"Hi Mate, nice to see you 2 The biggest change was the hectic life suddenly like travelling all around the world. We sleep more in a hotel than in our own bed because we play at the greatest areas, venues and festivals!"
i:Vibes: “Dark side of the moon”, was just absolutely massive. What are your nicest memories from that time where every DJ was playing this track sometimes even twice in a DJ set.
Ernesto & Bastian: "Yes, we were very happy with the impact which that record made all around the world. The best thing for an artist to get is the appreciation for their work and see it in every chart, playlist and to hear it on the radio in different countries."
i:Vibes: Who were your early musical inspirations while you were growing up?
Bastian: Klaus Schulze is one of the pioneers in electronic music and you can hear all his influences in our music.
Pet Shop Boys: The clean and tight production, the nice synth/pop style and the atmosphere in their music can be heard in much of our pop/dance style tracks
Depeche Mode: The darkness of their sound is awesome
Ernesto: I listen to a lot of music when I was growing up. I was inspired by disco, soul, funk and underground records. I always tried to find new stuff that was not on the radio. Loved Farley jack master Funk
i:Vibes: You guys are from Holland. You met at work. How long did it take until you found your way in the studio? What made your working music relationship so unique?
Bastian: Before we met we were already doing some things in the music industry. When we found out we had the same taste in music we tried something out in the studio. Because Ernesto has been a DJ since he was born;-) he shared his experience with me and I was more the producer. So we are a good combination together and complement eachother.
Ernesto: The combination of a DJ who likes phat dark pumping dance music and a producer who is more into poppy/dark atmosphere sounds seems to work out pretty well.
i:Vibes: You guys produced your first tracks back in 2001. One of the first tracks was being Single. How has your sound developed since 2001 and what has been the most important thing you did in the studio to bring the sound to where it is now?
Ernesto: Producing tracks takes a while. We’re extremely picky and it usually take’s a while before we are 100% satisfied with the result. In the first years we worked on different projects, but in our heart there was only one, the EvsB sound, it’s still the same as in the start but it’s now more of this time. Dark, full of energy, the groove and floating sound works every day and we learned a lot the past years.
Bastian: Actually the atmosphere inside the music hasn’t changed that much since 2001. We still like it a little bit dark, strange, melancholic and most importantly a song has to be unique. Listen to "Lonely People" and you know what we are talking about. We also like music to be entrancing and give it some kind of ecstasy feel.
The sound we use nowadays is much different then before and all the drives and beats are better, because most music we make now is software based. In 2001 we used our big wagon of hardware. But can you imagine to make very tight loops in an Akai S3000?
Computers have made the life of dance producers much easier and gave the music a more grown-up touch.
i:Vibes: You guys have been very quiet since 2005, releasing “Unchained Melody in 2007. You guys have been working on the new album, but why didn´t you release more new material in the last years?
Ernesto: “After Dark Side of the Moon” we were travelling all around the world and so we didn’t had enough quality time to produce new tracks. In 2007 we decided to lock ourselves up in the studio and finish our album ‘Authenticity’.
i:Vibes: How would you describe the Ernesto vs Bastian sound of 2008?
Ernesto: NRG, musical, emotional at the right moment and a phatt sound . I think these are the right key works for our sound. Especially “emotions” is very important for us. On top of this we put the floating atmosphere.
i:Vibes: The first release off Authenticity will be “Thrill”. You guys don’t release many tracks, but when you do they are just brilliant tracks. Is that the motto of Ernesto vs Bastian. Lots of quality before quantity?
Bastian: Yes, definitely!!
We always try to combine different kind of styles and put some new experiments into the music. I think as an artist you always have to find new ways and new directions and sometimes taking a risk. Because of that not every record is a success, but when a record does succeed it will blow every roof off!
Ernesto: Our music has little things built inside and you only hear them if you take the time to listen it a couple of times.
i:Vibes: I listened once to “Thrill” and was instantly hooked to it. How happy are you with this track and the early feedback?
