The first stop on the journey through Scandinavia was in Copenhagen, Denmark were the dj and producer Michael Splint sat down with us from i:Vibes: to answer a couple of questions. Check out what he had to say about the past, the present and the future!
i:Vibes: Hey Michael, What's going on in your life at the moment (except trying to get your old computer sold ) ?
A: Hehe - the computer is almost sold, so now I'm looking for other items to sell. Other than that it's all about music really...I've teamed up with 2 talented Danish producers and we are doing some cool stuff together. When I do stuff with them I use the name "Max Power" (due to contract issues). One of the projects might feature the vocal of a UK singer/songwriter I recently "met".
The 3rd Michael Splint single is in the making and I will also start up a project with the Danish producer Michael Parsberg soon. On the way out is also a project me and my friend Lars did with Swedish producer Marcus Progresia. It will be the first release on UK label Strukture (sublabel to Inspired Records) under the name Barbed Wire & Sunglider: Ruffed Up! There is a really cool Gate 42 remix on the release and we have already gotten some cool feedback.
i:Vibes: Ok, that sounds interesting! I know that you work with something that has to do with music all day long which is many peoples highest dreams. You are running the only danish dj promotion company as well as your dj'ing and producing. What's the best & worst aspects of your job?
A: Well, the best is that its my own company (with a friend), so if I wanna take a day off - I can do that. I work with the thing I love - music - and it's not a hard job really. Worst aspect...nothing really - except money - this wont make me a millionaire - but hey - that's not why I do it anyways.
i:Vibes: You mentioned that the best thing is that you can work with the thing that you love, which is music. Has music always been your highest passion?
A: Except for my wife, yes. I would give it all up for her any day!
i:Vibes: Haha, quite a romantic huh? Anyways what about trance, how did you first get into it?
A: I've always liked most kinds of dance music, and have been on trance even before it was called that I guess. I did some radio back in the day where we played house, techno and trance from the "good old labels" like Eye-Q, R&S Records, Alphabet City etc. Then when the big boom started to happen in 97, 98 I took a real liking to the Dutch and UK sound. Finally it was in 1998 (I think) a visit to Ministry Of Sound with Paul Oakenfold in the box that put the final touch on it. When he played Grace - Not Over Yet (Perfecto Mix) - I was sold. In 99 I went to Gatecrasher with some friends and saw Paul Van Dyk drop Planet Perfecto: Bullet In The Gun - and 1000 people raised their arms and sang along - it was totally wikked! That was the moment where the idea of Club Gorgeous was first born I think - and you must know the story from there.
i:Vibes: You mentioned about Club Gergeous which became one of the biggest trance clubs in scandinavia. How did you react when you got the information about the closure?
A: Well, it was inevitable really. It was on a Wednesday and it was not possible to move it. We drained it to a point where we should have called it quits much earlier - unfortunately. We could move it to another location, as it was a "joint venture" between us residents and the venue owner. It was of course a sad announcement to make, but life goes on and when one door closes - another one opens.
i:Vibes: Ah ok, I heard that you tried to start up a new club after the closure of Georgeous. What happend with that?
A: Oh - we dont talk about that, well it was just a case of poor marketing, a club with a bad rep and the fact that there isn't many people listening to "real" trance in Copenhagen at the moment - it's VERY r&b and house oriented...
i:Vibes: You said that there isn't many people listening to 'real' trance in Copenhagen and well many people don't know so much about the Danish trance scene, how would you describe it?
A: None existing to be honest...We are a very small amount of people into that kind of trance - or else they are hiding themselves VERY well.
i:Vibes: Ok, that's really sad. How would you compare the Danish trance scene to the other scandinavian countries scenes?
A: Its been a while since I've been in Norway, but it seems we are in an all-time low in Denmark compared to the other countries. Sweden is well ahead and I always enjoy playing in Sweden - which will happen again soon!
i:Vibes: Oh ok, nice. Is Sweden the best place that you've dj'ed at? Or is it another place that have been better and what made it so special?
A: Every time I've been in Sweden has been kick ass. Other highlights have been Room At The Top in Scotland, Street Parade in Rotterdam and lot's of gigs at Gorgeous.
i:Vibes: Ok! Do you ever get nervous before going on stage? If so does the nervousness last during the whole set or is it swept away the moment you're entering the stage?
A: I dont feel I'm that nervous anymore - it was worse years back when I started. But there is always a little bit - it goes away as soon as I've played the first record though. If I'm nervous over anything it's that people will dance to what I play.
i:Vibes: You have a wide range of what you play. If you could do a top5 trancechart of all times how would it look like?
A: Damn - I HATE that question!! It is virtually impossible for me to say, because it depends on the crowd, their mood - and mine. It would probably have tracks from somewhere between 1998-2001 in there, but it's so hard to pick 5 - so I'm not gonna.
Instead I'll let you know 5 tracks that influenced me and my style of playing - in no particular order...
Jam & Spoon: Stella Grace: Not Over Yet Paul Van Dyk: For An Angel Planet Perfecto: Bullet In The Gun Delerium: Silence (Tiesto Mix)
i:Vibes: That is five solide tunes! You mention earlier that you have some new project coming up. What more does the future hold for Michael Splint?
A: Well - I'm hoping to do an album - but let's see. times are not good for dance music - unless its VERY commercial and I'm not sure I wanna go down that road If we do it I'm sure it will be versatile - within the trance genre... Other than that I'm gonna do much more under my Max Power and hopefully there will be loads of DJ gigs.
i:Vibes: Nice, let us keep our fingers crossed for a album! Do you have any other words for our readers?
A: Keep trance alive - let's get the happy vibe from 1999/2000 back. Visit my website for more info if you want.
Now simply choose Good or Bad to the following statements.
i:Vibes: Mp3
A: *Both good & bad
i:Vibes: The Danish pastry (a kind of bun)
A: Good
i:Vibes: Danish beer
A: Bad
i:Vibes: Swedes who take the boat or the bridge over to Denmark to buy beer
A: Good
i:Vibes: Copenhagen
A: Good
i:Vibes: The danish winter
A: Bad
i:Vibes: Many thanks for the interview Michael and we at i:Vibes wish you all the best in the future!
A: Thanks for having me.
*notice when asking the first question on the “Good or Bad” Splint answered "bastard!!!, i KNEW you would ask #1, i HATE that question".
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