Part 4 of la dj's 4 part interview w/Above & Beyond!

[wetgroovin]

1. Where do you see trance heading in the near and distant future?
I think it’s broadening a lot. And I think it’s about time it did. I think what happened to dance music is that it got pigeon-holed into certain genres. When I got into clubbing, all those years ago, I’m only 26, I sound like an old man! When I was 16 or 17, I shouldn’t have been going to clubs of course, because I should have been 18! The music I was hearing in clubs was a wider variety of music. Rather than just hearing trance, you wouldn’t have a trance night. You’d hear a few house records then you’d hear some hard house, as it was called then. Which isn’t like the hard house that you hear now, it’s more like pumping trance almost in fact. Where I was from, that’s what they called hard house. Then progressive house as well. You’d hear a mix of all these different styles in one night. I think that’s what made it interesting. That’s what we try and do, in a sense, in an Above & Beyond dj set is that we ride the peaks and troughs of the night and make sure people go on a journey. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s important that, well for me personally, that there’s a variety of music in the night and not just one sound. I mean there is certainly a defining Anjunabeats sound that people recognize which might be heard. In terms of the direction of trance, I think it’s diversifying that’s my personal opinion. More elements of other genres incorporating into the style.
2. What are your top tunes at the moment?
One of the biggest ones for me is actually a classic trancer on our label called Nitrous Oxide – North Pole. It’s not out yet, it’s going to be on Anjunabeats Volume 4. It’s such a big record. It’s a little bit like Alt+F4. It’s one of those real classic trancers. We get a lot of classic trancers through the post. Some of them don’t quite work, they don’t sound quite sincere somehow. They don’t have that magic that say Ferry Corsten will put into his records, for example, in those classic Ferry Corsten remixes; where as this just has that magic. And for that, it’s probably one of the biggest tunes at the moment. Can’t Sleep off our album is very big for us at the moment as well, but that’s one of our own tracks so I shouldn’t say that one really. Another track I really like, we’ve been playing for a few months, is something a little more funkier and housier and it’s a track called Rob Mooney – Feelin’ Electro. That’s really nice. It’s what I call a “filler record”. It’s a record you use to pad out your set. But it really keeps the floor moving. It’s a little bit slow at 130 bpm record, but it’s really funky. It always gets a great reaction, but it’s not really a melodic track. Nitrous Oxide – North Pole that’s a very melodic track. But this one’s more of a club record.
3. When will we see an Anjunabeats Volume 4?
Let me consult with James actually. “James, Anjunabeats Volume 4 is going to be released in June?” July. July 2006.


Now for some fan questions I’ve compiled:
1. Frostdude1 from Trance.nu wants to know: How did the collaboration with Darren Tate come about? Do you think Nocturnal Creatures is your best collaboration?
I think on those two records, Let The Light Shine In, is a better record for me personally. The collaboration came about because I met with Darren Tate in Japan all those years ago. We got on really well. He’s a real funny character actually. He’s got a very distinctive sense of humor I will say. Which could be taken the wrong way by certain people, it’s a very dry sense of humor. So we decided to a track together. He’s such a talented musician. It’s quite interesting because I play the piano as well. So it’s like to muses in the studio there talking about chords and stuff. We came up with Let The Light Shine In and then a year later we did Nocturnal Creatures. It was just because we’re like minded and decided to do a track together. I’m really happy with the result.

2. kizzye from Anjunabeats forum is curious to know: And what do you think about the growth of Anjunabeats and Above & Beyond over the last year or so? What do you see for the future of Anjunabeats and Above & Beyond?
It’s great to be reaching more people. The main thing that we’ll keep in mind is to keep a focus on the quality of the material we put out and not let the growth take control of what we do really. We’ve always been good at doing things on the ground level. Making sure that people who really understand the music appreciate what we’re doing and understand it. And understand our mindset I guess. We just have to make sure we don’t lose sight of that. But the growth is only a good thing as far as I’m concerned.
3. jeffspock from dallasdancemusic.com asks: Do you ever work with major producers of other genres to help diversify your sound and skill set?
It’s something I definitely like to do. I think that’s important for us. There’s no point in collaborating with another DJ or producer really at this stage. Sometimes it’s really good fun to do that. In terms of doing something groundbreaking, there’s no point in collaborating with another DJ/producer. Unless they’re from a different genre, a producer of a different style of music, like rock music or something like that, they’re gonna come at it at a different angle. So yeah, it’s definitely an interesting thing to do and I’d like to do it.

Thanks for taking the time out to speak to me! Have a safe trip out to this side of the pond! I’ll see you Friday May 12th at Fire inside the Lizard Lounge in Dallas, Texas. Thanks to Jessica at Magnum PR for setting this up.

[la dj]

so now that the entire interview's out there...


how'd i do?

[Beatrite]

Originally Posted by la dj

so now that the entire interview's out there...


how'd i do?

excellent job, D. your interview was very thorough and it seems the guy(s) had just as much fun doing the interview as you did. congrats on a job well done!

[wetgroovin]

Originally Posted by Just DJ

excellent job, D. your interview was very thorough and it seems the guy(s) had just as much fun doing the interview as you did. congrats on a job well done!

EXACTLY!!!

thakns again bro. anytime you want to helm an interview with some of our upcoming artists just let me know.

[la dj]

Originally Posted by wetgroovin

EXACTLY!!!

thakns again bro. anytime you want to helm an interview with some of our upcoming artists just let me know.

your inbox is full, but yes! i'd love to do some more in the future. it was fun. now that i have my first one under my belt, i wont stress myself out on any new opportunities.

thanks again for the chance to talk to jono. he's a very cool cat. so looking forward to friday night!!