Noot: Wij hebben er bewust voor gekozen om dit interview in het Engels te plaatsen uit respect voor de DJ.
Firstly, how do you describe yourself?
“I would say I am the kind of guy who is totally dedicated to his work. After I quit school in 1999 I realized my only reason to live was to do music and to share it with as much people as I could. I love to travel alone, open eyes to the world, getting to know new cultures and people that surrounds us. I like to eat a lot, drink wine and listen to people talking about their life. My character is hard to describe, I think I’m easy to live with, I can be very patient with some and incredibly impatient with others.
So you're a man who really knows how to enjoy life! By the way, your name suggest you preach. Do you?
“I do all the time, bring music to the people and preach for the music that we believe and that we have a strong future!! The message is clear, we want to party! “
Are you religious in any way?
“I think that some kind of energy is surrounding us, karma is one of the things that I strongly believe in. After few years I realized that you never loose control of your life when you don’t intentionally hurt others. “
But the housemusic-business is weird, sometimes you can get hurt, its a rough way to the top. Speaking of that, how did you end up in the housemusic-business?
“Since I was 12 I have been listening to electronic music, doing some experimental music on my computer and learning the basics of arrangements. Then I became more interested in the whole concept of party and pleasure around the DJ career and I slowly started to DJ and travel around the world. I still love producing music in my studio, but the label business itself is not so interesting and we mainly do it to promote ourselves than make money! It’s so great to hear a track which has been produced by yourself on a loud system!!”
If you wouldn't have become a DJ, what kind of job would you have now?
“I would say that I love so many kinds of music that nothing would ever stop me working in this industry. Besides producing and DJ-ing, there is nothing I could ever do in this world that would make me happy =)”
Where do you get your inspiration from?
“It’s always different, sometimes when I am flying or driving somewhere I can hear sounds from the engines or sounds from nature. Whatever surrounding you is always a source of inspiration. I keep with me a recorder so I can remember the ideas that I get. I have a really bad memory so it’s good that at least I can record it somewhere. Also what is great, listening to different kind of music, hard rock, hiphop, classics… get new ideas and translate them into your own style! “
What do you do when you’re NOT busy making or playing housemusic, how do you relax?
“I love to get in my car and drive the small roads in the forest near my home. I also like to go out and drink beer, walk back home with my friends and talk about crazy stuff!! Relax on the beach when I have a chance, go to the massage and Thalasso !!”
What’s the weirdest thing that happened to you so far during gigs?
“In South America last year while playing my latin tracks, I got surprised by people singing in the breakdowns. The way we understand music is so different from where we live! “
You are doing a huge tour this summer throughout the world as a promotour for your new cd. How did/do you feel about your gig at the Dance Valley Festival?
“It’s amazing to play at such a big party. Not only the biggest summer event in Holland but also the party where I will have the chance to meet all the people I have admiration for. DJs from all over the world as well as people that will be partying during this events. It’s like being in a new world for two days, I can’t wait till next week!”
And about your new cd, what's so special about it? What does this cd make a piece of you?
“At first I wanted to make a cd exclusively with my own productions but then we realized how important it is to include tracks from other great producers who have been working very hard for their music. This cd represents perfectly the 3 kind of techno I have faith in. Little more funky at the beginning with tribal edges, then you get into the darker stuff that has strong dynamics in the structure and sound. And finally some trancier tracks, landing the cd after this intensive trip. I like this cd because it was live set from Aria in Montreal. It’s what I preach for! “
Partyflock.nl listened to the cd, and we think its a big mixture of a lot of different techno styles, thus making it not too “deep”. It tends to stay at the surface, unlike some of your livesets. Is there a difference between this cd and your usual style?
“I think it's hard to judge a dj by style because we adapt our sound to the crowd at the party. The cd represents the sound that I produce and that I play in parties very well. Of course a lot of bootlegs and exclusive productions will not appear on mix cds and sometimes they make the big reaction! I think my cd represents well many of my livesets, especially since it was recorded in a club! “
You have 253 fans on the Partyflock website, so the counter said when we checked. What are you going to do in the future to make that number larger?
“Play more parties, meet more people, give more cds, release more records
we have massive releases coming up, must keep the secret but I think people will enjoy it a lot! “Which do you like best, mixing or producing?
“Both go together, mixing is great because you have a direct touch with your people. Producing is very intimate, music comes from your heart and nobody is around watching you!“
Both Carl Cox and Mistress Barbara named you as ‘one to watch for the future’. What’s the value of their words for you career?
