Interview with Jordy Dazz

Interview: Jordy Dazz talks about his name-change, his passion and upcoming releases.

First of all, thank you for your time!

You’ve changed your artist name a few months ago from Jordy Lishious to Jordy Dazz. Can you tell us about that?

I started out DJing when I was about 14 years old. When I got more and more gigs, I wanted to add an artist name to my performances, which became Jordy Lishious. At that time it was more a name for fun and I didn’t really think it through. But the last 2 years I noticed I was struggling with the name and decided, end of 2011, that I wanted a name that suited me better. I also slightly started changing my sound, so it was the right moment to switch it up. After a few weeks of brainstorming, I thought Jordy Dazz was the perfect name for the new path I was going! It’s been one of the best decisions so far.

So why is that? And what is the big difference now in comparison to the music you made as Jordy Lishious?

Well, I loved and still love every production I made as Jordy Lishious. All the tracks had a specific signature to it. A lot of swing, very full techy driven beats, and a catchy melody were the main ingredients. However, I always found myself struggling with the arrangements. When I look back at them, some of the tracks did miss a lot of power when the climax dropped. In 2011 I went to Ultra Music Festival in Miami for the first time and that experience really opened up my eyes. At that time I just released “Lump” on Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings, which already was a more bigroom track that I created, compared to the stuff I did before. Fedde le Grand then played it at the mainstage, and to see the crowd’s reaction on that track, I knew that I was heading the right path musically. From that moment on I wanted to produce more tracks with this big sound, heavier drops and a more energetic overall party-feel to them.

How did that process go? Did you have to re-invent yourself and your music?

It took me up to a few months before I knew what I had to make exactly. I was so used to the way I worked in the studio that I had to find different sounds, make different kind of beats and find out how to arrange all these elements into something that worked for me, and on the dance floor. I don’t want to just copy the trends or that whatever is working in dance music at the moment. Of course you’re influenced by tracks you love to play and listen to, but a personal signature to my music is the most important thing for me.

I want people to know it’s a Jordy Dazz track. Even if they hear it for the first time, without them knowing I produced it. That’s the red line when I make music.

How did you learn to produce music? Do you come from a musical family?

Not at all! Nobody in my family is a musician. I remember all my pocket money was spent on cd-singles and albums in all different categories. From Dutch folk, to Happy Hardcore, Pop and Top 40. Music was the only thing that had my interest, and it still has. Besides gaming and gadgets that is, haha! But to be a producer, you really have to be some kind of nerd. I started out making remixes, cuts, edits and mix tapes on the computer when I was around 12. I was so fascinated by the process I was able to change audio in all different kind of ways. But it wasn’t until I was 18 before I started producing music with a friend at that time. When I was 23 I bought my own gear and started to teach myself all techniques from all the basics I learned. I got to the point where I’m right now by watching a lot of tutorials, getting to know how audio synthesis really works and by simply playing around with the software. I still learn every day though.

What is your favourite DAW / gear you work with in the studio?

The first few tracks I made were done with Cubase. But Logic is definitely my kind of program. Although it is buggy at times, I really got to know the software. I don't use any hardware, besides the midi-keyboard and my UAD-2 for mastering. The ReFX Nexus2, Sylenth and Native Instrument’s Komplete 8 are my favourite

tools.

One of your latest releases “OMG” did really well. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea for that track?

Usually I go into the studio with an idea, a melody or a rhythm that is inside my head. It can also be in my phone, since I record a lot of ideas onto the voice memo app. But for OMG it was kind of different. I went into the studio with a concept for a track, which was the first time that I approached it from that angle. I wanted to make a real floorfiller that genuinely had to stand out above all the other bigroom / progressive house tracks you hear these days. So every aspect of the track was considered and re-considered. The heavy drums and energetic synths, in contrast with the classical elements in the break seem to work really well. Also the triplet rhythm when it drops is kind of refreshing I like to think, although it’s not new or anything. It’s just a solid track, which could have gone either way, because it’s so different. I’m so glad almost everyone seems to like it!

What else can we expect that’s coming from your studio soon?

A lot! The first release will be a collaboration with the Mightyfools. The track is called “Drum Fail” and will be released July 16th on Bingo Players’ Hysteria imprint. Then there is another collaboration with Dannic, which will be out somewhere near September / October on Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings. I’m currently working on a remix for that same label, and “Jumpfold”, will be released at Fedde le Grand’s Flamingo Recordings later this year. There are also 4 / 5 tracks on the shelve, ready to get signed.

Any vocal tracks among them as well?

Jumpfold is an instrumental track, the way it is right now, but we’re looking for a vocalist, as we speak, to feature on that one. The track and the melody are really strong, but a female vocal will definitely dot the i’s. I want to get a good balance between instrumental tracks for the dancefloor, and more musical, vocal tracks that have potential to crossover to radio.  

Everybody has got a bucket list. What is one of the most important things for you on there to achieve?

Maybe not the most important, but since I love gaming, one of the things is to get a Jordy Dazz track featured in a huge game, like Rockstar’s GTA.

I’m a massive fan of Rockstar and buy and play all of their releases. It would be crazy to drive around in my stolen “Comet”, on my way to an obscure meeting with one of my own tracks on the background! Haha, would love that!

How do you notice your music is being picked up globally?

I get support from all the big guys out there. Tiësto, Hardwell, Fedde le Grand, Laidback Luke, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, Kaskade, Dada Life are just a few. Tiësto also asked me to play on his own Club Life tour in Ibiza last summer and I’ve been playing in a lot of countries in the last months; Norway, Russia, South-Korea, Germany, Belgium, England, and I have gigs coming up in Poland, France, Greece and Scotland. Also a leading American agency has contacted me, while they want to add me to their roster soon, what is absolutely exciting!

Sounds like a lot of good stuff is happening! What is the ultimate goal for you?

I’d love to keep on doing what I do, and that is to keep earning a living out of my passion, being successful in what I do, and being recognized for that. I’m so eager to get better and better. There’s nothing more exciting than doing the one thing you love most, every day. And in the future, I want to be a recognized producer one way or another. That could be writing for other artists, or making music for commercials, movies or games.

Thanks for your time Jordy, great catching up with you! Do you have any last words?

Well, I’ve created a bootleg with this real summer vibe that I’m giving away on my Facebook page. You can grab it for free at: http://on.fb.me/dazzbootfb