Are you in touch with ID&T for some bookings to major events as Dance Valley or Innercity ?

>> No yet. Indeed, these festivals get huge success and i would love to be involved in these events. Unfortunately, for the moment, i miss “the” smashing tune that would give me access to the events…

I read an interview from one of your belgian colleagues M.I.K.E , he suffered from from the lack of receptivity and support from belgian audience. He even told that his international fame is due to to foreign trancers. This can be hard to understand in regards of major superclubs dedicated to trance in belgium :Versuz, The ex-Illusion, la Roccca etc...
You should have live the same situation as M.I.K.E , shouldn’t you ??

>> I’m still suffering from this. The belgian audience is misinformed, they are feeded mainstreamly with other kind of music. “....” Morevover, none is prophet in his own country. So, without, any TV promotion, or mass media campaign, you’re nothing, what a pity...

Are you a traveller (for pleasure, i mean), ? What ‘re your favorite destinations ? In regards of djing, in which country do you prefer to give a gig ?

>> I love to fly, i confess. Nevertheless, my savings don’t allow me to fly for exotic destinations every months. But from time to time, i’m booked to some countries like : New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Japan, Korea… And when i’m there, i enjoy a lot.

Many people think and tell the trance scene is dying (Many press reviews about it) and many people or djs are criticizing last productions, blaming for lack of originality or monotony. As a DJ and well-known producer, what do you think about that ? Is the trance scene more unreachable than before ? Is it harder to be recognized in the scene ?

>> Hmmm, it has been 10 years since i heard people talking / dis about that. First, we DO NOT do trance, but music. Moreover, it has been 10 years since ppl announce the death of trance, and trance has ALWAYS came back to the top. In 1993 in germany, in 1999 in UK, and i truly think that in 2005 we could see a scene rising in France...

Who is your favorite DJ ?

>> I prefer not talking about someone compared to someone, it’s too hard. I really love many Djs, for instance, Yves Deruyter, Dj Fire (my partner for Fire&Ice), Jon O’ Bir, I love very much Armin van Buuren, and many more

To do a Jean-Michel Jarre remix is always something special, but why did you choose Souvenir de chine particularly ?

>> Because it fits well the fire&ice sound, and also because is one of my Jean-Michel Jarre fav’ tune.

This remix is also an homage to JMJ (and his contribution to electronic music), or is it because it was a good basis for a trance tune ?

>> Sincerely, both. I really loved Jarre in his crazy years, between 82 and 85, especially the Zoolook album. I’m pleased he came back to his roots recently.

Any other Jarre remixes planned ?

>> No, only if he would ask me, but it’s not going to happen. I never had any comments from the artist, i never knew if he appreciated the rework. Anyway, it was cool, but for the moment, there is no other Jean Michel Jarre remix planned for the moment.

You’ re willing to play in France, tell us more about it...

>> Well, simply, because i want to promote this sound i love in a country that know a little about it !! It gonna take me a lot of time, but it’s for the trance cause i do it, not only for me.

You would like to produce some tunes with french vocals to reach and touch french audience. Any plans with French singers ?

>> It depends, yes, i would like to work with French singers (interpretes), but cos’ the French audience don’t know this kind of sound, it would be great to work with a famous French artists. For this, only two artists come to my mind, Calogero et Zazie. But, i’m not dreaming, they probably never will produce music for clubs, at least, not yet, believe me i do my best to get them in.

I still have this project in mind, to do an Airwave remix album, with 15 tunes from French interpretes, to give them another color. Unfortunately, none of the french labels give me feedback for this project. For the moment, i have two tunes and i wish to make more…

Else, i have this project Lô, nothing related to trance. Some would talk about pop, i don’t know how to describe it, but it’s another story.

Which tune are you the most proud ? and why ?

>> Not a tune, a concept. Obviously, I would say Airwave. It’s the project in wich i’ve been the more involved., especially with some tunes like Ladyblue or When things go wrong.

Which one was your biggest tune ?

>> Above the sky, Ladyblue et Industry (Green Martian), are my best sold productions.

What can we expect from the next Airwave album ? Any particular changes in regard of the former one ? Do you plan a L-Vee best of ?

>> The new Airwave album will present more collaborations and i think about some lyrics with vocals singers, known and less known.

Do you plan in a near future to work with some great dutch DJs, as you did with Armin?

>> I would love it, but i doubt about it. These guys are really at the top, far and way from me. They is some kind of hierarchy, you know. Unless you’re in top 20, it’s really hard to work with. I had the chance to work with Armin, (he remains the same) and it’s true others artists are planned. But, for the rest, it’s really hard…

Who is your fav’ producer ?

>>They are so many, i can’tell precisely, i really like the U.S wave : G&D, Markus Schulz, Elevation, Danny Patterson, and many more. They’re really talented. Else, British ones when they produce tunes as in 97-99..

By now, my fav’ artist is junkie XL.

You’ve made many productions in collaboration with several artist. Who is the one you prefered to work with ?

>> Jurgen, my partner for our two projetcs. Sinon Marnik, my friend for many years, which whom i produce Antidote and B4. And, obviously, Armin, who brings me a lot of success...

What kind of hardware, software did you use when you began ? How old were you ? Any particular event that brings you to production ?

>> When i was 14 years old, i discovered keyboards. A brand new world that made me dream for many years before. And then @ 16 i discovered Trance on one Belgian Radio (Crystal). At this time, i had one keyboard, a korg X3. The computer and the music digitally created with a computer only came in 95. At this time, there was no reason, noVSTi, and all these things that ease life !!! @ 18, with my trance prods, i signed with Bonzai. That was great…

When you create a new production, do you already have an idea of what it will be (or even the definitve result) or does the feeling of your production come all along your work in a studio ?

>>It depends, i would say both. It depends of the kind of prod. If uplifting, i work with my feeling, trying to create the accident that gives the melody. If, it’s a progressive prod’ or my project Lô, it’s more designed in my head.

How long does it takes you to make a production ? The longuest one and the shortest one ?

>>It takes me 7 hours to make a trance prod (average). For Techno productions and Fire&Ice, it goes even faster ! Else, an Airwave production is in this average of 7 hours.
The shortest one : One LP A & B face in 50 minutes.
The longuest one :airwave : theft of the spirit, it took me more than one mont, but i had some bad time at this moment...

Where did you find inspiration? Which artist, which style ? Any other passion (non related to music) ?

>> Any kind of music !!! I like cinema, i really often to cinema with Melody.

Which trance musique give you the will to produce ?

>> On tune changed my life, when i was 16, it’s called Energy 52. Then, many more….

Can you tell us what you have in your pocket ?

>> My bank cards, my passport, my ID card, some change…

Your car ?

>> Seat Léon, but not for long, i gonna change next year for a smaller one!!!

Interview Laurent Véronnez (aka Airwave), September 21st 2004

... about djing ...