“I respect both of them like mentors. People need references to tell them who to listen to and where to go party. Carl and Mistress have been helping us a lot with my releases and career, when you play aside DJs like them you can really understand what the word ‘influence’ means. It’s important that DJs help each other, I do the same with my pal Marco G, we have been working on many tracks together and developing our own funky sound! “
What does techno mean to you? Do you think there is a deeper meaning in the music?
“I give a name to my music because people like to label the genre. I think everybody does his own kind. When I produce a track or when I DJ, I try to mix different sound textures and get influences from various sources. It’s not good to get stuck in one position and close your eyes to the other styles. Techno for me is raw; you must add a taste to it! “
![[photo id=166722 size=medium right]](https://photo.partyflock.nl/166722/main/Free-Your-Mind-Festival-92-Preach.jpg)
What’s the future of techno? How do you see that future?“There will be tons of great releases and parties coming up in the techno scene. Techno has been changing a lot over the years and we are all developing new sounds that mix good with other genres. It has definitely got clubbier over the time, I would say that I am glad we are becoming a little more accessible, it’s great to catch the girls dancing on hard beats
”Do you have a masterplan for the next couple of years, what's your plan to conquer the DJ world? (If not, what are your plans for the future?)
“I want to conquer Europe and Asia after that. I love to travel and get the maximum out of this job. I hope I will do this all my life. But if I cannot DJ for more than 10 years, I will continue producing for movies and clubs after my carreer as a DJ! “
Who are your friends in the DJ-scene, and which DJ’s have your respect?
“Marco G is my best friend. He is also from Canada. All the DJ’s who have been working hard for the scene have my respect. Special respect to Carl Cox, Marco V, Barbara, Olivier Giacomotto and others I can’t remember but won’t forget
”And which DJs are overrated in your opinion?
“Everybody that works hard deserves his place. I don’t judge without knowing the stories..”
What other housestyles do you like, besides techno?
“House, progressive, trance… I like everything when it’s done well!”
Something else now: do you make use of the internet a lot for your work?
“Everyday I use the internet ofcourse for emails, FTP exchanges of tracks I’m producing. I a;so use it as an ‘online producing assistance’. It's really easy, especially if you need feedback when you are working on something new!”
What do you think of mp3 downloading? Do you agree mp3s can help an unknown DJ's career?[/
“I respect people who share their music by themselves. Sharing without authorization can be wrong, but at the same time it helps promoting your DJ carreer. We need a strong structure surrounding the mp3 market, at the moment it’s a little bit of a mess I think. I preach for people who pay for music and/or contribute to the music industry. “
Had you ever heard of the website Partyflock before we wanted to interview you?
“Sure, it’s massive!! We dont have sites like this in Canada, I mean: not as big as Partyflock!”
What do you know about Holland, except for Partyflock.nl, the tulips, the windmills, the dikes and the soccerplayers?
“I know people are taller than me, they are great people with very open minded vision, they smoke a lot, I love their food and music taste. Mayonaise is a wierd thing!”
What's the most odd thing about our country?
“The weather! I know it sounds stupid and you’ve heard it millions of times, but it rains too much over here. Lets hope its dry during the Dance Valley weekend...”
To end the serious part of this interview: what do you personally think about the baby seals being killed in your country?
“I think it’s horrible! Hopefully they will put an end to this!”
Ok, now some ‘less serious’ issues. What's the best record to have sex on?
“Sasha – Involver! Really good slow uplifting progressive. You should try it!”
Haha, we second that! Good choice, Involver. Next up: Bush or Bin Laden?
“None of them.....I’m Canadian...so
”Paris or London?
“I love Paris and I don’t know London well enough… so I would say LONDON cause I want to go there!”
Rich or Famous?
“Rich so I can spoil my friends and travel around the world! “
On-top or ...?
“Doggie style, oh yeah!”
In Dutch we use a saying ‘Kaal of Kammen’ with means bold or doing your hair?
“Kaal, you wont see me waisting time doing my hair in the morning, I hate it !”
Preach, we want to wish you all the best for your gigs at the Dance Valley festival and good luck for the future! We hope to hear a lot from you in the future!
Ben je benieuwd geraakt naar de draaikunsten van DJ Preach, wil je zijn kale Canadese koppie eens zien, of ben je een dame en heb je een kopie van Involver bij je? Kom dan aanstaande vrijdag en zaterdag naar Dance Valley, waar Preach de boel op zijn kop zal zetten! Zaterdag draait hij daar van half 9 tot 10 in de avond; als afsluiter dus van hopelijk een zonnige dag! Ben je niet op Dance Valley aanwezig, niet getreurd! Subculture organiseert op 27 augustus in de Poema RAW de Relic Release Party; de officiele releaseparty dus waar Preach een extra lange set weg zal geven!
