The Danish king unleashes yet another unforgettable piece of dancefloor bliss
Interview : Dan Prince
Photos : Paw Larsen
Hey Tim welcome to DMCWORLD – and what a summer you are having with your 3.05AM (Do You Remember) tune smashing up dancefloors everywhere. As well as hitting the top 5 on the world famous Buzz Chart. Tell us a little history of the tune…
“Every now and then I feel a desire for something fresh and new and want to challenge myself. I skip my templates. Start from the bottom again. Search for new sounds. This is the first in a series of new tunes I have made lately and it’s great to see all the buzz.”
Did you know on completion you had created something very special?
“You always have a clue of course. But it isn’t until you play it out the first time and see the crowd reaction, you know if it’s perfect or not.”
Where did you first roadtest the track?
“It was down at Culture Box which is my exclusive residency here in Copenhagen. It’s the leading underground club in Denmark (if not in the whole of Scandinavia) and always has a great open minded crowd. I’m lucky to play there twice a month and that makes it possible for me to test all the new music I make.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
Harold Heath – Our Love – Savoir Faire Musique
Tim Andresen – 3.05AM (Do You Remember) – What Happens
Mihai Popoviciu – Slightly Pale – Highgrade Records
Trevor O’Neil – Platform – What Happens
Samu.l – Restless Dreams – Selador
Jon Sweetname – Jazzidy – What Happens
Tim Andresen – Right Here Right Now – Savoir Faire Musique
Saverio Celestri – Awaken Your Dark Side – 1Trax
Low District – Nasty Club – Midnight Social Recordings
Markus Homm – Black Brown Hezelnut – Tenampa
In an interview in 2010 you were asked…’Where do you see dance music going this year?’. To which you answered…’Hopefully it steps up a gear or two and gets out of the global crisis.’ What did you mean by that and has it stepped up enough gears for you in 2013?
“Following the technology, I just saw a lot of people getting into music production, DJing, setting up record labels and entering the world of bookers and party promoters but didn’t have the heart, the spirit or were in it for the right reasons which I believe is important for our scene to stay healthy and alive. There was hardly any quality control anywhere. It seems to be much better now but you still have to be pick carefully who you work with and who to trust.”
You hail from a city that all of a sudden is bringing us more and more great producers…what is it about Copenhagen at the moment?
“We certainly have something good going on with lots of young talented producers breaking through. The underground scene is small but it might be due to the tough competition and the fact everyone needs to step up to stay ahead of the pack.”
How does it feel to be known as the “most influential man in Danish house music” as the press quote time and time again…?
“Well, if that’s true I guess it means I have to continue to work hard and keep pushing the scene forward.”
Have you eaten in the world’s number one restaurant Noma in your home city, does it live up to the hype?
“It’s nearly impossible to get a table reservation there and I haven’t yet eaten there myself. If ants and unknown flowers served to perfection are something for you, it should be quite a unique experience and worth a visit I have been told.”
What is coming out next from you studio wise…
“I have releases coming out on Savoir Faire Musique, UM Records, Natural Rhythm and What Happens. I also just finished 5 new tracks for 2 EPs but still haven’t decided what to do with them.”
I saw you in Ibiza a few weeks back, you had some gigs at Café Del Mar and Es Vive and then headed off to Space with Carl Cox…what did you make of this great white isle this summer – is it the best party destination in the world or does that fall to Las Vegas?
“Nothing comes close to Ibiza in my mind. It has meant a lot to my in terms of inspiration and it remains my number one choice of destination. However, there is a big challenge when it comes to bar and entry prices as well as flight and hotel prices. It scares the hell out of the young generation and that can be a serious issue for the island in the years to come. It still has it’s magic though and I can’t wait to be back.”
Where have been some of the other stand out gigs for you this summer?
“I played an open air event at Østre Anlæg in Copenhagen the other day. The sun was shining. The surroundings were beautiful. The crowd was amazing. It was truly special.”
Your birthday falls on December 28th – wow, is that a bit of a let down as you are I the middle of Christmas and New Year or does it just keep the party rolling?
“A bit of both really. Sometimes the party carries on and other times it’s a quiet one. Last year was huge though but only time will tell what will happen this year.”
You started DJing through a friend who had a mobile disco rig back in the 80s. What would have been some of the tunes you would have been spinning back then?
“Anything from Bronski Beat “Hit That Perfect Beat” through to The Brothers Johnson “Stomp” and Grandmaster Flash “The Message”. A bit of it all. You had to to please everyone and keep people on their dancing feet.”
What is your summer anthem of 2013?
“That’s a tough one… The track I have played the most during the summer is probably Harold Heath “Our Love”. It’s just brilliant. I also love and play the new stuff from guys like Markus Homm, Mihai Popoviciu, Samu.l and all the guys we have signed to our What Happens label including James Dutton who is on fire at the moment and just did a killer remix of “3.05AM (Do You Remember)”.”
Who was the last great new DJ you saw?
“I will have to say Steffen H. He is resident DJ at my night here in Copenhagen and has a great music taste and plays with confidence. These days it’s not often that I get blown away by a young DJ but he did last month.”
Not many people know this but Tim Andresen is really good at…
“Forgetting what he’s good at.”
It may not be good for my image but I really love…
“To relax and get my thoughts on something that has nothing to do with music.”
Who is the person from history you would most like to have a beer with and why?
“You are challenging me here… Wouldn’t mind spending time with Denmark’s famous King Christian IV who was a wise and creative person, loved to party, had 24 kids and is the greatest building constructor Scandinavia has ever seen. That’s a character. Having said that, I would rather have a drink than a beer.”
And finally Tim, what has been the proudest moment of your career to date?
“To live my dream. Do what I love to do and still be able to pay my bills.”
