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 Mark Norman have just released their second artists album and its a real gem of an album. They took the time out to answer a few questions from the crew here about the new album, their plans for new year and whats next for Mark Norman.
Mark Norman is the duo of Norman Lender and Mark de Jong. You could be forgiving that mark Norman is the work of one man but the clue where the alias came from is in the names of the producers; worked it out yet? Good.
Their debut album 'Synchronicity' got release back in 2006 and set the ball rolling for a massive world tour they did with Cor Fijneman by touring the globe playing gig after gig around the world for 80 Days. They did not let up on the producing though as they have release a few cracking singles over the past year with 'Phantom Manor', 'Ventura' and that back to the old Mark Norman sound 'Bikken Machine'.
The new album see's Mark Norman move forward with their music and bring a greater variation in their style but still keeping that mark Norman quality you expect. We fired a few questions over to the Mark Norman boys to get their thoughts on a few things. Here it is.
Q: First of all, may I say many thanks for taking the time out to answer a few questions from the crew here at [i:VIbes]. It’s been a very successful career for Mark Norman so far and that can only continue with the release of a brand new album.
A: Well there is a lot to dream of but we are happy that our career is going very well. We worked hard on the album and we are very happy that it is finished!
Q: From your early releases how hard was it to get that breakthrough into the industry and what particular record did it for you?
A: We never thought about breaking into the industry. Some things just happen and we never expected that we could live from the music. I think that the track ‘Overkill’ was the track which did it for us at that time.
Q: What would you say are your influences in music as a whole and got you into the whole Electronic scene? Any particular tracks that you can remember that made an impact on you?
A: The good thing is that styles are becoming closer and that a lot of producers are experimenting with different styles. When you listen to our new album you can hear a lot of influences from different scenes. We are not into the electro scene but sometimes I play an electro track in my set but not that often.
Q: What was the first record you ever produced?
A: We will never forget. That track was X fader and released on Smoke Recordings / BPM Dance. I think it was in 1999 and picked up by Judge Jules @ BBC radio 1.
Q: What artist or artists would you say are your favourite? Not only in dance terms, but in music in general?
A: We like a lot of different styles of music. One band I really admire is U2. Those guys are unbelievable. They produce a lot of quality tunes and off course there are a lot of other artists we like. For example Dr Dre, Duran Duran to name a few!
Q: Onto the DJ side of things, it’s been talked a lot that there is a better living to be made by DJ'n than just producing records. Do you think it’s essential that producers these days go out and DJ rather than just produce tracks?
A: Off course the benefits of producing tracks is declined, unless you have a monster hit! With the performances you earn the money but the tracks are important and more a sort of marketing tool.
Q: Which do you get the more enjoyment out, producing records or mixing them?
A: Both, no doubt. The good thing is when we produce tracks we can test them immediately on the dance floor. So when I play a new track I can see the reactions of the crowd. That helps us very much to improve a track.
Q: What equipment do you use to produce your tracks?
A: Back in the days we used a lot of hardware like samplers, drum computers and synth. Nowadays we work with a lot software plugins. We are also working with an Avalon compressor and some hardware EFX.
Q: What tips would you give budding DJ's and producers to get noticed in the Dance scene?
A: Produce some monster tunes and people are talking about you!
Q: Do you think too many producers don’t put enough effort or time into creating tracks?
A: Sometimes I hear people talking that they produce a track in a day. Then I think…I wish we could! Sometimes we are working more then 3 weeks on a track.
Q: What would be the nicest fellow DJ''s you have had the pleasure of playing along side?
A: I can play very well together with Cor Fijneman. There is a sort of chemistry when we play back to back. But there are some other deejays which were fun to play alongside! It was when I played a few times together with Tiesto.
Q: If I were to go and see a Mark Norman DJ set, which I would if your in the UK sometime, what would I expect as many DJ's say they feed of the crowd and atmosphere in the club to aid there track and mix selection?
A: I always play a lot of own tunes in my sets. I have to cause some people expect u to play your own tunes which I understand. I like to come an hour before my gig to the venue so I can ‘taste’ the atmosphere. I think that is really important because you have to feel what the people want.
Q: What is the best club you have been to DJ at?
A: I think that was Amnesia. The vibe & atmosphere is really unbelievable! Sometimes when you come into a club you have that feeling that whatever you do they go crazy. The times I played Amnesia I had that feeling! But also ZOUK in Singapore is really a good venue to play, very dark and underground!
Q: Onto the new album, it’s been two years since your debut album 'Synchronicity' and after that you did an 80 days world tour. How long did it take you to get all the tracks ready for the new album?
A: We worked almost 2 years to complete the new album. It took us a while but we wanted to make a complete album with a lot of different tunes. Colour my eyes was the firs track of the album and the last track ‘ St Barth’s’ we produced this summer.
Q: The new album has some new sounds that we have not seen from Mark Norman before but still has a few of the original Mark Norman sound. Do you feel the way you produce tracks has changed over the years?
A: We invested in our studio and Mark did the SAE course so I think those kind of things helped us to improve the sound quality. Also we grown older and travelled a lot. We experienced the different dance scenes worldwide and I think you can hear that on the new album.
Q: What would be your favourite track from the album?
A: Become Human and St barth’s we really like.
Q: Do you sometimes drop new records into sets to see what kind of reaction you get for the track and use that in your decision to put tracks into new albums?
A: Always! That is the perfect way how you can test new tracks. Sometimes you drop a new track and you discover that certain sounds don’t fit the track. Also you can see the reactions of the people If they like it or not.
Q: When it comes to producing new tracks, do you just start from a blank or draw inspiration from other records you might have heard out and about?
A: Mostly we start with a new empty project. We can be inspired by some other tracks and try to make something like that but we always ended up with something completely different!
Q: If you were to pass on a new track to just one DJ to promote, who would that DJ be?
A: Pete Tong
Q: What are your favourite producers at the moment?
A: Deadmau5 for sure. That guy is the bomb!
Q: Have you any more big name collaborations in the pipeline?
A: Not at the moment. We want to focus right now on our own releases. Who knows in the feature!
Q: What will be Mark Norman’s next single release, a new track or one taken from the brand new album 'Colours'?
A: We will release a track from our new album with a remix package! We are not sure which one but we receive a lot emails when the track we did with JES – One moon circling is going to be released. So big chance………..
Q: With the festive season coming up, what are Mark Norman's plans for New Years Eve?
A: We have a few options where to play but we didn’t take a decision yet. We will see what happens!
Q: One last final question from the crew here, you recently did a few mixes for Radio 1 on Judge Jules and Eddie Halliwell's radio shows. How about a Mark Norman essential mix?
A: That’s would be fantastic! I think a dream come true when we get a chance! Let’s hope so…..
Many thanks for taking time out to answer a few questions from the crew here at [i:Vibes].
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