With another Technoclub night approaching on the 6th June we sit down with one of its artists for the night RAM who will be setting the decks alight alongside TALL 2XLC...
It’s been a very challenging year and a half for RAM but he’s getting stronger with each day. He last visited the legendary Technoclub, hosted by Tall 2XLC back last year and on the 6th June he will be back behind the decks again. Not just mixing on the night, he has also mixed the next in Technoclub’s compilation series which now ticks over to its 45th edition. RAM is not just a producer and a DJ he also runs the Grotesque brand putting on some amazing events each year and running the brands regular radio show. Just a week to go before he takes his tunes to the Technoclub we thought it was just to catch a word with RAM.
i:Vibes: Thanks Ram for talking to ivibes.nu. I remember the last time we spoke for tranergy.tv interview, I made the embarrassing mistake for mixing you up with 4-Strings. Was that one of the most strange mix ups or have other people also mixed you up with other people?
RAM: Usually they mix me up with Brad Pitt, lol No your the first one and till now the last..
i:Vibes: It has been 15 months since your last visit in Technoclub. So much has happened in the last 15 months. You lost your beloved wife and had one of the biggest tracks of 2013. How have you been able to get through this time? Which people have helped you the most in this so difficult time?
RAM: Its bin a complete rollercoaster the last 8 months I am finally getting the positive site of life back but it was vey hard to get there again… thanks to all my good friends and a lot of warm messages from the fans whats bin heartwarming I am good again .. still hurting and painfull but I can deal with it mostly.. so my focus on the music helps me a lot to keep my mind straight.
i:Vibes: You wrote the amazing “RAMelia” that had 7 consecutive plays on A State of Trance, voted Future Favorite with a staggering 61.9% of the votes (the most votes ever @ ASOT) and Armin already calling “RAMelia” an all-time favorite, “RAMelia” eventually was voted #2 in the Tune of the Year on ASOT 2013. Did you ever think it would have such an impact when you finished the song?
RAM: Not even thought of that. It was a track pure for Amelia as a tribute. The rest was one big surprise. Of course a nice surprise what helped me a lot in this crazy said time.
i:Vibes: Ramelia is such a beautiful piece of music. Did we see a different kind of Ram as producer when listening to this track? How did you go about making this track?
RAM: Well this is made out of a different feeling. normally I have in mind to make music for the dance floor this was meant as a song she would like and would be specially for her. So different emotion. But I will do more tracks with this emotion because for me it was also surprising that this point of making music is much stronger feeling. As my album is a dedication to Amelia because she was and is the most inspiring, pure and beautiful person I ever met on this planet.
i:Vibes: What was the most difficult thing you had to perfect in the studio to make RAMelia perfect exactly the way you wanted to have it?
RAM: To capture the feeling of missing somebody and make it melodramatic. But it all went pretty fast with this one surprisingly. So no really difficult things.
i:Vibes: At the end of last year, you remixed the John O Callaghan classic track Big Sky with Signum. Usually one remixes a track, but seldom with another artist. What was it like working together with trance hero Signum? How did you guys go about making this remix?
RAM: Well I know him already 18 years so he is a good friend of mine. We wanted to do some classic reworks and this one was the first to do on the list. Now we are working on 4 strings – Take me away followed by some more. And I like to work together we always have big fun in the studio. Its nice to combine sounds and idea’s for classic reworks.
i:Vibes: Last years Grotesque "In Concert with Marcus Schultz was a huge success. What were your fondest memories of this evening?
RAM: The vibe was absolutely massive.. like this one you don’t see so much in NL anymore.. And playing RAMelia like in each party where I play it the people give so much feedback its still very special to play it after 8 months.
i:Vibes: What new releases can we await from you in the future?
RAM: Just out is Epic on DS-R .. Got one with Talla 2XCLC coming up. Collab with Andy Moor & Christina Novelli. Working on RAMore with Stine Grove. And lots of things for my album. Like acoustic version of RAMelia and much more. My remixes from Concrete Angel & Waiting will come soon I think also.
i:Vibes: You are returning to the Technoclub on June 6th. What memories do you have from your gig last year besides my 4-Strings mix up and Poffertjes? Lol
RAM: Always good to come there great vibe and lots of music lovers so happy to be back again.. curious about the new location.
i:Vibes: You have mixed the Technoclub Volume 45 with Talla 2XLC. How much of an honor was this for you? Did you collect the cds?
RAM: Talla is of course a legend I was already buying his tracks when I was just starting so of course it’s a great honor to do this CD with him. Very happy he asked me for it .. I didn’t collect cd’s from that time all the money went into vinyl.
i:Vibes: How did you go about selecting the track list? What kind of mix can we await from you?
RAM: Well just finished some remix and some exclusive things so that was of course priority to put something what’s not out yet on there. For the rest I just see what’s out there and upcoming. Always like to start easy and build it up fast to uplifting like my normal sets.
i:Vibes: Talk a little about the Grotesque radio show and music label? How is the radios how different from the usual radio shows and what is your goal behind your own label?
RAM: Its no different then any other show its just mine, everybody needs a radio show so obliviously I do the Grotesque one because we want to expand the brand. This is the same as for the label its meant as solid base for the Grotesque party’s and my music and of course from others also.
i:Vibes: You have been so busy as of late, but what things would you still like to do in your career as RAM?
RAM: Well I do what I love so making the album and touring the world meeting great people and enjoying life is what I like so will be continuing this for a while of course some of the big party’s like Tomorrowland and EDC are on the to do list but we see what happens.
i:Vibes: What are your 2014 World Cup predictions in Brasil? Where will the journey of Germany and Holland end?
RAM: Not into football so much .. but probably spain will win they are on fire. And of course Holland kicking German asses.