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Above & Beyond are the 'it' boys of Trance.
How many other producers can you think of who have remixed some of the world's biggest pop artists including Madonna and Britney Spears, oversee one of the genres most talked about labels, and have time to do a weekly radio show that has captured the ears of our impressionable youth.
At the moment it seems like every pair of eyes and ears are on Above & Beyond, making you begin to wonder when the bubble will burst. However with a track record like theirs, that question seems totally irrelevant with the boys also in the midst of supporting their current release, "Anjunabeats: V.3".
Above & Beyond's three members gave RA a little insight into what their expecting at their first experience of this year's Love Parade in San Francisco.
Which float will the group be playing at?
Jono Grant: Not sure yet! (*but they are playing at the official afterparty for the Love Parade)
How excited are the three of you to be playing in North America’s version of the Love Parade?
Tony McGuinness: Very excited indeed - we've done lots of festivals this year and this one looks set to round off the season in spectacular style.
This year’s Love Parade in San Francisco has expanded to the entire weekend with pre-parties, post-parties, and weekend parties throughout the city in celebration of the Love Parade and the idea of Dr. Motte’s “Love, Peace, and Pancakes”. How do you think the Love Parade is different to other dance events like Glastonbury, Global Gathering, or the Extrema Festival?
JG: Well, for a start it’s being held in San Francisco, which in my mind is one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world. I also like the attitude of the people there, and there’s nothing better than playing to a receptive and intelligent audience. Most of the other festivals are held in fields or airstrips, so I think this party will be quite different.
Have you been to any of the different Love Parade's around the world? Is it different? Is the mood the same?
TM: This is our first Love Parade anywhere, but we've done Global Gathering, Creamfields and Dance Valley and the great thing about big festivals is that a wide range of people that come compared to club nights - it's a great opportunity to play to new people for a start and the festival atmosphere really encourages people to let go!
What is your favorite memory while playing/or just attending any of the Love Parades?
JG: For me it’s simply when you see the best part of 10,000 singing along to one of your songs – there’s nothing to quite match that feeling, especially when you can’t help remembering being in the studio with just the 3 of us writing the song. It’s quite a contrast!
The Love Parade and Woodstock have the same essence, same vibe; two events that bring love and peace; colorful and open-minded people together in one location, with a massive party and some of the most popular entertainers of their time. Do you see any correlations between this and Woodstock?
TG: Certainly - there's a very different vibe when you combine huge crowds, an outdoor setting and a massive production - its a very liberating combination compared to a club set up - its more extroverted and confident in its aims.
Do you believe dance music, or dance culture is just a fad like what most people in the general music business believe?
JG: I don’t think it’s a fad at all – there’s an inherent enjoyment to be had from dancing to the grooves you’ll find in dance music (in all sub-genres), and I don’t think anyone can ever remove that from people.
TM: Dance music has been around for thousands of years, so if it is a fad it’s a very long one. The current incarnation has its roots in disco, and that's a 30 year fad that shows no signs of fading, really. I think the music business likes to think of itself as being on top of trends, but dancing is a desire of the people to have a good time and doesn't respond well to marketing controls - whenever the media interest goes elsewhere dance culture goes underground for a while and just gets stronger.
Do you think the parade will open or has opened the eyes of those that haven’t paid attention to dance culture? Do you think this event will eventually revitalize the presence of dance music in mainstream culture in America?
JG: Definitely – that's what’s so exciting about playing at this kind of an event. I like the idea of converting a few people who maybe didn’t think that dance music was for them, too. I think events like these can only help the dance scene as a whole, no matter which country they’re in.
TG: Certainly, yes. Any time there is a big gathering of interested people, be it the World Cup or Woodstock, slightly less interested people are drawn in at the edges by the energy and enthusiasm of those involved and the thing grows.
Do you have any time off to explore and enjoy San Francisco during the weekend or will the parties and the parade itself consume your life? What’s your opinion about San Francisco in general?
JG: I think our schedule is pretty tight and we only have 1 day as far as I know. That’s a real shame as I’d love to spend some more time there. As I mentioned earlier, San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love the mix of cultures and old and new – it’s full of character both architecturally and geographically. I also found the people very warm and friendly, and there’s great sushi on offer!
The group has been touring relentlessly for Anjunabeats: Volume Three, done a set on BBC's Radio 1, played in Ibiza, and will be releasing a debut artist album soon. What else will be in store for A&B?
TM: We're off to Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia in a few weeks and in between the DJ'ing we're working furiously in the studio on the new OceanLab single and our first Above & Beyond artist album which will be out next year. We'll be previewing the new single at the Love Parade - it’s called "Alone Tonight".
Author: Michael Ta.
Published: Tuesday, September 13, 2005.
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