Page 14 - Zone Magazine Issue 011

It’s been a long time since we last discussed the dance scene back in the early 2000’s...so much has changed that I hardly know where to start. Dance music has truly exploded as a World phenomenon since it has taken the U.S. by storm so my first question to you is please tell us what you are currently up to in the U.S.?
Great to chat again. I’ve just finished my third artist album, PopKiller, and am getting that ready for release. I am actually back on the road in Europe at the moment with a few shows before then heading home to Los Angeles and then have a run of shows there. It’s a good time of year as lots of new music forthcoming and the gigs are really strong.
You have such a multi-faceted career with the radio show, label, live gigs, film scores, compilation and artist albums etc. Is there any favourite area or do you love doing it all?
I love it all. If it has to do with music, I love it. I will say though that I do miss scoring film, I’m hoping to get back into that world soon.
Music production wise, you recently
released Paul Oakenfold x BRKLYN x Amba Shepherd - ‘U ARE’ which I gather is from your forthcoming album ‘Pop Killer.’ Can you tell me about the creative process behind the album as I gather that there are many high profile collaborations on it?
Amba Shepherd is a very talented writer and vocalist. Her and I were working on this track and are both fans of what BRKLYN is doing. We originally wanted a remix from them but liked what they did on the original. At the moment I am not revealing too much about the album because I want to keep it as a surprise for when it’s released but we’re closing in on the release date now, so they’ll be more news soon.
Was it easy to work with so many different artists with varying styles and from different musical backgrounds? ‘The Red Hot Chili Peppers’,’ Azealia Banks,’ ‘Ceelo Green,’ ‘One Republic’ and ‘The Wanted’ is an impressive array of very talented people!?
All of them were great to work with in the studio. You’re right, all come from very different backgrounds but are musically gifted so it makes it a bit easier.
Going back in time now, did you ever imagine the scene that you were involved in from its inception would ever grow so big?
No. At that time we weren’t doing it for the scene, or for money, or whatever. We were doing it because we loved the music.
You have been involved in music for such a long time now that it seems to almost be in your DNA. Could you ever imagine doing anything else as a career choice?
I can imagine being a chef as I went to school for that profession but I’m happy with my life in music.
When we last discussed the future of the dance scene all those years ago, you quite rightly predicted it becoming popular in the U.S. Has it surprised you at how big it has got or was it what you expected?
No, not really, it’s very much what I expected.
" I’m excited about the trance scene right now and I’m thankful that I can be somewhat of an ambassador of the resurgence
with Insomniac putting on shows like Dreamstate all around the world. "