Paul van Dyk
interviewsofrecordingartists.com
While the German recording artist/DJ, Paul van Dyk, is known to music critics around the globe as, "leader of the trance movement", during a recent interview, Van Dyk says he takes no credit for originating any musical style. "I am simply a, 'recording artist', says van Dyk. "I record music like every other, 'recording artist'.
How does van Dyk describe the music he creates, that has propelled his career into one of the top DJ's in the world?
"I call it, 'Electronic Dance Music'. van Dyk says. I inspire people. by creating a new world for them."
For 2003, the thirty-one year old Berliner, has had a very busy schedule.
One which will take his music to his massive fan base around the world.
On the new movie soundtrack, "Musica Original de la Pelicula", Paul van Dyk scored and recorded the music to the Mexician movie titled, "La Mano del Zudro".
Paul van Dyk also released a new DVD/CD titled, "Global", which he promoted throughout his 2003 world tour.
In the following interview, Paul van Dyk talks about his talent as a recording artist, his performances in clubs and at music festivals as a DJ and his views on the current global youth culture movement.
(Q)- You work as a recording artist and performing DJ. On the music to most of your studio discs, you also compose, arrange, as well as produce all of your music. Thus, you are creating entirely original electronic music.
Paul van Dyk- That is right.
(Q)- Few other DJ's who are popular on a global scale do create their own music with control throughout the entire process from composing to recording production.
Paul van Dyk- Very few DJ's record their own, original compositions. Besides a few other projects that I've done, whenever you buy a disc with my music on it, it's an original composition. My music has my own unique composition, my own unique arrangement, my own production. This is what I'm first and foremost doing. I am a, 'recording artist'.
(Q)- A film crew followed you in your travels around the world, during a performing tour of the top clubs on the planet. The result is your new DVD/CD titled, "Global".
Paul van Dyk- Yes. It is also like a "Greatest Hits" of the music, I've done over the past ten years.
(Q)- Is the music and film footage contained on your new DVD/CD, "Global" an experience in learning about a side of Paul van Dyk's personality as well?
Paul van Dyk- Yes.
(Q)- In what way is that statement true?
Paul van Dyk- When you listen to the tracks on my (new) disc, every single track, you can pick any track and I can tell you the story behind the track and what it means and why I named the track. So therefore, when you listen to my music, you can learn a little bit about me personally, within the music to each track.
(Q)- What is your opinion regarding the other internationally known DJ's who do not record their own music?
Paul van Dyk- A lot of my colleagues use a (sound) engineer, they use a (record) producer. So, therefore they go into the (recording) studio and they don't know how to work in the studio. Which means all they can do is play something that someone else did before. Then they say to the producer, "I would like to do something like that." Which to me, is really boring. From the fist production I did in 1991, I realized that it is really important to be creative as the artist, the engineer and the producer. Especially with electronic music, because the sounds are very important as well. The way the track comes along is very important. It's a different approach from what many of my colleague's use. Sometimes I wish more people would notice that there is a difference between the two styles. My music is exactly the way I want it to be. Rather then some other (DJ) person who is sitting in the background saying to a (recording) producer, 'Yeah. That sounds good', and then have someone else actually do it and then putting that person's (The DJ's) name on it.
(Q)- In the music industry it is very common for that to happen.
Paul van Dyk- Yes it is. Most big name international pop singers don't really do much more then sing a song that someone else wrote. So, that is pretty much the common way. And, since I do it all myself, it's not because I'm a total control freak, it's because I think it is necessary to do it that way. That's why I say, 'My music comes out of my stomach." When I go into the recording studio, I have an atmosphere in my head. I have an idea in my head. Something that I like I bring out into my music while I am in the studio. Then, I work on that until I feel that the idea is coming across. You can say about my music what you want to, but it's very honest and it's very intense. That's for sure. And whatever I incorporate into the music makes it exactly the way I want to do it. I think this is something that is very necessary. Every artist who likes to create, needs to do some art. Not just use somebody else's music to put together and create a record only to sell a lot of records. Really do something that inspires other people or maybe changes some people's lives. So, to do that, the first thing you have is the freedom in your head to actually reach someone else.
(Q)- What is the 'perfect night' for you?
Paul van Dyk- It's several things. The people at the door have to treat everyone nice, the people behind the bar have to have a smile on their face, the whole attitude, the whole atmosphere and the vibe in the club has to be friendly. Then as a DJ you have to be able to react with the crowd and interact with them and the crowd has to be willing to communicate to the DJ and give some response so the DJ can collaborate that into the music he's playing and then it goes off!
(Q)- You perform in Europe, Scandinavia, England as well as in Asia and Australia.
Paul van Dyk- Yes.
(Q)- In England, the British nightclub scene, especially in London, is highly publicized. What are your feelings about the situation there and your British DJ colleagues?
Paul van Dyk- Let me answer this way. I would say that out of the, 'Top Ten', headliner circle of DJ's in the world, I maybe know five who are what they are, for the right reason.
(Q)- In England as well?
Paul van Dyk- In the world! Now I know this sounds harsh and that's a really harsh statement, however I totally believe that!
(Q)- Why?
Paul van Dyk- A lot of my other colleagues want to be seen at all the right places, they want to be in the newspapers and they want to be seen as hip and famous.
(Q)- What is wrong with that attitude?
Paul van Dyk- If there is no substance to the music and what you're doing, you can't be all of that. The first thing you have to ask yourself is, 'Why are you in this in the first place?' And the only answer you can give yourself and the only answer which is appropriate is," I'm doing this because I love music." You know for me, it sounds freaky, but music is one of the greatest things that I really love.
(Q)- What is that?
Paul van Dyk- To play a record, which I really love, in front of people and to make people feel the same way about the track. This is what makes me DJ, this is what gives me the kick. For me the music I play, every single, is very vital, very important. And therefore I like to bring this across to the people and to have people discover why the record I'm playing is important to me. And, this is the right approach to being a DJ. I wouldn't go around and say during interviews with the media, like some other people (DJ's) and say, "I'm educating the crowd', that's bull shit! It's like, at the end of the day, it is about entertainment, However you can do that on a high quality level as well.
(Q)- Do you live a drug-free lifestyle.
Paul van Dyk- Yes.
(Q)- Do you take medicine when you are ill?
Paul van Dyk- Of course. (He laughs.)
(Q)- Do you drink alcohol?
Paul van Dyk- Yes, sometimes, but it's very rarely actually. I'll have a drink now and then. But not when I'm performing.
(Q)- How do you keep in touch with your other love, your wife Natascha van Dyk, when you are traveling the world?
Paul van Dyk- We travel a lot together. We try and be together as much as we can. We even tour together if we can. She'll almost always travel with me during the first week of the tour. But we both work so she doesn't always make it with me throughout the entire tour. We do use the cellular (telephone) quite a bit (He laughs.). The other thing is, when I tour, I never really stay anywhere longer then I have to. So I can actually be at home as often as I can.
(Q)- With the USA heading to war, what are your opinions regarding war? After all it is the youth who are called on to fight in wars.
Paul van Dyk- I'm antiwar. We are heading for a war. All of us together because of this one guy, The President Of The United States and his team, making this decision which is affecting all of us.
(Q)- Is the message of peace, love and tolerance, important to you?
Paul van Dyk- Yes.
(Q)- When thousands of young people, no matter what country you are performing in, show up to dance in a club or attend large outdoor show, they are trusting in you, to help create the environment of peace, love and tolerance.
End.
