Name: Arrakeen || Founder / A&R of Beyond Perception Music.
Location: Worldwide / Currently in South East Asia in search of inspiration and talent...
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest achievements in your music career in 2014 as dj & producer,label owner,radio host and your personal life if it is something that you wish to share with our readers?
Arrakeen: Well I took the leap of faith and started Beyond Perception Music, which wasn't easy at all with little resouces and practically building everything from ground up alone. I had afew great friends in the industry who helped with advise and encouragement though, and they are pretty heavy hitters and shall remain in the shadows for now, and their faith in me gave me the morale boost needed and I managed to get the label up and running from a concept barely over a month ago, to having its first release distributed to over 20 online stores and officially releasing this coming 7 January 2015 with a junodownload.com exclusive this Christmas Eve along with a much appreciated pre-release worldwide premiere on Abora Recordings #Uplifting Only radioshow with OriUplift! Thus we will be celebrating with a 1 hour megamix on where else but 1mix radio at 4pm 24 Dec 2015 where I put together an epic megamix of totally unheard pre-releases and mashups along with some familiar sounds, so hope for your support and do tune in to www.1mix.co.uk at 4pm UTC, which is when the clock strikes 12 on Christmas morning where I live in Asia, that's Singapore / Malaysia time midnight x'mas morning! And 8am over in the pacific coast of America.
Dimitri: 2014 was packed with releases from so many different styles, which Electronic Music style you believe is the absolute Electronic Music Style Of 2014 in the mainstream indifferent if you like it or not. Why you believe this style became so successful in 2014?
Arrakeen: I have no idea what you are talking about. ;) This genre battle... I just listen to what I like and what I like is uplifting emotional soul wrenching, heart moving music that uplifts your spirits or just makes your legs wanna get dancing. I don't follow trends, hence I don't listen to much radio, or anything for that matter, I just listen to the promos I get from the labels I support because I like THEIR style... and that to me is the most 'absolute' successful style... and I would have to hand it to Abora because their radioshow is the only one I make time for and is my 'weekly indulgence'. Not to mention every single release of theirs is top notch and hits me right there. Everytime.
1) Best Track:
Arrakeen: New World – Ushio. It's a no brainer, I've said it many times, this is my tune of the decade, previous decade would be a tie between Suburban Train by Tiesto and Airwave by Rank1. Although there are so many great tunes to past decade... Recently, not so.... only Abora seems to be keeping it real. And Blue Soho and most of the other uplifting labels. AEZ, D.Max, Trance All-Stars, Beyond The Stars... Some flounder a little but not to far thus are mostly worthy tracks. My former label Camouflage, now WeAre Trance headed by my former manager Dirkie Coetzee is making some great waves too with release after release hitting high up in the charts and getting great support from big names... Dirkie is one dude that really inspires me... But I digress...
2) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
Arrakeen: Paul Oakenfold has been handing it to it lately going back to psy and his live sets never leave one bored... always delivers... (from what I hear)... I haven't been opening myself to much of the scene what with building my own little space and so this one's through the grapevine...
3) Best Remix:
Arrakeen: Afternova's remix of Freedom by SoundLift. Both original and remix are spectacular but Afternova does wonders by turning an upbeat more inspirational ibe from the original into a somewhat surreal, dark, and mysterious heart-stopping effect with his breakdown... it's quite aazing how music can manipulate and the artists mentioned have got that skill locked down tight!
4) Best Remixer:
Arrakeen: New World... He didn't remix much but his magical touch makes every track a winner.
5) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
Arrakeen: not really sure on this one... watch Beyond Perception Music and you might find out for yourself. :)
6) Best Electronic Music Album:
Arrakeen: I'm awaiting Ikerya Project's album, due in 2015, but for 2014, SoundLift's latest EP, on promo now, takes the cake.
7) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
Arrakeen: Uplifting Only 2014: Top-Voted Tunes - Vol. 2 (Mixed by Ori Uplift)
But I believe the upcoming breakdowns 'best of' would be a better bet...
8) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
Arrakeen: Ashura – Rest in Paradise by Beyond Perception Music, including iTunes Booklet / CD insert, desktop wallpaper and music video. On promo now available all stores in 7 Jan 2015.
9) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track:
Arrakeen: Giuseppe Ottaviani & Alana Aldea - In This Together (Acoustic Version)
10) Best Electronic Music Label:
Arrakeen: Abora Recordings and its multitude of inhouse (Edge EDM, Abora Ascend, Abora Skies, etc) and acquired sublabels, which I'll leave the reader to discover...
