A classically trained musician since childhood, Jonas Stenberg moved on to compose EDM in the late 90's. The first releases came in 2003, with two tracks featured on Swedish trance compilations. Following this, Jonas started to develop his sound and taking it in a new direction, participating in movie score projects and blending different styles of EDM.
Besides music Jonas is finishing a degree in biotech engineering, this took him to Melbourne in 2007 where he studied and gathered new musical inspiration. After years of shaping his sound, Jonas became a resident on Marcel Woods' acclaimed Musical Madness imprint in 2008. Three releases under his belt so far at the label have been well received by DJs and audience. With tracks like 'Inducer', 'Enhancer' and 'Memories', his support list includes most of the regulars in the scene including Tiesto, Sander van Doorn and Marco V. Tracks are featured on the Trance Energy Compilations 2008 and 2009, including the Australian edition. Recent remixes include music from Marcel Woods, Jochen Miller, Heatbeat and Austin Leeds. Dark energy, powerful synthlines and percussive drive form three essential track elements.
His recently launched monthly podcast and radioshow 'The Stenberg Selection' sees a steadily growing list of regular listeners, enjoying the 60 minutes packed with his favourite club gems. After gigs already in Australia, Sweden, Germany and Holland he is now ready to entertain more crowds with his exciting sounds, mixing different styles of EDM in his sets that contain lots of exclusive and own material. Since he always is on the lookout for new sounds and tune approaches, we have only seen the tip of Stenberg's musical iceberg...
Besides music Jonas is finishing a degree in biotech engineering, this took him to Melbourne in 2007 where he studied and gathered new musical inspiration. After years of shaping his sound, Jonas became a resident on Marcel Woods' acclaimed Musical Madness imprint in 2008. Three releases under his belt so far at the label have been well received by DJs and audience. With tracks like 'Inducer', 'Enhancer' and 'Memories', his support list includes most of the regulars in the scene including Tiesto, Sander van Doorn and Marco V. Tracks are featured on the Trance Energy Compilations 2008 and 2009, including the Australian edition. Recent remixes include music from Marcel Woods, Jochen Miller, Heatbeat and Austin Leeds. Dark energy, powerful synthlines and percussive drive form three essential track elements.
His recently launched monthly podcast and radioshow 'The Stenberg Selection' sees a steadily growing list of regular listeners, enjoying the 60 minutes packed with his favourite club gems. After gigs already in Australia, Sweden, Germany and Holland he is now ready to entertain more crowds with his exciting sounds, mixing different styles of EDM in his sets that contain lots of exclusive and own material. Since he always is on the lookout for new sounds and tune approaches, we have only seen the tip of Stenberg's musical iceberg...
Interview is written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias Radio/Club Dj & Music Journalist
Dimitri:Do you consider 2011 as a positive, negative or neutral year for the progress of the Electronic Dance Music scene?
Jonas Stenberg: There is still progress and evolution all over the EDM scene so I think 2011 was again a big plus for us - the crowd is growing day by day...
Dimitri: Do you believe that 2011 was a good , indifferent or bad year for the development of your personal career?
Jonas Stenberg: Development is always a good thing, and I am happy with the direction that I have chosen now - next year will be very interesting I believe!
THE A to Z of the Best of the Year 2011.
a) Best Full Release of the year(original & remixes)
Jonas Stenberg: Dirty South & Thomas Gold feat. Kate Elsworth - Alive, great combo of these two producers styles and a brilliant vocal top top it off!
b) Your personal Full release of the year
Jonas Stenberg: Jonas Stenberg - I Will Find You, actually my only full single release this year...but 2012 will make up for that ;)
c) Best Single track of the year (only original versions)
Jonas Stenberg: Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party - Antidote: what an absolute dancefloor bomb!
Jonas Stenberg: Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party - Antidote: what an absolute dancefloor bomb!
d) Your personal Best Single track of the year
Jonas Stenberg: Jonas Stenberg & Evol Waves pres. TTK - Go, a techno banger I created with Gigi that always goes down well in the sets.
Jonas Stenberg: Jonas Stenberg & Evol Waves pres. TTK - Go, a techno banger I created with Gigi that always goes down well in the sets.
f) Best Remix on personal production that you released in 2011
Jonas Stenberg: Jonas Stenberg - I Will Find You (Paul Ercossa Remix) , a really nice take on my original by Paul!
g) Best Producer of the year in your style that you play or any other that you may like
Jonas Stenberg: I love almost everything that that Maor Levi puts out!
h) Best New Talent/Big hope for the coming years
Jonas Stenberg: Madeon is a really amazing new kid on the block! Daft Punk 2.0 ;)
i) Best Remixer of the year on personal or others peoples tracks
Jonas Stenberg: Tommy Trash always spices up the originals with his nasty touch.
j) Best Established Label of the year(not started in 2011)
Jonas Stenberg: Mau5trap delivers quality every time. Five thumbs up!
