Leon Bolier Interviu 07 Ianuarie 2010

Written by iza Thursday, 07 January 2010 00:00

O forta majora in muzica dance din Olanda, Leon Bolier este una dintre cele mai creative minti de studio. Performand sute de nopti in fata a sute de mii de clubberi, in spatele platanelor el este o forta a naturii, oferind sound-uri cutremuratoare. Cariera lui a culminat in toamna anului 2008, la debutul sau in DJ Magazine Top 100. Leon s-a lansat in cariera solo in 2005. Pe parcursul urmatoarelor 12 luni el a realizat 17 piese (posibil, un record) care au fost solicitate de unele dintre cele mai puternice companii precum: Armada Music, Black Hole Recordings, Spinnin Records, Bonzai Music, Captured Music si FTM Records sub semnatura Subsphere, Mindsensation si Precursor, ca sa numim cateva si, bineinteles, sub numele sau. Inregistrari semnate Leon Bolier au fost cantate de artisti precum: Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Judge Jules, Marco V, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed si multi altii.

1. Hi, Leo! Thank you for your time spent with trancearena.ro site! How did you start playing music? What influenced you?

Hi there! Different things influenced me in doing what I do, from my parents playing classical music when I was young, having piano lessons back then to hearing the first eurodance tracks from 1992 on (yep, I was a kid back then so I didnt really know what was going on in the underground), joining the big Hardcore house wave around the mid ninetees, discovering I still was more into melodic dance music after all and then hearing Energy 52's Cafe del Mar which made me decide to produce that kind of music (I didn't know it was labeled as 'trance' back then). From then on many kinds of music have influenced me, ranging from the oldskool progressive house from the early 00s, bigroom techno by the likes of Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer and such and later on tech house and minimal techno and/or neotrance.

2. Until you start your solo career (2005) have worked under various aliases, many, in fact. What is the difference between them? Will you produce under these aliases? Or stay on your solo career and collaborations?

Those aliases were there for a practical reason - label wise. Especially on my albums you can hear the different sounds I used to produce back then still flourish.. tho for some people it seems hard to relate this music to the earlier music produced under those aliases. Having said that, if I for instance will release a track on Armada again it's probably gonna be under my Surpresa guise. For Daniel Wanrooy's ITWT mix album I produced a track called 'Stargaze', signed it to Blackhole recordings and hence released it as an 'Innerstories' track.

3. Speaking of collaborations! So, you lot! Tell me some collaborations .... Who planned to make the team? Any favorite?

At the moment Im working on a collab with John 'O Callaghan, besides that I'm gonna do some more collabs for my album. Some names: JES, Chris Jones, Sied van Riel, W&W, Daniel Wanrooy, Roger Shah and some more vocalists as well.

4. Tell me, what we can find in the studio of the producer, remixer and DJ's Leon Bolier?

At the moment Im still using a PC (actually bought a new one 2 months ago), using Cubase 5, loads of VSTS (recently bought Synth Squad, East West QL Pianos, Symfonic Choirs and Gypsy, Omnisphere, Trillian and Stylus RMX Xpanded), an Acces Virus TI, a Nord Rack 2X, a Dave Smith Mopho, Behringer ADA8000, M8UXL Midihub, E-Mu X-Board 61, Mackie Big Knob and whatever else I'm forgetting ;)

5. What is your favorite track you produced so far and why?

Hard question to answer really! Some of my personal favs are: Bonaire, Poseidon, Back In The Days, Summernight Confessions, YE, Ocean Drive Boulevard, Crazy People (Alternative Mix) and NSFW. And I must say I really enjoy my upcoming track 'Shimamoto'.

