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DJ Tiesto

Music has always been the biggest passion in Tistos life and he has always felt the need to share this passion with other people. Tistos career began in the early 80s & between 1985 and 1993 he held residencies in several clubs in Holland. It was in these years he laid the foundation for his musical tastes as well as developing his style. Tisto plays at all the biggest clubs and parties in the world, with his hectic schedule ensuring he is always on the move.

His remix of Deleriums Silence was the record to fully break Tisto in the U.K., spending four weeks in the Top Ten. It was also the first dance track to be played on North-America daytime radio. At present his much anticipated debut artist album In My Memory was just released, and is a good example of the various styles Tisto is capable of producing. It features the tracks Flight 643, which blasted into Hollands top ten, and the trance smash Suburban Train.

While many DJs tend to follow the alluring trend of playing only massive tunes with minimal appeal, DJ Tiesto sets himself apart from the pack by hand-picking tunes that will linger with people hours after the club has closed.

How do you feel about your set you just finished at Virgin Megastore?

Yeah, it was quite good. Normally when I do an in-store there is no vibe really. People are just staring, but today there was screaming, and clapping… So yeah, it was great!

Have you always been musically influenced?

Yeah sure, I always liked to share music that I like with other people.

What was your first big breakthrough as a DJ or a producer?

My first big breakthrough as a DJ was I think in 95. I was playing the trance hunt at the time, and I started putting out mixed compilations. Nobody else did that at the time. I began to become known by the CD buyers because a lot of my CDs were selling in the record stores. I had my breakthrough when people started to know me from the Magik mixed compilations.

What does it feel like to be considered amongst the top DJs in the world?

Its a dream come true. Ive been DJing in the clubs for about 12 or 13 years now and I always dreamed to be a famous DJ in Holland, you know. And now its worldwide. You cant imagine. I mean I still cant believe it myself that everything went so well.

What is the favourite track that you play?

I have many favourite tracks. It depends on the crowd, on the night. I mean sometimes I like really hard stuff to bring up the energy; sometimes I like really soft emotional stuff where you get the goose bumps. So yeah, it depends.

You mentioned before that you like the travelling part of being a DJ. Has your opinion changed now that you travel a lot farther and a lot more?

No, not really. But, the flying is a big hassle because you have to be in the airport 2 hours before. It takes so much of your time away, you know. But I still like travelling.. to be everywhere in the world. Tomorrow I go to Hong Kong, and Ive been in New York this week, Ive been to Panama, and now Im in Vancouver. So its a great life, Im not complaining. (laughs)

What do you feel is the best work you have produced?

I think is my album In My Memory because its got 9 tracks on there and its so diverse. Its got some balearic stuff in there, some techno like Flight 643, trance like Suburban Train, and the Magic Journey, its got all kinds of progressive stuff like Obsession. So Im really proud of it, and its my first album. Im gonna make a second one and its gonna be even better.

From all the shows that youve played is there any one that stands out as the most memorable?

Yeah, of course it was the first Innercity live in RAI Amsterdam. That was my big breakthrough in Holland. After that show everyone in Holland knew me. It was the first big rave in Holland. It was 30,000 people, it was all over the news, all over the television, and I played one of the best sets of my life. The crowd screamed every minute of my set.

Were you nervous beforehand because you knew it was going to be such a big show?

Yeah I was really nervous. And after I stopped playing I was so happy I started crying. I had finally made it, you know. But after that I had many memorable shows.

Its tough to pick them out youve played a few.

(laughs) Thousands now.

What do you think of MP3 file sharing and do you think it was responsible for a lot of your early popularity here in North America?

Yeah, I think it helped me a lot. I dont mind people sharing MP3 files. On the other hand its killing the music industry I think, because some artists lose a lot of money. I guess the big ones still make money, but a lot of companies are hurt by it. So its good and bad I think. In the future I think it will be bad for the industry. Especially for the small record labels, like the good underground labels. They need the money from compilations, the small amount of money they make, to release new tracks. Theyre going to suffer I think.

It seems some trance artists are branching off to other genres, like Paul Oakenfold getting into breakbeats. Do you see yourself doing something similar in the future?

