Paul-Van-Dyk
Soon you will be back in Ibiza as Resident at Cream @ Amnesia, any new surprises for this summer?
Well, I have my big ‘Best Of’ package, which has just been released with a lot of remixes of some of the classics that will be played. Ibiza is always full of surprises and is always very energetic and very banging and I’m looking forward to it.
You’re performing for Cream @ Amnesia in the main room, which is the most famous dancefloor on the island, why do you think this is? Eg. Is it a combination of music / layout / décor / production / atmosphere etc?
I think that the special thing about Ibiza and even more so about Cream at Amnesia is the fact that people from all different cultural backgrounds come together and have a good time and it doesn’t matter what God you believe in, or what citizenship you have, people are equal, and you have to be tolerant and respectful. It is something that is a very unique thing, having all these people from different places together in one room having a good time.
You’ve been exclusive resident for Cream @ Amnesia for a number of years now, and formed a unique and hugely successful partnership with the clubbing brand? Why do you think it works so well?
Well, as much as I don’t like to see myself as a brand so much, Cream and myself work so well together as first of all, everybody who works at Cream is extremely professional and that leads very often to a successful partnership, and we both appeal to an international crowd, Cream has a following that is global and world wide and I have that too, so when these worlds come together it is even more exciting.
Do you think the vibe of Ibiza has changed over the years?
I’m sure it has, but I have to say I don’t know much about it funny enough, even though I go there every year quite a few times, I’m flying in on Thursday for Cream and I’m flying out Friday morning. So I wouldn’t know so much if the general vibe has changed, all I can say is that the parties on Thursday night are as exciting as they have been!
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
My favourite track of the moment is called ‘Drops of Equator’ by Filo & Perry
What ‘ultimate’ track do you always ensure you carry with you which is guaranteed to make the crowd go off?
Well obviously, whenever I play Fallen Angel, that’s always a sure shot, but one thing in the bag when I’m playing in Ibiza is a track called ‘Dreaming’ I think it is by Ruff Driverz, it has this little Spanish line, and a little Spanish guitar in there but is quite banging too, it always works.
As the Ibiza crowd is so international and eclectic, do you change your sound?
It’s a big holiday destination, and people want to have a good time, so to some extent playing there you can fill the set with some of the big Ibiza classics, for example ‘Greece 2000’. Everybody loves it and when you play it in Ibiza, everyone goes wild, but I wouldn’t necessarily play it in my regular set because, it is a classic and it doesn’t fit, but in Ibiza it will work.
There’s so much technology out there at the moment for DJ’s, what technology do you use when you DJ at Cream? Do you miss Vinyl?
I don’t miss vinyl and I don’t use CDJ’s, I have 2 computer systems with me. One is full with all my material the other one has a lot of software synthesizers installed and I have mini keyboards with me, where I can play a lot of things live, I have a mini controller & I have a custom made mixer.
Does this mean that each set is live and every time that you do them something new is going to happen?
Exactly, for example I could play your favourite track, but it could sound completely different as I would play a different base line, additional hooks to it and different drums, so it would sound so much more intense and fit perfectly into the moment when I play it in my set.
What is the best part about playing the Ibiza season with Cream?
It’s just extremely exciting, a lot of fun and very energetic. It is something that I enjoy, because I am a raver in my head, so if I wasn’t on that side of the mixer I would be down there jumping up and down too, and that’s great.
Last year you celebrated Creamfields 10th Anniversary in style, packing out the Cream Arena, how was the party for you?
It was great, it’s probably the longest on going pure dance festival in the UK.
Will you be bringing us some new tracks off the album during your set?
Absolutely, but I’m also writing music right now for my next album that comes out in 2010, so I will probably play something new as well.
Do you trial your music, before it goes on the album, to see how people react to different tracks?
As I explained before my set up is very interactive, so it’s not that I’m trying whole tracks, but elements of them, like playing a hook line and seeing how the crowd reacts to it live, changing it, building it up and then taking it back to the studio and producing it.
What advice would you give any budding DJ entering the scene at the moment?
Believe in your dreams and do what you like.
You’re one of the few DJ’s who has remained at the top of his game for the last 15 years, what’s the secret of your success?
Well, 2 things. First of all I don’t have any fake image, the person you see and the person you talk to, that is me and the other thing is that on one hand I have a very clear idea about my sound and the music that I like to play but I’m not a snobby arsed DJ, I’m always interacting with the crowd, seeing what’s going on and reacting to it.
Do you go clubbing much socially?
