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Molek FMInterview: Le Castle Vania
Dylan Eiland’s alter-ego Le Castle Vania rocked the decks and served electro junkies with hard pumping beats at Mist recently. We asked the man who fancies Quentin Tarantino and hearts villain characters about his music projects.
Text Adli Syahril
Image Mist
Welcome to Malaysia. Are you sexcited to play tonight?
Yeah, of course! I always feel sexcited to play in a new city.
Good to hear! Your real name is Dylan Eiland but why do you choose Le Castle Vania as your stage name? Isn’t that some sort of a video game?
It was actually a joke when I started my first remix project on ‘Black Eyes’ by Snowden with a bunch of friends which I was not really picking it seriously and we made a joke about naming a band after a video game. So I just put the name on that remix and it sound pretty cool. The song was spreading all over the internet, music blogs and a lot of other DJs are playing it. So that’s my name now.
We are aware of your side project, Lies in Disguise. So is there any difference between Lies in Disguise and Le Castle Vania musically?
Lies in Disguise is a collaboration between me and a friend Blake Miller from the band Moving Units. We were excited to make music together but it’s not really active anymore. We’re both mainly focused on our own thing right now.
Can you tell us how your passion for DJing started?
I started DJing when I was 16 because I was too young to go to clubs. I wanted to see bigger DJs. So I decided like “Oh, if I start DJing now, I can go to clubs and that’s cool!” I was into Dance music and stuffs like that. That’s how I started and it kept growing.
If you were not a DJ, what would you be?
I’d probably be nobody. I have to be a DJ. That’s my only option.
What influences your music?
I take influence from all different kind of music, mainly the fusion of rock and dance music. I always grew up liking the aggressive sound like rock but also enjoy the sound of electronic and dance music.
What was the weirdest thing you’ve seen at your gig?
Oh, man. I’ve seen a lot of weird things. I can’t think of a good one.
What is the current killer track that you think will put everyone in frenzy?
I have a new single called ‘Back to the Light’. I think it has the cool energy and really different for me. It stands out from my set and of course, my most recent single ‘Nobody Gets Out Alive’ also got everyone excited.
Which super-villain do you hate the most?
I actually like villains. I think it would be Mr. Burns from Simpsons.
If you were stranded on an island, what are the 3 things that you would need to survive?
I think I would go crazy if I wasn’t able to make music. Obviously I need food and at least one smoking hot girl. If I have those things I’d probably stay on the island.
What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you wish more people could know?
Ermm. (long pause) I prefer to remain mysterious.
So you don’t want anyone to know anything about you?
No but I’d like them to know more about my music.
Which is more challenging to you, making remixes or produce your own track?
Producing my own track is much more difficult because remix is about changing the original and making it better than it was. I need to pour my own ideas to create an original track and be inspired.
Besides DJing and producing tracks, what else do you like to do?
I’m interested in film. I also do a lot of video production, DVD and visual stuffs for my own show. Yeah, I’m a movie buff. My favorite movie is True Romance by Quentin Tarantino.
Tell us how do you see yourself in 10 years time?
I have no idea. Still making music, I think.
If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be?
I would have started putting out my music sooner. I’ve made a lot of stuff but never managed to finish it and put it out. I wish I could do it sooner when I was younger.
Do you think the electronic dance music scene is evolving?
Always. What’s cool about electronic music is the new style and new trends coming even though a lot of ‘followers’ are into what is popular right now but there are more new stuffs coming out all the time. People should pay more attention to that. The scene is always changing and shifting.
Second that! What is your upcoming project for this year?
I’m mainly focus on new releases from my label Always Never. I’m not really focusing on releasing an album. The music industry is weird. Maybe one day I’ll try, but not now.
Le Castle Vania was in KL for Neubeats Launch Party #2 at Mist Club on March 11. Dance to his music at www.lecastlevania.com and www.myspace.com/castlevaniadisco.