6. But the producer / DJ favorite and favorite productions this year?

When I just go out to listen to some fresh music I tend to go to different parties - really enjoying what Secret Cinema is doing on stage for instance. Same goes for Joris Voorn, and there's a Dutch upcoming producer/DJ/live act called Egbert who really blows my mind with fat intelligent productions. People will say it's techno (I think he releases most stuff on Cocoon recordings), yet it still has a very trancy vibe to me.
On the other hand, I'm always looking for great uplifting stuff to play out for the crowds that are waiting for it. Some examples from 2009: Simon Patterson - Always and Roger Shah & Signum - Healesville Sanctuary. Uplifting without being generic, great chord progressions, great productions.

7. How do you spend your free time if you have? Hahaha

I try to make some time for friends and family then, other than that: checking out great movies. I really enjoy Tim Burton's, the Coen Brothers' and Tarantino's works, on the other hand Im really into story telling/mosaic movies like Crash! and Babel as well.. in the end it doesnt matter, as long as the movie is original and well shot. One more movie I really enjoyed is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Lately I have been reading lots of books as well, in a year I nearly filled a bookshelf. Before any flight I tend to buy new books haha. This year I discovered Haruki Murakami, my track Shimamoto is named after one of the main characters of his book 'South of the Border, West of the Sun'.

8. You have been invited all over the world! You participated in some of the hottest festivals and events in the world and one hundred locations (Trance Energy, Fabulous si Amsterdam Dance Event, Argentina, Singapore, Mexic, Australia, Marea Britanie, Egipt si Rusia. Gatecrasher, Trance Energy Australia, Tomorrowland - ID&T, Love Parade - Germania, Mondaybar Cruise - Suedia si Global Gathering - Polonia ). At the beginning of the year where we find you on the scene?

At the moment Im having 3 weeks off gigs, to concentrate on stuff in the studio - working on new album tracks! The first gig I will do is Trance Nation in Holland, january 30th, together with (amongst others) Sander van Doorn, Tom Harding, Randy Katana and W&W.

9. In 2009 you come in Romania (Ploiesti & Bucuresti) Trance Vibrations on the European Tour. How did you feel here? It was like a private party ... something small .... We had a wonderful time ... What did you like in Romania? Hahaha ... You think that you will return soon in Romania?

Ploiesti & Bucuresti was fun! Like you said, not the biggest party, but the people that were there really were into the music. If that's the case it doesn't matter if your playing a big festival or a small club. Of course I hope to be back in Romania this year!

10. Even if it started the year I think a man like you is addressed. What are you working? What will bring us new year of you? What's desires for the new year?

Like I said earlier on, at the moment I'm working on my 2nd artist album. Its a shitload of work, but its so much fun to do really. Working on an artist album means you can concentrate on writing music for many tracks rather than having 'the dancefloor' as a reference in the back of your head. I finished 9 or 10 tracks now - since it's gonna be a double album again, that means I'm nearly halfway. Scheduled release is August this year, I hope I will be able to have it finished in time! Apart from that, the next (earlier mentioned) release 'Shimamoto' is scheduled for February 8th, with an Aly&Fila remix to follow later on. This track was the first track I finished for my artist album.

11. I wish all the good in the world and a great year full of achievements in your career! \ o / \ o / \ o / And of course we will take advantage of it .... Hahaha .... \ o / With many warm wishes and thanks, please send a message to your fans and site visitors trancearena.ro.

Thanks a lot! I wish you all a flourishing, happy and healthy 2010, and I hope to see you again this year!

www.leonbolier.com
www.myspace.com/leonbolier
www.facebook.com/leonbolierofficial

1. Buna, Leon! Multumim pentru timpul acordat site-ului trancearena.ro! Minunata cariera! Cum ai ajuns aici? Cat de mult trebui sa munceasca un om ca sa ajunga la acest nivel? Cum te-ai apucat de muzica? Ce te-a influentat?

