DYM was talking to Solidslide, one of switzerlands most gifted Trance Artists. You may know his massive Remixes for Andy Prinz & Jaro, which were really impressive….
Biography Solid Slide:
Angelo was born in Zurich, his childhood was characterized by (Classical) music. His mother was singing in a Choral, his father played various instruments, and that’s why he made his first own music at the age of 10 years. First the traditional way by playing the Trombone.
His first steps towards electronic music, Angelo made in 1994, while watching TV- Magazines like Housefrau (Viva TV), Sputnik-TV, a regional TV Station in Switzerland, showing some Rave Parties. The following year, now being 15 years old, he did attend his first big Rave Party , the “Evolution 1” in Zürich. Fascinated by the mood of the people, and the feeling of freedom, he started living for this music.
After a turbulent time banned by deafening Hardcore Music, Angelo tended more and more to listen to softer Trance Music. From now on, harmonics controlled his (musical) life. One year later, he decided to spin decks by himself, and so he bought himself DJ equipment, using his pocket money.
After some time of mixing and practising at home, the day of his first DJ-Gig arrived, the day he always has waited for. After playing on numerous little events and private Parties the first “real” gigs followed. He was invited to spin his decks on the legendary Nights at the “Galvanik” in Zug. By different circumstances, his first booking was made in 2000 in the Club “OXA” in Zürich, which is well-known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. By having an unbelievable good resonance, another booking at the OXA followed some months later.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Angelo started producing. Supported by the well-known swiss producer Andy Prinz, he made his first step by remixing a track for the Top Producer Phil Green (famous for his work with Dave 202) in co-operation with Andy. “Keys of infinity” was one first step in the right direction, and numerous other remixes followed.
His biggest highlight was this years remix of Jaro’s “Turn the night”, which was totally impressive. It was released on Epic / Sonymusic. Angelo played also various DJ-Gigs beside his productions and remixes. In December 2002, he had his first Booking outside of Switzerland, in Slovenia.
Now we have reached the year 2003, and Angelo just began his mission to give back Trance it’s soul.
Interview with Solid Slide:
DYM: What music did you prefer before getting in contact with electronic music like Gabba, Hardcore, Rave or Trance? Angelo: because of being very young at that time, i did listen more or less to everything from classical to rock. But I did always like songs with great harmonics and a certain buildup. Today I love, besides from electronic music, more and more old stuff, for example all those Motown- Songs. I think I am going to get old... :-)
DYM: Is there any Trance song that you love most and which is your favourite Producer and DJ? Angelo: I think there are too many... some of my favourites are Laurent Veronnez, Nick Bracegirdle, Armin van Buuren and, of course, Andy Prinz…
DYM: Is there any DJ or Producer you would love to work with one day? Angelo: Basically, all of those I have told you concerning your last question. But especially L-Vee, because his arrangements, harmonics and the sounds he uses are fascinating me extremely! Respect!
DYM: Which Style of Trance do you like most, uplifting, progressive, epic… and which DJ in your opinion plays your favourite music? Angelo:That differs a lot. Solid Slide stands for moving, emotional sound. Correspondingly I do my DJ- Sets. I play and produce only Tracks I really like. That does not mean that I am not using harder Tracks in my sets, I just have to like it 100%. So you can find anything from tech- house, progressive tracks up to uplifting anthems in my sets, a very wide spectrum. There are a lot of DJ’s I enjoy very much listening to, because I love their style. For Example Armin van Buuren, Airwave, and Misja Helsloot. Happily, there are more and more young DJ’s, who are doing their own thing. I think the “always playing harder stuff than the others“- Syndrome is going to die more and more, and the times of melodic sounds are coming up again. Trance, in my opinion, should contain (as the name itself says) emotions. Everything else is simply no Trance…
DYM: after your success with your remix of Jaro’s “Turn the night”, which was in my opinion a smash hit, will your future productions have the same style, or do u prefer to try something else? Angelo: I am always trying to produce different styles, but the main thing is that I like the Tracks I produce. At the moment I do have different productions under different names, that are only waiting to be released…
DYM: Do you have any producer in mind, that you admire for his style of music? Angelo: There are many... and I have to name Laurent Veronnez again. I admire his chameleon-like transformation arts. Unlike other Artists he always reaches that once you hear a track from him for the first seconds, you are absolutely sure that it is one of his. Same for Nick Bracegirdle (Chicane)… In Switzerland the one and only one is Andy Prinz, who stuck to his unmistakable, emotional style…
DYM: Do you have any other productions or remixes to do at this time, and what are your plans for 2003? Angelo: I just finished a new Track under the Solid Slide guise. Because I am nevertheless working 100%, it is very difficult to find some time to do some own Productions and Remixes. I just did finish a Remix for Labworks, and I am working at the moment on a Remix on slowenian Hardtrance Producer „Mic-E“, and I am sure I will have a lot to do in the next months… DYM: You have done more remixes than own productions yet, will there be some new own productions from you soon? Angelo: That’s right... at the moment I am trying to find some labels for my own productions. This is a little bit hard because of the bad economical situation. The most actual thing is the project “Ayion”, which consists of Andy Prinz, Solid Slide and the Guitarist. The first Production, called “Thru the night” was signed by Misja Helsloot’s label “First Second”(www.gesturemusic.com) , and the release is planned for early (spring) 2003.. Beside the original, Andy Prinz and I are contributing our own interpretations in form of two different mixes.
DYM: Can you tell us where we can enjoy your next DJ- Sets, and have you done any live-Sets yet? Angelo: Because I am concentrating 100% on Producing at this time, and the same time doing 100% my own job, I did decide shortly ago, only to do some special bookings, for example the bookings in Slovenia last December.
DYM: You have been spinning your decks in Slovenia some weeks ago. How would you describe DJ’ing over there, is it similar to the Locations you usually DJ? Did you like it, and how was the resonance? Angelo: The resonance was overwhelming.The crowd was extremely enthusiastic and euphoric.For me it was the absolute highlight of my DJ- carreer. Amazingly, the people was very open-minded about my Trance- Style, because most of the people were supporters of progressive sounds… DYM: How does the Trance & Techno scene differ to the scene in Europe? Are there any differences? Angelo: The slovenian scene is like our scene a few years ago. I felt the spirit that I have missed in Switzerland and other countries for a long time, in slovenia. I thank god for that! The scene is alive over there, DJs and organisators like, for example Armando, Elyxir & Mic-E are doing their best to give the (still) little scene the necessary upswing. House and Techno / Progressive are the main styles, Trance is more and more on its way. Slovenia has excellent DJ’s and producers, a shame that you are not hearing too much from them over here. There are little who reached the jump to the top ones like, for example, Umek. Slovenia has some very creative heads, who will be heard from in the future. In adition, some various international Top- Acts will perform at the land next to the Adria, the next months.
DYM: Concerning your DJ set in Slovenia, would you like to do such Gigs more often in this country, and in what country would you like to DJ next? Angelo: I will return to slovenia, but when is not yet decided. As well, I hope to find some supporters for my productions and Co- Productions like “Ayon” in foreign countries, and because of that to do the one or other gig.
DYM: Thank you very much for the Interview, Angelo, I hope we will hear more great Tracks and remixes from you in the future. Angelo: Thank you, in this place I would like to thank Andy Prinz for his enormous support and our friendship.
Please visit Solid Slides Website Please visit Andy Prinz' Website
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