Exclusive interview with the trance legend as unleashes ‘World Citizen’
The tease of the string, the rush of the synth, the drama of the drop and the thunder of the bass… It can mean but one thing… trance-floor titan Mike Dierickx is back!! Welcome back to DMCWORLD young man with ‘World Citizen’, your first full-scale M.I.K.E. long-player since 2007’s ‘Moving On In Life’. How much of the new and how much of the classic do you think you have delivered with this new long player…
“Hi DMC, thanks for having me. J World Citizen is a story I’ve wanted to tell for a few years now. It’s all about my travelling, visiting different countries, continents, meeting different cultures…and most of all, sharing my music! It brings along musical story from the past to now.”
There are a colossal 23 tracks on the album, how long has it taken you to create ‘World Citizen’?
“The album took me a good long year to complete. I started it off beginning 2012 and thought it was finished. But I wasn’t satisfied with the final product so I decided to begin all over again from scratch and World Citizen was born.”
How much fun was the Rank 1 collab?
“We had a great connection. The energy was there. We worked fairly quick, threw some signature sounds on the table and a musical piece came to life. We were really satisfied with the outcome. It was actually a challenge from one of our fans on twitter!”
A great quote from you…“I see ‘World Citizen’ as absolutely the right platform, not just launch new tracks, but also one to let remixers whose work I admire, revisit some years-gone-by highs.” The album features some great reworks…who’s remix really blew you away on first listen?
“That one goes to my biggest track of all, remixed by both Orjan Nilsen and Inpetto, ‘Universal Nation’. They both did brilliant remixes on a timeless classic that is not so easy to match up to. It’s getting a lot of attention. Same goes for ‘The Legacy’ by Allure and ‘Silver Bath’ by Roger Shah.”
Which are the tracks you had the most fun roadtesting these past few months, which tunes have blown the roof off?
“I roadtested mostly Canvas, which will be my new single in April and the previous releases like ‘Elements Of Nature’, ‘We Are!’ and ‘Any Direction’ got a lot of spin.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“A few of my top tunes…
Betsie Larkin & Ferry Corsten – Stars (Ferry’s Fix Edit)
Above & Beyond – Black Room Boy (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
M.I.K.E. – Canvas, Nitrous Oxide pres. N2O – K.O.
Eximinds – Mainbeat
Armin Van Buuren & Markus Schulz – The Expedition (Khomha Remix)
M.I.K.E. Presents Push – Universal Nation (Orjan Nilsen Remix) (World Citizen Exclusive)
Audien – Wayfarer, EDU – Evil Inside
and so on…”
What’s the latest with the revival of Active Sight with your dude Fred Baker…?
“Currently being worked on! It’s a project that’s been on high request for some time now. But Fred sent me some samples and I recently started working on it. It’s a collab always full of good energy. Active Sight is coming back with a special message too!”
You relocated Stateside in 2010 to New York City. What are the best and worst things about living in the city that never sleeps?
“NYC has a lot going on. It’s a very vibrant city with a lot of inspiration around. The mix of cultures, people, languages, foods, experiences, this all ties into one big melting pot that really works!I find that amazing. It’s a great thing to experience. The worst? Well, its quite pricey living! Haha!”
You had a touch choice when you were 18 – football or music. At what standard were you playing and who do you support?
“I was in my youth playing as a goal keeper for a local Antwerp team called Germinal Ekeren. I played up until my 18 years of age. But music was always my favorite pass time. So much so, that I wanted a go at it and never looked back! Football is still my passion though, and I try to pass it on to my older son. Barcelona FC is my pick as my favorite team.”
You must be very proud to part of Tomorrowland – the best festival in the world…and in sleepy ol’ Belgium!!
“I’ve always been a part of Tomorrowland since day one. It’s just an experience you can’t describe. When I get up there, I feel a buzz like no other. Playing in my home country with my fan base in front of me, it’s pure bliss!”
Are you heading off to Miami WMC 2013?
“I’ve been to WMC a few times, but this year I’ll be going another direction. I’m actually looking more forward to the Amsterdam Dance Event in November.”
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to right now?
“Too many great talents out there to narrow it down to just one. I appreciate many. Upcoming and older, if it’s good music, I support it.”
What does your family make of your music – they dig it?
“The younger generation, for sure. But the older too. They all respect my ability to make music. They’ve also enjoyed one or two parties as well. I have an awesome support system from my loved ones. J This alone gives me a lot of inspiration.”
And finally, please put an end to the rumours that once upon a time you wore Fluro yellow windbreaker pants and a nose piercing. Say it ain’t true?
“Hahaha! Word gets around! But yes it IS true! We’re talking during the LoveParade days! Everyone was all raved out and just wild! At the end of the day, a DJ does some crazy things in their career! No? The Gatecrasher generation, I call it!”
M.I.K.E. ‘World Citizen’ tracklist:
01. M.I.K.E. – World Citizen (Album Mix)
02. M.I.K.E. Feat. Matteo Marini – Melodramma (Album Mix)
03. M.I.K.E. – We Are!
04. M.I.K.E. – Loverdose (Album Mix)
05. M.I.K.E. – Under The Bridge (Album Mix)
06. M.I.K.E. Feat. Revero – Overseas (Album Mix)
07. M.I.K.E. – Any Direction (Album Mix)
08. M.I.K.E. – Galactic Halo (Album Mix)
09. M.I.K.E. Vs Aerofoil – No Escape (Album Mix)
10. M.I.K.E. – Canvas (Album Mix)
11. M.I.K.E. – Thursdays (Album Mix)
12. M.I.K.E. – Natural Source (Album Mix)
13. M.I.K.E. – Touching Your Senses
14. Rank 1 vs M.I.K.E. – Elements Of Nature
15. Push – Universal Nation (Inpetto Remix)
16. Push – Universal Nation (Orjan Nilsen Remix)
17. Push – The Legacy (Allure Remix)
18. Push – Till We Meet Again (Sonny Wharton Remix)
19. M.I.K.E. Presents Plastic Boy – Twixt (Paul Thomas Remix)
20. M.I.K.E. Presents Plastic Boy – Silver Bath (Roger Shah Remix)
21. M.I.K.E. – Més Que Un Club (Maor Levi Mix)
22. M.I.K.E. – Any Direction (M.I.K.E. vs Revero Club Edit)
23. M.I.K.E. Feat. MichaelMyers – Come Together (Revero Remix)
Available worldwide through iTunes, Spotify and Beatport
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