Buna! Diferite lucruri m-au influentat sa fac ceea ce fac, de la parintii mei am avut parte de muzica clasica luand lectii de pian, apoi prin 1992 am auzit primele track-uri eurodance (da, eram un copil pe atunci, asa ca nu stiam ce se intampla underground), placandu-mi house hardcore pe la mijlocul anilor '90, descoperind muzica dance melodica si ascultand piesa Cafe del Mar - Energy 52, care m-a facut sa ma decid sa produc o astfel de muzica (nu stiam ca a fost definita pe atunci ca ''trance''). De atunci, multe tipuri de muzica m-au influentat, variind de la house progressive oldskool la inceputul anilor 2000, techno bigroom-ul lui Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer, si mai tarziu tech house si techno minimal si/sau neotrance.

2. Pana sa iti incepi cariera solo (2005), ai lucrat sub diverse alias-uri. Care este diferenta intre acestea? Vei mai produce sub aceste alias-uri? Sau ramai pe cariera solo si colaborari?

Acele alias-uri erau folosite din motive practice in raport cu label-ul. Mai ales, in albumele mele se pot auzi sunete diferite, ce obisnuiam sa le produc pe atunci, si inca suna bine si in ziua de azi. Unor oameni le este greu sa faca legaturi intre muzica de azi si ceea ce produceam sub acele alias-uri. Spunand toate astea, daca eu, de exemplu, as lansa la Armada din nou, probabil, o voi face sub pseudonimul meu Surpresa. Pentru albumul mix 'In Trance We Trust' compilat de Daniel Wanrooy am produs un track intitulat 'Stargaze', semnat la Blackhole Recordings, lansat cu Innerstories (Leon Bolier Presents Inner Stories - Stargaze).

3. Apropo de colaborari! La fel, ai foarte multe! Spune-mi cateva colaborari.... Cu cine intentionezi sa mai faci echipa? Vreun favorit?

In momentul de fata, lucrez la o colaborare cu John'O Callaghan, in afara de faptul ca voi avea mai multe colaborari pentru albumul meu. Cateva nume: JES, Chris Jones, Sied van Riel, W & W, Danile Wanrooy, Roger Shah si cateva voci, de asemenea.

4. Spune-mi, ce gasim in studioul producatorului, remixerului si dj-ului Leon Bolier?

Inca mai folosesc un PC (de fapt, mi-am cumparat unul acum 2 luni in urma), folosesc Cubase 5, VSTS (recent mi-am cumparat Synth Squad, East West OL Piano, Symofonic Choirs si Gypsy, Omnisphere, Trillian si Stylus RMX Xpanded), un Acces Virus IT, un Nord Rack 2X, un Dave Smith Mopho, Behringer ADA8000, M8UXL Midihub, E-Mu X-Board 61, Mackie Big Knob si orice altceva, acum am uitat ;) .

5. Care este track-ul favorit produs de tine pana acum si de ce?

Grea intrebare ca sa raspund intr-adevar! Unele dintre favoritele mele sunt: 'Bonaire', 'Poseidon', 'Back In The Days', 'Summernight Confessions', 'YE', 'Ocean Drive Boulevard', 'Crazy People' (Alternative Mix) si 'NSFW'. Si trebuie sa spunca imi place si ma bucur pentru viitoarea mea piesa 'Shimamoto'.

6. Dar producatorul/dj-ul favorit si productii favorite din acest an?

Cand ies pentru a asculta altfel de muzica, merg la diferite petreceri - imi place mult ce face Secret Cinema pe scena, de exemplu. Acelasi lucru este valabil si pentru Joris Voorn si upcoming-ul producator/dj/live act olandez Egbert, care imi explodeaza mintea cu productiile lui inteligente. Lumea va spune ca este techno (eu cred el a lansat cele mai multe materiale pe Cocoon Recordings), dar pentru mine inca mai are acorduri foarte trancy.
Pe de alta parte, sunt mereu in cautare de materiale uplifting, pentru a le performa afara in fata multimilor, care asteapta asta. Cateva exemple pentru 2009: Simon Patterson - Always si Roger Shah & Signum - Healesville Sanctuary. Uplifting fara a generaliza, acorduri inaltatoare minunate, productii excelente.

