General discussion / Interview with DJ Solutio

Finally done with the interview with DJ Solutio! Read and comment the original interview right here! http://bit.ly/cIc0MP

The Magic Show tries to keep their followers as close as the people that are involved as possible. To do this we would like to give you a closer look to several of our residents.
This time DJ Solutio, known from Solutio & The I's took time to tell us something about him.




Welcome Solutio. Thank you for making some time for this interview.
Ofcourse , no problem.

As first, could you tell the readers something about the person behind DJ Solutio?
Well, I’m Alain, 24 years old. At the moment I’m living in Haren, a village near Groningen, in the North of the Netherlands. I have a big passion for DJing and producing. Besides that I’m working full time as a designer at a multimedia company.

The DJing and producing isn’t a full time occupation for you. How is it to combine a fulltime job with a musical career?
Well, you of course have to earn money. Unfortunately I’m not famous enough to earn my money as a DJ/producer. But on this moment I can combine it pretty good. I work 5 days in the week and I produce in the weekend and occasionally in the evenings. Fortunately my job doesn’t take extra time besides the hours I work on the company, so when I am home I have time for other things.

So your musical career and your normal job aren’t obstructing each other. What would you do if your career would grow so big that you won’t be able to function normally on your regular job?
For me this would be an easy choice. I would quit working and focus me fully on the music. That really would make my dreams and ambitions come true.

You make a clear point. Could you tell something about how you got involved in the music world?
At my high school, around the year 2000, I got in touch with dance and trance music. In that time the Klubbheads were still very famous. After that I kept listening to some harder music that was being played in mainly Belgium. Like the CDs of Atmoz and Jump of Da Boy Tommy.
Around 2002 I got in touch with hardstyle on parties I was visiting. From that moment my goal became to buy turntables and become a DJ. In 2004 I finally had my first performance, straight ahead at one of the biggest organisators in the hardstyle business. I performed at the DefQon.1 Talents contest on Q-Beach, organized by Q-Dance. Since that moment I’m involved in the music world.

What exactly was this DefQon.1 contest and how did you end up there?
Back then Q-Dance had a contest for talents to play on DefQon.1’s purple stage. You could send in a demo and I was one of the lucky guys that were chosen to perform on the contest. For example I was playing with Antifact, who was later known as Headhunterz.

But in 2004 you weren’t playing on DefQon.1, how did the contest end and what did you learn from the experience?
Unfortunately I didn’t get through the contest. But that was really my first performance. I was latterly shaking on the stage, that nervous I was. Because of that my performance wasn’t so great. But I’m not sure if I actually learned something of it. Perhaps that I shouldn’t have applied for the contest at that point. I was too inexperienced to spin on something big like that.

So in 2004 you got declined by Q-Dance. It is now 2010, could you tell something about the steps you took in those 6 years?
The first few years I tried to get a name by just spinning all the time. I played on a lot of contest, but this has no use at all. Even when I was winning several of these contests. But you don’t really get much out of winning those contests.
Since a few years I started to produce my own tracks. Because this is nowadays essential when you want to get to the top. First I was working on my own, but after a while I met Arboza on the internet. Since then we are helping each other with producing and we made a lot of tracks together.
In 2009 we really started to book progress. In that year I produced the track ‘City of Chaos’ together with The I’s. Since that time I started to produce with The I’s too. This eventually led to winning the remix contest that Mythica organized. This was really the step forward that I needed.

Can you tell something about how the contact between you and Arboza and The I’s got established?
I met Arboza by a coincident. As beginning producer you search other starting producers to exchange tips and hints. That’s how it went with him too. I knew a few tracks of him that he posted on the forums and other way around.
The I’s I knew already for some years. In 2006 he organized a party that is called Hardsound. He was looking for a DJ that could spin an early set together with him. One way or another he ended up with me, I actually have no clue how. But since Hardsound we spinned together regularly and in 2009 we started to produce together as well.

Meanwhile you made several records together with Arboza and The I’s. Could you tell something about how your tracks are being realized?
It’s quite simple actually. Sometimes someone has an idea and starts to work on it a little. When he’s done he will let one other hear it and that one continues with the track. It’s a lot of exchanging and applying of different ideas. The most important thing is to follow your instincts. We really never work with a plan of what a new track should sound like.

To which part of your productions you put most effort to give the track something extra that a good hardstyle track needs?
In my opinion the most important part is to give the track our own sound. I believe that we have our own characteristic sound. At least I always try to make my records that way that they have the ‘Solutio-sound’. Like this every producer has their own sound.

How would you describe this sound and how do you make sure your productions always sound this way?
The real Solutio sound exists from sharp synths in combination with raw sounds. I always try to make my tracks hard and dark. I have my own sounds and effects that I put in all my productions to realize this.

