i:Vibes had the chance to speak with legendary globe trotting DJ / producer Johan Gielen...
Johan Gielen The Belgian Trance Master…
When referring to Trance and the country of Belgium, one usually thinks of the legendary producer Airwave, but the country has also produced other very fine DJ / producers like Johan Gielen. He started spinning at the age of 17 and in the last 15 years has built up a respectable DJ resume with stops in countries like Japan, Australia, Germany, Spain, Holland, Belgium, England, Northern Ireland, Israel and North Cyprus. He also has a residency in the famous club Gorgeous in Copenhagen, Denmark and club Velfarre in Tokyo, Japan. Many have called him the Dutch Ambassador of Dance. He has played at well known festivals like Dance Valley, Sensation White and famous clubs like Godskitchen, Space and Guvernment. He is the only artist who has preformed 14 times at Trance Energy. He has preformed so much in the last few years that he once calculated how many times he could fly around the world for free. “I have so many free miles, I could fly around the world 36 times”. Sooner or later he started producing and he first popped up in the DJ charts in 2000 with his project Svenson & Gielen. In only a few short years, they produced many high quality trance anthems like ‘Twisted’ or ‘We Know What You Did’. He also produced other projects like Airscape, Baleric Bill, Des Mitchell or Abnea. He had top ten tracks in countries like Germany, Holland, U.K, Austria and Switzerland. He has released his own tracks ‘Flash’, ‘Dream Child’, ‘Show Me What You Got’, ‘Physical Overdrive’ and ‘Relevations’, which was also the title for his debut album, which was released last year. He also has his own radio show ‘In Session’ on Fresh FM each Saturday from 21:00 to 23:00 CET. He recently mixed the legendary Technoclub Volume 25 together with Talla 2XLC. i:Vibes had a chat with the trance master…
i:Vibes: Hi Johan. How are you? Thanks for taking some time for this interview. What new years resolutions did you set yourself for 2008?
Johan Gielen: I’m very well, just got back from a nice holiday so more than ready for 2008. I’m working on some new stuff in the studio right now and will again fly all over the world to do DJ gigs in 2008.
i:Vibes: You have been in the music business for some years now. What are your spontaneous thoughts when you hear the words Talla 2XLC and Technoclub?
Johan Gielen: Energy, Energy and Energy!
i:Vibes: You have played all over the world and have a huge fan base all over the world. However you seldom play in Germany. What do you think are the main reasons for this? Can it be that trance is not as popular as in other places?
Johan Gielen: Yes I think that the trance culture has been changed over the years in Germany so that a lot of people have the wrong idea about trance. But anyway maybe it will change in 2008 (I hope so) so I can come more to Germany to play.
i:Vibes: You started to DJ at age 17. How did you become linked to music? What was the deciding moment where you knew that you wanted to be a DJ / producer?
Johan Gielen: Music has always been part of my life I think I was born with it...
i:Vibes: What were your early musical influences?
Johan Gielen: Depeche Mode, Petshop Boys, U2, Simple Minds.
i:Vibes: Was it difficult getting yourself into the music scene at first? Were their any people that gave you a hand, or did you make your own contacts and break into the business?
Johan Gielen: I believe in your dream everything will come around but it needs a lot of hard work. I always follow my heart and the 2 years I was living in Japan ’95 till ‘97 changed my whole life.
i:Vibes: You had your first big success as Svenson & Gielen in 2000. You had many big hits. What made your working relationship so unique with partner Sven Maes?
Johan Gielen: I think it’s a combination of a good DJ and a good producer together in the studio.
i:Vibes: Is this project history or do you think you might produce a track again?
Johan Gielen: Never say never but at this moment I am too busy for this.
i:Vibes: What were your duties in the studio as Svenson & Gielen?
Johan Gielen: Bringing the ideas and making the grooves. Sven was taking care of playing the melodies because I’m a DJ not a musician.
i:Vibes: You also produced another classic trance track ‘La Esperanza’ as Airscape. This is my favourite production from you. Was this a difficult track to produce? What was the most difficult thing in making this track?
Johan Gielen: Not difficult because this is a feeling you reflect in a record, of course the melody was not so easy to find but we did it in 2 weeks after changing it over and over again.
i:Vibes: In the beginning, you produced a lot of uplifting tracks. How would you say your sound has developed in the last five years? How would you describe your sound today?
Johan Gielen: Very hard to say - I still make uplifting music but I think that the last 5 years a lot has changed in the music business and it’s always good to try something new. That’s why I also like some electro and house these days.
i:Vibes: Your debut album ‘Revelations’ was released last year. How happy were you with the responses from the public? What was the most important thing you wanted the fans to get from this album?
Johan Gielen: I was really happy with the reactions, especially as this was my first real Johan Gielen album and the most important thing was that my fans were travelling on a musical journey when listening to this album.
i:Vibes: The track ‘Revelations’ is a catchy commercial vocal track, while ‘Magnitude’ brings back sweet memories to the uplifting sound we know and love from you. Would you ever consider changing your sound or will you always stay true to the melodic trance? What sound direction would you consider taking if you chose to go another way?
Johan Gielen: I think I have more to offer than just melodic trance. I just want to put my feelings into the music.
i:Vibes: What goals do you have for 2008?
Johan Gielen: Stay healthy and keep on doing what I’m doing, which is to entertain the people around the world.
i:Vibes: Besides your PC, what is the most important piece of equipment you could not live without?
Johan Gielen: My girlfriend first of all and than my headphones! ;-)
i:Vibes: You are a perfectionist. Many call you a DJ with very few flaws. If there was one thing you would like to change as a DJ, what would it be?
Johan Gielen: RESPECT - these days it’s hard to find!
i:Vibes: Where would you like to be in five years?
Johan Gielen: No idea, I never look that far in advance.
i:Vibes: With what artist would you like to produce a track with and why?
Johan Gielen: Tina Turner I just love her voice.
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
Johan Gielen: Diving and Japanese koi fish.
i:Vibes: Johan, thanks for the chat!
Johan Gielen: Love & Respect, Johan Gielen xxx
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