Paul van Dyk famous Trance producer/Dj (also ranked #1 DJ in work by mixmag) is releasing his new album entitled 'Evolution' is scheduled for release on 21 February 2012.
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Paul Van Dyk takes time out from his busy schedule to talk to Ramis Cizer about evolution, authenticity and some other things PvD.
Seasoned international circuit DJ Paul Van Dyk is back on tour and restless to continue pushing electronic music boundaries; Evolution being the name of his world tour and upcoming album.
With two DJ Magazine world’s best DJ awards in 2005 and 2006 and a shared Grammy for in 2008 for his contribution to the Dark Knight, Van Dyk really doesn’t need any introduction.
Gatecrasher, Birmingham is his next stop on 1 October 2011, and the DJ looks back fondly at the now legendary 6hr sets that he played at Gatecrasher, Sheffield in the late 1990s. Back then he had a residency, now he’s touring the world and Gatecrasher was always going to be revisited.
I guess it’s probably because I’m authentic you know, I’m not running around and trying to be the next big hype, and playing what’s trendy. I’ve basically developed my very own idea about electronic music, what a lot of people have called PvD style. I’ve developed that and I suppose people know what they get and people actually appreciate that there’s not some fake image up on stage, but actually a person who really likes what he’s doing.
Umm…I wouldn’t really use that word. When I write my music I have a very clear idea about how everything should be. I’m doing it without any compromises, exactly how I think it should be. On the other hand when I’m on stage I’ve a very clear idea about my sound, about the music I want to bring across, down to the interaction with my crowd. So it’s more open ended, and I’m really interacting with them, like taking the vibe of the venue and incorporating it into what my music is going to be like. I think it’s a mixture.
I think it’s a different approach. It’s more other people that actually try to find a template and call it electronic music and say that 'this is house music, this is trance music'. The problem is that everybody has a very different individual definition of what this is. I’m pretty sure that even you would have a different opinion of what is minimal techno, what’s minimal house; what’s techno, what’s minimal techno; or what’s trance, what’s progressive - where’s the borderline? Nobody can actually define that. This is why I call it electronic music. I’m not really looking around for the next big hype or something, as I said. And of course I’m listening to so much music all the time, not only electronic music and somehow all this inspires me. This is how my music always develops and includes elements which I may never have discovered before. But it’s not that I’m kind of looking for 'x, y, z had a big hit with that sound so I need to make a track that sounds like this'. I’m not like that.
Date: Saturday 1st October 2011
Event: Paul van Dyk at Gatecrasher Birmingham
Venue: Gatecrasher Birmingham
Artists: JFK, Paul Van Dyk
I really have to say with their club in Birmingham they’ve set another benchmark for clubbing in the UK. If not the best then it’s probably one of the top three clubs in the UK. Also, of course I have a past with Gatecrasher. I was one of the residents in the old Sheffield days and we did those 6hr exclusive sets and things like that. You know, I carry some passion for that club or that brand. On the other hand once again it’s not just some historical positive thought. They deliver something, they deliver one of the best clubs, a phenomenal club with a great setting and they always manage to get a really up for it crowd. So this is why it’s so exciting to play there.
The album now is definitely scheduled for the 21st February 2012. I think if I reveal everything about the album now then it’s not really interesting when it's coming (laughs); besides of the music of course. I’ve had the great chance of working with phenomenal artists, from the known ones and to some unknown very talented up and coming people. It is an album that I’m really, really, proud of. People that know me and know my music say it’s the best music that I’ve ever done. I’m really proud of it and I can’t wait for it to be released, to see what my audience thinks about it.
Oh, no, no, the thing is when you hear me on tour, of course, I’m playing quite a lot of the new stuff. So when you see me playing you may have heard a few pieces. And then as well, there was kind of a track that we gave a sneaky preview before the Ibiza season, it was called “Rock This”, which become quite a big hit our there. It’s a really punchy, “electro’y”, “trancy”, piano anthem.
Well it is an open ended journey, this is the interesting thing. Evolution as I understand it is that everything develops for the better. Everything can be done better at one point. So in a way evolution is an open ended thing. So when I start playing my set I’m already excited about my next set. This is the thing - things are going to get better and are going to progress. And I think this is what evolution is in all areas; in nature as much as music or even us humans in a way.
Politics and Dancing was the name of the DJ mix series, you know, me mixing and remixing other peoples music. With Evolution this is my artist album, this is music that basically I created myself as a musician. I’m pretty sure that at one point I will feel inspired to make another DJ mix CD that could very well be part of the “Politics of Dancing” series. The thing is, I don’t think music itself can politically change something, it is the impact that music has on people’s lives that inspires people to change something. It’s sort of like a through the backdoor sort of approach. It’s not really the music that’s changing the world, it's either the artist that gains popularity through the music that then speak out and change something or people inspired by the music. It’s a slightly different concept.