11) Best Electronic Music Video:
Arrakeen: Got me there, don't really watch much music videos... especially since if they have the budget to make an official video, well its no longer about the music is it?
12) Best online Funny video related to Dance Music:
Arrakeen: (tehnically last year but I only got to see it this year, recommended to me by my friend and fellow artist Neo Kekkonen. Good laughs indeed and don't take it too seriously for 'Duck's' sake! It's a troll!
13) Best Online Social media network:
Arrakeen: Facebook
14) Best Twitter or Facebook message you received from a fan or friend or you have read on someone else’s account:
Arrakeen: Wow so many... Arctic moon makes pretty snide comments at any and everything he comes across...
15) Best personal selfie of the year, where, when and under which circumstances you took it?
Arrakeen: Don't take selfies... in fact I just got wind there was such a word and even devices to accomplish that feat....
16) Best music composition software:
Arrakeen: Still a huge fan of Ableton Live! Especially in 9 where they've granted ,y wish and gone multiscreen friendly!
17) Best Event or Open Air Festival:
Arrakeen: Not been to any but the latest “A Land of Trance” right here in Borneo, East Malaysia. organised by my pals gotta take the cake with the lineup it had....
18) Best personal Dj Gig:
Arrakeen: Opening for Arctic Moon was a blast.... I messed up mixing my own song and double beat for a good half a minute which gave us all a good laugh... Audience wasn't the wiser though, and it's even up on my soundcloud coz everyone makes mistakes... Own it! :) And how I was spinning SoundLift's Freedom and him saying, “perfect track to end the night and I'll take over” (which was the plan anyway).... then as I'm about to cut it out for him, “Play one more, I gotta pee!”.. (AFTER THE MIX POINT)... LOL! Fun times.
19) Best country that you have visited to perform with the most up for it crowd:
Arrakeen: Didn't have the good fortune to tour but the Arctic Moon and Andrew Rayel gigs I opened for were smashing with the venue going beyond capacity!
20) Best Radio show:
Arrakeen: Uplifting Only with OriUplift by Abora Recordings
21) Best Radio station:
Arrakeen: 1Mix Radio ;)
22) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
Arrakeen: beatport.com
23) Best Website that you visit frequently:
Arrakeen: soundcloud.com
24) Best Smart phone/Mobile phone device:
Arrakeen: I'll tell you if you get me one. If not it's my current Samsung Note 3.
25) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
Arrakeen: I'm in love with my (now obsolete) Denon SC2000 controller... so well built like a proper piece of solid metal club standard piece of gear.
26) Best new sound or sample that has been used in Electronic Music this year perhaps introduced first by you?
Arrakeen: Bring on the acoustics... The Duduk flute has been getting good attention for awhile now.... gives that nice arapic ethnic vibe.
27) Best tip that you learnt this year for your Djing techniques or music composition:
Arrakeen: Delay and reverb to the sends and all sidechained to self and kick. Didn't learn it this year but its importance is massive!
28) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2014:
Arrakeen: “Just do your thing”
29) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2014:
Arrakeen: Building the label... passion and hobby and hopefully bread winner or I won't be around for next years interview :P
30) Best holiday destination for 2014 that you manage to visit this year either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
Arrakeen: No holidays in 2014... Just work work and play...
31) Best piece of News you learnt this year related to Electronic Music Culture:
Arrakeen: That's I'm now a contributing part to the scene and here to assist with fresh new talents,providing guidance that I wish I had before.
Dimitri: Finally, 2015 is ahead of us would you like to tell your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, Dj gigs.
Arrakeen: Hohoho! Please follow Beyond Perception Music and you'll be in for hellava ride... I have so much good stuff lined up for 2015..,, Yet keeping it real with sounds from yesteryear not forgotten....
and of course my own artist pages:
Dimitri: Thanks very much for your collaboration to reply in this interview
Arrakeen: Your're very welcome. And thanks for the opportunity! Don't forget to catch me in the mix every FIRST wednesday of the month at 4pm UTC for 'Beyond Perception' Radioshow only on 1mix.co.uk, with a celebratory kickstart this Christmas eve, 4pm UTC Wednesday for a super megamix.... been awhile since you heard one of those yeah! But ALL unheard tracks and prereleases!!! Don't miss it! Cheers! Arrakeen