Bringing style to clubland
“Thanks for having me.”
Most stars of clubland received their first avenue into the world of electronic music via the radio or hearing the tunes their older brothers or sisters were into. Not you. Your dad owned a nightclub called T Huukske. What are your earlier memories of the club, was it a mad time in your household?
“It definitely was! At that time the nightclub was making a transition from being open mainly on Sunday afternoon to being packed on a Saturday night, with rock bands and Dutch music in the mainroom and early-dance music in the smaller second area. In the early nineties my dad booked a DJ that mixed tracks for the first time, before that they took the mic to announce whatever they were going to play next. It was in instant success! It was quite a change for my dad, but he has always been open-minded about all kinds of music and was the first club owner in the area to book DJ’s in the likes of Marco V and even Tiesto. So a great way for an aspiring DJ such as myself to get acquainted with house music!”
“There was no need for a push, I loved it from the first moment on! When my dad started to book house DJs I was the light jock in the weekends and I was fascinated by the mixing skills of the guest DJ’s. So I started practicing during the week and got my shot when a DJ he booked called in sick last minute on a Saturday night. I can still remember my dad saying: “Well, I guess you’ll need to fill in tonight!”. And there was no stopping me after that! It has given me the opportunity to play in front of an audience weekly and get experienced doing that. My parents have always been very supportive of my musical ambitions but did stress that I needed to finish school first. Which I did, but I cannot recall ever needing anything they taught me there.”
Can you remember the first record you ever played on a pair of decks?
“That must have been Leila K. – ‘Open Sesame’.”
What artists / DJs were you looking up to back then?
“I guess Paul Van Dyk and Marco V were my first heroes.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning at the moment?
01. Jochen Miller – BAMM!
02. Rank 1 vs Jochen Miller feat Sarah Bettens – Wild & Perfect day –
03. Jochen Miller – Flashback (Gregori Klosman Remix)
04. Dyro – Magno
05. The Killers – “Mr Brightside” (Marco V Treatment)
06. Markus Schulz & Jochen Miller – Rotunda (Miller’s 2012 Bigroom Recontruction)
07. Alesso – Raise Your Hands
08. Sander Van Doorn & Laidback Luke – Who’s Wearing The Cap
09. Nathan C – Shmoke de Pancake
10. Marco V & Russel G – Kalevala
“Energetic and uplifting, with big melodies and phat basslines.”
How important in your career has A&R man Dick de Groot been?
“Very important. Dick and I have been working together for 7 years now and he has been my mentor from the beginning. Dick has an infallible ear for what will will work on the dancefloor and what won’t, so for me it’s always essential to get his opinion on whatever it is I’m working on in the studio. He has been in the industry for such a long time, I can totally rely on his judgement in everything, and it was only natural we decided for him to become my manager as well last year. So I can focus on my music only.”
A massive ‘BAMM!’ tune out on High Contrast Recordings – tell us about the tune…
“I think the title speaks for itself, put it on and BAMM! here comes the energy. It’s amazing to see the track gets supported by such a broad spectrum of DJ’s. And I love playing it myself, the crowd goes insane as soon as the first riff kicks in!”
You are DJing at The Ministry of Sound in London at the weekend, how do British clubbers differ from other countries around the world?
It’s always special to play in Britain and becoming one of the residents at MOS is a great honor. I remember MOS already being huge when I was younger and it’s still one of the most respected venues and organisations in the dance scene. When it comes to the clubbers, there’s not a very big difference, though the atmosphere is always amazing.”
Favourite festival story?
“Not really a story, but I was overwhelmed by Stereosonic Australia this year. I have never seen so many people visit such an outrageous festival for so many days in a row. It was hardcore rock’n’roll!!”
You have a very eclectic musical taste. If we came back to yours after the club, what 10 Back To Mine tunes would you play us to carry on the groove…?
“Only 10? We’d bring in the Grey Goose and party on ’till the next evening, 10 tunes wouldn’t suffice!”
“Definitely the Matrixx in Nijmegen in The Netherlands. I’ve had several residencies so far, but at club the Matrixx I have got the opportunity to really explore and develop my taste in music. I’ve been playing alongside all major DJs there, before them, after them and even hosting my own nights. The Matrixx was very popular from the beginning, which made people curious about me too, so I was asked to play at lots of other clubs in Holland as well. Being the resident there has kick started my career for sure!”
It may not be very good for my image, but I really like…
“At the risk of coming across as a geek, gardening! I find real pleasure in pruning my hedge, mowing my lawn, you name it! I even have an assortment of fertilizers in the shed, bet you didn’t see that coming!”
Nope Jochen, I surely didn’t! Back to the music, what do you think has been your finest tune you have created to date?
“You can never ask a parent which child he or she loves most! I’ve put all my inspiration and love in all the tracks I’ve created, but there must be some that stand out of course. But to choose from ‘Lost Connection’, ‘Brace Yourself’, ‘Classified’, ‘BAMM!’, ‘Rotunda’, pfffff, impossible, sorry!”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“I would be the first man ever who never suffered from jet-lag! I would be able to go for a run even after travelling for 30 hours straight and then being behind the decks for a couple of hours. What a great world that would be!!”
“Wouldn’t know, I love so many different kinds of music. I have an iPod filled with music you wouldn’t expect me to like, but not everything has to be loud and danceable for me, go figure!”
What DJs do you like spinning alongside…
“With Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz and Rank 1 it’s always a pleasure and I must say, the fun we usually have afterwards contributes to my preferences as well!!”
What has been the tune of 2011?
“‘Rotunda’ for sure!!”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Well, in the 17 years I’ve been behind de decks now I’ve heard a lot of amazing tracks become instant classics, to single out one of them would be selling the others short.”
Not many people know this, but Jochen Miller is really good at…
“I have a need for speed and am addicted to things going really fast. When I was a small boy, I had a piggy bank to save for my first cross-motor which was when I was about 4. It couldn’t go fast enough for me. Same goes for skiing. And I used to get a couple of speeding tickets a month, but I save that for the go-kart now, haha!”
Best club of 2011?
“Can I name three? I loved Space, Ibiza this summer, was stunned at Marquee in Las Vegas, and instantly fell in love with Sasazu, Prague.”
Studio plans for 2012?
“2012 is the year of my first artist album, so I’m very excited about that! Besides that I have some major collabs up my sleeve for this year, including one with Rank 1 and Sarah Bettens from K’s Choice, the follow-up to ‘Rotunda’ with Markus Schulz and my first collab with Marco V.”
Cool. And finally, what is your New Year’s resolution?
“Trying to stay healthy and happy so I can keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years. And bigger and better than before, you have to raise the bar for yourself each year, don’t you?”
Thanks dude. I appreciate your time. Have a great Christmas, I hope the airport is calmer this year!
“I hope so too! Thanks you so much Dan, have a great Christmas too and wishing you all the best for 2012!”