Tempoplus Interview with DJ Stevie D

 

Steve D talks to Tempoplus:

What made you know you would like to become a music artist

“ It was must have been when I started being able to go clubbing legally at 18, listening to Trance and Progressive music live. I was instantly hooked watching professional DJ’s with the power of music being able to control the crowd, I wanted to feel the buzz and also spread Trance and Progressive to as many people as possible.”

Who would you say are your music influences and why?

“I would have to say at the early stages of listening to Trance and Progressive the main name that was on most people lips in clubland I would have to say Tiesto, he was just pure class in his early days the way he structured his sets and drops a classic at the right moment was magical. As I grew into Trance and Progressive, these last 5 years I would say i’ve be very gripped by the work from the dutch master Armin Van Buuren, his distinct track selection, with plenty of guitar rifs and magical vocal tracks gets me every time.”   

What was your first DJ set up? What did you like and dislike about it

“ Well I was determined my first setup that I would spend a lot of time researching on what equipment would be best for my ability until I saw a listing on ebay and instantly thought that is perfect way back in 2003:

2 x Gemini PT-2410 Vinyl Decks

1 x Pioneer DJM-600 Mixer

1 x Behringer HPS 3000 Headphones

 

I currently still have the vinyl decks to be honest I just love the colour J , the Behringer headphones were poor quality and had to be replaced ASAP, but the Pioneer mixer was simply at the time the industry standard mixer and I just loved the quality of sound and also the ability to add effects on top of the track was fun, was a sad day when I let that beauty go. “

 

What is you dj set up now and why?

 

2 x Gemini PT-2410 Vinyl Decks

1 x Pioneer DJM-800 Mixer

2 x Pioneer CDJ-800 CD Players

1 x Technics RPDJ1200 Headphones

 

The main reason why the decision was made in upgraded my mixer to the new industry standard DJM-800 was the fantastic effects and functions you can play with on the mixer, I feel later on in the future there may be a possibility to progress into using digitalised devices, which the DJM-800 has this facility. Purchasing the CDJ-800’s was a massive decision for myself as I love the feel and also every has a vision of a DJ spinning vinyl rather than CD’s, but I felt that the evolution of technology moves on using CD’s was my option, due to the fact that you can still visually see an interaction between the DJ and the equipment being used I feel. The decision with purchasing the Technics headphones was due to the vastly enhanced sound quality compared to the Behringer headphones, also one person who influenced myself Armin Van Buuren into not only listening to Trance and Progressive but to get involved by spread my love for Trance and Progressive. “  

 

What music software and hardware do you prefer and why?

 

“ Currently my issue with using music software for Djing is a very debateable topic, my personal feeling is that it takes the whole uniqueness of Djing with a laptop rather than Djing with either vinyl or CD’s. I have had a go but felt it wasn’t for me due to my small experience of using music software, having read many articles about some DJ’s preparing their sets before they even arrive at the nightclub, I feel is not very good really, how can the DJ know how the crowd will react and what happens if the DJ needs to change tracks in mid set and also I’ve heard clubbers saying, “it looks like they are checking their emails” lol.  “

What online radio websites have you played at ?/ do play at ? Tell us about it

“ Currently at present I have 3 online radio stations, which I have my “Dusk Till Dawn” radio show:

• www.transmissionfm.com Every FRIDAY 6 till 8pm LIVE from my home studio, latest in Trance and Progressive
• www.slinky.fm Every 4^th Sunday of the month 9pm till 11pm (Recorded)
• www.trancesonic.fm Every 1^st Tuesday of the month 4pm till 6pm (Recorded)

 

The “Dusk Till Dawn” radio show on its 33^rd show (March 2010), still progression in getting hold of some voiceover jingles, with also mixing in the tracks using CD’s and not laptops I use a microphone to provide the name of the tracks and also shoutouts from forums etc. I feel this gives the show even more uniqueness to my show as experience proves that not many online radio DJ’s do not use microphones to interact with the listeners. 

The name “Dusk Till Dawn” came from a discussion between myself and a friend of mine Adam Goodwin, who had a dream about myself and Adam performing in a club to spread the love of Trance and Progressive to the people of Stoke-on-Trent. Trance and Progressive in Stoke-on-Trent was very much alive in the early 90’s, now the scene has changed dramatically towards the RnB and dance scene which is very sad situation, our vision is to repair this by myself promoting myself to get more Trance and Progressive to as many people as I can to show them how powerful and amazing Trance and Progressive is in Stoke-on-Trent. “

 

Who have you worked alongside with?

“ In the Trance and Progressive music scene I yet to work with professionally everything that I am currently providing within my DJing career is my own work, the type of music is Trance and Progressive with a wider range of minimal and also open minded about certain genres of tracks as long as they are not cheesy vocals they must fit well into the type of set I am playing.

