Getting ready to Blow up South Beach
We know that the WMC is more about profile and the party rather than business deals, is it the most important date on the dance calendar still?
“In a way it is one of the important dates. It has a huge reputation and it has a very nice atmosphere to present what you are doing at the moment. Business to business is indeed not happening that much, but reaching out to clubbers might be more important. They are our biggest inspiration, I guess.”
As thousands of next generation clubbers descend on the big events, do you feel the spirit of house music is being lost to a crowd looking for that instant anthem hit?
“I think it is very dangerous to think like that. The new generation will change music. This is how it has always been and always will be. For me as a musician it is necessary to feel the crowd, to feel what might be my next turn. But when producers are just looking for a hit, it will never be renewing. They might be successful for a while, but it is the people who translate feelings into music who will be remembered instead guys copying the hell out of stuff.”
Have you had to change your musical direction in the last year?
“I think last year was very important for me. I had the chance to explore a little in the underground and release some different music that people might expect from me. But it has given me new insights in what I’m doing now. And I feel the track I’m finalizing as we speak is really representative for me. A Funkerman 2.0 sound.”
Is Miami losing it’s trademark cool and sexy house music vibe?
“I think it has more to do with house music being less sexy at the moment in general. We’ve seen house music split up a few directions. Some of it being sexier then the rest, but lately a lot of the bigger tracks have been more about energy then sexiness. It’s not a bad thing. I like to feel some energy in music every once in a while and it gives a big opportunity to the producers out there who want to make a difference.”
What are your thoughts on the Dennis Ferrer ‘Mansion’ Miami club story – he was basically kicked off the decks for not playing commercial enough…
“My sympathy goes out to one of the biggest heroes out there. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Dennis on an occasion where we played on the same gig. He is a very nice guy, who cares about his music a lot. Maybe when they have would let him continue with his set, the result of what he was doing would have been overwhelming in the end.”
With clubs and charts being dominated by dance music worldwide, shouldn’t we be rejoicing it’s success rather than being bitter with crossover?
“This is true. I’m actually feeling a lot of the crossover stuff too. And the crowd we have today for Dance music is so much bigger than before. There will always be people who are in the mood for something new. I’m a big Radiohead fan. It wasn’t a bad thing for them that Alternative music was so huge. No, it would have been bad if that was a reason for them not to make music anymore the way they wanted to.”
What are your Buzz tracks for WMC 2012?
1. Funkerman – Blow
2. Manik – My Hood (Armies Of The Night)
3. Mr Cloudy – Cellars
4. Aim – Cold Water Music
5. Shaboom – If You Need Me (Larse Remix)
6. Arjuna Schiks – Waterkristallen
7. Microtrauma – Circulate
8. Darin Epsilon & Tom Sela – Metamorph
9. Legamen – Cyber Zone
10. Heartik – Last Of The Breed (Dosem Remix)
Have you noticed a big dip in industry folk not attending these last couple of years?
“I haven’t noticed it that much actually, because for me it was never that much about doing business. I’m out there to play my music, and enjoy some parties and watching other DJs.”
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