Name: Kris O'Neil
Location: Denmark
Despite the fact that Kris is still in the early 20's, he has still achieved more than most DJ's will in a Lifetime! Touring Europe, Latin America and Asia, playing alongside the biggest names in electronic Dance music such as Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Sander van Doorn and Paul van Dyk, releasing singles & remixes for legendary labels such as Black Hole Recordings, Armada Music, Anjunabeats and Enhanced Recordings, as well as being voted Denmark’s highest ranked DJ for 2 years in a row, you might think that Kris’ thirst would be extinguished – but think again!
Location: Denmark
Despite the fact that Kris is still in the early 20's, he has still achieved more than most DJ's will in a Lifetime! Touring Europe, Latin America and Asia, playing alongside the biggest names in electronic Dance music such as Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Sander van Doorn and Paul van Dyk, releasing singles & remixes for legendary labels such as Black Hole Recordings, Armada Music, Anjunabeats and Enhanced Recordings, as well as being voted Denmark’s highest ranked DJ for 2 years in a row, you might think that Kris’ thirst would be extinguished – but think again!
With a sound that is somewhat Progressive, somewhat Housy, somewhat Techno and somewhat Trance, or as Kris likes to describe it ”somewhat classy, somewhat trashy!” as well as a flawless mixing technique, and an euphoric & energetic presence in the booth, this young Dane is often ”that guy” that gets the dance floor cooking!
Dimitri: Do you consider 2011 as a positive, negative or neutral year for the progress of the Electronic Dance Music scene?
Kris: Depends on how you look at it. EDM has definitely got into the mainstream scene, which I don't mind – I do kind of get the feeling that the mainstream scene has kind of got into EDM as well, which I'm not too fond of. But if you put on the optimistic glasses – which I usually do – 2011 has been a year of a lot of great releases, and that's what counts to me.
Dimitri: Do you believe that 2011 was a good, indifferent or bad year for the development of your personal career?
Kris: I think the answer would be “reasonable”. I haven't had the amount of gigs I wished for – even though I've had a few amazing ones, such as Full On Ferry in Ibiza! - but I've been kept somewhat busy on the production side, which will definitely continue into 2012! I'm optimistic that 2012 will be really good for me!
The A to Z of the Best of the Year 2011.
a) Best Full Release of the year
Kris: The best original track of 2011 for me has to be Sander van Doorn - “Love Is Darkness”, as I can't remember the last time I've been this excited for a track to get released. I've always been a huge fan of Sander, and not least of his Purple Haze stuff, which this track definitely has a flavour of. Also, Carol Lee did an amazing job on the vocals – both “Love Is Darkness” and “Beauty Hides In The Deep” (by “Doppler Effect” who she sang for) are among my all-time favourite vocals.
b) Your personal Full release of the year
Kris: I haven't had too many original releases this year, but “We Just Did” in collaboration with Kiholm is definitely special to me. Seeing footage of Armin playing it in Ibiza and Markus Schulz at Tomorrowland was definitely a rewarding feeling – also, I had a great time making it with Kiholm on my studio :-) There weren't any remixes made, as we thought the original was pretty strong already.
c) Best Single track of the year
Kris: I'd have to say Sander van Doorn feat. Carol Lee – Love Is Darkness for this one as well.
d) Your personal Best Single track of the year
Kris: “We Just Did” in collaboration with Kiholm
e) Best Remix of the year
Kris: Easy! Thomas Gold's remix of Adele – Set Fire To The Rain! The standard of Thomas Gold's productions recently really isn't fair to the rest of the producer-world!
f) Best Remix of personal production which you released in 2011
Kris: That would probably have to be my remix of Andain – Promises. Andain was one of the acts that really caught my attention when I got into EDM 8 years ago, and it was a fantastic honour remixing such a legendary act. There were a rather large amount of remixes done for “Promises”, so mine kind of drowns among the others, but it's got great reactions everywhere I've played it, and it's still a personal favourite of mine.
g) Best Producer of the year in the style that you play, or any other that you may like
Kris: The tracks and remixes by Thomas Gold, Hard Rock Sofa and Swanky Tunes have just been ridiculous, in the best possible way!
h) Best New Talent/Big hope for the coming years
Kris: Kiholm. After he changed his style, he's really been making some serious damage!
i) Best Remixer of the year of personal or others peoples tracks
Kris: That would have to be Thomas Gold, Swanky Tunes and Hard Rock Sofa again. I've been hammering almost everything they've done throughout 2011.
