He’s given sound to the stars of night, moved clubs packed to the rafters and continues to give house music a new shine. Mischa Daniels is still stretching the curve of his career. Two years after the grand success of his ‘Where You Wanna Go’ album, he heads for new directions. House will ever take the lead though, with the mighty follow-up album ‘Let’s Connect Tonight’.
The world still sways to the title track of his debut album, ‘Where You Wanna Go’. The hit single, featuring hip-hop wordsmith J-Son, reached golden status in Canada and peaked the Sirius XM radio charts. That’s not all though. Its music video clocked up more than 5 million views, as the single still continues to rock radio stations from one country to the next. Daniels isn’t one to be resting on his laurels though. His unstoppable drive to create a unique vibe brought us the successor, ‘That Girl’, as well as instrumentals ‘Rush’ and ‘Intergalactic’. In the meantime, his master plan unfolded with the creation of ‘Let’s Connect Tonight’.
Embracing all shapes of diversity, the album brings oldskool, modern, eclectic, hip-hop and prog, residing under the house music sound. Clocking up more than 15 years of experience, there’s no style that Mischa Daniels can’t handle and that’s exactly what makes ‘Let’s Connect Tonight’ stand out. Including collaborations with Sharon Doorson, Jonathan Mendelsohn, Mandee, Nicole Jackson, King Louis, Craig Smart, Mugz & Rosette, U-Jean and many more, ‘Let’s Connect Tonight’ has a self-explanatory title. It’s time to connect.
The release of his new album was the perfect occasion to request an interview from him and despite his busy tour schedule all over the world to entertain his global fan base, the Dutch house star found some time to reply in my questions.
Ladies and Gents we are about to Connect with Mischa Daniels, enjoy!
Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist, Radio / DJ
Dimitri: It would be great to start by going a bit back in time and imagine yourself as teenager. Was always your teenage dream to become a dj and producer of house music?
Mischa Daniels: Yes, I was always interested in making music. Already when I was at the age of 10 I produced my first own music on a little program called ‘fasttracker’ it was only 1.2 mb big. Next to producing I was playing as a DJ starting from the age of 12. Mainly on school parties and on my own shows as I was having my own Drive-Inn show.
Dimitri: Can you remember the house classic that always give you Goosebumps and maybe have influenced your decision to get involved with the electronic dance music scene.
Mischa Daniels: Well there is a couple but I always loved and still love ‘Danny Tenaglia – Music Is The Answer’.
Dimitri: When was first ever break as dj and in which event? What you will remember the most from that first ever performance?
Mischa Daniels: I think my biggest break/event was me headlining together with David Guetta Carnival in Brazil in 2008. It was after my huge success with my track ‘Round and Round’. It became Number 1 in Brazil and stayed there for many weeks.
Dimitri: Can you choose the artists that have influenced your sound and dj style and they have always your respect and admiration?
Mischa Daniels: Erick Morillo influenced me a lot. The way he plays, the connection he has with the audience is amazing. Production wise I’m a big fan of Axwell because his mixes and style are just the best in the world. David Guetta I admire because he has the best A&R ears in the world and really knows how to create hits.
Dimitri: When you took the decision to pass from the dj side to production side? Which record was your first release and which record was your big break that everybody learned your name and even promoters wanted to book you?
Mischa Daniels: My break through record was ‘Take Me Higher’ It was 4 times in a row on the BBC 1 radio show, top3 most played tune in Ibiza 2006 and it sold tons of vinyl!! It literary brought me as a DJ around the world for many years.
Dimitri: Can you pinpoint the main differences between the previous album Where You Wanna Go and your brand new Let’s Connect Tonight?
Mischa Daniels: The big difference is that the direction of Lets Connect Tonight is more focused on vocals and true songs. It’s an album that has great songs to dance to but also to listen to.
Dimitri: How long it took you to produce Let’s Connect Tonight and was an easy or a difficult task to accomplish?
