministry of Sound a few days ago, what’s all this about you making everyone sit down at the drops you were playing?!!!!
“HAHA! I thought they looked tired from the first 50 records I played in the first 30 min, so I thought why not give ‘em a break?! No seriously, I just like to goof around when I play in all ways possible. I also pulled my pants down and was standing in boxers for a few seconds but that was only to mess with the people in the booth (poor Deniz Koyu who was standing closest to me).”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1. Don Diablo ft Alex Clare & Kelis – Give It All (Don Diablo & CID Remix)
2. Wayne & Woods vs Henrix – Jumangee
3. Yellow Claw – Kaolo
4. Carvar & Clock – Miskatonik
5. Mikael Weermets – Panorama
6. Denzal Park -Warp13
7. Protohype & Getter – The Peak
8. John Dahlback – Nuke
9. Deniz Koyu – Rage
10. Chuckie vs Dzeko & Torres – Down To This
You are being remarkably quiet releasing your Ibiza dates for 2013 – any news?
“I’m gonna be super straight here and say we had a monster of a plan that did not work out in the end, so now we´ll just see what happens.”
What is it about Quincy Jones you love?
“His hair! No seriously, I just like his out of the box style, his sense for arrangement and simplicity. There’s always that essential piece of genius in his productions.”
Who are the producers around the world you are giving high fives to right now?
“As number one and UNDISPUTED…is Diplo. I have no idea what goes on in that man’s head, but every record he puts out has that dirty club feeling no matter the genre. The ones who come in second after him are Martin Garrix, Deniz Koyu, Flosstradamus, Pretty Lights, Zomboy and as earlier mentioned Disclosure.”
You undertook a lot of remixes in 2012, is one of the reasons you have cut down this year is you didn’t want to repeat yourself?
“Well, me not doing remixes this year was not a planned move, I just haven’t found projects where I felt I could do something fresh on. The only one I did was for Eminem and Skylar Grey and turned out as a hiphop/dubstep/trap hybrid at the tender BPM of 85.”
How do you think your production style has changed over the last 12 months?
“I guess it has changed a lot, even though I still like to think that you can hear a little bit of me in there.”
What is coming out next from the mighty Weermets studio…?
“Hopefully I´ll finally finish this new vocal piece I´ve been working on for over a year now. This is the 5th time starting from scratch, but I feel like I’ve finally nailed it and after me sneaking it in to one of my sets, I’m pretty sure this is the version to release. Aside from that, I have some more clubby things coming in the same vein as Panorama and Make Some Noise, some collabs and some solo-things, which one who gets to see the light of day first, we´ll see.”
Where are some of the big festivals you are looking forward to this summer?
“There is one that stands out from the rest, but I’m still not announced yet, so I´ll just have to get back to you on that!”
What is the one song that means the most to you?
“That changes ALL the time, but Major Lazer´s ‘Get Free’ gives me goosebumps before I even press play in iTunes.”
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
“There are so many people who helped me in different ways to help me on this journey, so to just name one would just be unfair, and I know that is one hell of a boring answer but it’s honest!”
Who is the one person from history you would like to have a beer with?
“I would like to sit down with George Bush one day and ask him how the hell he did it for 8 years. I mean if a man of his ‘caliber’ could be President of the US, I probably could too…and that would have been nothing but a joyride.”
What is the one film you can watch over and over?
“I’m obsessed with stand-up comedy, so I watch the same ones over and over and over and over again. OCD-behaviour yes, but you know…”
And finally, what has been the proudest moment of your career to date?
“Being interview by you lovely people of course!”
http://twitter.com/mikaelweermets
http://youtube.com/MikaelWeermetsTV
http://soundcloud.com/mikaelweermets
