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Markus Schulz - Ibiza 06
Markus just told me about his new mix compilation 'Ibiza 06' (release: September)...
quote: "CD 1 will be more of a chilled, groovier mix and CD 2 will be more club influenced. I have a few special surprises for it also."
More details can be read in the complete interview (soon in Belgian stores: ID&T Release magazine) afterwards I will post the English version on the forum.
edit1: tracklist
CD 1:
01. Ohmna - People Get Lost
02. Benya - Mimas
03. Jose Amnesia feat. Jennifer Rene - Louder
04. Joost van der Vleuten - New Horizon
05. Lens - Dusk Till Dawn (Alex Stealthy Remix)
06. Progresia - Shelter
07. Francis Blaid - Mystery (Allende Remix)
08. Niklas Harding & Funabashi - Addictive
09. Alex Monakhov - Feel Lonely
10. Benz & MD - Turning The Curve (Original Mix)
11. Nick Thompson - Strategos
12. 4Mal & Matthew Adams feat. Corey Andrews - Computer Parts
13. Chuck Luis - Collision
14. Remy - Wink
CD 2:
01. Ormatie - Glassow (Original Mix)
02. Joonas Hahmo - The Fusion (Hawk Remix)
03. Perry O'Neil - South-West Saga
04. Ilya Malyuev pres. Baltic Sound - Glimmer (Micah & J Armstrong's Ruhnsong)
05. Andy Moor vs. Orkidea - YearZero
06. Kenneth Thomas - Achems Razor
07. Roland Klinkenberg - What's The Point?
08. Nick Thompson - Once Upon A Time
09. Markus Schulz feat. Anita Kelsey - First Time (Funabashi Remix)
10. Algarve - Greasepaint
11. Ambrosial - Sunshift
12. Kyau vs. Albert - Kiksu
13. Sassot - Where It All Begun
edit2: interview (draft version!)
Markus Schulz – Ibiza ’06…
Markus Schulz sounds like a German name. So how did you end up in Miami?
I was born in Germany, and came to America when I was 13. My first language is actually German. I moved around allot when I was a young, I have lived in Boston, New York, Arizona and I now spend my time between Miami and Berlin.
In between, you lived in London (Cold Harbour Lane). How important was that part of your life until now (because you also named your first mix compilation after it)?
When I lived in Arizona, I was really lost as an artist. I did not know who I was. There was never any real artist community that inspired me musically in Arizona, so I moved to London as sort of a pilgrimage to the center of where everything was happening at the time. I had a studio in Brixton that I pretty much lived in. It was under the railroad tracks on Coldharbour Lane. Trains would start running at 6am and not stop until 1am. It was there that I found myself as an artist. It was a very emotional and inspirational time of my life. I have since used the name Coldharbour on my remixes, my label and my compilations as a tribute to that time of my life.
Today you have created an artist album and you have already 2 major mix compilations, the last one was Miami 05. Will there be a 2006 mix cd soon?
Yes, I am currently working on my new compilation: Ibiza 06. We are planning on a September release date. I am really excited about this one because Ibiza has always been a special place for me. CD 1 will be more of a chilled, groovier mix and CD 2 will be more club influenced. I have a few special surprises for it also. All in all I am really looking forward to this compilation.
How did you get into trance?
I started DJing at break dance parties in Boston back in the day. I used to play more electro flavored tracks like Kraftwerk, Man Parish, Nucleus, and Yellow Magic Orchestra. When I started DJing in clubs I played house music, but I always liked the more melodic tunes that were coming from labels like Limbo, Deconstruction, Tribal and Guerilla. I never really got into the really trancy super-saw riff stuff. Through the years I would take some of those tunes with the memorable melodies that I really wanted to play, but did not really fit my set and rework them. I play allot of tracks that I have reworked in the studio to better fit my sets and my flow. I never really considered myself a trance DJ or producer, but my sound has since been embraced by the trance fans who are huge supporters now. I think trance fans are allot more open minded than house music purists and trance fans really appreciate when I experiment with different sounds within my sets.
Is there another kind of music you like a lot?
I am a big fan of melodic drum n bass from guys like Aphrodite. He actually has been a huge influence on me. I also am a big fan of classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and ELO. I even went though a time when I was really into alternative music. Front 242, The Smiths, The Cure, and Depeche Mode. Its funny, because if you listen closely to my artist album you can hear these influences of all of these artists in one way or another.
We already noticed a Markus Schulz track on Armin van Buuren's cd 'Boundaries of imagination' in 1999 (You won't see me cry). How did you guys met?
That was actually how Armin and I first met. I had been in Amsterdam during one of the Amsterdam Dance Events, and went to a club where this young up and coming Dutch DJ was spinning. I brought some of the vinyl promos to give to him. Well the Dutch DJ was Armin, and one of the promos I gave him was of "You Wont See Me Cry". A few months later, we received a phone call requesting to license the track for a compilation he was working on called "Boundaries of Imagination" We kept in contact ever since. It was really cool to have met before either one of us really got big. It makes our relationship a bit more special I think. A few years later Armin started up his own label "Armada", and I was the first artist released on their "Electronic Elements" label.
Nowadays you're one of the leading artists in the trance scene. What does this means for you?
