One Of The Biggest DJs In The World…
Hi Sander. Nice to speak to you, you are big friends of one of my best friends Sparrow – a crazy clubland kid…”
“Ha, yes, I was just on the phone to him only two hours ago. He’s living in Amsterdam right now, just moved from the Caribbean. You’re right Dan, a crazy kid.”
Like most superstar DJs around at this time, you started DJing at an early age, you were 15 and started spinning with your friends, but slightly different music to what you are known for now…
“Yes it was in a local bar in The Hague back around 1987 and yes, I played everything from dance to rock music. My first release was also with a collection of friends, we were called the Free Frogs.”
You are now recognised as one of the top DJs on the planet, when you started out DJs like Tony Humphries, Sasha, David Morales, Carl Cox, Frankie Knuckles, Danny Tenaglia and Jeff Mills were all huge icons in the DJ world, but you decided on the progressive scene – what made you go there?
“Back in the day, when I was jumping around my bedroom to music, well in Holland we had some very good radio stations that played the sound I love and to be honest, it was those stations such as Alien and Pulse that got me hooked onto what I do now.”
Best club you have ever played at in the world?
“I am sure most DJs have the same answer, it’s always the next gig. I am playing at Hnger in Tel Aviv tonight, not been here for five years, Thursday is the biggest night of the week for clubbing in Israel and I am really looking forward to it.”
Biggest record in your box right now?
“The Feddie Le Grand bootleg ‘ Walking on Amplifier”.
Where’s home at the moment?
“Well, I am happily married and living in Ibiza. My house looks out on the beautiful site of the island of Es Vedra – a very mysterious place, many rumours about it ranging from it believed to be the tip of the sunken city of Atlantis to being parts of the island used to build ancient Egyptian pyramids. A lovely place to live.”
Greatest album ever made?
“This will make you smile, an amazing piece of work – The Beach Boys ‘ Pet Sounds’.
Best festival you have ever played at?
“First up Creamfields in Argentina – incredible, incredible, incredible. Lowlands in Holland amazing, Glade in Berkshire in your home country is just beautiful and of course, Glastonbury.”
What is the best thing about living in Amsterdam?
“My city is more like a little village, it’s very chilled as you know, very relaxing, great to just ride around on a bike and a great place to raise children.”
How important do you think the DJ Magazine Top 100 poll is?
“Ha ha. My view on the DJ Mag competition is that it’s only important if you are a promoter living somewhere in a far flung place like China or Russia. It is a reference to guys around the world who may not have the connections but see the list and therefore have a helping hand who to book as they see who is popular out there.”
Who is the best DJ in the world at the moment?
“What a difficult question. I like DJs who are always doing something fresh and for that reason, I just love what Damian Lazarus is doing these days, a brilliant DJ.”