PAUL VAN DYK INTERVIEW

http://www.trancesound.net/forum/index.php/topic,10846.0.html
PVD Interview
By Mike Schirtzer

Paul Van Dyk, an artist who needs no introduction, sat down with us for an interview the day before his performance at Ultra Music Festival, during Miami’s annual Winter Music Conference. He is about to release his newest artist album, expected out this summer.


Q: The big debate right now is how important the Miami Winter Music Conference is, with the emergence of the internet as a networking tool, how do you feel about its impact?
A: When I think of the Music Conference, it becomes more and more important because of all the digital distribution of music, it’s even more important to connect with people, to talk to people, to come up with – like, interesting ideas and projects, as well as on the technology side, , it’s like developing so fast, in order to catch up with things it’s really good to go to a convention like this, see what’s new, what’s the next tool, what’s the next big thing in terms of studio equipment it’s definitely very important

Q. How do you feel about playing Ultra Music Festival?
Ultra of course, one of the best festivals is when it comes to the electronic music, even, you know, don’t get me wrong I am a big fan of The Cure, I don’t really get how they fit into the concept of electronic music, but you know somehow it works and you know, people love the idea of having them there too and I’m very excited to be part of it and the finale of Ultra Music Fest.

Writers Note: The headliner of the 1st day of Ultra was The Cure; the 2nd day has PVD as the last performer.


Q: In Europe your radio show is Fritz Soundgarden, and in the USA we have Vonyc Sessions, is there a difference between the two?
A: You know the Fritz Show, most of the time is actually a live show, and I’m actually in the studio talking, eating, so it’s a really different thing so therefore the track list is of course is changing. And with the VonNYC Sessions, I’m trying to play the best tracks that came in, you know, in the time frame of that week, and also the stuff that feel really cool and some classic sometimes.

Q: Could you tell us about where you are going with this album, you said there are 28 tracks on this album.
A: The whole project itself includes 28 tracks, there are not going to be more than 12, 13 or 14 on the album because there is basically no more space on the disc.

Q: Do you have a name for the album?
A: It’s going to be called “In Between”.

Q: Is this going to be a typical PVD Trance release or are you going for a different style?
A: I don’t think this album is really there to be pigeon-holed it is electronic music but it really ranges. It starts with a lush break beat with vocals, ends with very banging stuff where vocals wouldn’t really fit. It’s kind of everything that you experience in the 6 hour set, there somehow together and it has pop elements, because I love good POP music as well and you know the thing with it always has…the rules of that music are always so deeply in the clubs, they fit in the club world and nowhere else. Even if I was to make a proper POP song, it has the clubby feeling to it because that’s just where I’m from and how I make my music and you can find all of that on the album.

Q: Tell us about remixing Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around”, how did you get involved in that? Is this your first time remixing in a long time?
A: No, it was not, actually the remix was just like a month before I did for Depeche Mode, it was quite a gap between the one before and Depeche Mode, that’s true. But well, the management from Justin Timberlake contacted me and I got the track, I was listening to it and checked to see what I could do with it and well, I started working on it, and apparently Justin really liked it and it was all good.

Q: Are there any artists that we may not know who are on the rise that you really like?
A: From around this area (Miami) as much as I don’t live around here anymore, Austin Leeds and Nick Terranova who are two guys doing amazing stuff. Filo and Peri, I really like them, and definitely two guys who got a bright future in front of them, Steve Porter has great potential to grow.

Q: Tell us about the Love Parade, you’re considered the God Father of this parade. Why is not happening this year?
A: As much as I grew The Love Parade grew as well. The thing is because of my charity involvement, I also have lot of contact to politicians and people who decided if something will happen or not. Basically all I did was raise my voice with the Berlin Mayor, for example and set up a few meetings to make sure that the Love Parade was happening and things like that. Apparently something changed in the ownership/trademark of the Love Parade and the whole approach towards it was really different, so therefore the authorities in Berlin said “Oh wait a minute” and that’s all I know for now. I still think the Love Parade is a really good idea, but it has to be based around the vibe of electronic music, anything else would just be a carnival.