Jonas Stenberg: Mau5trap delivers quality every time. Five thumbs up!
k) Best Newborn in 2011 label of the year
Jonas Stenberg: I cannot think of any right now, sorry...
Jonas Stenberg: I cannot think of any right now, sorry...
l) Best dance album and mixed compilation of the year in the style of music that you work with…
Jonas Stenberg: There were several solid ones this year... My choice falls on the Wolfgang Gartner album, Weekend In America. Love it!
m)Best Music Video of the year(this can be personal/you are involved with or from other artists)
Jonas Stenberg: Duck Sauce - The Big Bad Wolf. You have to watch it. That is all.
Jonas Stenberg: Duck Sauce - The Big Bad Wolf. You have to watch it. That is all.
o) Best new software or hardware that was introduced in this year and you recommended it to others.
Jonas Stenberg: KRK Ergo! Amazing acoustic room correction device that did wonders in my studio. p) Best and worst djing or production experience that happened in 2011
Jonas Stenberg: Opening the Monday Bar Cruise Stockholm -> Riga in June was special, rarely do I get to play for my Swedish homies ;D
q) Best country that you performed this year
Jonas Stenberg: Loved all my gigs this year but Sunrise Festival in Kolobrzeg, Poland was extra special. Massive event!!
Jonas Stenberg: Loved all my gigs this year but Sunrise Festival in Kolobrzeg, Poland was extra special. Massive event!!
r) Best club or open air festival that you attended or you even performed this year
Jonas Stenberg: Ministry Of Sound needs no further explanation, played twice and loved it as always! To hear the residential building plans at Elephant & Castle were called off was easily the best club news of the year.
Jonas Stenberg: Ministry Of Sound needs no further explanation, played twice and loved it as always! To hear the residential building plans at Elephant & Castle were called off was easily the best club news of the year.
s) Best hobby or other activity for 2011(game/movie/book/going to gym to keep fit or any other hobby )
Jonas Stenberg: The spring/autumn fishing trips with mates to Åland, an island near Sweden. Good times!
Jonas Stenberg: The spring/autumn fishing trips with mates to Åland, an island near Sweden. Good times!
t) Best radio show of the year and Best radio station that you always check out(fm or online)preferably that plays the kind of your music
Jonas Stenberg: I rarely listen to radio shows these days. Attending more live (band) gigs instead!
Jonas Stenberg: I rarely listen to radio shows these days. Attending more live (band) gigs instead!
u) Best online or ordinary record shop that you used to get your music of the year
Jonas Stenberg: Beatport has got what I need.
Jonas Stenberg: Beatport has got what I need.
v) Best CD player or any other equipment that you use for djing (this can include software for digital mixing)
Jonas Stenberg: The new DJM-900 mixer at Ministry Of Sound was great, can't wait to tweak it more next time.
Jonas Stenberg: The new DJM-900 mixer at Ministry Of Sound was great, can't wait to tweak it more next time.
w) Best vocalist in a dance track of the year
Jonas Stenberg: Katie Elsworth. Great job with Dirty South in Alive, she has an amazing voice and I'd love to work with her in the future.
Jonas Stenberg: Katie Elsworth. Great job with Dirty South in Alive, she has an amazing voice and I'd love to work with her in the future.
x) Best magazine or web site that you always check out for music related stuff (to read reviews/interviews/ and learn about technical equipment)
Jonas Stenberg: Future Music Magazine is always a nice read! Airport gate material.
y) Best fan of your music of the year or best crowd in your performance
Jonas Stenberg: Best fan hmmm..Ministry of Sound always packs a great crowd so when I play there they all feel like my best fans at that time. Cannot wait to return!
z) Best thing you have done this year in order to support any social movement, charities, or other people that may need your help.
Jonas Stenberg: Applying for a charity half marathon run in Gothenburg taking place in May 2012.
Dimitri: Can you please let us know your plans for 2012 for your djing, productions or label?
Jonas Stenberg: To get around five releases out before summer, then we will see! Planning to implement more live elements into my sets (loops, fx and so on).
Dimitri: On the other side is it possible to tell us the track, album, artist/dj that you believe were the worst of the year and why?
Jonas Stenberg: If there were candidates for these things I must have suppressed it, nothing comes to mind right now.
Dimitri: Please give us your wishes for 2012 and your small piece of advice for anyone that reads this interview and aspires to get into music production, djing, or music production in general.
Jonas Stenberg: I hope to see all you readers somewhere around the world next year for good music times! Remember to always follow your real passion and do not allow opinions to change your mind.
Many thanks to Jonas for finding the time to reply in this interview
Many thanks to 2-dutch dj agency for their help to organise it: www.2-dutch.nl
Additional info:
http://www.jonasstenberg.com
http://www.facebook.com/jonasstenbergmusic
http://www.twitter.com/jonasstenberg
http://www.soundcloud.com/jonasstenberg
http://www.facebook.com/jonasstenbergmusic
http://www.twitter.com/jonasstenberg
http://www.soundcloud.com/jonasstenberg