Mischa Daniels: It took me quite some time to produce it as I decided to work with so many different singers and songwriters. I needed a challenge so working with full songs and established songwriters/artists was a different game. I think I worked almost for an year on the album.
Dimitri: Did you set any deadlines for the completion of this album and have you manage to be on time?
Mischa Daniels: Yes, I always set deadlines but I rarely make it in time. Since I’ve worked with so many people there is always someone that postponed something. At the end it’s all being creative and when it’s just not there for the moment, you just gotta wait!
Dimitri: Did you work in full time basis for the album or you had the flexibility to work whenever there was an inspiration for it? Are there any tricks to trigger inspiration?
Mischa Daniels: I did worked full time basis but I do have the flexibility. Inspiration is mainly travelling, seeing new crowds but also listening to other artists, styles and sounds.
Dimitri: For the more technical minded readers is it possible to give us a short tour in the studio that you use to produce the album and your favorite equipment that helps you to build that distinctive Mischa Daniels big room sound.
Mischa Daniels: Of course; I’m one of the rare dudes out there that works on a Cubase SX 6 program. My soundcard is a UAD and I use some of their plugins too.
Dimitri: Can you explain the actual process of producing music? From what element you start first and how do you decide if certain sound fits or not the final track?
Mischa Daniels: I mainly start with a melody and then the drop. If this mix doenst fit well, I start all over again until it sounds like the shit!!. It all goes by the theory ‘it’s good but not the shit’ and it has to be the shit!
Dimitri: Can you please give us a small comment about each track of the album and particularly to elaborate more on your collaborations for each track.
Mischa Daniels:
1.Mischa Daniels feat. Craig Smart, MuGz & Rosette - Partied All Night
Big project, took a lot of time but the artists on this song are amazing artists and close friends of mine nowadays.
2.Mischa Daniels feat. Sharon Doorson - Can't Live Without You
She’s the hottest singer in Holland we have to date. Easy to create this song and the only song I did on the album with a Dutch singer.
3. Mischa Daniels & King Louis feat. B.U. - #FML
Created when I was touring in Montreal. In North America they use this #FML term a lot.
FML = F*** My Life and can be used in positive or negative things.
4. Mischa Daniels feat. Nicole Jackson - Let's Connect Tonight
This is one of the rare tracks that I haven’t met the actual artists.
5. Mischa Daniels feat. Dupuis - Fire & Love
Created with one of the producers of David Guetta.
6. Mischa Daniels feat. Mandee - Beg Me Please
This track has the most chords ever and Mandee is an upcoming singer from Montreal.
7. Mischa Daniels - The Hum Song
Melody music all over it. Happy sound!
8. Mischa Daniels feat. SPC - Rock Me To The Beat
These SPC guys are Italians and was setup by one of my friends at Armada Music.
Total banger if you ask me!
9.Mischa Daniels & Jonathan Mendelsohn - Heartbeat
This song was setup when I was having a cold drink with Jonathan at Ocean Drive in Miami.
Amazing guy!
10. Mischa Daniels feat. U-Jean - That Girl
Created in a studio in Germany.
11.Mischa Daniels - Intergalactic
Instrumental banger. Home session.
12.Mischa Daniels - Shaking
Home Session.
13.Mischa Daniels - Fanfare
Inspired by some movies. Great large adventures feeling.
14.Mischa Daniels - Rush
Hello trance ;-)
15.Mischa Daniels feat. Aleesia & Damon Sharpe - Dance Till We're In Love
Produced in Los Angeles with the upcoming talent Aleesia. Written by heavy weight Damon Sharpe who produced major hits from Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears etc. Great experience.
Dimitri: Do you usually produce more tracks than the once that end up on the album and for this particular one do you have any leftover tracks in your hard disc?
Mischa Daniels: I have many left over tracks. I always produce a large bundle of demo songs for my album but cut out everything that isn’t hitting me anymore after a week.
