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Candid Interview with Rob 'Activa' Stevenson

Hi guys, thought you might like to check this exclusive interview with Rob 'Activa' Stevenson that we posted this week. It's quite an insightful, honest, and candid chat that delves into everything from producing for other artists, the scene, and the problems it faces etc.. Massive props to Rob for great responses. Need more passionate guys like him in the scene!

Part 1: http://trancetribe.com/pages/featur...?feature_id=183

Part 2: http://trancetribe.com/pages/featur...?feature_id=184

Hope you enjoy it.

Scott

It seems like Activa is pretty down to earth about the shitty state of the trance scene. Good to see him experimenting. That said, I still enjoyed his album "This World".

When he released back the 90's, I was hopefully he would keep moving in that direction. Looks like he has taken the hint.

and FANTASTIC INTERVIEW

Its rare there is actually good news in the uplifting/melodic trance scene.

"The creation of internet forums where people can get together and have a chat was in a way, an innocent idea that has been bastardized into internet slagging matches between people who have different views, or pathetic little keyboard warriors who, for what ever reason, think they have the right to criticize what someone has made, often being quite personal and harsh even when they have no skills whatsoever and are stuck to the desk from excessive self abuse. Everyone has become a self-proclaimed expert!"

A lot of people on this forum should consider that...

Much respect to Activa, this is a very honest and insightful

One of the best interviews i have read in a long time. This guy knows what he's talking about.

I met Rob at Tomorrowland prior to him playing on the TA stage... this interview was a great read with detailed responses rather than the usual filler/canned responses.

Thanks for sharing

quote:

Originally posted by TheFrown "The creation of internet forums where people can get together and have a chat was in a way, an innocent idea that has been bastardized into internet slagging matches between people who have different views, or pathetic little keyboard warriors who, for what ever reason, think they have the right to criticize what someone has made, often being quite personal and harsh even when they have no skills whatsoever and are stuck to the desk from excessive self abuse. Everyone has become a self-proclaimed expert!" A lot of people on this forum should consider that...

Tell that to the "trance is dead" trolls like Lews, Mr. Mystery, Srussell, etc.

A good interview, but lets all face it- the scene isn't going to change a lick because he said the things he said.

quote:

Originally posted by osterzone Tell that to the "trance is dead" trolls like Lews, Mr. Mystery, Srussell, etc.

Aww shit he put my name first. What do I win?

quote:

Originally posted by Lews Aww shit he put my name first. What do I win?

i don't understand why people shouldn't have the right to criticize other peoples work...

quote:

Originally posted by osterzone A good interview, but lets all face it- the scene isn't going to change a lick because he said the things he said.

Just the way you like it, nice and lukewarm/stale with plenty of supersaws, lasers, and tabs that do not even have any MDMA in them.

quote:

Originally posted by osterzone A good interview, but lets all face it- the scene isn't going to change a lick because he said the things he said.

this seems to be your excuse for the entire trance scene.

"this isnt gunna change because your the only one saying this on the internet - thats not gunna make any difference cos he said it in an interview blah blah."

so activa is the only one saying it?
so joof is the only one saying it?
so djnitride is the only one saying it?
so lews is the only one saying it?
so im the only one saying it?
so half of tranceaddict are the only ones saying it?
so half the trance fans on the internet are the only ones saying it?


the number of 'only ones saying it' seems to be growing...

it starts like this and gradually more people 'say it' and the paradigm shifts and it does change.

quote:

Originally posted by Light The Fuse this seems to be your excuse for the entire trance scene. "this isnt gunna change because your the only one saying this on the internet - thats not gunna make any difference cos he said it in an interview blah blah." so activa is the only one saying it? so joof is the only one saying it? so djnitride is the only one saying it? so lews is the only one saying it? so im the only one saying it? so half of tranceaddict are the only ones saying it? so half the trance fans on the internet are the only ones saying it? the number of 'only ones saying it' seems to be growing... it starts like this and gradually more people 'say it' and the paradigm shifts and it does change.

And Hell, I just started listening to trance early 08. Took me only a year to get tired of the pathetic state of mainstream trance.

I am sure alot of other new listeners are quickly becoming bored as well.

quote:

Originally posted by osterzone Tell that to the "trance is dead" trolls like Lews, Mr. Mystery, Srussell, etc.

What is your obsession with me? I haven't said any of the sort nor does it have anything to do with the topic.

quote:

this frustration and realization that everything has already been done one way or the other.

Yep, has been mentioned over here a few times.

quote:

I recently saw a post from someone who was saying that he didn�t like a track I did a while back (which subsequently I don�t like either) but said something like (the names will stay out) �generic nonsense, I don�t like Remixer A, and who the fuck is Remixer B� fair enough if he doesn�t like the track, but what I couldn�t believe is that he was judging the remix because he didn�t know who it was!! People like that really need to do one! This is the kind of idiot that the scene could do without.

If it says Armada or Armin I think people react similar over here but then because they know those.

quote:

this frustration and realization that everything has already been done one way or the other.

quote:

Originally posted by Trance-MB Yep, has been mentioned over here a few times.

Elaborate, please. Are you agreeing?

From what perspective would people see everything in trance has alreade been done in one way or the other? I'm not being aggresive here, just collecting people's thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone i don't understand why people shouldn't have the right to criticize other peoples work...

Criticism is fine... it's when people become utter twats and make personal insults and/or have a vendetta against a certain artist (and bitch them out in practically every thread) that things get ugly.

quote:

Originally posted by TheFrown "The creation of internet forums where people can get together and have a chat was in a way, an innocent idea that has been bastardized into internet slagging matches between people who have different views, or pathetic little keyboard warriors who, for what ever reason, think they have the right to criticize what someone has made, often being quite personal and harsh even when they have no skills whatsoever and are stuck to the desk from excessive self abuse. Everyone has become a self-proclaimed expert!"

Just sounds like another classic childish whine to me

quote:

Originally posted by JEO Elaborate, please. Are you agreeing? From what perspective would people see everything in trance has alreade been done in one way or the other? I'm not being aggresive here, just collecting people's thoughts.

Yes I am. People want something new all the time, but in a technical point of view there isn't anything really new. Especially in the 90's instruments and pc's changed very quickly bringing new stuff for producers. For the past 10 years not much changed.
IMO it's better to combine something old and used than waiting for something new to happen.

brilliant interview
i met activa once and he is a real down to earth and tells it how it is

really liked what he said about how people back then seemed to take their time with tracks and now people can dl software and make a song in a few hours just off samples they downloaded, but put no real effort into it

i really liked what he said about airwave...alot of big dj's and producers have sold out or switched their styles up, but the one thing about airwave for the most part he stayed true to the trance sound
it would be sick of activa and airwave teamed up

but yea i hope when it comes to produceing there will be more guys like activa who understand what trance music is

this interview is a croc of shit

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd this interview is a croc of shit

Thats because you swallow every supersaw you can get

quote:

Originally posted by trancedanne Thats because you swallow every supersaw you can get

why dont u take a square/sinewave and stick it up your arse

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd why dont u take a square/sinewave and stick it up your arse

hheherrrrrppppppppppp derpppppp derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Nice, just blindly criticize Activa's well thought out opinion, with absolutely no reason behind it. You are worse than the trolls you claim to hate, at least we explain shit for your simple mind.

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