Interviews
D.O.N.S hits NO1 with Big Fun
By Jukebox Media
May 9, 2007 - 1:04:37 PM

Making huge club tracks does not come easy to some people but to D.O.N.S  already with the hugely popular ‘Pump up the Jam’ track smashing all the charts over the world in 2005 returns with his new hit for the summer 2007 ‘Big Fun’

The unstoppable D.O.N.S cements himself in the heart of music lovers once again, with his new release a re rub of the classic ‘Big Fun’ ‘paying homage to his musical roots backed up with an exceptional remix from Dave Spoon. Already riding high at No 1 in the Ministry of Sound download charts, this track is tipped for HUGE success.

Featuring the sultry voice of Terri B, “Big Fun” is set for release on the 20^th April 2007 on the almighty Ministry of Sound label Hed Kandi. An uplifting piece of blissed out electronica, you cannot help but fall in love with Terri’s beautiful vocals over a hooky bass line that is D.O.N.S trademark. With support already from Radio 1’s Pete Tong and Trophy Twins, Mark Knight, Will Bailey, Chris Lake, Soul Avengers, Jonathan Ulysess, Jim Shaft Ryan, Mark Doyle and Jim Breese.

Oliver aka D.O.N.S has been a busy man this year which means 2007 follows with even more productions, collaborations and big remixes; Gloria Gayners “Supernatural Love” is the latest single to get a helping of D.O.N.S midas touch. On top of all this, D.O.N.S has just released a series of compilations in Germany to coincide with the his European tour plus setting up sister label – Kingdom Kome Cuts Black - which caters for the more underground records D.O.N.S wants to sign.

D.O.N.S will be travelling all over the world this summer to help promote ‘Big Fun’ taking in tours of Austraila, Asia, America and Europe. Keep a check on latest news on www.myspace.com/donsdj

To download ‘BIG FUN’ click here

www.mosdownload.com/moreMostDownloaded.php

We caught up with D.O.N.S to talk remixes, Ibiza and all things musical

‘BIG FUN’ is doing well at the moment; tell us a bit about it?

“When I started getting into house music while I lived in New York
City back in 1988, “Big Fun” was the first track which caught me on
fire. I loved it from the first second I heard it and due to this it
was only a matter of time to put my hands on it and simply rework it
my way. I am quiet happy with the mixes and the track so far did very
well in the clubs worldwide and being signed to Hed Kandi is of
course a great thing to be for a DJ and producer. We are coming up
with a lot of different mixes and the hot one now is Dave Spoons
incredible remix. For me one of the best he has done so far.”   This remix had just gone number 1 in the Ministry of Sound download charts and in the djdownload.com charts, which is amazing

What else have you been up to recently in the studio recently?

“Quiet a lot. Like remixes for: Antoine Clamaran “Relax”, F &
Martinengo – Let´s Get Out Tonite, Yves La Rock – Something On Your
mind, my new single D.O.N.S. feat. Gloria Gaynor – Supernatural Love
(no cover !!!!) and some studio lounge projects like Tranquillo and
Sugarman or the new Warp Brothers Single and some other dance
projects and producing DJs and artists (like John Morley from
Adelaide with a big new tune called “Naughty” or Louis Osbourne, new
track “Maia”).
Besides producing and quiet a busy booking schedule I take care of my
several labels. Kingdom Kome Cuts, Kingdom Kome Cuts Black, Dos Or
Die Records, Ovations, Blanket Recors (Lounge and Chill). We have a
lot of releases each month and a lot online stuff going on. We have
artists like Jerry Ropero, Antoine Clamaran, Sebastien Leger, Eric
Lavelle, Louis Osbourne, Clubworxx, John Morley and more on ur labels
of Kingdome Kome and acts like Royal Gigolos, Warp Brothers, Kadoc,
Hypertrophy and DJ Bomba on Dos Or CDie Records.

You have a very distinctive style and it's easy to recognise one of
your tracks. What would you put this down to?

I think it´s pretty much the sound we developed in the studio. We
wanted to have a pumping sound for the clubs but still a soft touch
for listeners not being on the dance floor. Like pumping house with
the ability to sound nice on radio or even the background. I think
that besides the big electro scene, voacel house is coming back big
time and that´s why we tried to find a way to combine elctro
elements, with a touch of tribal and vocal house. At the end it´s a
result of unendless studio session to a point where you say. That´s
it I love it :o)

It’s a lot easier to produce nowadays – is that a good or bad thing?

On one side it´s a good thing because it´s supporting creativity even
for people who wouldn’t have had a chance to produce some years ago.
On the other side there are a lot of people out there calling
themselves producers because the just put down a track on Fruity
Loops. Everything has it pros and cons. I think it´s in a balance.
More and more producers are considering themselves producers without
really knowing what comes with producing. An instrumental club track
can be a great production but it doenst necessarily mean that the
same producer is able to do a big vocal house track. Due to the
technical progress a lot of producers are being specialized in what
they figured out while producing which is or can creating a new sound
and new influences.


What makes a good or bad producer?

His feeling for music and the ability to feel what he´s doing and
what will work for the people.

What time of day/night are you most creative?

When I am daydreaming thinking of music. I often come up with track
ideas. Not even on purpose but ideas are simply popping up. When I am
in the studio there is not fixed time. I am an early morning guy but
I don’t find many people working with me at 7 am unless we are still up.

Who would you most like to collaborate with in the studio?