Dimitri: When you produce this album did you had mainly in your mind the USA audience with the growing popularity of EDM there or you don’t think about particular target groups when you produce?
Mischa Daniels: When I produced the album I was mostly busy what triggered myself the most. Working with vocals was something I didn’t do much in the past so I wanted to take it to the next level.
Dimitri: I guess that the majority of the tracks have been tested out before their appearance to the album? Which tracks have the best reactions and have you done any changes or fixes to particular tracks after observing the reaction of the clubbers?
Mischa Daniels: The best reactions were on ‘Fire and Love’ it has this typical SHM vibe and really a dancefloor burner. I mainly do minor changes on the mix. Sometimes the kick does sound a bit blurry or too hard or the vocal is too high etc…
Dimitri: You played in many events side by side with the biggest names in the EDM scene. Which fellow superstar dj is the more down to earth and likes to discuss and recommend music and even build a nice friendly relationship. In contrast is there any dj that didn’t treat you right when you were not so famous as you are at the moment and even change his attitude when you became successful?
Mischa Daniels: I think Kaskade is the most down to earth artists I ever met – I met him during my show in Las Vegas at Marquee and from that moment on we had dinners, writing each other and discuss tracks. I even remixed him. Armin van Buuren is also super down to earth by the way, typical Dutch LOL. Never really met a DJ with a bad vibe.
Dimitri: One of my favorite questions to all the djs is that one about self-reflection and self-criticism. Out of 10 with what score do you rate the various elements of your dj performances and why?
Mischa Daniels:
a) Your mixing skills: 8. I cannot do the Laidback Luke skills with scratching and shit. So an 8 will do.
b) Your ability to choose the right track for the right occasion:
9. Always played a lot for different crowd with different artists in the line up. So really used to this.
c) Your friendly attitude towards the fans that are coming to shake your hand when you perform and after that? 10. I’m super nice : )
Dimitri: Can you choose your 3 best gigs for this year so far and are there any future gigs that you are looking forward to perform?
Mischa Daniels: Marquee Las Vegas, Aquasonic Bali and Beachclub Montreal. I’m looking to be back in Brazil, the crowd there is one of the best in the world!!
Dimitri: We notice that your singles always are supported with glam music videos. Do you have any creative input in the production process of the music videos and which one from your music videos is your most beloved and why?
Mischa Daniels: Well, we try to deliver great videos. I do have creative inputs but sometimes we also leave it up to the director of the video. My most beloved video is the ‘Where you Wanna Go’ video because I actually directed that video by myself with a friend in Stockholm ( Sandro Monte ) We created a complete tour around the shoot and the turn out went to be my best ever with over 5 million views!!
Dimitri: You are label owner of the top label Fame Recordings. Why you set up this label and do you get many demos from young talents who wish to get their first break on your label? Can you reveal any future releases on Fame recordings?
Mischa Daniels: We gave birth to this label to have a platform for mainly house tracks. During the years it got more and more vocal tracks and we even received our very first GOLDEN record in Canada in 2011 for ‘Where You Wanna Go’ I do get many demos and we have some great upcoming releases in the pipeline ;-)
Dimitri: Are there any goals that you haven’t accomplished yet and you would like to reach them in the near future?
Mischa Daniels: There are always goals to set. My ultimate goal would be #1 in the USA.
Other goals are to stay in this music business for a long time and meet more and more people, travel nonstop and just stay creative!!
Dimitri: Many thanks for your answers
Mischa Daniels: You are welcome Dimitri! I hope my answers worked out for you!!
Buy Let's Connect Tonight on itunes click here
Many thanks to Carmen van der Werf and Marije de Konink from Armada Music press office for their amazing support to organize this top interview
Many thanks to Tjerk Coers at Armada Music offices for his great support with perfect music for the Flux BPM radio shows and for review purpuses
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