Sander, a fantastic rise to fame, the last five years have been incredible for you with hit tunes, sell out gigs everywhere you go and a very loyal following. What made you want to be a DJ in the first place?
“Well I really started producing first and fell into DJing a bit later. But it’s amazing being able to play the tracks I produce out and even better when I can road test my new ideas. At the moment I’m playing a few new tracks that I’ve done in the studio and the reaction on the dancefloor has been amazing so I know I’m on the right lines.”
What music artists were you listening to growing up?
“I have lots of influences from my youth, dancewise, I loved everything when I was growing up, I was going to raves from the age of 15. Popwise, U2 and Coldplay always do the trick for me.”
What are the biggest 5 tunes in your box at the moment?
“My Top 5 at the moment are:
1. The Killers ‘Spaceman’ Sander van Doorn Remix Part 1
2. Sam Sharp ‘Roundabout’
3. Pryda ‘Animal’
4. Armind van Buuren feat Vera Ostrova ‘What if’
5. Guy Gerber ‘Timing’
Other tracks that are going down well at the moment are:
Markus Schossow ‘From My Heart'(dub mix)
Simon Patterson ‘Thump’
Ummet Ozcan ‘TimeWave Zero’
Mike Koglin ft. Tania Laila ‘Find Me’
Leon Bolier – Thug (Dub Mix)
You first entered the DJ Mag Top 100 at 32 and climbed 15 places in just one year… a proud/defining moment for you?
“One of the proudest moments I have had so far is playing the mainstage at Dance Valley in Holland, before Carl Cox last year – that meant a lot!”
Your debut album ‘Supernaturalistic’ was a very adventerous piece of music for someone so young – what do you think of the album now looking back?
“I’m really proud of my album and I’ve had such amazing feedback from the fans. I do try to not stick to formulas too much and just create music that I love.”
Your Identity radio show on DI.FM – how important has that been to how your career has progressed?
“Obviously as I play different countries all the time it’s difficult for me to be everywhere at the same time but with my radio show fans can still hear the kind of music I’m playing. I’m just about to take the Identity Show to a wider audience so keep your ears peeled for that.”
One of the biggest in-demand DJs in the world – what have been your favorite clubs you have played at over the years?
“There’s really too many to mention but I love playing in Ireland, the fans there are brilliant, I play the Ministry a lot in London regularly for the Gallery, South America is awesome but to be honest a good party is all about a great crowd.”
A huge Dutch DJ, what other fellow Dutch DJs do you rate?
“Well Marco V has been a huge influence of mine and he’s always one step ahead of the game when it comes to music. There are so many good Dutch DJs around, new and established, at the moment it’s frightening!”
Were you expecting the Best Breakthrough Award at IDMA’s @ WMC 2008?
“Not at all! I was just chatting to people during the awards, then suddenly I heard my name called out had to go down and pick up an award and give a speech – I wasn’t expecting that at all.”
You have worked with Robbie Williams and now your latest project, two mixes of ‘Spaceman’, the new single from multi million selling The Killers from their No. 1 album ‘Day & Age’ – a dream come true for you? Tell us about how you went about re-working the tracks…
“Yes well certainly Robbie was a real dream, I’ve always been a big fan of his. And I was so pleased when it became an official Vs project. The Killers felt like a natural follow up to that, their album’s great and the mixes are now starting to do some serious damage.”
You had a residency at Judge Jules’s Judgement Sunday in 2008 at Eden, best Ibiza moment from that Summer and what was your biggest tune?
“Well my best Ibiza moment has to be picking up the award for ‘Best Newcomer’. I loved playing for Judgement and Cream as well, and I opened for Tiesto a couple of times too. This years going to be even better for me in Ibiza so I’m looking forward to the summer.”
Your take on Sia’s ‘The Girl You Lost’ – a massive tune, why choose that particular record to mix up?
“I heard the original and the Stonebridge mix and asked my record company to sign it to Doorn Records as it was a great record. I’m so pleased that my remix was so well received by so many people.”
What is 2009 going to bring us from you?
“Lots of things! As I said I’ve got the radio show which is going to be reaching new places, I’m launching a new live concept this summer, Ibiza is going to be really special, there’s some cracking releases coming from me and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year to be honest.”