Your records have been played on several big events. Can you describe how it was when your record was played on a big event for the first time?
The first time a record of me got played was on InQontrol 2009, when B-front played City of Chaos. Unfortunately I wasn’t there myself. Fortunately I had a second chance on Q-Base 2009. This time I had the chance to be there. When B-front played City of Chaos again I totally went nuts. It’s so amazing to hear your own track on such a big event and see the people go crazy on it. There was a huge laser show at the moment the track was played as well; it was really a perfect moment!

Did you know before that your record would be played? Or was this a total surprise for you?
I knew that B-front would play a record of me. But I didn’t know which one.

Okay, let’s change the subject a little. At this moment you are releasing records on two different labels: Mythica Records and Knockout Beats. Can you tell the readers something about how to work when it comes to searching a good label?
In the first place you need to be really sure that your tracks have sufficient quality. When you are really convinced about the quality then you should start searching for a label that fits your style the most and that gives you a good feeling too. From that moment it’s just a matter of getting in touch with the label and hope that they will like the track too. I would at least try to be creative to really attract the attention of a label.

Could you tell how did you end up at Mythica and Knockout Beats?
At Mythica I got by winning a remix contest. It was such a great moment when DJ Trilok called me and told me that I’ve won!
With Knockout Beats it went different. Together with Arboza I was searching for a label for the tracks we made together. We had quiet some options, but none of those made us feel good. Eventually we bumped into Knockout Beats and we sent our tracks to them. Really short after we already got a reaction that they really liked our tracks. After that everything went quiet fast, and really soon our first record will be released there!

The last months there have been a lot of discussions about the way that big hardstyle events are filled in. What do you think yourself about the movement from DJs to producers that has been going on the last years?
I can understand that they are picking more producing DJs then DJs that don’t produce. A producer can make fame easier and can be recognized by their records. Someone that doesn’t produce will always spin stuffs of others. For me personally it doesn’t really matter, as long as the spinning is good and diverse.

Imagine that you are able to change one thing in the hardstyle scene. What would you change and why?
Pff, that’s a hard question… I would love to see the raw and harder sound get some more in front. Personally I think that there is too much accent on the melodic and accessible hardstyle. Slowly you can see hardstyle splitting up in the more melodic tracks and the rawer and hard tracks. An example of this is Euphoria, where they have a second area with just raw styles. On Decibel 2010 you can see it coming back as well.

Since a few months you are spinning together with The I’s in the Magic Show. How did you end up here?
Some time ago me and the I’s got asked to record a set for the Magic Show. Apparently the set did really well. Then we got asked to become a resident on the show. Without a doubt we agreed on it, mostly because we saw a lot of potential in the show.

Can you describe how it is to be a part of the Magic Show and what the show meant to you so far?
Well, the Magic Show made us known more to the bigger public. For us this was an important reason to join it. Next to that there are a lot of other great residents and loads of famous DJs that are spinning on the show. For us this is a really good way of promotion.

Alright, let’s change to some easy questions! The first one: According to you, what does a typical hardstyle track need?
Ruff and raw sounds and of course a fat, thick kick! I think it can only be good then!

What is your favorite track ever and why is it?
Showtek – Save The Day (DJ Youri’s In The Sky Remix), because I started to listen to hardstyle because of this track.

Name the 5 people that are the closest to you in the hardstyle world.
Arboza, The I’s, Degos&Re-Done, The Vision…. And….. does that count as 5 too?

Haha, sure. What is according to you the best and worst production that you have worked on, and why?
The best one is my new track ‘Devastator’. That is really the Solutio-sound as I’ve described before. It’s good hard and banging. My worst production would be my first track ever, which is ‘Braincrackin’. But okay, this was my first track. If I listen it back now then I can really hear how much I progressed.

From which musicians you are a fan?
B-front because of his dark and raw style. Noisecontrollers because of their kicks and Zatox because of his amazing screeches and synths.

What was the biggest mistake you ever did during a show?
I think like many others that are really nervous at one of their first performances. I took the needle of the vinyl that was being played at that moment… On that moment I really would have loved to hide under the DJ-booth for some time..

Haha, okay. Which, now unknown, producers are going to become big in the future according to you?
Definitely Arboza, his creativity and passion are from out of space. Besides that I think that Degos&Re-Done will get far too. But they aren’t really unknown anymore. They really add an own specific sound to the scene!

If you could make a record with someone, who would you definitely NOT work together with?
Nice one, ehm… I think with Tiesto, our styles don’t really match together so well.

If you could follow a famous producer for one day. Who would you follow and why?
Then I’d follow Zatox. The guy is really a machine when it comes to producing, and the tracks are good too. I think I could really learn a lot of him.

What is according to you the worst hardstyle remix?
Showtek came just recently with a new version of Walt & Feliz – Expansion. They shouldn’t have done that, the original isn’t improvable.

