Page 25 - Zone Magazine Issue 006

You have had success with some nice labels including “Naked Lunch” and “Funk n Deep”, what other labels do you take an interest in, on what they are outputting at the moment?
Over the years I’ve had releases on so many solid labels and I’m very thankful for that. For me it's a recognition that my style is liked. It's hard to keep track on all the new ones these days but labels like Format Recordings, De-Konstrukt, Distortus Music, Subwoofer Records, Analogue Audio, Nachtstrom Schallplatten, Elektrax Recordings, Gobsmacked Records, Terminus Audio, that keep the underground scene alive, are some of the labels that release some quality Techno these days. Every label has to grow a number of years to become a main player in the music scene but choosing carefully what you release and not who to sign but what, defines you as a quality label and a good way to get noticed between the overwhelming offer of labels on all the online shops like Beatport, iTunes, Traxsource, Juno, Amazon,...
What is the key to stay fresh and still be going strong after 20 years in the business?
Do it for the love of music, not for the fame, money or glory. I never had the intention of doing this as a full time job or to live from. I pay my bills and live on my income from my day job as an audio technician at Bose and the money I earn from music is to invest back in to music and to spend on the occasionally fun stuff in life, like trips to visit other artists and interesting destinations. In my life I’ve travelled to Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and The Netherlands just to be at a certain event or to meet up with people I’ve worked with. And sometimes some interesting projects follow after those trips.
Every 2 weeks I also host a show on Fnoob Techno Radio where they air a 1 hour mix of myself or my labels artists. I also am a frequent guest on other stations worldwide. For me it's very important to stay connected to your fans cause without them, i wouldn't be where I am today.
And like I’ve mentioned earlier...honesty, faith & trust will get you where you want to be, if you are patient and stay true to yourself and Techno.
I once did a bootleg remix of Ambulance, an older Techno track by Robert Armani and it was spotted and liked by Elektrax Recording. They contacted him and arranged a re-release with 2-3 remixes including mine. These kind of things also keeps me going because it shows on the right path.
If you had to choose anyone in the world, who would you like to collaborate with if any?
That's a difficult one, hahaha... There are so many good artists to choose from, known and less known and i've worked with great and talented people in my career but the chance to work with Len Faki, as one of the big names, would be awesome !!
What projects or collaborations are coming up in the next 12 months, anything exciting to keep an eye out for?
In the following months I will start a
new sub label, with his residence in Portugal and Belgium. More info will be on our social pages in the next couple of weeks. Collaborations with DaGeneral, Diarmaid O'Meara, Ben Solar, Ortin Cam, Owen Offset and others regarding productionsare in the pipeline and working on future events together with Analogue Audio from Berlin & Diarmaid O'Meara and with my brother, Michel van Dinteren in Friedrichshafen are on the agenda. Also we will probably host a room at next years Unleash party in Belgium like we did this year so the Techno lovers better be prepared for another massive line up. And I think most people know i'm always open for interesting projects, bookings, remixes, collaborations and mastering requests. They can always contact me for this and demos on my bunk3r.r3cords email account and promos are welcome on twist3d.promo@gmail.com
Of course you are an established DJ, what makes you tick, what kind of events do you thrive in?
An established DJ is a big word...I’ve stopped playing 25 years ago and started again 4 years ago on popular demand. I don't play that much cause I try to keep it balanced with my “normal” life. But I always liked the more underground kind of parties with max capacity of 500 people. They have a more intimate atmosphere and give a DJ a better connection with his audience in my opinion.
Once I had to play in Mannheim 2 years ago in a club that used to be a Greek night club so it was the 1st time they did a Techno event there. Not many people showed up that night, for whatever reason, but at the end of my DJ set, one girl came up to me and told me she had the best night of her life during my set and that is the best compliment I’ve got in a
in general!!!
Being founder of BUNK3R R3CORDS & SUB Records is no small feat, how do you manage to keep up with the massive workload?
BUNK3R R3CORDS & SUB Records started out as a platform for new talent from all over the world and having more than 100 artist on them now, with some of them growing out to well-known artists, is always nice and shows me I’ve succeeded in my efforts to promote new talent. As you've mentioned, it's not always easy managing everything that comes with running a label but I’ve always kept a strict balance between my family/work time and label/production work. This year I also added a mastering service on top of the rest so a little scheduling is always needed. So far it has always went well and i never had issues dealing with deadlines. Off course working with the correct people that work on a professional level is always better for both the label and the artist. Ben Solar does all the artwork for BUNK3R R3CORDS, Joseph Diel runs SUB Records from Berlin and sends the releases to me so I can master and check them before I send it all to ASG to be released. Later this year the new label will also start up from Portugal in that same manner. Each label does it own promotion and handles its social pages like Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, Clowdy to connect with fans and followers.
Anything exciting in the pipeline you would like to share with us?
In the following months new events are being planned in Germany, Berlin and Fiedrichhafen for now, and maybe even a few in Belgium next year. Also there is the chance I can perform a set in Tresor, Berlin and at the ADE in The Netherlands next year. I also got a few vinyl releases coming up on some interesting labels in the next couple of months.
So keep your eyes on my pages to stay in the loop for what's to come!!!
Connect:
www.bunker-records.net
Words by Alan Lumley
Pic By Elkethielemans Calum
long time. That made up me!!!!
everything for
What in your opinion is the best club you have had the honor of playing at? Two years ago I had the chance to play
with Mike Väth in Diskothek Komma, Gosheim and this year with Ortin Cam in Petrol, Antwerp where my label hosted a room. But it isn't a question of what's the best club, the biggest honour is when the crowd goes mental during your set in any club or at any location. That will always be the biggest reward as a DJ and entertainer
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