Huge new ‘Nice & Close’ EP out on Angello’s new Size X label…
Trent welcome back to DMCWORLD. A massive new ‘Nice & Close’ EP coming out on Steve Angello’s budding Size X imprint. Talk us through the history of the track and how it came to find itself on this new label…
“Hi Dan, thanks for having me. “Nice and Close” is one of those moment records. I usually find myself closing out a festival with this type of song. A real feel good type of breakdown. I had been messing around with “Nice and Close” but it was not till after I played Ushuaia last summer that I finished it. That experience was what I needed to put the finishing touches. “Understand” is more on the chunky darker house type of vibe. This is the sound I normally would play in a set. “Understand” I actually wrote after a night I played with Danny Tenaglia, so I would be lying if I said my inspiration was not from that particular night. Around this time Steve approached me about doing some music for Size X, sounded like the perfect home for the EP.”e a perfect home for the EP.
What is about Angello’s label prowess that made the decision so easy to sign to him?
“I really like where his head’s at. I think his idea to launch Size X is a great move and will only help expose this new generation to other forms of dance music out there. It’s more than exciting to lead things off for the launch of the label.”
Where have been some of the stand out gigs for you over the winter months – Beyond Wonderland with David Guetta, Afrojack, Steve Angello and co. looked pretty cool…
“Beyond Wonderland was beyond fun! The most stand out gig this year was a party I threw here in Los Angeles under the Sounds Like brand at Dim Mak Studios. It’s an idea I have been itching to do for a while but was waiting for the right time. Since the majority of Hollywood is bright lights and bottle service, we went the complete opposite route with a “come as you are” type policy. We transformed the entire club for the night giving it a very dark moody vibe. I chose Dim Mak Studios (formerly Cinnespace) strictly because they do not cater to bottle service and the venue is a perfect canvas for adding unique production. It is also the type of party I can play an extended set which does not happen that often in the city these days. Much like when I was coming up in New Orleans, if I wanted to play for hours on end we had to throw the event ourselves.”
I was in the crowd at Ushuaia last summer when you opened up for Swedish House Mafia at the start of their residency. Firstly, what were your thoughts on our little island of Ibiza, this was your first ever gig on the island…
“That gig was a bit of a milestone for me. I had visited the island numerous times throughout the years since my first arrival in the summer of 2000. The island has always enamored me in many ways. From the culture, the hedonistic attitude, the music, the people, the nature, and of course the women. Naturally it was a dream of mine to play the island for years, especially having my music featured on numerous Ibiza compilations. A day I will never forget.”
I read somewhere recently you admitted “that one gig in particular changed quite a few things for me”. In what way?
“Ushuaia is one of, if not, the premier venues on the island at the moment. Playing there helped with exposure on an international level. I mean, it’s almost next summer and we are still talking about it.”
What are the plans for Trent in Ibiza 2013?
“Not quite sure yet Dan, working on it. Hoping as much as possible.”
You have had a long journey to the hierarchy of dance music. After your parents bought you your first deck, you worked your way through playing hundreds of weddings and proms until here you are today, headlining stages in front of 20,000 people. With that in mind, do you think the new producers and DJs of today have got it all too easy? A hit created on their laptop in their bedroom one minute, the next picking up six figure pay days headlining Ulta…?
“I don’t know a lot of people with the same upbringing as I have had in the DJ world. Although I have played every type of gig imaginable there is always one common factor that applies, which is reading a crowd. That is one of the main ingredients to a good DJ; along with being a unique and clever storyteller with music. It takes years of experience and DJing under various conditions to acquire these skills. Just like anything, the more someone does it the better they get. I am not sure how making a hit song in your bedroom can compensate for all of that and turn someone into a good DJ. I think that will change once these new crowds can figure out the difference between a producer and an actual DJ. Its easy to be a new artist and play main stage at a festival and have it go over well if you play big enough tunes that have words everyone can sing along to. I would love to see some of these same new producer / DJs play for a room, where no-one knows their name nor their “hit song”, for over 4 plus hours and hold a crowd. Unless you have done it before under similar circumstances the chances are slim of actually pulling it off. Anyone can be a jukebox hero.”
Another question we have been discussing at DMCWORLD, is whether the new breed of teenage wonder-producers have missed out on a whole load of fun. Most of the big DJs today enjoyed their time on a dancefloor and getting all messy with their devoted fans before realizing being a producer in 2013 is much more of a serious career than it once was. However, going back to my original point…do you thinks the likes of Nicky Romero and Avicii have missed enjoying themselves on the other side of the turntables for a while?
“I think what I do and they do are very different so I cannot comment nor compare. Back to my point earlier, it’s those years of dancefloor messiness and hours clocked as a DJ that make a dance music artist unique. You can hear that experience in a persons productions and the way they DJ.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“In no particular order…”
Jens Bond, Jacob Phono – Su-She
Maurizio Vitiello – Wishing Well
Ben Anders – Another Time
Booka Shade – Blackout White Noise (club mix)
Max Demand, Garen Daren – Humans (Leix’s Beep Mix)
Scheibe – Achterwaarts
Headman “Its Rough” (Chicken Lips remix)
Matteo Bruno – Scream Callin (Adapter Remix)
Trent Cantrelle – Understand – Size X
Kris Wadsworth – It’s Time (Abe Duque Mix)
Are you a good traveller, do you get much work done on tour?
“I love to travel but get zero work done on the road. For me creating music I need to be in my comfort zone at my studio. Every time I try it never works out.”
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to right now?
“Way too many out there these days. Seems like anyone with a computer can make a good beat. There is so much music out there, sometimes I play a set and have never heard of one of the artists in it. I will say Im loving some of the new music from seasoned artists like Bookah Shade and Chicken Lips.”
Describe your perfect Sunday…
“Playing an outdoor party from sunrise to sunset and into the night…”
What is coming next from you studio wise?
“Be on the lookout for more material on Size X. I am also re launching my Sounds Like label once again, mainly as a vehicle and creative outlet for myself. There is no set direction in sound other than proper dance floor music. I can’t stand genres so I won’t name any. Just have to figure that out for yourself.”
What was the last piece of music you bought?
“Clarence Carter ‘Strokin’.”
Quite a while back you decided to knock the booze on the head, get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle. When was the last time you got smashed?
“It’s been a few years. Thing is, in my hometown of New Orleans the drinking age starts the moment you can touch the top of the bar. It’s something thats ingrained in our culture and flows through the cities blood. As much as I love to get down, I have found such a thing can get in the way of a career like this, and well, I can’t have that.”
A couple of years ago Los Angeles was the capital of dance music in America. Is anywhere catching it up in 2013?
“I think New York City is going to be a big staple once again in the dance music world. A few weeks ago I played a show for Verboten with Joris Voorn and Davide Squillance which was exciting as hell. In the mid to late 90’s I would fly up to the city just to attend clubs like Twilo and Vinyl. I could feel that same sense of excitement and freshness in the air for proper dance music but with a brand new generation. Los Angeles is certainly making serious waves within the community and helping pushing things forward in the US but New York was where most of this music was incubated. I think in order for the tides to turn in the US this city needs to have its say.”
And finally, if someone asked you to come out of retirement and play at their wedding spinning all your old Depeche Mode and Erasure, would you be up for it?
“Up for it? I still do this sort of thing all the time!”