Did you ever had females after you because you were performing in a club?
Some time back I was spinning and a girl came to me and asked me if it could be a little softer. Then you really are at the wrong person with me… Some time later she came back again to the booth. This time she asked for my e-mailadress for her friend, since she liked me. I couldn’t stop laughing when I heard that and I was actually really spinning at that moment!

Haha, terrific! With what female hardstyle DJ you would like to spend a night?
Dana, that’s really a big example for me. Also because I think she would be really nice to hang around with.

Maybe I should rephrase the question… With what female hardstyle DJ you would love to spend a night in bed?
Haha, yeah that’s what I thought. I tried to give it a non-sexual twist anyway.

No, you won’t get out of this one that easy!
…Anagenetic... I think that when she’s spinning I won’t notice even half of the music…

If you could chose between the biggest indoor festival and the biggest outdoor festival. Which one would you chose and why?
The biggest outdoor festival, I really like the sun beach and palm trees!

What was the best and worst party that you have ever been, as a DJ and as a visitor?
As a DJ the best was in Takens during the ‘Night of the DJs’. They took so good care of us. We got an entire bottle of Bacardi and a lot of coke. Besides that they served us bread and small meals backstage. They made us really feel important that way.
The worse party must have been ‘Cube’ in Lelystad, a few years back. They didn’t think about promotion at all and the party ended before the official ending time.
As a visitor my best party must have been DefQon.1 2008. There was a perfect atmosphere and weather, it was really perfect.
The worst party was once in the Matrixx. It was supposed to be an early hardstyle evening. But the DJs didn’t quite get the meaning of early I suppose…

Describe yourself in 5 words
Relaxed, Humoristic, Social, Cheerful and Calm

Describe the I’s in 5 words
Social, humoristic, busy, relaxed, impulsive

Describe Arboza in 5 words
Creative, calm, humoristic, relaxed and social

Okay, to end this. What can we expect in the upcoming period from Solutio?
Soon we will finally have our release with Arboza on Knockout Beats: the Bonkers EP. It’s going to be a nice 4-tracker. Of course there are also some tracks with the I’s coming up. Hopefully more info about that soon. Besides that we are starting to get more and more bookings. But from my side, mostly some nice tracks are coming up!

When you are old and gray and you are looking back to your career, which things do you hope to have realized by then?
Well hopefully I will achieve my dream; performing on the bigger events like DefQon.1 and Qlimax. But next to that I would like to be an example as a producer for other people.

As finishing touch would you like to say anything to the fans and readers of this interview?
Lately I’ve been reading a lot of positive comments. I would really like to thank everyone for that. At least there is a lot of stuff coming up from my side!

Thank you for the time and effort for the interview and we will hear you soon again in the Magic Show.
You are welcome!

Ah, that's better than on your show, since we couldn't even hear what the Krusaders were saying.

Imagine that you are able to change one thing in the hardstyle scene. What would you change and why?
Pff, that’s a hard question… I would love to see the raw and harder sound get some more in front. Personally I think that there is too much accent on the melodic and accessible hardstyle. Slowly you can see hardstyle splitting up in the more melodic tracks and the rawer and hard tracks. An example of this is Euphoria, where they have a second area with just raw styles. On Decibel 2010 you can see it coming back as well.

Darkstyleeeeeeeeeeeeee

On 24-04-2010 09:45:28, Jipdenk wrote:

Ah, that's better than on your show, since we couldn't even hear what the Krusaders were saying.

Imagine that you are able to change one thing in the hardstyle scene. What would you change and why?
Pff, that’s a hard question… I would love to see the raw and harder sound get some more in front. Personally I think that there is too much accent on the melodic and accessible hardstyle. Slowly you can see hardstyle splitting up in the more melodic tracks and the rawer and hard tracks. An example of this is Euphoria, where they have a second area with just raw styles. On Decibel 2010 you can see it coming back as well.

Yeah, somehow we always manage to fuck up with the microphone. Altho the interviews in the Magic Show are ment to be just some standard questions, while these interviews are supposed to let you get to know the persons better.

On 24-04-2010 09:45:28, Jipdenk wrote:

Ah, that's better than on your show, since we couldn't even hear what the Krusaders were saying.

Imagine that you are able to change one thing in the hardstyle scene. What would you change and why?
Pff, that’s a hard question… I would love to see the raw and harder sound get some more in front. Personally I think that there is too much accent on the melodic and accessible hardstyle. Slowly you can see hardstyle splitting up in the more melodic tracks and the rawer and hard tracks. An example of this is Euphoria, where they have a second area with just raw styles. On Decibel 2010 you can see it coming back as well.

Darkstyleeeeeeeeeeeeee

Solutio snapt het. Fuck zeh nu-stylez.

uhh is dit hardtraxx ofzo?

Some questions are really from a genius (L)