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 Producer and DJ Misja Helsloot has spent a few minutes answering some questions from i:Vibes. Read on to find out what he had to say.
i:Vibes: What's the real Misja Helsloot like?
A: What you see is what you get, 98% of the time I am really happy, and very positive about life. Always try to make the best of thing. Ofcourse not everything in life works out the way you want to, but that's the challange of life.
i:Vibes: Tell the people something that they probably don't know about you!
A: I love to cross borders, not just musicaly but with everything. I really hate that people put other people in "boxes". A box for trance, a box for progressive etc etc etc. I love to play it all. Still my mainsound is Trance but like to mix it with other infuences.
i:Vibes: You are a parent and a dj. Have that mixture ever been hard?
A: Not yet. Well not really. So far I've always found a way to make it work. The only thing which is really hard is that I start to miss my son. Had that when I did a tour in Australia. It was only 1,5 week without Jesper, but it was so hard. But now it is getting easier. He really loves music. When I put on music in my studio he moves to my room as quick as possible, and takes his toys with him so he can play and listen at the same time.
i:Vibes: What would you do if your son Jesper starts to hate your music?
A: Well, I don't know. I like my fathers music. So I just hope the best. My father is not a musician but he listened a lot to The Rolling Stones, The Who etc etc. I really like that kind of music as well, just went my own way a little later on. I just hope Jesper will do the same.
i:Vibes: Ok, you think that it's important to have a wide range of musical taste?
A: Yeah, that way you can get inspiration from alot of styles. Really funny. At the moment I'm working on some trance track. But I get a lot of inspiration from an old Sasha CD. Global Underground number 9, Sasha in San Fransisco. I love that old progressive/trance sound like Breeder and stuff.
i:Vibes: Do you think that the trance scene was better before? Many people think that the trance scene is having a tough time at the moment with the music sounding all the same (especially the uplifting genre). What's your opinion about that?
A: Yes and no. The trance scene moved into the statium of just big events. No more small trance events are organised these days. Big events are mostly well promoted so a bit commercial. To get a big crowd you need big names. And when a event get a lot of big names they all get short sets so they just play their hits.
That is really not the way events should be organised. This year on Trance Energy they did a good job on the main stage where I played. All DJs got like 2 hours. You can really show your thing, and that is what music is about....
So it is just waiting on more events that will do it like that. If I play two hours, I don't like it to play 1 uplifting track after the other. That gets boring.
i:Vibes: Do you have like a schedule of which tune that you will play or are you like adjusting after what the crowd wants?
A: No schedule at all!!! Never did, never will. Sometimes, especially on big events, I try to figure out how to start. Sometimes make an intro myself. But even that some times does not work. So I change my mind last minute and start differently.
As a DJ you are "hired" to entrertain the crowd, and not to play your records in a set order, if so I could just send a CD and include a "Misja Helsloot Doll".
i:Vibes: You have dj'ed on many places around the world. What's the oddest thing that have ever happend to you during a gig?
A: The oddest thing, hmmm...What often happens is that you really have contact with someone in the crowd. Last years FFWD Dance Parade when I played at Ferry Corsten's Stage, I had really contact with a girl that sold small bottles with liquor I tried to convince her to throw one, to me ofcourse, it took some time but after while she did. I have that on video. On my website is a video from FFWD, you can see me make a throw-movement.
i:Vibes: What's the most awkward thing that have ever happend to you in a club?
A: Was in Israel in Jeruzalem. I brought a friend with me, not mentioning a name here. We stayed there from wednesday until monday so it was like a little holiday. The night of the gig the owner of the club showed us the city and some other clubs he owned. In every club he offered us a drink. I never drink before a gig, don't want to get pissed before I even have to start. But my friend did, and that should not be a problem. Like I say, SHOULD. This time it was. When we got to the club where I had to play he was so pissed, he could not even stand. While I was playing he found the microphone and started to yell. Later I lost him completely. He was gone. When I was done with the gig he came up to the DJ Booth, looking not that good. I noticed he could start puking any moment. And I was right. He did. Not just in the DJ booth, but in some other DJs flightcase. We never mentioned that and just closed the case and left.
i:Vibes: Going over to a bit more serious theme then. - How has the scene changed during your years as a dj/producer?
A: Well actualy that's hard to say, Of course it has changed. Because when dance music came it was all new and now it is just an established kind of music. And that fact makes the people a bit spoiled I think. They say they have seen it all, heard it all etc etc. It is not new any more. And to be honest, if people think it is not new any more I rather lose those people than keep them in a club. They are there because it is cool. And NOT because of the music. OK maybe clubs have to close, but the people which keep coming, will be there for the music and not just to "see and be seen". So this period I see as a catalysator, get the bad ones out. And make some place for people who really love the music.
i:Vibes: Ok, so you think that the trance scene has become too commercialized in some ways?
A: Yes absolutely. But not on purpose. Everybody always wants more, better and bigger. And than you need to get commercial. But in a way it is good. Trance has been accepted by the big mass. I mean Tiesto at the Olympics. Now even my grand mother knows who Tiesto is. So being commercial always got a bad sound. But it is not. If you wanna make a living on something you love, and in my case that is making and playing music, you have to be a bit commercial in a way. Otherwise my records won't sell.
And if I make a good living I am happy, and when I am happy, I make good tracks. Sounds very simple, but it is like that. That's the way I try to treat my artists in Gesture Music (my own label and company) as well. I like to give them what they deserve. So they are happy, they produce nice tracks, so I can release.
i:Vibes: Very logical, any new special stuff that we can expect from you in the future?
A: Yeah, very much actually. At the moment working on a remix for Arkus. This guy releases on Armada, I heard the original and I just felt the need to remix. My new single is just finished and at the moment Patrick Hiver (Hiver & Hammer) will do a remix. Trying to get another track signed, "A-Traction - The Inner voice" is a project together with Daniel Wanrooy and was remixed by Miika Kuisma.
Just before the summer I did a track together with Bas & Ram (2 Dutch HardStyle guys). At the moment we are looking for remixers. Did a remix for Tune-inn. Tension - Lost in you (Misja Helsloot remix) was also featured on my mix compilation "Back from your past" back in April. But will be released soon. And today I just started a track with a really good friend of mine. So far really satisfied, and it is almost done.
Shorties:
Q: Mp3 - good or bad?
A: Good
Q: Best song ever made?
A: Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heaven
Q: Hobbies beside music?
A: gaming, and going to Feyenoord (Soccer)
Q: What's your best quality?
A: Always quick/wittedly - always have a word back. When someone fools me, I have a word back directly.
Q: Trance energy or Dance Valley?
A: Trance Energy
Q: Favorite country to play in?
A: Australia
Q: Will you teach your son to become a dj?
A: If he asks me to
Q: Describe your music in ONE word!
A: everflowtingdeeplygoingprogressivetrance
i:Vibes: Any last thing you want to say to the people out there?
A: Just be yourself, don't let other tell you what to like and what to dislike. But respect each other and yourself, for what they are and what they do. - don't believe the hype!
i:Vibes: Massive thanks for the interview!
A: Np man, your welcome!
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