Bastian & Bastian: When we finished the track we already knew this was going to be an instant hit! After we tried it out in the clubs we were sure it could be even an anthem ;-) Production and musical- wise it is a step further for us ( and hopefully for other people as well). This song proves in the evolution of trance music that he combination of trance, acid, house, electro and techno work out very well.
i:Vibes: “Im not a tech fan, but was still very impressed with “Thrill”. It is not always easy to make a product that is loved even by people who aren’t necessarily a fan of Tech. Is this something that is in the back of your minds when you are producing a new track in the studio?
Bastian: To be honest in the past when we were producing a track we always thought; oh yes, we have to put this in and add that just to suit everyone’s taste. But now we only do what WE like.
Ernesto: Lets face it: what is TECH exactly. 20 years ago it didn’t even exist! Maybe it’s time we stop putting a label on everything and give the music what it deserves.
i:Vibes: “Thrill” is simply a masterpiece. Was this a difficult track to produce? How was the studio session while making this track?
Ernesto: Thank you very much for this compliment .
Bastian: The simple truth is (nobody knows this) that we first produced the "Reflecting Diversity Mix" which was in fact the original mix!
Ernesto: Bastian thought why not try to produce the whole track in a different style and with another crazy bassline? Within one week we finished the track what is now known as the "original mix".
Bastian: So even when we are satisfied with a track, but still hear more potential we can give it a second twist. We never hurry when we would like to finish a track. Thats why we don’t release record after record. We stand for quality not quantity.
i:Vibes: “Thrill” has been named as the Anthem for Trance Energy 2008. How excited are you with this huge reward?
Ernesto: We are very ‘Thrilled’ having this years Anthem of the 15th edition of Trance Energy! We were very pleased when we heard it was chosen for this years Anthem!
i:Vibes: "Aside from your own Theme for this year, what would be your favourtite Trance Energy Theme from previous years?"
Bastian Vs. Bastian: We think Trance Energy chooses every year the right track for this event. All tracks are great Anthems, for example; Svenson and Gielen - Twisted, Rank 1 – Beats @ Rank 1 dotcom and last year Joop with “The Future”. But our favourite would be “Thrill” ;-)
i:Vibes: Please give some insight as to who will be making remixes for “Thrill” And how happy are you with the mixes?
Ernesto: “Thrill" has been released on High Contrast recordings on a special limited gold vinyl and will be available on all formats. It will contain a massive package of remixes: Original, Reflecting Diversity Mix, John’O Callaghan mix and the Cliff Coenraad & Thomas Hagenbeek remix. We are very happy with the results of the remixes. Cliff & Thomas has given it a more deeper touch while JOC takes of all the breaks, it’s slammin!
i:Vibes: “Thrill” has already received incredible feedback. How does this “Thrill” compare with “Dark side of the moon” and can it become even bigger than that track?
Ernesto: received incredible feedback indeed. Our mailboxes have been on overload ever since ID&T announced ‘Thrill’ as this years anthem. These are two different tracks, a vocal and instrumental and I think you can’t compare them, but hit wise maybe. We think it always can be bigger and bettter we have to set goals and try to reach them. After it leaves the studio it’s up to you, the listener and clubber how big the track will be.. So thanks for the support to all who likes our tracks, enjoy every minute of them.
Bastian: “Dark Side of the Moon” was one of the biggest trance tracks back in 2005 and even in 2006, so to reach that kind of success is not very easy. but “Thrill” does have a good buzz. We will see what happens.
i:Vibes: “Authenticity” will be released in March. What can we expect from this album?
Bastian: Expect an album with not only "monotonic dance beats" or an "artist album put together in a hurry" but 12 tunes which is a story just like a book, a film or a musical journey which looks like life itself and each episode has a different mood or some changes you just don’t expect! We also worked with guest artists and even a real choir for the 2008 remake of Dark Side Of The Moon. We worked with a violin player in the new song "Sound Of Soul". Each vocalist has his or her own quality that suits our music.
A new talent on the block is Jiga a German Singer and performer from Germany. She worked with us on 2 tracks! We expect a lot if this amazing talent!
i:Vibes: You have been working very long on your debut album. When you started making this album, what were your goals that you wanted to accomplice in the studio?
