Interview is conducted and edited by Dimitri Kechagias “Flux Bpm On The Move”
Summer in Belgium was not only Tomorrowland for me but also a superb day in the studio of the famous award winning producers Christophe Chantzis with roots in Greece and Erik Vanspauwen that the majority of you maybe you know them for their famous project Ian Van Dahl. I met Christophe by person before 2 years in Germany after being in contact via email for years and after doing an interview with him by phone for a TV show that I had in a local TV station. We talked back then quite quickly cause the train was late and our appointment went back for hours. When I decided to visit Belgium for Tomorrowland I thought that is the best opportunity to request an interview with him in their famous studio in their hometown in Belgium. I was so happy when we organized everything and I met him for a second time while I was introduced to Erik for the first time. I was so impressed about their fine character and their down to earth personality. Even if they were the creators of “Castle in the Sky” one of the most played in the radio dance classics that features in countless compilations all over the world and recreated by many other artists, they were down to earth and was such a joy to discuss everything with them that we manage to record an interview that lasted for an hour. I love artists who offer you their time to talk with them, make you feel at ease and you are free to ask any questions that you may think that your audience wants to ask them as well and discover new sides of their warm and honest personalities. Therefore, I decided to offer you the chance to watch the most part of that 1-hour interview in separate parts because of the You Tube 15 minutes limitation. Now online and ready to enjoy is the 3rd part of that very cool and informative interview.
I hope you can check it out and enjoy right here
In the previous 2 parts you were able to find out how Christophe and Erik started to have an interest in music and how they met and decide to collaborate by producing electronic dance music. Of course, they tell us the backstage of the success story, that is their project Ian Van Dahl and their biggest hit “Castles in the Sky.” They uncover why they stay always at the backstage rather than take center stage in the pop stardom and music business. They explain why they always write lyrics that are deep and meaningful by avoiding simple lyrics that usually dance music make extensive use. They reveal the reasons why they decided to set up their own independent company Alpha Omega away from major record companies that usually don’t treat artists as they should be. They tell us why is so important for their company to build a huge catalogue of songs on various genres of dance music not only trance but also lounge, mainstream pop dance and many others. They give us their opinion in the way that new technology democratize in a way the music making process by making affordable to everyone to set up his own studio within his computer. Is the quantity of EDM music available equal to the quality that is available for someone to buy in the online stores? Why some productions sound cheep, unimaginative and boring? What are the 3 elements that the track should contain according to them in order to be releasable and able to touch people’s hearts? Is their connection between painting and music making? Erik has a convincing answer on this as well. They speak with affinity about the vocalists that they co-operate and on how they see them as great source of inspiration and motivation.
In the 3rd part Christophe explains why after a successful track we appear thousands of others that attempt to immitate it in order to become successful too. He talks about his djing experience and why he believes that djs should have first in their mind of how to make happy their audience and second their image. Both Chrisophe and Erik provide their opinion about the dj stardom phenomenon and why is not a bad thing at all for all those who are involved in the dance music scene. Of course I asked their view on the importance of the internet in their art and they explain why internet is overrated as promotional tool for music. Finally they tell us that they spent always time to listen to the demos that young producers send to them and offer their honest opinion. The interview comes to its conclusion with their message to all those that they watched this interview.
I invite you to devote some time to watch the 3rd and final part.
Don’t hesitate to leave any comments or thoughts about the interview itself and most importantly about the issues discussed within this interview as well.
Many thanks to Christophe and Erik for allowing me to ask them any question and support me to organize and record this interview with them.
Additional info:
http://www.alphaomega.be/
www.myspace.com/alphaomegaworldwide
You can check the interview published right here too:
http://www.1mix.co.uk/news/478-ian-van-dahl-video-interview
http://www.danceradioglobal.com/trancemusic/index.php?/latest-interviews/video-interview-with-christophe-chantzis-and-erik-vanspauwen.html