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 Having just released the 2011 edition of his 'Streamlined' compilation there is no better time for a quick catch up with Leon Bolier...
A major force in second dawn of The Netherlands’ dance music, Leon Bolier is one of the most creative studio minds at work in the country today. Through his now widely-known ‘trance with a twist’ auditory ethos, he determinedly broke the mould of pre-millennium euphoric trance – rebuilding it with a never-heard-before sound-set. Taking the natural next-step, Bolier has long since brought the music from the studio to the people. Behind a pair of CDJs, he is a force of nature, delivering one sound-quaking performance after another. Playing hundreds of nights, and in front of hundreds of thousands of clubbers, this mission culminated in Leon debuting on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 chart in the autumn of 2008.
Fast track to this year and Leon is really digging his heals into the electronic dance music scene with a new artist album 'Phantasma' pushing the Leon Bolier sound further than it has before. He's also pushing the Leon Bolier DJ experience further to with the released of a new 'Streamlined' compilation putting together Leon’s house / trance style over two mixes. Plenty of Leon Bolier productions in there to get stuck into plus a whole lot more. We thought it was the perfect time to grab a catch up with the man himself and get his thoughts on his latest compilation.
i:Vibes: Thank you Leon for taking some time to talk to i:Vibes. 2011 is already 2/3 over. What has been your most memorable experience this year in the club and in the studio?
Leon: I am not going to talk about a club this time – it’s the feeling I got when I played on stage at the Expo Center in Johannesburg during ASOT 500, when I looked at the crowd going apeshit and at the same time Ruben de Ronde coming on stage to tell me that my name was a world wide trending topic on twitter. Such an amazing feeling! In the studio, several things actually. Finishing both Cape Town and Vengeance, Vengeance might be the highlights – whilst Cape Town took me ages of tweaking and trying to find the right lead melody and climax, Vengeance Vengeance ‘just happened’.
i:Vibes: You have been in the DJ Mag Top 100 the last three years in a row and currently stand at #68. What is your feeling about where you will land in 2011?
Leon: I have no idea actually. I think loads of new faces will show up in the top 100 – so I will be happy when I will stay in the top 100.
i:Vibes: What do you think is missing from getting into the top 50? Possibly that big hit?
Leon: Yes, that might be a reason. That’s why I have been focusing on the big tracks to put out as a single this year, and I will continue doing so. The more beautiful full on melodic stuff I will produce as well (and as much as in the past) but I will put them out on compilation CDs, albums and maybe even give away free tracks at some point.
i:Vibes: You will release your new CD compilation Streamlined 2011 on September 2011. After the Streamlined Buenos Aires 2009 what was your goal with Streamlined Tunis?
Leon: Kind of the same goal actually: make a compilation CD with great tracks, a great flow, something that is enjoyable listening to at home as well.
i:Vibes: The majority of compilations now a days feature 2 CD’s while few DJs release just one CD compilation. What is the biggest challenge of releasing a two CD compilation?
Leon: The biggest challenge is to find enough tracks that are worth compiling. There’s so much music being produced nowadays, and I am kind of picky. So I am a happy man when I find a great record that I can put on a compilation – or play out at my live gigs for that matter.
i:Vibes: What are the main reasons for dedicating your newest Streamlined to the party crowd of Tunis?
Leon: Two reasons actually: the first is that I played there quite a lot in the last few years, and I love the passionate crowd. The second is that there’s no boundaries for people to enjoy music – not for the Tunisian crowd before or after the Arabic spring, nor for people in any country out there, they just come to a party to enjoy the music, no matter what country, race, religion or sexual orientation they have.
i:Vibes: What has been the most unique Leon Bolier experience with the Tunis party crowd?
Leon: The last time I played in Hammameth in a big open air club, which kind of was set up as an amphitheater. Dancing and smiling people everywhere, I didn’t want to stop playing!
i:Vibes: Why did you decide to open CD 1 with open your eyes? What kind of mood do you want the listener to gain right away?
Leon: A soothing, smooth, emotional intro track to get the listener into the mix.
i:Vibes: On CD 1 apart from some Leon Bolier tracks, you also feature other amazing tracks but not necessarily from the most known artists. How difficult was it choosing these tracks and making the right mix and not showcasing the peak time tracks?