It would have been James Brown, my all time hero. RIP and thank you.
 From the living I would say Carl Cox.

Do you feel DJs have to produce nowadays to really make their mark?

Yes I do think so. It is very hard even for very talented upcoming
DJs to get over a certain level without hot tracks in the club. Even
if you´re established it is helpful to have your own records being
played and out.

‘Pump up the jam’ really put you to the forefront of everybodys
minds, Why do you think that track did so well ?

First of all it was a great remix from Kurd Maverick which started to
put this track on fire and than it´s always a bit of luck, good
timing and the right players picking up a track. Besides this track
is anyway one of the biggest dance anthems of all times and everybody
has it on his mind from back than. Even younger people. It was a hit
and it showed that it didn’t lose this power years later.

What have you been up to recently DJ wise?

I was touring a lot. Really exciting have India and the China tour I
just got back from. All gigs turned out top be massive and for me it
was a great experience because I have never been in this countries
before. Miami’s WMC was a blast and I played 5 gigs and in between
gigs in Russia, UK, Germany, South Africa made live pretty cool and
enjoyable.

You’re playing a lot of different countries at the moment, what’s
your favourite place to play at the moment?

Hard to answer because in some countires you don’t play as often as
in other. India p.ex. was a great gig but I only played there once.
Australia I play up 20 gigs a year and I simply love this country and
would give it the #1 peak position

If you could play one more club ever; where would it be and who else
would be playing?

Amnesia Ibiza (never played there but been there and the atmosphere
was mindblowing). Playing with Carl Cox , the Swedish mafia guys
(Angello, Axwell, Ingrosso) and my very best DJ friends from all over
the world (hello John Morley, Jerry Ropero and Stas).

Biggest crowd you’ve ever played to?

What`s the strangest or most unusual place you`ve ever played a gig in?
Of course Love Parade. An Open Air car cinema in Cali/Colombia. Would
maybe do it again. That was somehow unreal

What do you use in your sets nowadays (e.g. CDJs)?

CDs and CDJs. I am still a vinyl junkie and we still release between
5-8 vinyls a month but if you travel a lot vinyl simply doesn’t do it
any more. Too much stress, lost luggage, too heavy and overweight
fees. On top you are way more flexible with CDs. You simply can take
more tracks with you than a bag with 80 records. Especially if you
have those sets scheduled for two hours ending up being 5. At the end
you can talk for ever about this subject but the convenient factor is
simply too strong to ignore it.

How do you think DJing will evolve technically over the next few years?

I think more and more DJs will start using Macs or PCs which I think
is a bit of a shame. I still think that a DJ is somehow there to
entertain the audience. Having some one clicking tracks with his
mousse has more the impression to me that he is checking MySpace or
sending email in front of the audience. That’s not really
entertaining and nobody really sees what he is doing. Is it a pre
mixed Set ?? Especially the ones promoting themselves a live DJs
because they use certain software which allows to add loops, effect,
samples and snyth lines and stuff are not really live for my taste.
Live for me is still a bataillon of keyboards, drum sets and maybe
even more like guitars. That can easily be done with elctronic music
too and I think there must be still a drawed line between these two
things. (Underworlds is live p.ex)

What future does vinyl have?

We hope it still has a future. Not too optimistic though

What upcoming DJs can you recommend?

Dave Spoon is just bursting out on the scene (thanks for the great
remix), John Morley, Stas (DJ Tito from St. Petersburg Russia), Danny
Freakazoid and Will Bailey. There many more out but these are hot I
really do think.

DJs are renowned as having a glamorous life, if I was you for a day,
what would be the most disappointing thing I’d discover about the
reality of a DJ’s life?

The bloody lack of sleep and that you start to hate things like
planes but at the end I love to DJ for a life and cant find anything
bad about it. And this is why I still think flying is pretty cool and
I can still sleep when I am dead. And don’t forget all this countries
and the young daughters from hot mothers :o)

First record u bought?

Johnny Guitar Watson – Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty. I received a lot
of records before this from my uncle who was a radio DJ for AFN in
Germany playing Funk and Soul over 30 years ago.

How did you get into Dance music?

Music always was my way of escaping reality or getting rid of stress.
I was always into music as long as I can think ff. Started really
listening to music when I was 12 years and DJing with 17 years. I
started with James brown, Soul, Rare Groove and Funk and than House
music especially deep house and garage was the consequent
developpemen for this musict. Besides I was always in to electronic
music like Kraftwerk. Liasion Dangereuse, Jean Michael Jarre. I
didn’t lost this temptations over the last 22 years.

If you weren’t a DJ…

I would be a lawyer or real estate agent maybe (that is what I
learned and studied some yyears)

Tell us a joke?

Very funny having a German telling an English joke. How should this
work ? :o)

If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go?

I would really go to Vatikan St. Peters Cathedral and sneak in their
library and see what these guys are hiding from us for the last 1000
of years. Especially lies !

What one thing would you like to do before you die?

I really have done a lot in life and I think it´s something quiet
corny. Sitting on a beach and watching the sun go down. Action wise
enter a rocket and being shot in space !

D.O.N.S will be travelling all over the world this summer to help promote ‘Big Fun’ taking in tours of Austraila, Asia, America and Europe. Keep a check on latest news on www.myspace.com/donsdj

To download ‘BIG FUN’ click here

www.mosdownload.com/moreMostDownloaded.php