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hahaha okay, here is my interview with him. Thanks Dima, for telling me what not to ask him (fyi, the superstar dj question was his idea  )
And OMG, thanks to Mike for being such a good sport! (you will see why as you read this interview)
Interview with Mike Foyle
KT: How old were you when your interest in electronic music first sparked, and what made you decide to make a career out of it?
M: When I was much younger, maybe 14, I was introduced properly to electronic music in general by a guy called Dom, who is the brother of my first proper girlfriend (he is an absolute legend I might add). He taught me the basics of mixing and showed me some of his mixes. I had already been messing around with crappy midi sequencers and random old samplers that my dad had and stuff for a couple of years before that, but only because I was a bit of a nerd, not because of a particular passion for electronic music! So anyway I was really interested in the stuff Dom did. My passion for trance and electronic music on the whole has progressively grown from there really. The more involved I got the more hooked I got. I never decided to make a career out of it, I'm not convinced I will make a career out of it if I'm honest, it's just a passion of mine and a bit of cash on the side! I'm studying music technology and innovation at the moment though and hoping to pursue music or sound in some shape or form as a career later in life.
KT: Can you describe how it felt when you heard one of your tracks being played (in a club or on a radio) for the first time?
M: It was insane! I was producing tracks long before DJing in clubs, so until about 2 years ago I never got the chance to play my own music out in clubs. The first time I heard one of my tracks in a club was when Armin dropped Space Guitar at The Gallery in London, and I remember being overwhelmed by the experience, even though looking back now, that seems rather silly!
KT: That’s not silly at all! What do you think about trance's steadily growing popularity and the rise of the superstar DJs? Do you feel the golden years of trance have passed, or is there something even better around the corner?
M: I'm not sure that the "superstar DJ" thing is rising anymore. Superstar DJs have existed for years it's not really a new thing. I think it's fair to say that for the past 2 years the quality of music being released has fallen significantly. It's probably also fair to say that had this not been the case I wouldn't have made a break into the industry in the first place. But hopefully what will happen now is that those producers who did break into the trance scene over the last few years will stay involved and develop their skills and tastes, then begin releasing much better quality music, which will then cause standards set by record labels to rise and the general quality of music being released will also rise. Though actually, in reality, with the ridiculous number of digital labels around these days, there is almost more competition between labels than there is between producers! I think you could release pretty much anything these days, even if it's disgracefully poor quality, because there are just so many labels who need to find material to release. It's way too easy to set up a label these days... I don't like it one bit.
KT: One of my favourite tracks ever is "Love Theme Dusk." The way you incorporated the piano into it is simply brilliant. Can you tell me a bit about this track? What inspired you to make it?
M: Well I just loved the piano melody and just leaped at the opportunity to use it. Dave (the composer) literally told us we should use it as if it were our own material, now that is generosity for you.. It is not everyday that that happens! Without Dave where would I be now? I owe a lot to him. And of course, "Love Theme Dusk" then inspired me to write Shipwrecked, (which I did write myself, just for the record)!
KT: Approximately how long does it usually take for you to produce a track, from start to finish?
M: Well I have got unfinished tracks on my hard drive that are 2 or 3 years old still waiting to be finished. One particular one, "broken piano" will definitely be finished one day, when I can be bothered lol. I've also completed entire tracks in no more than 2 or 3 days, so it really varies a lot!! If I'm full of inspiration and prepared to work solidly for a few days I'll get a track done.
KT: Have you ever received any formal music training? Or did you teach yourself? (What instruments can you play?)
M: I have played violin since I was a child. I stopped taking lessons a few years ago but still play it for fun. I played in several local orchestras as lead violinist. Without the classical background, I don't think I would be as passionate about music as I am today. I always hated playing the violin as a kid, but I am so thankful now to my parents for encouraging me to stick with it.
KT: What DJ or producer do you most admire, and why?
M: I admire anyone who is unique and makes the music they enjoy making. There isn't really one person who I admire over everyone else though.
KT: Tell me something about yourself that most people don't know!
M: Most things that people don't know about me are secrets haha. But ok.. how about..... ummmm.... i don't know! I have a trampoline in my back garden?! Great I bet that's made your day!
KT: Oh wow, that really did make my day!!! Thanks for telling me that! Do you ever go out to events, as a member of the crowd and not as a producer/DJ?
M: Of course!! I love going clubbing. I think it's essential for any DJ to feel the clubbing experience from the other side of the decks!
KT: Mike, would you like me to suck your cock?
M: Filthy girl..
KT: Ok, I will take that as a “yes”….How and why is your producing different from your spinning?
M: It isn't. It's just that I haven’t bothered producing much lately, just random remixes and reworks of older tracks. Soon you will hear some harder stuff from me I can assure you. I just grew out of the slow boring stuff!!
KT: In a few years from now, where do you hope to see yourself?
M: In space! Haha no seriously, I really don't know. Hopefully I'll graduate and go on to get a really interesting job in the Sound or Music industry. Possibly producing music for TV adverts or films. I'd like to keep up the DJing and releasing my own tracks for as long as I can as well though. Hopefully I won't get too old for that in a hurry.
KT: Mike, thanks for your time! I hope to see you in Toronto really soon!!! =)
M: Thanks, I hope so to!
Mike
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Re: Mike Foyle in Toronto!
lolz