7. Cum iti petreci timpul liber, daca mai ai? Hahahaa

Incerc sa-mi fac ceva timp pentru prieteni si familie, apoi sa vizionez filme bune. Imi plac mult filmele regizate de Tim Burton, The Coen Brothers si Tarantino, pe de alta parte apreciez filmele preum Crash!, precum si Babel...in final nu conteaza, atat timp cat filmul este original si bine realizat. Un film care mi-a placut este 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind'.
In ultimul timp, am citit o multime de carti, intr-un an am umplut aproape un raft. Inainte de orice zbor am tendinta de-a cumpara carti noi. Haha. In acest an l-am descoperit pe Haruki Murakami; piesa mea 'Shimamoto' este numita dupa unul din personajele principale ale unei carti semnate de el, 'South Of The Border, West Of The Sun'.

8. Ai fost invitat peste tot in lume! Ai participat la unele dintre cele mai tari festivaluri si evenimente din lume si locatii sute (Trance Energy, Fabulous si Amsterdam Dance Event, Argentina, Singapore, Mexic, Australia, Marea Britanie, Egipt si Rusia. Gatecrasher, Trance Energy Australia, Tomorrowland - ID&T, Love Parade - Germania, Mondaybar Cruise - Suedia si Global Gathering - Polonia). La inceputul acestui an unde te gasim, pe ce scena?

In momentul de fata am 3 saptamani fara gig-uri, pentru a ma concentra pe munca de studio - lucrand la piesele de pe noul album! Primul gig va fi la Trance Nation din Olanda, pe 30 ianuarie, impreuna cu (printre altii) Sander van Doorn, Ton Hrading, Randy Katana si W & W.

9. In 2009 ai ajuns si in Romania (Ploiesti & Bucuresti) in cadrul turneului Trance Vibrations European Tour. Cum te-ai simtit aici? A fost ca o petrecere privata...ceva restrans....Noi ne-am simtit minunat... Ce ti-a placut in Romania? Hahaha... Crezi ca te vei intoarce curand?

La Ploiesti si Bucuresti a fost distractiv! Asa cum ai spus, nu a fost cea mai mare petrecere, dar lumea care a fost acolo a simtit intr-adevar muzica. De fapt, nu conteaza daca performezi intr-un festival mare sau intr-un club mic. Desigur, sper sa fiu din nou in Romania in acest an!

10. Chiar daca este inceput de an, cred ca un om ca tine este foarte solicitat. La ce lucrezi? Ce ne va aduce anul nou din partea ta? Tu ce dorinte ai pentru noul an?

Cum am spus si mai devreme, in acest moment lucrez la un al doilea album de artist. Este o munca grea, este atat de placut sa faci asta. Munca la un album de artist inseamna sa te concentrezi pe scrierea muzicii pentru multe track-uri, mai exact, avand ca referinta in capul tau ringul de dans. Am terminat 9 sau 10 piese acum - din moment ce o sa fie un dublu album, asta inseamna ca sunt aproape la jumatatea drumului. Lansarea este programata in august in acest an, sper sa fiu capabil sa-l termin la timp! In afara de asta, urmatoarea lansare (mentionata mai sus) 'Shimamoto' este programata pe 08 februarie, cu un remix Aly & Fila, ce va urma mai tarziu. Acest track a fost primul terminat pentru noul meu album de artist.

11. Iti dorim tot binele din lume si un an minunat si plin de realizari in cariera ta! \o/\o/\o/ Si bineinteles ....noi vom profita de asta....Hahaha \o/
Cu multe urari si calde multumiri, te rugam sa transmiti un mesaj fanilor tai si vizitatorilor site-ului trancearena.ro.

Multumesc mult! Va doresc tuturor un 2010 prosper, fericit si sanatos, si sper sa ne vedem din nou in acest an!