Well actually I think my style has already changed compared to how it was 2 years ago. My style has been changing in the last 10 years, but very slowly and gradually. At the moment my set is a bit of everything, because Im not totally progressive, not totally euro uplifting, so I think I have my own sound. You can hear it on the album also I think, all the tracks are very unique sounding, and I think that is my style at the moment. Ive tried to develop my own style… the Tiesto style. (laughs)

You are responsible for a lot more production work then I think most people know. What are some of the other production names that you go by?

There are quite a few, but it is kind of a secret also. I have to work under other names because I work with other people. But I do work on the Kamaya Painters, and… Lots of stuff. Everyone knows I am also a part of Gouryella, or was a part of Gouryella. I decided to quit with Gouryella because Im not behind that sound anymore.

If they want the rest of the names they can search the internet.

(laughs) Theres plenty, Allure, Stray Dog… I also did some remixes that nobody knows about.

What is your favourite artist that you collaborate with in production?

I think Tom from Junkie XL, because he is a very talented guy. If I make a track with him it is like a whole band is playing. I made the track Obsession with him and its progressive dance techno, but its got that live band feeling on it. And hes really fun to work with, we have a good laugh.

Do you plan out your sets or do you play to the crowds reaction?

I plan out my sets so far that I can bring only 100 records and a few CDs on a plane. So thats what I select, but then everything is spontaneous. I try to listen to what they want, but I want to do it in my sound. So sometimes I know the crowd wants it to be a hard set. Like yesterday I played a rave in Calgary. Youre not going to play too soft over there because it doesnt sound good in the big room. And if I was playing an intimate club with beautiful people, then I play softer stuff most of the time. I definitely let the crowd decide what is going to happen.

When did you decide it was time to start your own label?

Because when I worked for another label, I always had to do stuff that I was not behind. I always had to put tracks on the compilations from the label. So then I thought, “This sucks.” I need to start my own stuff now and also for my future I thought, “I want to be in control of myself.”

What do you feel about the hundreds of beautiful girls that are screaming your name at every show, and do you have to hire a bodyguard to keep all of them off of you?

(laughs) Well actually, no I dont really need a bodyguard. People are excited when they see me the girls, but they are always polite, theyre not trying to pull my clothes of or anything. Its not like I am one of the Beatles or something, or like those guys. I mean, I do like it. Its great that you can get the attention.

I saw a picture on the internet the other day of you signing a girls breast. Youve probably done that more than once I imagine.

Ive signed more strange places on a girl (laughs) … You dont want to know.

Do you have a girlfriend?

I have a girlfriend, yeah. I mean you need a girlfriend. If I would be single it would be too much. Then I would go to every afterparty and meet up with every girl. (laughs)

With all the media that is involved in the industry now, do you think image has become as important as the music a DJ plays?

Yeah, I think its not just the music that counts, thats true. Its more like a show as well. But that is with all artists I think. I mean you like Marilyn Manson you have to dress up dark. I saw a concert of him when I was playing in Scotland. So that is about image and not only about music. And I think with DJs its the same way, I mean if you like John Digweed you like the cool progressive stuff, not laugh too much, not scream too much. I think every DJ in the top ten has his own style and his own kind of image I think.

Do you think that once your image has been established you have to almost play that role from then on?

Yeah, I think so. Once it is established. But for me it doesnt matter because Ive always been very natural. I dont have an image like I have to dress like this or do like that. My image is that I am myself, so I dont mind. I dont have to change that.

What is happening in the future for DJ Tiesto?

I dont know at the moment. I mean Im so happy how things were the last year. I mean, I worked with great artists, did great remixes, got to the number 6 position in the world. What more could I wish for? I dont know at the moment. Im just enjoying everything and Im very happy.

Youre just sitting back for the ride?

Yeah, it feels like one long orgasm (laughs), and it keeps on going. What more could I wish for?

I dont know it would be pretty tough. Youre getting paid to do what you want to do. Thats every persons dream.

Yeah, and people appreciate it. Thats even more important. I mean the money is all right and its one thing, but when the people really like you and they enjoy what you do that is the most important thing. Someone comes up to me and says, “You changed my life.” Thats whats hurting. Then you feel like ahhh.. I did something. You know? If you get like 10,000 bucks for a gig.. You dont feel happier after that. Its not that its happening all the time, just to give an example eh.

Website:

http://www.djtiesto.com/ and

http://www.nettwerk.com/

Interview by: Graham Robinson