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 It's been one his busiest summer's to date with his new mix compilation 'Las Vegas' at the start of the year and the release of his new artist album 'Do You Dream'. We caught up with Markus for an update on all things Schulz...
It's been a fantastic summer for Markus Schulz, albeit a very busy one with a packed tour schedule and a brand new artist album to promote. He started things off back in July with the 100th release on his very own Coldharbour Recordings record label, which is part of the Armada network. For that he took over Afterhours FM and put on a 24 hour dance music extravaganza featuring a four hour DJ set from Markus to top it off. After that he released the next single to be taken from his 3rd artist album ‘DO Your Dream’, ‘Perception’ which is a real epic featuring the vocal talents of Justine Siussa and remixed by Super8 & Tab. Not a bad way to mark the 100th release on a label as it’s a track that deserves every prise it’s awarded. On the road he did a huge seven hour set at Amnesia in Ibiza and took his Global DJ Broadcast on the road touring Budapest. In between all that he managed to take time out to talk about his last album ‘Do You Dream’ to i:Vibes.
i:Vibes: Markus, thanks for talking to i:Vibes. How is your summer going?
Markus: It's been fantastic - thanks. Intense, there's no doubt there, but they always are these days. No complaints there though!
i:Vibes: How difficult was it starting production work on “Do you dream” after your critically acclaimed Progression album from 2007?
Markus: Not difficult as such. When you've finished an album it's like any major project in life, you certainly don't just feel like leaping right back in there. You need to give yourself a break and let the appetite build back up. There was about 1 1/2 years before I got back behind the desk and thought: right, new album: here we come!!
i:Vibes: You worked 18 months on “Do you dream”. What was your goal with your third studio album?
Markus: The goal always remains the same really... To do something that satisfies yourself as an artist, pleases your fans and is conclusively a step up from your last work.
i:Vibes: How would you describe the Markus Schulz sound journey with Do you dream?
Markus: Tough one that. I've said before that if record shops had sections for 'not 100% trance', Do You Dream? would slot right in there. There are tracks on the album that start to approach ambient, in as much at least as they're beatless, but they have far too many tense, or intense elements on them to classify as chillout. Likewise there are tracks that have elements of tech or uplifting trance but really wouldn't really qualify in either sub genre. I think "journey" is a good word to use to be honest. That's what every producer worth their salt wants to take you on...
i:Vibes: Since entering the DJ Mag top 10, have you felt much pressure to produce high quality music for the listener?
Markus: I do find this a interesting question... You feel pressure to produce high quality music from the moment you buy your first studio box. Every time you make any type of investment in fact. The Top 10 is much more about the deck-side than it is the studio. The answer though would still remain the same. Always pressure: it's just varying degrees of...
i:Vibes: You start the album with Alpha State. How difficult is it in general for getting that perfect instrumental intro on an album?
Markus: No tougher than any other track. Every one you place on an album needs to hit the right tone. It depends what you want to say with it really. I knew with Alpha that I wanted something cool, instrumental as you say, but not a wholesale chillout piece. I felt it needed to overture in a slightly non-conforming manner.
i:Vibes: On “Away” you have Sir Adrian on vocals. What makes his voice so unique? How was the collaboration with the brilliant singer?
Markus: To my ears - and this is just one man's take - I think his style is half sung, half spoken and it's that combination that makes it so intoxicating and cool to listen to. No one in the broad trance genre has delivered like this before and it does indeed, at the moment, make him unique. Kudos on that track also needs to go though to Raz Nitzan though who wrote the lyrics to 'Away' - he really created on that.
i:Vibes: What was your inspiration behind the up tempo and trancey “Rain”?
Markus: It was the club at The Palms casino in Las Vegas. I've spoken a lot in 2010 about L.V., but the impact of that club, the nights I've played there, the parties, the after-parties, everything about it; tying it together somehow in a D.Y.D. track was very important to me.
i:Vibes: How much of a joy is it working together with the talented Jennifer Rene on “Not the same”?
Markus: I've been a big fan since she was singing on Jose Amnesia's releases and she's come a long way, and will continue to do so I think.
i:Vibes: Anna Criado made a name singing on the debut album of Alex Morph. What made her so appealing to have perform “Surreal”?
Markus: 'Surreal' is without question a different type of track and it needed a different type of voice and lyrics to sit atop it. It was a case of right time, right voice really.
i:Vibes: “Unsaid” is a track that is performed beautifully from Susana and the track seems very radio friendly. Is this a track that might get a release?
Markus: Completely, quite apart from it being radio-friendly I think it's in the contract! ;) Susana and Jennifer are the next JES', the next big solo breakouts. Its no accidents they're singing on DYD - I doubt they'll be available for the next one!
i:Vibes: “Lifted” is a very interesting track with an edgy sound, but nice atmosphere. You have little known Angelique Bergere singing. The music is very soothing. How difficult was it creating this melody?
Markus: Little known now perhaps! We'll see what happens in the future though; I have high hopes for that girl! In terms of the difficulty of the melody, well on-par with most other tracks I think. The difference with this one though was that Angie was with me in the studio (for a lot of the time anyway) whilst it was being produced, trying out new takes, on both sides on the fly. It was a very exciting production that!
i:Vibes: On “perception”, you feature another of the A vocalists of trance with Justine Suissa. How difficult is it with all the female singers that you have to choose the right ones for the right track?
Markus: It's difficult only in as much as you can't make snap decisions on who you'd like featuring on X or Y track. You got to be sure, or as sure as dammed that they're going to fit! Justine though was a shoo-in for 'Perception' though. Even with hindsight I can't see anyone working out as well, singing on that track as she did.
i:Vibes: How as the collaboration with Max Graham? He is not the typical producer that I would envision you making a track with. How did you guys split the duties in the studio?
Markus: I'm glad you say that. I think some of the best collaborations of all time have come about from unexpected constituents! There was no divvying of duties as such. Jessica wrote the lyrics and obviously sung on Goodbye. Other than that from kick-drum to percs and it's core synths, it was 50/50 all the way. I'd sit in the pilot's seat for 90 mins, play around with some sounds and then Max would take over for 90. Then we'd both go out, hit the b-ball court for 20 and then get back at it!
i:Vibes: What would you like the listener to remember from the album Do you dream?
Markus: As the best Markus Schulz album to date!
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