Wiring the Electronic circuit

In the dizzying, pulsating world of Electronic dance music, Paul van Dyk is probably as big as it gets, a certain Mr. Tiesto probably vying for the same spot. One of those guys who put ‘celebrity' into DJ. Paul's been on the No. 1 spot on DJ Magazine's ‘Top 100 DJs' poll and is said to have sold around 3 million albums worldwide.

In 2005, the DJ won a Grammy nomination in the Best Electronic/ Dance Album category, for his original album “Reflections”, incidentally said to be inspired by a trip to India. Fancy remixes include that of Hans Zimmer's The Dark Knight theme as well as Justin Timberlake's “What goes around”. After five studio albums and more than a dozen remix and compilation albums, the DJ is all set for the launch of his new record, “Evolution”.

Prior to his arrival in Delhi, where he is scheduled to play this Friday, Berlin-based DJ answers question on the phone. Excerpts:

On “Evolution”

Electronic music started more than 20 years ago as a small sub-culture and is now the biggest youth culture in the world. On “Evolution” I've kind of tried to reflect that evolution and the size and magnitude that electronic music represents today, and this is what you'll find on the album. Also, I've been working with some very good friends, some phenomenal up and coming talent and artistes on the album, and that's pretty much what you'll find.

In the early years people have tended to define your genre as Trance. You, however, have been maintaining that you'd rather be known as an Electronic/ Dance DJ. How has your music evolved personally?

If you go back as far as 1994, you'll find me saying in interviews that I'm not a Trance DJ. For me it was the whole wide world of Electronic music that I find musically interesting and inspiring and if you're listening to my music you will always find elements of what people call Electro, Trance, Techno, Drum and Bass… all sorts of different elements. Therefore, I've always said it's Electronic music. I've never really been a Trance artiste or DJ, so this is why I was always referring to that.

In terms of obviously how the music has developed, it's the fact that when you grow up as a person you develop as an artiste. You have more experience and with more experience comes more self-confidence and, therefore, this reflects in the music. The music become more and more intense, more and more direct forward.

Tell us about the influence of the radio in your early listening.

When was nine or 10 years old I was always listening to the radio while doing my homework. I grew up in East Berlin and we didn't have any decent radio stations there, so I was illegally listening to the West Berlin radio stations. And that is how I first heard about what we probably call Electronic House music, which I really sort of enjoyed. And when the Wall went down I went to all the clubs in Berlin and I became a really big fan of Electronic music and started to buy records and make tapes for myself and some friends. One of my friends passed on my tape to the promoters and this is how I got my very first show booked. Everything else started from there. But, yes, it was the radio that sort of gave me my first look into the world.

Favourite venues?

I'm a homie so playing in my hometown Berlin is always very special. Otherwise I have to say that the way I play I have a very clear idea about the music and the sound that I like to bring across. But everything else is down to the interaction with my audience. So, it's mostly about all of us being in the room together creating a good night. Therefore, 99 per cent have a fantastic time together with everybody in the room. So, it's always about the moment.

DJ or producer?

It's both. I would like to emphasise that first of all I'm a musician and my favourite music happens to be Electronic music. And the most cunning way of presenting Electronic music is DJing. I'm not playing with CD players or records — I have keyboards, I have computers, I have mixing desks, I have controllers… So I kind of combine my passion of being a DJ with my passion of being a producer. And I can combine all that by playing live a lot of the time and remixing things on the spot. It's a very interactive setup which enables me to be as creative as possible.

Paul van Dyk will be playing at Shiro on Friday, January 27, 10 p.m. onwards.