Teaming up for one of the anthems of the summer
Welcome to DMCWORLD young man. A brilliant new track ‘Looking For Love’ that you have created with Israel’s The 8th Note coming out on Cr2. Talk us through the history of this dancefloor monster…
“Hello DMC thanks for having me. I got in contact with the 8th Note crew through Soundcloud, I’d heard some of their tunes and liked them. So we decided to make a track together, that tune was ‘Looking For Love’. We wanted a cool vocal for the track so I started sending it to some singers and we fell in love with Fenja’s touch to the track!”
When did you start to develop a passion for EDM?
“I started listening to it about 10 years ago. At first it was hardcore which got my attention, but when I switched to house music I fell in love.”
What was your first break into the music industry?
” I don’t think I’ve had one yet, I am just starting to develop my own sound and trying to get my artist name out to people that love EDM. But if I have to name one, it’s Pete Tong playing ‘Looking For Love’ in his BBC Radio 1 show.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
01. Nilson & The 8th Note Ft. Fenja – Looking For Love
02. Nicky Romero & ZROQ – WTF
03. Cosmo Klein – By Tonight (Nilson & The 8th Note remix)
04. Seamus Haji & Nelski – Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Lunde Bros. Remix)
05. Martin Solveig – The Night Out
06. David Guetta & Nicky Romero – Metropolis
07. Miike Snow – Devils Work (Dirty South Remix)
08. Nilson – Sold! (Whitelabel)
09. The 8th Note & Nilson – Transformers
10. Mark Knight – Together
How would you describe your style today?
“I think my sound is house/progressive/electro/tech – haha it depends on my mood…I try to combine the best of both worlds, sometimes I use big room chords with an electro drop or I try some more housy stuff. I am trying to make music that you can listen to when you are at home, but also that makes you move on the dancefloor.”
Your first piece of production was ‘Can U Feel It’ on the Crunc Recordings label which you produced with Nicky Romero. How did that hook up happen?
“Wow that’s a long time ago haha! Nicky and I have known each other for a while now and we both love music. Nicky sent me his new music to me for feedback because back then I listened to so much music – and I think he appreciated my opinion haha. After a few months it was like, hey why don’t we do a track together ? And so we did.”
You released tracks with Nicky under the Saxxo alter ego, are there any plans to get in the studio together again?
“Saxxo is a tech house alter ego for me and Nicky Romero we did the first EP on Flamingo Records. We were just in the studio having fun and banged out some tracks but the style wasn’t our main style, so we decided to release it as an alter ego so people don’t get confused. For Saxxo we have one new tune almost ready called ‘Carbonara’, it’s 75% finished – for almost a year now haha! We are so busy with our own artist careers that the Saxxo project is something we do when we are in the studio together to have fun and make tech house. Currently we are working on a collab with Nicky which will be a Nicky Romero & Nilson track, but I cant say much about it yet!”
What is the finest tune you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Pfff thats a hard question. One of my favourites is Mark Knight & Funkagenda – Man With The Red Face’. Or Coyu & Edu Imbernon – ‘El Baile Aleman’. When I hear one of these tunes I get so many good memories it gives me goosebumps.”
What is the best club you have rocked to date?
“I really like Club Escape in Amsterdam. But a few months ago I joined Nicky Romero at Ministry of Sound in Londen and it blew my mind!”
What has the rest of 2012 got in store for us studio wise…
“I have a lot of original tunes ready to be released and I am looking for the right labels atm! Got collaborations coming up with Nicky Romero, Cliff Coenraad and Lunde Bros. And I will do a release on Nicky Romero’s new label which will launch soon!”
Not many people know this, but Nilson is really good at…
“Handball. I used to play this a few years ago, I played in the Eredivisie which is the highest league in Holland.”
So if we came back to yours after the club, what is the Nilson Back To Mine tunes you spin us to chill…
“Probably some Adele, Jamiroquai or Coldplay.”
Have you any plans for Ibiza this summer?
“I am not really a guy that plans his things so far ahead haha! I will probably support my bro Nicky Romero as he will play some massive events there this year!!”
What advice can you give to the thousands of aspiring producers and DJs out there reading this wanting to follow in your footsteps?
“Try to follow your heart and find out what is the best sound for you ! Send out your tracks to DJs/producers that are working in the same genre as you are and hope they will respond with feedback to make your tracks even better. Don’t give up – that’s something I have learnt.”
And finally, what did your family think of your choice of career?
“In the beginning it was difficult for both sides. For me because I couldn’t explain to them what EDM was all about – and for them, not understanding what EDM is haha! I got to thank my brother Nicky Romero for talking with my parents and clearings things up! Communication with the family is important, that’s what I have learnt. Or trying to do better at, at least…”
Thanks dude. Appreciate your time.
“Not a problem! I enjoyed being here! And thanks for the support!”
Nilson & The 8th Note ‘Looking For Love’ is out now
www.cr2records.co.uk
