Juicy Bands caught up with Paul Van Dyk at his studio in Berlin, we were able to ask him some questions about his life, career, music, projects and future plans.
Juicy Bands: When did you decided to make music his lifestyle and work?
Paul Van Dyk: I decided to start producing music in 1992, started as a Dj in 1991 when I realized there is so much more that I wanted to do. A very good friend of mine actually had a studio and I started working there and learned my first few steps. The lifestyle back then was very different, it wasn't about flying across the world, playing my favorite music in front of people. That actually came much later.
Juicy Bands: Which bands or artists would you define as your biggest influences?
Paul Van Dyk: There is not someone specifically I would define as an influence in terms of music but more of life in general and the world we live in as an inspiration. There are many artists that I admire but not in the way they make music, more in the way they present their music. I admire bands like Depeche mode, Placebo, Way out West, Underworld among others. At the same time I make different music than these people, but on the long run the important thing, is the intensity on how they present their music, this is important and inspiring for me.
Juicy Bands: The Electronic Music Scene has seen the rise of different genres over the last few years, like Electro and Minimal, each and every year they are being categorized more as a trend and not like solid genres that do not go out of style. Do you think this genres will fade away?
Paul Van Dyk: To tell you the truth, this are not my genres and to be honest, there is always going to be good records and bad records. I just play everything I enjoy listening to, I take the elements of those different genres and create something that is sort of my sound in a way. I don't really care if electro comes or goes or minimal comes or goes or trance or whatever, its the combination of all of this elements that make what I enjoy of electronic music.
¨I don't really care if electro comes or goes or minimal comes or goes or trance or whatever, its the combination of all of this elements that make what I enjoy out of electronic music.¨ -Paul Van Dyk
Juicy Bands: Paul Van Dyk has become a synonym to the Vandit Label on a world wide scale, now he presents himself promoting the Vonyc concept. Although in Latin America is still something new, could you expand more on this concept and what it means?
Paul Van Dyk: In order to explain this, I would have to go back in time to the beginning of the year 2000, the music industry was all about illegal downloads, everybody was telling people they were doing a bad thing if they were involved downloading illegal music. In terms of electronic music, the best music was released only on vinyl, so you would have to wait for someone to rip off the vinyl and put it on the internet, making this the only way to get the best electronic music, people were really discontent. This gave me the idea of creating a solution, a 24 hour online radio station providing the best electronic music every single second of the day, with the advantage that whatever you listen, it can be bought legally and downloaded. Its sort of like Itunes just for Electronic Music, and its the best and coolest stuff that is coming out. Its brand new because obviously we get the music before its even pressed on vinyl or released on cd, before its even released, we already are playing it on the radio and selling it on the store. I think this is very important for electronic music because when the artists start earning money from what they are doing, they can invest it in buying better equipment for their studio and continue to make interesting music, and thats what we all like to hear, more interesting music!
Juicy Bands: Its been a while since we heard original productions or an album from Paul Van Dyk. Is there anything in mind for 2008?
Paul Van Dyk: My new album is coming out in may 2007, when I am not traveling I am busy producing music for the new album. In fact right now I am in the studio working on a new track.
Juicy Bands: Politics plays a big role in your music and in your attitude from what we have been able to see. Would we ever see Paul Van Dyk as a politician?
Paul Van Dyk: No, I don't think so! I am not passionate enough. The thing is that something that is so logical to me, if I have to explain something to someone more then three times I would just say, ok! just shut up for the next four years, let me do my job and it will be better for you, but at the same time this would mean a dictatorship and we certainly don't want that!
Juicy Bands: Taking in mind a new generation of Djs are rising in the scene with amazing talent, do you see anyone or would you particularly recommend any Dj or producer to the world?
Paul Van Dyk: Well, there is definitely some interesting stuff around, you have Santiago Nino, Damien Heck, Eddie Halliwell, Adam Sheridan and John Askew which are all pretty new to the scene, but are truly amazing talents that are making their way through.
¨..now with technology, its not about playing the right record at the right moment, but its about playing the right element of the right track at the right moment together.¨ -Paul Van Dyk
Juicy Bands: You have evolved from turntables to Cdjs and now, we are seeing new equipment in your sets. Could you explain this live experience that you are bringing into your performance?
Paul Van Dyk: Its a little difficult to actually explain unless you are very technical and/or musically trained. The basic is, I have two computers with me, one has the dj software and the other has a sequence software. I have a lot of different midi controllers and a mixer called 3D by Allen and Heath which is, a midi controller built into a mixer. I am basically uniting all of this different elements and having total control of what is musically happening. I also carry a Keyboard with me where I can play things on top of everything that is going on so I am not really playing the track in the way that you know, I am playing elements of the tracks put in a completely different way, therefore its like a rearranging, remixing live performance with the impact of the audience having an influence on what I do. Its always very special and very exciting, now with technology, its not about playing the right record at the right moment, but its about playing the right element of the right track at the right moment together.
Juicy Bands: Do you think turntables will be out of sight in the future?
Paul Van Dyk: Umm. I dont know, I am pretty sure there is enough space for everything, and a lot of people are still playing normal vinyl, which is a great thing too. Electronic music has always been about breaking the boundaries on the creative side, but also on the technological side. Using all the new possibilities and all of this new equipment is just what basically electronic music means to me, its breaking the boundaries in every way. Since I am a producer myself its great to see all of the production elements going into the dj equipment therefore I can do much more things in a live situation.
"Electronic music has always been about breaking the boundaries on the creative side, but also on the technological side. Using all the new possibilities and all of this new equipment is just what basically electronic music means to me, its breaking the boundaries in every way." -Paul Van Dyk
Juicy Bands: Do you see yourself Dj'ing in another 20 years?
Paul Van Dyk: Probably not in 20 years, maybe at a birthday party for one of my kids!
Juicy Bands: Thank you for the interview Paul! Any thing you would like to add?
Paul Van Dyk: I am very excited to come over, I hope we all have a great time together. I cant wait, I am running to the airport already, very excited! Ill see everybody soon!
