This year Martin Solveig presented his joyous My House residency at Pacha in Ibiza. “It's a new challenge for me, and it's super-exciting,” he tells DJ Mag. But he's also in a reflective mood, pointing out to his fans that his entry into the Top 100 DJs is more about the scene in general. “Keep an open mind, keep digging for new talents, and enjoy the music for what it is as much as you can,” he says. Speaking about the fast-paced nature of what it is to be a DJ in 2016, Martin and his team have decided it's better to do less but to give 110%. “We focus on the essential and drop everything else. It means doing things that are relevant and highly enjoyable,” he explains. “This clearly goes against the trend but I will carry on and take pleasure in doing what I do only under this condition.” Highlighting the recent difficult times in France and across Europe, Martin goes on to tell DJ Mag that making music is the precious thing that really brings people together. With this in mind, he's found time to go deep and explore a lot in the studio this year, the results of which will reveal themselves next year, he promises. How can we increase diversity in dance music? “I can feel a thirst for new alternative styles of electronic music. 2016 sounds like a very open year in terms of genres, and that’s fantastic.” What have been the new frontiers for you this year? “The biggest challenge I had to face is the acceleration of music careers, emphasised by the growing importance of social medias. You have to be able to play shows, make (good) music, travel everywhere, spend a lot of time for and with the fans.”Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form? “Yes, it is.”What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why? “The new CDJ 2000 Nexus II, their new functionalities are helping me a lot to upgrade my DJ sets.”If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be? “Hip-hop, for sure.”As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ? “I would dream that fans could all come for free to the shows, but life is not a dream.”What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events? “The only thing to do is to communicate over and over again.” WORDS:HELENE STOKES
This year Martin Solveig presented his joyous My House residency at Pacha in Ibiza. “It's a new challenge for me, and it's super-exciting,” he tells DJ Mag. But he's also in a reflective mood, pointing out to his fans that his entry into the Top 100 DJs is more about the scene in general. “Keep an open mind, keep digging for new talents, and enjoy the music for what it is as much as you can,” he says.
Speaking about the fast-paced nature of what it is to be a DJ in 2016, Martin and his team have decided it's better to do less but to give 110%. “We focus on the essential and drop everything else. It means doing things that are relevant and highly enjoyable,” he explains. “This clearly goes against the trend but I will carry on and take pleasure in doing what I do only under this condition.”
Highlighting the recent difficult times in France and across Europe, Martin goes on to tell DJ Mag that making music is the precious thing that really brings people together. With this in mind, he's found time to go deep and explore a lot in the studio this year, the results of which will reveal themselves next year, he promises.
How can we increase diversity in dance music?
“I can feel a thirst for new alternative styles of electronic music. 2016 sounds like a very open year in terms of genres, and that’s fantastic.”
What have been the new frontiers for you this year?
“The biggest challenge I had to face is the acceleration of music careers, emphasised by the growing importance of social medias. You have to be able to play shows, make (good) music, travel everywhere, spend a lot of time for and with the fans.”
Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form?
“Yes, it is.”
What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why?
“The new CDJ 2000 Nexus II, their new functionalities are helping me a lot to upgrade my DJ sets.”
If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be?
“Hip-hop, for sure.”
As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ?
“I would dream that fans could all come for free to the shows, but life is not a dream.”
What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events?
“The only thing to do is to communicate over and over again.”
WORDS:HELENE STOKES