j) Best Established Label of the year (not started in 2011)
Kris: My home label is Black Hole Recordings and Tone Diary have kept an incredibly high standard. Also Sander van Doorn's “Doorn” label has been fantastic.
k) Best Newborn in 2011 label of the year
Kris: No particular label really comes to my mind. Too many labels are popping up all the time, and too few of them really dare to take a risk to get some proper artists involved.
l) Best dance album and mix compilation of the year in the style of music that you work with…
Kris: Sander van Doorn's “Eleve11” album has been on repeat ever since it was released. Also Above & Beyond's “Group Therapy” album has been really great to listen to – the vocals on Alchemy are just surreal!
m) Best Music Video of the yearKris: Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa – I Wanna Be Your Dog
n) Best social network of the year which has been essential for the promotion of your work
Kris: Facebook is probably still the best way for promotion, but I do prefer Twitter by far.
o) Best new software or hardware that was introduced this year, which you would recommended to others.
Kris: I was beta-testing Reason 6, which is pretty damn awesome! I started out using Reason 1 nearly 10 years ago, and I've really enjoyed watching the new versions over the years.
p) Best and worst DJ’ing or production experience which happened in 2011
Kris: To play at Ibiza was a dream come true, and to play at such a great even as “Full On Ferry” hosted by Ferry Corsten was fantastic! The worst thing has to be a remix I did with Kiholm that we were really proud of, which was announced to be released, and the suddenly declined by the label. That stuff hurts.
q) Best country where you performed this year
Kris: Ibiza, Spain!
r) Best club or open air festival that you attended or you performed at this year
Kris: Sankeys, Playa d'en Bossa (Ibiza, Spain) (Full On Ferry)
s) Best hobby or other activity for 2011
Kris: Does drinking red wine count?
t) Best radio show of the year and best radio station which you always check out (fm or on-line) that plays your style of music
Kris: To be honest I haven't had much time to check out other shows than my own :-/
u) Best on-line or ordinary record shop that you use to get your music
Kris: Easy – Beatport (the old Flash version)
v) Best CD player or any other equipment that you use for DJ’ing
Kris: The CDJ 2000's by Pioneer are great in the way they work with SD/USB drives, shows artwork on the screen etc. - even though I almost get the feeling they make the whole art of DJ'ing a bit too easy :-(
w) Best vocalist in your track of the year Kris: I've only released instrumental tracks this year.
Kris: Facebook is probably still the best way for promotion, but I do prefer Twitter by far.
o) Best new software or hardware that was introduced this year, which you would recommended to others.
Kris: I was beta-testing Reason 6, which is pretty damn awesome! I started out using Reason 1 nearly 10 years ago, and I've really enjoyed watching the new versions over the years.
p) Best and worst DJ’ing or production experience which happened in 2011
Kris: To play at Ibiza was a dream come true, and to play at such a great even as “Full On Ferry” hosted by Ferry Corsten was fantastic! The worst thing has to be a remix I did with Kiholm that we were really proud of, which was announced to be released, and the suddenly declined by the label. That stuff hurts.
q) Best country where you performed this year
Kris: Ibiza, Spain!
r) Best club or open air festival that you attended or you performed at this year
Kris: Sankeys, Playa d'en Bossa (Ibiza, Spain) (Full On Ferry)
s) Best hobby or other activity for 2011
Kris: Does drinking red wine count?
t) Best radio show of the year and best radio station which you always check out (fm or on-line) that plays your style of music
Kris: To be honest I haven't had much time to check out other shows than my own :-/
u) Best on-line or ordinary record shop that you use to get your music
Kris: Easy – Beatport (the old Flash version)
v) Best CD player or any other equipment that you use for DJ’ing
Kris: The CDJ 2000's by Pioneer are great in the way they work with SD/USB drives, shows artwork on the screen etc. - even though I almost get the feeling they make the whole art of DJ'ing a bit too easy :-(
w) Best vocalist in your track of the year Kris: I've only released instrumental tracks this year.
x) Best magazine or web site that you always check for music related stuff
Kris: Future Music Magazine is usually really interesting. I love their “In The Studio with...” features, as I find it inspiring to see how other people work in the studio, and what gear they use. Producers are just nerds after all, right?