Leon: Especially CD1 is not about the peak time tracks (apart from some tracks at the end of the CD). It’s music that’s made for listening pleasure, not necessarily for clubbing pleasure. I don’t really look for ‘names’, but I look for good music.
i:Vibes: You added the beautiful Reykur from Oliver Englafjord. What makes this track perfect for the Tunis Streamlined compilation?
Leon: You already said it – it’s beautiful!
i:Vibes: Night Vibe from Sergio Fernandez is an amazing track that is very funky. If you had to describe the overall style on CD 1 in one sentence how would you?
Leon: A journey into hypnotizing melodic progressive, house and trance.
i:Vibes: I love Apple One and Start a fire. The track has a beautiful atmosphere and very chilled. How did you come across Arkadiusz Los?
Leon: Arkadiusz sent me a demo after I said on twitter and facebook that I was looking for exclusive tracks for the compilation. The track was great, and it was unsigned, which means win!
i:Vibes: Your H2o is a very unique track. How did you come up with the idea of the violin bit in the break?
Leon: I used violin before (in my track ‘By Your Side’ with Fisher) – I have grown up listening to classical music, and I still love the classical instruments, so from time to time you will hear them in my productions. When I produced H2O I was looking for a lead sound, thought ‘why not’ and added the violin.
i:Vibes: There are many, many different music styles on CD 1, but what makes the CD 1 work is that you never know what will come next. You keep the listener in suspense which keeps the attention. Why did you close CD 1 with Vengeance Vegeance?
Leon: Because towards the end of CD1 the sound gets a bit more harsh and straight forward. Vengeance Vengeance was a great way to end that journey with a big boom.
i:Vibes: What was your goal with CD2 soundwise?
Leon: To showcase a more up tempo, anthemic side of things in EDM and trance.
i:Vibes: On CD 2, you start with your Intro remix for Sied Van Riel. What was most difficult in getting Rush perfect in Leon Bolier remix fashion?
Leon: The hardest thing for me was to rework Sied’s melodies a bit, add my own chords and melodies so it wouldn’t just be a remix with the same melodies, different sounds. Having said that, it wasn’t too difficult though since I already loved the original
i:Vibes: You added Expose from Diederick Van Loo. He brings much energy to this track. Is it just listening to the demo and signing an artist or does a Leon Bolier have a chance to get more of a relationship to this up and coming artists?
Leon: Diederick is one half of the Museartic duo, I already knew him before and he actually lives pretty close. Because I already knew their music I asked him to send some demos. I loved Expose, and that’s why the track ended up on the CD.
i:Vibes: What was your inspiration behind the track Staircase?
Leon: The fans of melodic trance. I can understand that some aren’t to fond of the more clubby approach of some of my singles, that’s why I decided to make an extra track, pure melodic trance, just for them, and add it to the CD.
i:Vibes: Onixia from Sensi & Damian Wasse has anthem written all over the track. Where does a track like Onixia put you thought wise when listening to it?
Leon: Like you said: ‘this is a great trance anthem’. I can see people reach for the lasers.
i:Vibes: What makes the Bjorn Hodel remix so special on your classic War of the worlds track? Hodel is a big talent just ready to explode?
Leon: Hodel is a young guy I know for a few years already as well, and he asked me if he could have a go at remixing War of the Worlds – and he did. Especially then he was mostly into the uplifting genre, but when he sent me his remix I loved it. I think at the moment he is experimenting a bit with his sound but he definitely has talent!
i:Vibes: You end CD 2 with your tracks Yesterday Eve and Cape Town. Why is Cape Town the perfect closer for Streamlined Tunis?
Leon: The same reason Vengeance Vengeance was the perfect closer for CD1: end it all with a bang…
i:Vibes: What was the nicest compliment that you got for Cape town this year?
Leon: That’s a hard question, but I think it’s Armin asking me ‘you are going to send me this track right away on Monday, right’ so many times during the long weekend we spent with the ASOT 500 crew in South Africa definitely counts!
i:Vibes: You listed as Arty as one of the big newcomers of 2010. How far do you predict that the Russian genius will jump up the DJ Mag Top 100 places?
Leon: I think he will do very well – his tracks have been played by everyone – the trance jocks, the house jocks, everyone. A perfect way to create a big fan base fast.
i:Vibes: What was your most fondest memory playing at Technoclub this summer with Talla 2XLC and Temple One?
Leon: The crowd. Loved it. Energy from the beginning till the end. I hope to be back there soon!
STREAMLINED 2011 - OUT NOW!
:: Streamlined 2011 - Available on the i:Vibes store right now!
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