Pretty much everything to be honest (laughs). I don’t know, I have a big apply machine in my studio which is somewhat the core centre piece. I have a big programme control that sort of brings it all together. It’s like asking a band, what’s your favourite instrument? It’s a mixture of all things together that creates the music in a way. I need everything in order to make the music, so it’s the entire studio.
Catch Paul Van Dyk's return to Gatecrasher as part of his Evolution World Tour on Saturday October 1st. Tickets are available here.
+ New Interview featuring information on Evolution
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DD: Speaking of the music being more intense, there’s a drum and bass track on the new album, yes?
PvD: Yes. I’ve been called a trance DJ. I’m not even really playing any trance tracks. Yes I have synth sweeps and big pads but at the same time it’s much techier and more electro than what you would get in the trance world. For me it’s all about electronic music and for me, electronic music is combining all my favorite elements. For that particular song it just felt like, ‘wow, it’s so much better for the composition if I speed the whole song up.’ This track, at 130 with a house beat, would sound like ****.
+ Paul is currently on Worldwide tour! Here is video of his set & dates that are left which go well into 2012!
Dec 17 VANDIT Nights Berlin, Germany
Dec 29 The City Cancun, Mexico
Dec 31 White Wonderland @ Anaheim Convention Centre Anaheim, CA
Jan 21 Creamfields Florianopolis, Brazil
Feb 25 Steiermarkhalle Graz, Austria
Mar 03 Doomben Racecourse Brisbane, Australia
Mar 04 Arena Joondalop Perth, Australia Tickets
Mar 10 Royal Randwick Racecourse Randwick Nsw, Australia
Mar 11 Flemington Racecourse Flemington Vic, Australia
Mar 12 Ellis Park Adelaide, Australia
+ Exclusive: Paul van Dyk Sets New Album, Video Series for 2012
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I look like I've been in New York for three weeks," joked Paul van Dyk as he stood in slightly tattered military garb on the set of his new video. The world-renowned dance music artist is in the process of making a series of videos for his upcoming album, "Evolution," the first full album the former No. 1 ranked DJ has made since 2007's "In Between."
When asked about the concept behind this video series, it was apparent that the vision was born in the mind of Paul. "I was sitting at my iPad thinking like your regular music consumer and I'm staring at the same still shot of the front cover of the album I'm listening to, and I realized that we have the technology at hand, so why not bring something more on the video side, and not just the audio side?"
On the Set: Paul van Dyk
Anthony Burns, the director of the videos, spoke a bit more on what the setting would be in these videos. "Paul's camp approached me with the idea of doing one video per song, and asked me 'what would you do?' I suggested that we create a world that is linked for the entire album -- one that proposes a possible future for planet Earth where technology and nature collide in interesting and weird ways." The videos will all feature Paul, as well as the guest artists on "Evolution" -- a list that includes Adam Young of Owl City and Dev.
"Evolution" is an apt name for this 16-track album. "I need to evolve with the changes in music as it is my profession as a DJ," Paul stated. "However, it is up to me as an artist to decide if I think the music is something that is creatively interesting. "Evolution" is an album that demonstrates my personal evolution as an artist, rather than what is a reflection of the latest trendy sound. My advisors are saying it's the best music I've done."
Originally slated for a 2011 release, the album will now debut March 20, 2012. "After we came up with this video concept, we pushed it back because we wanted to do it right and wanted it to mean as much to the people who watched it as it does to us."
PVD's new album and video could not be coming at a better time, as the world dance music scene has exploded in an unprecedented way in the past two years and Paul has the opportunity to present himself to a whole new generation of electronic music lovers. He was able to break down the current level of interest in dance music into a few key areas. "There have been three different directions develop in recent years," Paul stated. "One is the strong core audience that is just as big as it always has been. Then there is this electro, rock-infused music like deadmau5 and Skrillex that came along. Skrillex is especially creative, but I am curious to see the longevity of his career as there was a lot of hype in Europe about dubstep around ten years ago, but it faded almost as quickly as it came. The final direction is one that a lot of people have mistaken for electronic music, and that is danceable pop music."
Paul views this wave as quite separate from the overall electronic scene. "The dance pop scene doesn't have quite as much to do with how the core electronic scene feels, thinks, breathes, and lives."
Though a Berlin native, Paul feels a special link to the New York dance community that arose through his frequent travels through the area. "My first American gig was in New York City in 1993 at Limelight. It kind of became a second hometown to me." PVD's radio show, "VONYC Sessions," even pays homage to the Big Apple in its title. The show airs weekly on 53 radio stations in 23 different countries. A second album, "VONYC Sessions 2011," will also release on PVD's own VANDIT Records on Thursday. Mixed by the man himself, it features some of the most popular songs from the past year's shows, with offerings from Moby, Carl Cox, Russian up-and-comer Arty, and Texas trance duo Tritonal. On New Year's Eve, PVD will headline Insomniac's White Wonderland event at the Anaheim Convention Center.
omg a video for every song on album and possibly a guest for 10 of them! Omg yes Paul is giving me life right now! I pray Ameriie is one of those feature artist! Bring on 2012!!!!!!!!!
