Location: Malaysia
Dimitri: Can you tell us how 2012 has been for the development of your career as a DJ and/or Producer?
Simon Lee & Alvin: 2012 has been a huge year for us! It’s our 5th year of Radio KUL and we’re so happy with the continued support from 1 Mix Radio! We’ve been able to feature so many amazing EDM artistes on the show – it’s so great to have them share their music and experiences with the listeners – most notably Molly Bancroft, Madelin Zero, and the many guest DJ sets that we’ve featured. We also celebrated our 200th episode this year – thanks to singers Hadley and Cristina Soto for hosting those special editions! And we mixed Radio KUL Vol. 02 that went to #32 on the Beatport Mixes chart.
Personally as DJs, we finished our debut single “Count The Stars” that just got released on the legendary Black Hole Recordings. I think that was the most important thing we did this year - just spending plenty of time in the studio finishing a lot of music and edits that we can use in our radio shows and performances.
We played some really great gigs this year too - some small, some bigger. And we won a local dance music award (Choons Award) for our radio show.
So yes, we cannot ask for more and it’s been so humbling to have all this success in 2012.
It will be very hard to top this year!
Dimitri: If you look back at 2012, are there any moments in your musical career that you wish you had done differently in order to get a better outcome?
Simon Lee & Alvin: Absolutely not! We stepped into 2012 knowing it’d be another year of hard work – and really after all these years since we started DJ’ing, all those seeds that we planted have paid off. Being signed to a record label has been such an exciting and new experience for us – it has really redefined our thinking as artistes. But at the core of it, we’re still in this for the music.
Best Track:
SL: Tough one! But I have to say Omnia & Ira “The Fusion.” In my opinion a real gem, a great record that was very well produced, and one that will be remembered for years. A producer can only hope to come up with such a record and have it so strongly supported by DJs and fans.
A: Too many great tracks out there, but one worth mentioning for 2012 is without a doubt Gareth Emery feat. Christina Novelli “Concrete Angel”. Pretty much sums up what a vocal trance track should be; evoking and touching our emotions.
Best Artist (DJ & producer):
SL: For 2012, I would say Hardwell and Nicky Romero. They both have worked really hard, they have great musical talent, and I really hope they stay consistent. Their music is really reaching out to a lot of people and they are constantly delivering new sounds.
A: To date IMO, Arty. He has been working really hard and has achieved a fair bit from touring, releasing singles, remixes and even having collaborated with producers like BT and Paul van Dyk.
Best Remix:
SL: Above & Beyond “Room For Happiness” (Kaskade Remix) .. because it’s not every day two of my all time favourite artistes are on a track together!
A: Richard Durand feat. Hadley “Run To You” (Orjan Nilsen Trance Remix). Orjan managed to lift an already amazing track to even greater heights!
Best Remixer:
SL: Andrew Rayel – Trust him to turn a record into a solid gold emotional meaningful interpretation.
A: Thomas Gold – He sure knows how to have fun whilst remixing tracks.
Best New Talent (DJ or producer):
SL: Cazzette! Look out for them in 2013!
Best EDM Album:
SL: Eric Prydz – Pryda.. it’s been a long time coming and Prydz always delivers quality. On this album we get a collection of old and new.
A: Paul Oakenfold – Four Seasons. An album for every season and a supporting tour – what a great concept and Oakie, being a guy who’s seen and done it all continues to drive the scene with his selection. Truly a legend.
Best EDM Compilation:
SL: Ferry Corsten – Once Upon A Night Vol 3. It’s obvious there was a lot of effort in picking the records for both discs. Lots of gems discovered here. I couldn’t put it down from start to finish.
A: Universal Religion Chapter 6 – Mixed by Armin van Buuren.. 34 tracks, 2 discs, 1 word, EPIC!
Best artwork/cover of an album or compilation:
SL: I don’t really pay attention to album artwork but Dada Life had a pretty cool one!