Well, not right now, it’s rather hectic and when I’m home and hanging out with friends, we go and have a beer or eat something.
What 3 acts would sum up your ultimate festival line up? Dead or alive?
Carl Cox, Sasha & I would love to see Shades of Rhythm.
Slightly off the subject, I believe your into horses? Could you tell us about this?
Well it’s more a thing that my wife does very well, she’s an amazing corsage rider and she’s training and doing the most amazing things. Obviously with my life I’m pretty much in the music industry, I know a lot of people there, so pretty much there’s just a few people outside of the music industry, because it is so hectic and so busy, that I know. So through the horse world I have met a lot of very cool people.
So you get a break from talking about music the whole time?
What I really enjoy about it is my wife and the horses, I’m just there, just being ‘normal’.
‘Creamfields is one of the best dance festivals in the world and if you don’t go you miss out.’
Paul van Dyk performs in the Cream Arena @ Creamfields on Sunday 30th August Bank Holiday weekend. Tickets on sale now.
Soon you will be back in Ibiza as Resident at Cream @ Amnesia, any new surprises for this summer?
Well, I have my big ‘Best Of’ package, which has just been released with a lot of remixes of some of the classics that will be played. Ibiza is always full of surprises and is always very energetic and very banging and I’m looking forward to it.
You’re performing for Cream @ Amnesia in the main room, which is the most famous dancefloor on the island, why do you think this is? Eg. Is it a combination of music / layout / décor / production / atmosphere etc?
I think that the special thing about Ibiza and even more so about Cream at Amnesia is the fact that people from all different cultural backgrounds come together and have a good time and it doesn’t matter what God you believe in, or what citizenship you have, people are equal, and you have to be tolerant and respectful. It is something that is a very unique thing, having all these people from different places together in one room having a good time.
You’ve been exclusive resident for Cream @ Amnesia for a number of years now, and formed a unique and hugely successful partnership with the clubbing brand? Why do you think it works so well?
Well, as much as I don’t like to see myself as a brand so much, Cream and myself work so well together as first of all, everybody who works at Cream is extremely professional and that leads very often to a successful partnership, and we both appeal to an international crowd, Cream has a following that is global and world wide and I have that too, so when these worlds come together it is even more exciting.
Do you think the vibe of Ibiza has changed over the years?
I’m sure it has, but I have to say I don’t know much about it funny enough, even though I go there every year quite a few times, I’m flying in on Thursday for Cream and I’m flying out Friday morning. So I wouldn’t know so much if the general vibe has changed, all I can say is that the parties on Thursday night are as exciting as they have been!
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
My favourite track of the moment is called ‘Drops of Equator’ by Filo & Perry
What ‘ultimate’ track do you always ensure you carry with you which is guaranteed to make the crowd go off?
Well obviously, whenever I play Fallen Angel, that’s always a sure shot, but one thing in the bag when I’m playing in Ibiza is a track called ‘Dreaming’ I think it is by Ruff Driverz, it has this little Spanish line, and a little Spanish guitar in there but is quite banging too, it always works.
As the Ibiza crowd is so international and eclectic, do you change your sound?
It’s a big holiday destination, and people want to have a good time, so to some extent playing there you can fill the set with some of the big Ibiza classics, for example ‘Greece 2000’. Everybody loves it and when you play it in Ibiza, everyone goes wild, but I wouldn’t necessarily play it in my regular set because, it is a classic and it doesn’t fit, but in Ibiza it will work.
There’s so much technology out there at the moment for DJ’s, what technology do you use when you DJ at Cream? Do you miss Vinyl?
I don’t miss vinyl and I don’t use CDJ’s, I have 2 computer systems with me. One is full with all my material the other one has a lot of software synthesizers installed and I have mini keyboards with me, where I can play a lot of things live, I have a mini controller & I have a custom made mixer.
Does this mean that each set is live and every time that you do them something new is going to happen?
Exactly, for example I could play your favourite track, but it could sound completely different as I would play a different base line, additional hooks to it and different drums, so it would sound so much more intense and fit perfectly into the moment when I play it in my set.
What is the best part about playing the Ibiza season with Cream?
It’s just extremely exciting, a lot of fun and very energetic. It is something that I enjoy, because I am a raver in my head, so if I wasn’t on that side of the mixer I would be down there jumping up and down too, and that’s great.
Last year you celebrated Creamfields 10th Anniversary in style, packing out the Cream Arena, how was the party for you?
It was great, it’s probably the longest on going pure dance festival in the UK.
Will you be bringing us some new tracks off the album during your set?