Ferry Corsten needs very little introduction as he is one of the dance music's most iconic names especially amongst the trance community. He's just released a new compilation 'Once Upon A Night' and we thought it was a good time to talk him about that and how his 2010 is going so far...
Ferry Corsten has been one of the artists responsible for pushing the trance scene to where it is today, even if he did flirt with the electro style for a few albums. His love and passion for the music is as strong as it ever was and he continues to fine tune his sound to keep on top of the game. The man behind epic names like 'System F' and also part behind the 'Gouryella' project the shear volume of classic records Ferry has had a hand in producing just goes on and on. He's been lifting the lid on a few classics of his with his new 'FC System F' compilation with new mixes of his old tracks from brand new talents including new updates from Ferry himself. He's been on tour for a lot of this year and one reason why is his new mix compilation 'One Upon A Night' as he tours the clubs promoting the new compilation. It's one we highly recommend you check out and one we thought deserved a quick word with the man himself. Welcome back to the i:Vibes interview desk the great Ferry Corsten.
i:Vibes: Ferry thanks for taking some time to talk to i:Vibes. How has the first half of 2010 been for you?
Ferry: 2010 has been pretty busy. I’ve released a new mix compilation called Once Upon A Night and to promote it we have a new world tour concept called Once Upon A Night: The Experience. I’ve also launch 2 applications: Cue. Play. DJ which is a iApp for DJs who want to actually mix tracks on their iPhones (similar to traktor) and Pulse a game application where people can tap to the beat of my music on a game form. I’ve also been touring a lot and have just come back from a 6 week Asian/Australian tour.
i:Vibes: What has been your biggest highlight in 2010? The release of the compilation and the tour around it.
Ferry: . It’s been a while since I did a mix compilation so I am happy to be back. The compilation went straight to number 1 in the Itunes USA chart. Always nice to see that the hard working is rewarded. Also the tour around the compilation, called Once Upon A Night: The Experience is something that I am really proud of. It’s an amazing show.
i:Vibes: Once upon a night is your 17th mix compilation. What makes this mix CD special and different from all the other different kind of mix CDs that you have released in the last 10 years?
Ferry: For this compilation I had the change to use unreleased material. The selection process took some time but once we’ve had the selection it all worked out perfect. The reactions from the fans and the music press have been amazing too.
i:Vibes: How difficult was it finding the perfect 25 unreleased tracks for Once Upon a Night?
Ferry: It was quite an adventure by itself. I think we listened to a couple of hundred tracks in the selection process. We’ve also had to have a whole bunch of tracks made as well for the compilation to make the concept work.
i:Vibes: What kind of journey did you envision for the mix in CD 1?
Ferry: CD 1 is the more progressive CD. Yuri Kane’s – Right Back was the perfect track to start with. Once I’ve heard that track I knew that this was the track to begin the journey with.
i:Vibes: You have many known artists on Once Upon a Night, but then again some unknown artists. How difficult was it choosing these artists over other talented unknown artists?
Ferry: I never look at a name when I listen to the music, I listen to the music. Of course we wanted to have some of our own artist on the CD. The nice thing is that a lot of the tracks are made by producers that no one ever heard of before we’ve put them on the CD. There are a lot of unknown talented producers around as you can hear on the CD. That’s the nice thing of having an own label too. We get sent a lot of demos and we get to cherry pick the best of the best.
i:Vibes: There is a very beautiful powerful melody in the middle of “Come Home” from Alpha 9 which really brings out the goose bumps. Is this one of the reasons why you love your job?
Ferry: Yeah actually that is one of the reason I still love it after all these years. There are still some talents out there that are capable of suprising me and also give me goose bumps. Music still touches me and others and that’s one of the most beautiful things in life, if you ask me.
i:Vibes: What makes the track Unconditional Love” so unique from the perspective from ferry Corsten?
Ferry: The overall production was done great by Amurai but the vocals are a big factor too. It’s an emotional track, almost melancholic with the vocals by Melissa Loretta.
i:Vibes: What was your goal for CD 2 of Once Upon A Night? You seemed to choose more progressive tracks
Ferry: The goal for CD2 was to bring the more uptempo tracks. When you listen to CD1 and straight go to CD2, you’ll notice that it’s almost a continuous mix. Where CD1 stops, CD2 begins. It’s a two and a half hour during journey.
i:Vibes: You have been a big supporter of Breakfast since his arrival on the trance scene in 2007. How has he developed as producer in the last three years?
Ferry: Actually we’ve released this first tracks in 2006 already on Flashover Recordings. I got a demo from him in Washington back in 2006 and decided to sign it immediately. He has a specific sound and which is so recognisable but never the same. He’s very talented and knows to surprise me every time!
i:Vibes: You added a new unreleased Ferry Corsten track “Once”. What was your inspiration behind this track?
Ferry: I get inspiration from a lot of things. Don’t know what the inspiration for this one was. I wanted to do a track that could fit the compilation. Actually I did two but only one ended up on Once Upon A Night.
i:Vibes: What would you like to have listeners remember the most from Once Upon a Time? You are working on a new album. What can we await from this album and when will it be released?
Ferry: I want the listeners to keep on playing it and even after quite some years put it on and still think it is one hell of an album. As we speak I am already on the lookout again for the second volume which will see the light in September / October. Regarding the artist album, I am in the studio as much as I can. The planning is that my album will be released in 2011.
i:Vibes: You have played all over the world. Is there any place where you have not played yet where you would like to still DJ?
Ferry: Good question! I’ve been around the world for some times now!
i:Vibes: When will you visit The Technoclub and Talla 2XLC in Frankfurt?
Ferry: When they book me :)
i:Vibes: Thanks for taking the time out for for i:Vibes, have a great summer!
Ferry: Thanks for the interview!
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