My background, is that from the age of 15 I’ve followed the love of Trance and Progressive from my first compilation album “ Trance Nation” way back in 1998, with tracks like Wide Open Space, Paul Van Dyk’s – For an Angel and ATB’s – 9pm Till I Come, tracks that will always stay in my heart. As I learned about Trance even more I listened to radio shows after radio shows, collecting albums and tracks. Until I was 19 when I brought my first Vinyl decks and mixer, soon as I started using vinyl I truly felt this was for me. At this time I used to go to Global Groove records in my home town every week chatting to my friend Kevin Atkinson who gave me great advice on new tracks spending hours in the store chatting about Trance and Progressive and listening to samples, them times have changed which I do miss now but with the evolution of technology, Mp3’s and CD’s is more accessible to get hold of tracks and also good for a new producers trying to promote their tracks to the world.      

At the moment I am currently in major promotion of my Djing sets, using facebook and also any other means I can get my hands on, the reason one of my dreams is to play in a nightclub one day, I would love to feel the buzz of people listening to music I love people coming together and enjoying the music. In development is my own website, which I hope will be complete in the coming months.   “

 

What was your first tune and what tunes have you got coming out in the near future?

 “ I currently not involved with the production of tracks, but will be in the future for sure J “

 

What style are you tunes?

“ My current style is Trance and Progressive, as I mentioned previously I’m quite open minded check out my profile on tempoplus:

http://www.tempoplus.com/profile/stevie_d   

I believe that a DJ should not be a prisoner of your own style, because there are so many different types of genres out there, for a DJ it’s about bringing the different genres together to form a set that flows throughout and progresses to an ending that blows the roof off. This is an important factor, mainly my sets start with minimal or deep progressive tracks, mid range some nice Balearicacoustic tracks or vocal bomb, then at the end its pure trance and maybe some harder stuff depends on the set flow. Best thing is for yourself to listen to my sets and have your own opinion on my style, due to releases throughout that week my style changes to coincide with entering as much latest in Trance and Progressive as possible. “     

How would you describe you mixing style?

“ My mixing style is very similar in most tracks where I like to bring the bass in late well before the mid range and treble to give the bass maximum effect. Keeping the mixing technique simple but effective is very useful when mixing brand new tracks on a live performance on the radio shows, which I do quite often as I would say have massive confidence in my own ability. “

 How do you feel is the best way for a DJ to find the style that best fits them?

“ I feel that to find the best style for yourself, is to listen to a massive range of genres of not only trance and progressive but other genres and to listen for certain parts of tracks you like , for example a piano riff, using that piano riff try and find tracks that use a piano riff but with a different bassline or a faster tempo so that a particular set flows nicely add an few nice vocal tracks and it’s a good start in creating a nice set that has structure and flow, which is key to developing a set which people can enjoy. “

How did you find your music mixing style?

“ I found my mixing style by listening to my music influences Armin Van Buuren’s A State of Trance radio show and also I particularly like listening to Above and Beyonds Trance Around the World radio show, both I feel very different styles of trance and progressive. Armin’s style varies vastly good vocals and nice minimal tracks to start with, whereas Above and Beyonds is a more familiar sound, some nice chuggy basslines with Above and Beyonds famous Oceanlab vocal tunes with tracks that remind yourself of the summer and that Ibiza sound is always a winner. So using these 2 types of sounds I was undecided which direction to go, so I decided to blend both styles together to form I hope a unique sound. Best of both worlds you might say J “

Tell us how you think Tempoplus can help DJs

“ Tempoplus is a great find for myself for promoting online my radio shows on Facebook and Twitter for instance. Tempoplus is a tool to which you can host your sets for free, communicate with people from all around the world, creating friends and forming an online community that all people can come together to listen to quality music for all listeners to enjoy. A great idea for a website and I wish I had thought of the idea myself. “

What are you current 5 favourite Tunes?

1)    Ferry Tayle & Cold Blue – Trapeze (Daniel Kandi’s Emotional rmx)

2)    Arty vs Oceanlab – If I Could Fly On the Surface (Daniel Kandi’s Mashup)

3)    Simon Patterson – Miss You

4)    Solarstone – Calling (RAM rmx)

5)    Dresden vs Johnston ft Nadia Ali – That Day (Tritornals Up in The Air rmx)

What are you future events?

“ I am currently trying to promote myself as a DJ, to try and get nightclubs to take a chance so I can play, which is my dream.  “

 

Booking information for DJ Stevie D

If you would like to book my services FREE of charge, anywhere within the U.K:

Mobile: 07793545425

Email: Steven.davies83@ntlworld.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=772845050

Tempoplus http://www.tempoplus.com/profile/stevie_d   

 

Facebook Profile:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=772845050

 

Tempoplus Profile:

http://www.tempoplus.com/profile/stevie_d

 

 

If you would like Tempoplus.com to feature yourself contact us at Tempoplus@live.co.uk for our consideration.