Kris: Future Music Magazine is usually really interesting. I love their “In The Studio with...” features, as I find it inspiring to see how other people work in the studio, and what gear they use. Producers are just nerds after all, right?
y) Best fan of your music of the year or best crowd at your performance
Kris: I can't just mention one. There are like 6-7 people who have been extra supportive for me this year, which I absolutely appreciate!
z) Best thing you have done this year in order to support any social movement, charities, or other people that may need your help.
Kris: I guess you can always do more, but I'm doing monthly donations to both Unicef and Amnesty International. Also, just by being a nice guy to people in general, and not least the ones that might not be as fortunate as you, really help the world to become a better place. It means a lot to me.
Dimitri: Can you please let us know your plans for 2012 for your DJ’ing, productions or label?
Kris: I can't just mention one. There are like 6-7 people who have been extra supportive for me this year, which I absolutely appreciate!
z) Best thing you have done this year in order to support any social movement, charities, or other people that may need your help.
Kris: I guess you can always do more, but I'm doing monthly donations to both Unicef and Amnesty International. Also, just by being a nice guy to people in general, and not least the ones that might not be as fortunate as you, really help the world to become a better place. It means a lot to me.
Dimitri: Can you please let us know your plans for 2012 for your DJ’ing, productions or label?
Kris: I've got several releases to come up, and should have 2 compilations released in February and April'(ish) – including one rather legendary one!
Dimitri: On the other hand, is it possible to tell us the track, album, remix, artist/DJ that you believe were the worst of the year and why?
Dimitri: On the other hand, is it possible to tell us the track, album, remix, artist/DJ that you believe were the worst of the year and why?
Kris: No, that would not work for me at all. I prefer spending my time promoting the people I find good, rather than bashing the ones I don't like. I don't cheer at people I don't like, but I don't boo at them either.
Dimitri: Please give us your wishes for 2012 and a small piece of advice for anyone who reads this interview and aspires to get into music production, DJ’ing, or music promotion in general.
Kris: If you have an obsession of making music or DJ'ing; then do it! But don't quit after 2 weeks because you are not the world number 1 yet – this stuff takes time! And don't use cracked software! Spend a few bucks to get a basic setup, or stay with freeware. You can't expect people to pay for your music, if you don't even pay for your own software.
Many thanks to Kris for finding the time to reply to this interview
Check out his forthcoming compilation; 'Black Hole Recordings pres. Kris O'Neil In The Mix: Winter 2012', and it will be out on January the 23rd - unfortunately only in Europe, due to various licensing deals.
The pre-order is available on: iTunes
The tracklist looks a bit like…
01. Zoo Brazil feat. Rasmus Kellerman - There Is Hope (Tony Senghore Remix)
02. Virunga - Freefall (Tellur Remix)
03. Tiesto feat. BT - Love Comes Again (Hardwell Remix)
04. Blake Lewis - Till We See The Sun (First State Remix)
05. Mark Norman - Rebound (Festival Mix)
06. Breakfast - Give Me The 2 Tone (Flashover Rework)
07. BT feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw - A Million Stars (Save The Robot Remix)
08. Alex Kunnari feat. Ben Andreas - Taste The Sun (Tom Fall Instrumental)
09. Rafael Frost - In The Air
10. Manufactured Superstars feat. Lea Luna - Drunk Text (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix)
11. Jes - It's Too Late (First State Remix)
12. Pulser - Altitudes
13. Alex Kunnari - Music
14. First State feat. Tyler Sherrit - Maze
15. Manufactured Superstars feat. Selina Albright - Serious (Calvin Harris Remix)
01. Zoo Brazil feat. Rasmus Kellerman - There Is Hope (Tony Senghore Remix)
02. Virunga - Freefall (Tellur Remix)
03. Tiesto feat. BT - Love Comes Again (Hardwell Remix)
04. Blake Lewis - Till We See The Sun (First State Remix)
05. Mark Norman - Rebound (Festival Mix)
06. Breakfast - Give Me The 2 Tone (Flashover Rework)
07. BT feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw - A Million Stars (Save The Robot Remix)
08. Alex Kunnari feat. Ben Andreas - Taste The Sun (Tom Fall Instrumental)
09. Rafael Frost - In The Air
10. Manufactured Superstars feat. Lea Luna - Drunk Text (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix)
11. Jes - It's Too Late (First State Remix)
12. Pulser - Altitudes
13. Alex Kunnari - Music
14. First State feat. Tyler Sherrit - Maze
15. Manufactured Superstars feat. Selina Albright - Serious (Calvin Harris Remix)