Bastian: It took 3 years to finish "Authenticity", but the first year didn’t really count because of all the travelling we did at that time. Our goal was the same as our singles: create spacey dance music and have a lot of fun making it!
i:Vibes: What was the most important piece of equipment in your studio that you can´t live without?
Bastian: The album has been produced with 75% software and 25% hardware.
To give you a top 3 of our popular instruments used in the album:
1. Virus TI Polar
2. Roland V-Synth XT
3. Native Instruments Reaktor
i:Vibes: Why don’t you guys ever work with another artist? If you could be locked away with an artist in the studio for 24 hours who would it be?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: For the album we worked with loads of people, but to be locked up for 24 hour in the studio we don’t know…
Your name has to be at least David Bowie. ;-)
i:Vibes: Besides the release of “Authenticity”, what other goals do you have for 2008?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: Stay healthy, travel around the world to let people enjoy our music and make a bigger record than DSOTM and Thrill ;-)
i:Vibes: Your music is very unique, but could you ever imagine sticking your heads into another music genre and experimenting with new sounds?
Bastian: As mentioned in earlier questions we already experiment a lot in trying out new sounds and mixing different styles, "Thrill" is the best proof for this and we hope that the trance scene will improve itself also in this way.
Ernesto: We also did "Unchained Melody" this release was more a mixture between trance and popmusic. Did you ever heard a reggae vocalist in trance? No of course not!
i:Vibes: Will there be a huge tour for the “Authenticity” album? Might you visit some places where you have never been before?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: Yes we will! Officially its called "The Authenticity Tour". We are planning it at this moment so we cant say in which countries we officially will be playing.
i:Vibes: What was the craziest touring experience that you had in the last years?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: We can write a book about touring the world, waiting on airports for 20 hours on delays. Coming in hotels without heating systems in winter, woman pulling of our cloths, wanting autograps on theur boobs, stages that collapse, storm and rain on outdoor events. But best thing is seeing the happy crowed going crazy everytime on our music.. crazyyy
i:Vibes: Back to the Technoclub. Do you still have contact with Talla 2XLC? I can imagine, if “Thrill” takes off then he will book you guys again the Technoclub. Do you remember the Technoclub and would you like to play there again?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: Everybody in the dance business is always busy and doing his thing, so also our contact with Talla has been a bit quiet last year. He’s a really nice and very honest guy and one of the pioneers in the German Trance music, a living legend..
Of course we remember The Technoclub the atmosphere there was amazing and the people are really into the music and yes.....we will play there again! o/
i:Vibes: What are your current five favorite tracks?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian:
1. Dennis Shepperd & Cold Blue – Prime of Life
2. Ernesto vs Bastian – Super Jupiter
3. Rank 1 & Jochen Miller – And Then
4. Underworld – Burnout (DJ Preach rmx)
5. Brian Cross - This Summer (180 graus Ubatuba Mix)
i:Vibes: Who are your favourite DJs at moment?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: We dont have a favourite, but we like dj’s who do a good performance and entertain the crowd with good fresh music and try to surprise the people with cool mixes!
i:Vibes: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: More of the same or even better then that
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
Bastian: , going to the gym, eat in good restaurants, but most of all: Music
Ernesto: Sporting, cinema, animals, music and teasing people
i:Vibes: If you were bored on day and were playing in the studio with “Dark Side of the moon, how would it sound in 2008 if you were to make a totally new mix?
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: Ernesto: to the album and you will hear it although it’s a more slow-down version ( 127bpm). It’s a complete different version then the original and even different from all the 234 remixes that came out of it.
i:Vibes: Thanks for the interview and all the best with the new album!!!!
Ernesto Vs. Bastian: Yes you two, hope to see you soon again!!
You can read our review of the guys debut artist album 'Authenticity'
right here! The album is out now and available to purchase at our very own
i:Vibes store now!
![[i:Vibes]](i_pic/ivibes_new.jpg)
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The mighty Ernesto Vs. Bastian headlined this year's Trance Energy and they have just released their debut artist album which is rarther good. Our man Miles caught up with them for a few words...
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