JOOP: Keeping The Future of EDM Alive

By Alif Omar Mahfix  •  14 Feb 2013 in Interview

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While some try to associate you with a certain genre, you don’t just play one style of music. Do you think that’s where the future of EDM is heading to? Less genre-specific and more of a melding of everything?
As long I can remember I didn’t play just one genre of music. I always had the love for more styles. For example when I played at Trance Energy and Innercity, or even Sensation, people only knew one thing before I started; “I wonder what JOOP is going to play.” Because with me you never know, I’m happy that not everyone can label me. When the EDM styles came more and more together the last 2 years it excited me to see that some DJs that wouldn’t touch the thing we were doing now suddenly played my tracks in their DJ sets. I am all for change in music, always have been. We need to move this thing forward and not stick around in the same thing over and over again.

A lot of people think DJs live a rock star life. What is it really like for you though?
I have a family at home. Two years ago I became a dad for the first time and can’t imagine anything else anymore. It feels great and I enjoy being with her every single day. Now for instance when I’m gone I try to be home as quick as possible again. It sounds weird for those that haven’t gotten kids yet, but the thing is I really miss her and my wife a lot when I’m gone for too long. I never had that when I was on the road before. Back then going to Australia for some gigs and spending at least 2 weeks over there were easy. Not anymore I can tell you that! So living the rock star life? Nah. Doing kickass DJs gigs and returning to my beloved family… yes, I know I’m boring

(Laughs) Naw, you’re a family man, we respect that. What is it about the Netherlands (and Northern Europe) that seems to produce a lot of quality international DJs? Is there something in the water?
Yes, there is (laughs). It’s funny, but this question has been asked ofme now for over a decade now. I think the EDM scene is more strongly present in our culture than our wooden shoes are. What I’m trying to say is that this EDM culture is going on here for over 20 years. The young kids literally are growing up with this kind of music. When you’re driving in a car or doing groceries or just trying on a new outfit at a clothing store, EDM is what you hear 24/7. The bigger parties here dominated the scene for years and still do. All the clubs are doing it and that delivers a huge amount of DJs that are standing in line to become the new superstar.

What’s your usual set-up like? Any leap in technology that is your current favourite?
I don’t know if it’s a leap but I just bought a completely fresh new machine together with Cubase 7! I just love the new gear. Now let’s get some music out of it!

Because we are younglings and you are pretty much a veteran in the game… tell us from your perspective how the scene has changed from the ‘90s to ‘00s to now, the ‘10s.
I could go on forever about this subject but I will try to answer it short. In the ‘90s being a DJ was very good. Back then you had to have a little bit of name but it was more about the music than about the artiste. Of course the internet didn’t play a role then as it does now. So basically from the ‘90s up to early ‘00s, it was pretty much like that. By the time it was ’95, the events started to get bigger and bigger. I think it was from 2003 that the internet started to play a big role in the scene. Things were getting different almost overnight. Profiling of DJs became a business and marketing machines saw the light. Today it is really a professional business.

Which do you prefer; playing in a club or at a big festival? Why?
Both. The club for the intimate nature and atmosphere, and the bigger festivals for its intensity and energy.

What is it with the increasing number of festivals anyway? Has EDM moved away from the clubs to the bigger space that is festivals?
I think it has to do with the popularity of EDM. A club can hold only so much people and the festivals are so much bigger – you have more people enjoying the same thing only on a bigger scale. Also the experience is different when you see certain dance companies throw in everything they have with decoration, making sceneries that allow you to forget your normal life for one day.

They say EDM is the new pop. Pop trends are rather fleeting though, how would you feel if one day pop stopped embracing dance music?
They won’t, because it is what sells now. So as long as EDM will increase in growth and popularity, pop will embrace it as long as possible. Who would think that big names in the r’n’b scene would turn over to EDM? I couldn’t imagine that years ago! And yet they did. Whatever music style is big, the rest will follow, it has always been like this and it will stay that way.

Speaking of trends, the popularity of EDM genres fluctuate a lot. Just a year ago dubstep was a phenomenon, and now it’s transitioning to trap. What is that one EDM genre that remains a constant in your opinion? (We think its house and trance)
Every 2, 3 years you’d see a change in the scene music-wise. Especially the last 2 years, everything came closer together and you see huge crossovers between various styles. The internet plays a very big part in the scene getting more commercial than ever. Everything that starts somewhere and gets more popular than the word “commercial” is ineffable. The organisers are changing it too by thinking carefully of new concepts or new names to give to their events. Because after all without events we have no performances – the bigger the events will get, the bigger the artiste is. So crossovers to radio are a direct effect happening from this. So as long all producers and DJs do his or her part like they do now, I’m sure it will stay healthy for a long time.

As for the genre that is constant but changing as well, I have to agree with you on trance and house.

You have your own podcast Focus. Where do you see it going?
I make my mixes for a long time now, I think at least 15 years. Before they were called JOOP In The Mix, but I decided to turn the name around a year ago in JOOP presents Focus Radio. Currently I’m at episode 13 which got massive feedback from the people listening to it. It’s always nice to see that the reach of the podcast is growing. So let’s see what the future brings.

‘Just One Night’ was a massive success last year. Do you feel pressured to one-up that this year?
‘Just One Night’ made my day! It really did, I am still to this day so happy about that track. For me it was something new again. So to top that? I mean to top ‘Act Of God’ (2003) I was like, “How the hell are we going to do that?” But then there was ‘The Future’ (2007) later. So I really don’t know what the next track will bring. It’s always a matter of taste and I always like to have a different release than the previous one. So we will see!

Tell us what we can expect at Rising Music Festival. An insider source told us you’re dropping something really special…
Who told you that! (Laughs) I will drop the 2013 version of ‘The Future’ and I just finished a new track called ‘ROAR!’ that I’m dying to test out!

We’ll be roaring for them come 16 February!

JOOP is headlining Rising Music Festival happening this Saturday 16 February 2013. For more information on the event, check out their website here.

For more information on JOOP’s Podcast Focus Radio and the man himself check out:
www.facebook.com/joopofficial
www.twitter.com/djjoop
www.soundcloud.com/joop/tracks
www.youtube.com/joopofficial

Still available:
JOOP ft. Tiffany Johnston – Just One Night
JOOP – Rocket Double
JOOP – Focus