It is very humbling and inspirational for me because my sound is something that came from within me. It was a sound that came through my life experiences, my ups and many downs. For people to have embraced this sound is just very special. I don't play all the typical super saw trance anthems. It would be very easy to be in front of 10,000 people and play a big epic trance monster and stand there with my hands in the air and just watch the crowd go crazy. That is very easy to do. But I can't do that. I have to stay true to who I am as an artist. It is more rewarding for me as an artist to play huge arenas and see people reacting to big gnarly basslines and twinkly melodies in the same way they used to react to the gated super saws.
How would you define your own style?
Underwater synths, Drum & bass baselines, chunky house grooves with twinkly ice cream truck melodies. I am kind of the "Anti-Trance" Trance guy.
Do you want to express your feelings into your music? Is there message in it?
Absolutely. I do not go into the studio with the mind set of making tunes for marketing reasons. I make music to touch people. It took me many hard years to find who I am as an artist, I don't ever want to revert back to the mind numbing period of just churning out tunes with no soul in it. This is why it took me 2 years to make my artist album "Without You Near". I actually made 22 tracks for the album but only used the ones that really fit what it was that I was trying to present.
In 2004 you entered on spot 32 in the DJ MAG top 100, in 2005 you almost reached the top 20 (nr 21). How important is this popularity poll for you?
For me, it is rewarding. The poll is voted on by the fans. The DJs who do not care about the poll are basically saying that they don't care about what the fans think. Every show I do, I give my 100%. Because I know that no matter where I am, whether it Is in front of 10,000 at a major festival or an intimate club in some remote city, those people have votes. I know many DJs that sometimes take a night off just because they are not in the mood and just play to try to get through the night. That is not respecting the people that have waited so long to see you or the promoters that pay good money to bring you to their city and make sure you are taken care of.
Which dj or producer inspires you?
I think the biggest inspiration for me has been Larry Levan. He was the DJ at the Paradise Garage in New York City in the 80's. I have never been to the Garage, but I have many friends in the industry who were regulars there. The stories that I heard about Larry and the atmosphere he created inspired me. I think sometimes hearing these stories are more powerful to me than had I actually gone there and experienced it. In my mind I imagine these moments of unity in the club, and the drama, tension and release that were all a big part of Larry Levan's sets.
Do you see yourself more as a dj or as a producer?
I have to do both. When I am producing a track, I always get excited about playing the tune out in one of my sets. When I am DJing, I get ideas in the middle of my set and get excited about getting back into the studio. I have to do both or I am not happy.
You also have your own label (Coldharbour Recordings) at Armada. What can we expect on it in the second part of 2006?
I have always said that the artist that I sign to Coldharbour are the next generation of great producers. I love watching guys like Elevation, Andrew Bennett, Hammer & Funabashi, Mike Foyle, and Probspot grow to the level that they are at now. I look forward to watching them continue to grow and seeing new artists like Santiago Nino, Pillow One, Kenneth Thomas, Lens, Niklas Harding and Anders Mikkelson be discovered.
You will also join the Armada crew at Ibiza this summer for another residency at club Amnesia on Tuesday. Are you looking forward to it?
Yes, I love Amnesia. It is one of my favorite clubs in the whole world. I am doing 5 dates again this year. That DJ booth is just magic. I do not know what it is, but when you are up there, something special takes a hold of you. I am especially excited about sharing the booth with Armin and Oakenfold on (insert date).
Do you still like traveling around the world, spinning your records from Miami to Amsterdam?
I love traveling. I consider myself a citizen of the world. I am not happy unless I am traveling. Sometimes I arrive at a place I have never been to before and I just sit in awe thinking about how lucky I am. I defiantly do not take things for granted. There are allot of talented guys out there who just have not gotten the break in their careers. I am truly am one of the lucky ones.
Is there a big difference between parties in Europe and the USA?
With the internet being such a big part of our scene, there really isn't that big of a difference. I could play something on my show and within weeks, everyone from Europe, Eastern Europe, North America and Australia will know it. It really makes for a global community.
You worked already together with Airwave. Do you know some other Belgian dj’s or producers and what do they mean to you?
Airwave is one of the most brilliant minds in the scene. He is just a genius. I love working with him. I also am very good friends with MIKE, who also is a very talented and terrific person. A good friend of mine, Austin Leeds works allot with Kobbe who is from Belgium, and although I have never worked with him, I am planning on spending time with Austin and Kobbe in the studio in the future. I am also good friends and a big fan of the Filterheadz.
You've played already once in Belgium (at club Illusion), at the end of July you will play on a major festival (Tomorrowland). What are your expectations?
When I played at Illusion the crowd was really motivating to me. I remember many times looking out at the crowd and just wanting to go out the middle of the dance floor and just be a part of them. I have never played a festival in Belgium, but if it is anything like the vibe at Club Illusion, I will surely have a great time.
Is there something else you want to say to our readers?
I just want to thank everyone for their support. I mentioned before that what I do comes from the heart. I do not make music or put out CDs as a marketing ploy. I do this with love and passion. For people to support me is amazing. I would be doing this even if my only fans were my family and my pets.
We wish you all the best!
FredNova
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http://www.mytrance.be
Last edited by FredNova on Sep-07-2006 at 19:19
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