ok so I finally had the chance to post this interview up. I must say that I LOVE this guy so much!! He is brilliant, and really down to earth. I forgot to ask a few things, but whatever. I couldn't read my paper because it was way too dark, so I just said stuff off the top of my head.

Thanks to Barry and Jay for their advice ahead of time! *muah*


Interview with John '00' Fleming By Katie Olsheskie

First of all, I have to say that you played a fantastic set! I couldn't stop dancing, even to take pictures!

- haha, that's great to hear! I had such a great time spinning tonight. Now look, Mark EG is up there!!

Oh shit, he looks crazy! haha

- He IS crazy! ahaha

Good point! Ok here we go. What brings you to WEMF?

- I don 't think I even have to answer that. Just take a look out there (points to the crowd). I'm gonna come back every year if I can!

Oh that's wikkid! Throughout the years, WEMF has changed a lot. An example is the fact that they introduced the rock stage this year. What are your thoughts on that?

- I think it's brilliant. At this festival, it's all about the music. You can just go to the stage and be a part of it. There's something for everyone to enjoy, depending on what mood you're in. I think it's brilliant. It's a really, really good idea.

When you are spinning, you look so happy and energetic. Where does all that energy come from?

- I just love music. I have so much passion when I'm spinning because I love my job. When I'm playing in front of a crowd, I get so excited - I'm sharing my music with everyone out there. It's just really exciting!

Well, your love for music definitely shows when you are performing. When you produce, do you tend to do everything on a schedule, or do you do do it when you're inspired?

- I prefer to do it when I'm inspired, but I unfortunately can't always work that way because my life is so busy. I'm always flying everywhere, so I have to work on a schedule most of the time.

How do you deal with constantly traveling and having a tight schedule? Do you find it stressful?

- Yeh yeh, but I think I have gotten used to it. I find that now I can deal with things like that, especially with the flying. One day I will have a 15 hour flight, and then the very next day I have another 15 hour flight. I'm fine with it. You'd be surprised - now I have become an expert at sleeping on airplanes! hahaha

I've noticed that lately a lot of DJs such as Sasha and Johan are changing their styles from trance to house. What do you think about that, and do you ever see yourself changing your style?

- I have progressively changed over the years. I think it's important to keep moving along to keep people interested in your music. Sometimes the DJ's music becomes really boring and predictable. I mean, if they've been doing the same thing for so many years, you want to hear something new.

What do you think about the way DJs are rated, such as in DJ Mag? Do you think it's a fair system?

- Well, to be honest, I think it's very sad. I respect everyone on there. I just think that it's such an unfair rating. Don't think that those DJs don't deserve to be on there - they do, but there's lots of people that have worked very hard and should be recognized, but they aren't. They should be more open to more DJs so they can be given a chance. Yeah, so I think it's a really unfair poll.

I know you enjoy spending time in Canada, specifically Ottawa. What draws you there?

- haha yeah, I love it there. I haven't been to Ottawa in a little while but I really enjoy spinning there. I would love to go back soon. I really like small clubs like surface. It's a great little place with an amazing atmosphere. That's why I like it there so much.

If you could say something to the people who are just starting to mix, what would it be?

- What I would like to say to everyone is: play music that you truly love. Don't play music that you don't like just because you are trying to be recognized. Just play the music that you love if you really want to be recognized. That's really important.

Thank you sooo much for taking the time out right after your brilliant set so I could talk to you!!

- haha no problem at all, I enjoyed it. Now get back out there and enjoy the rest of the night!



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Here is my article that I missed the deadline for. blah. oh well, writing is always good practise, whether it gets published or not!


World Electronic Music Festival in Tweed - Enormous Success

Hundreds of national and international musicians gather together in small community

By Katie Olsheskie
Special to the Intelligencer

Thousands of music fans flocked to Tweed this past weekend for the 12th annual World Electronic Music Festival, known better to many as WEMF.

From July 21 to 23, Trudeau Park was transformed into a massive three day all-ages music festival, hosted by Destiny Event Productions. Approximately six thousand people packed up their tents and sleeping bags and congregated to the area to enjoy over 200 DJs and bands. Many artists such as John ‘00’ Fleming, Anne Savage, Thrillseekers, and Jackal & Hyde arrived all the way from Europe, while Canadian breakthrough rock and roll bands such as Pilot, Mobile, and Broken Social Scene also performed at WEMF this year. It was, to say the least, extremely successful.

Jason Phillip, a 24 year old WEMF attendee from Newmarket, Ontario, had a great time.
“I didn’t come here for any specific artists. I came here for the vibe.”
When asked for his thoughts on this year’s festival compared to the previous ones, Phillip explained,
“Every year WEMF travels in different directions. Not necessarily improving, but always changing. Change is good.”

Not only did the fans enjoy WEMF this year, but the artists also had an amazing time playing for the crowds. John ‘00’ Fleming, one of the world’s best known DJs, has spun at WEMF many times. After being questioned on why he keeps returning to it, he looked at the ecstatic group of people dancing in front of a stage, smiled, and quickly replied,
“I don’t think I even have to answer that. Just take a look out there at the crowd! I’m going to come back every year if I can.”

A question that many people want to know is - why Tweed, of all places, to host WEMF? Why not somewhere that is used to the electronic music scene, like Toronto?
“After searching across the province, the WEMF collective chose a site that will allow it to create an event that is true to the roots of where WEMF came from and what it has become,” answered Ryan Krueger, president of Destiny Event Productions. “We were looking for a venue that featured both indoor and outdoor stage areas, large forested campgrounds, and a lake. We wanted to find a location close to civilization, but not too close. Our goal was to allow the tourism benefits of the event to support a community without any negative impact to that same community. Tweed is the perfect location in all these respects.”

The small town of Tweed had greatly profited from this event. The economic benefits were staggering.
“With a smaller community, we are able to have a major impact with regard to tourism and event spending,” said Krueger. “Our post event research has indicated that there is an influx of between $750,000 and $1,000,000 in direct and indirect spending in the local community as a result of our event each year. A certain percentage of these people will return for travel unrelated to our event and create an additional benefit that many people overlook.”

By Sunday evening, the thousands of tents and vehicles had cleared from Trudeau Park. All of the delighted music lovers had left with experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

A portion of the proceeds of this year’s WEMF are being generously donated to Skate 4 Cancer, and to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

Last edited by me@t k@tie on Jul-26-2006 at 16:26