A: Richard Durand - Richard Durand vs. the World. Superhero indeed!
Best lyrics on an EDM track:
SL: Nicky Romero and Nervo “Like Home” – Nervo knows vocals and lyrics, and they did such a wonderful job here describing something so universally symbolic.
Best Vocalist/Singer featured on an EDM track:
SL & A: Amba Shepherd – On every track she’s touched this year, it’s turned to pure gold! This has been Amba’s year, we love her music! Hoping to hear a lot more from her in 2013. We really want her to host an episode of Radio KUL.
Best EDM Label:
SL & A: Black Hole Recordings – Because they signed our debut single :) And of course, because they also put out some great releases by BT, Andain, Richard Durand, and many others. We also like everything Enhanced at Spinnin’ are doing!
Best Music Video:
SL: Martin Solveig “The Night Out”
A: Porter Robinson “Language”. Check it out!
Most amusing video on YouTube relating to Dance Music:
SL: D*Note “Shed My Skin” (Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike VS Yves V Remix)
A: Japanese TV ad features Daft Punk and Santa as DJ
Best Online Social media network:
SL & A: Twitter – we watch it come alive every time our radio show goes on air, it’s just great to have all those instant reactions flood in.
Best music composition software:
SL & A: Ableton… and you’ll be surprised how the Piano Perfect app on your phone can help when you need to nail down a melody idea fast haha!
Best personal DJ Gig:
SL & A: Vertigo Club, KL! Dance floor started empty but we got them hooked by the 3rd or 4th record, and then we never let them go!
Best DJ set of the year by another fellow DJ:
SL: Mister Ariffin! He plays a very signature dark progressive set, his flow is unique and hes really been moving the scene here and inspiring many DJs. It’s great to listen to his sets.
Best Online Record shop for purchasing music:
SL & A: Beatport and Trackitdown
Best Website that you regularly visit:
SL: Soundcloud.com – a treasure chest of unreleased remixes.
A: Mixcloud.com – you’re bound to find awesome mixes here.
Best smart phone/mobile phone App or device:
SL: Android on Samsung SIII.
A: Black Hole Recordings App on iPhone
Best DJ equipment (software and/or hardware, Mixer, Deck etc):
SL: We’re still using CDs. But when we get to use a DJM-2000 nexus we go crazy! Such a revolutionary mixer!
A: Let’s not forget our Pioneer headphones and the headphones splitter!
Best piece of News this year relating to Electronic Dance Music:
SL: Daft Punk may be returning!
A: ASOT 600 is making a stop in our home town : Kuala Lumpur!
Best personal achievement related to Electronic Dance Music:
SL & A: Signing our debut single “Count The Stars.”
Best piece of advice you received in relation to your career:
SL: Never give up!
A: If it doesn’t sound right to you, it's going to sound wrong to everyone else.
Any single event which inspired you to compose a track.
SL & A: All our gigs actually. We’re always striving to find records for our DJ sets, and after a while we became so particular about it so it just pushed us to create the kind of record that we were seeking.
Best tip that you learnt this year for your DJ’ing or music composition
SL: Keep it clean and simple. Know your records and feel the energy level.
A: When you are absolutely passionate in what you are doing, it reflects in your sets/track !
Dimitri: 2013 lies ahead of us. Would you like to tell us your future plans in relation to releases, tracks, albums, collaborations or DJ gigs?
SL: We’re planning for a follow up to “Count The Stars” and of course we’re hoping to play more shows whenever we can, and continue to develop Radio KUL!
A: Yes, we definitely want to produce a top track for our trance listeners! ?
Dimitri: Thanks very much for finding the time to respond to this interview.
SL & A: Thank you guys!!
Very best wishes for the Christmas and New Year holiday period, from myself and the staff at both Viva Fm and 1Mix Radio. We wish you continued success in 2013!
This survey was written by Dimitri Kechagias Radio/DJ/Music Journalist - 1Mix Radio/Viva Fm/Flux BPM Online
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