Emotional, yet powerful, always carefully and deliberately crafted. Since starting in 2002, German producer Joston has developed a unique and distinctive sound, which is always recognisable. Over a wide range of genres, from melodic and progressive trance dancefloor burners to deep, organic house gems, Joston is taking listeners and crowds always on a journey with catchy hooks and touching melodies. Joston was working together with Dennis Sheperd and doing Remixes for Dennis Sheperd & Jes and he was releasing music on Black Hole Recordings, AVA Recordining, ShinyPeople Recordings and many more. Joston's latest release "Machweo" is a melodic house beauty, balancing compelling rhythms with lush melodies. It's the kind of track that invites you to lose yourself in its harmonious swirls and infectious beats. Whether you're a seasoned house aficionado or a casual listener, "Machweo" provides a tasteful blend of melody and rhythm.
Best of 2023
1-a) Best track(s) from other fellow artists of 2023. Why you choose this particular track, please share with us the reasons?production techniques & crowd reactions on it.
Joston: This year, "Marsh" with "Everything (feat. ALLKNIGHT)" is definitely my absolute favourite track. It's absolutely insane. Pure energy and the hi-hat kills me. When I play this track, or other people play it, we often don't know what to mix afterwards. It's just insanely great and almost unbeatable.
1-b) Best of 2023 personal productions and for what you reasons you choose these particular tracks, is it because of technical challenges, crowd reaction in the club or was it your most successful single/album?
Joston: Unfortunately, 2023 was a little quieter for me because of illness. I had the chance to do a remix for Dennis Sheperd and Jes. I have loved Dennis Sheperd musically for many years and appreciate his music. When the idea came up that I could contribute a remix, we got straight to work. Jes accompanied me in my early days with Tiesto and many others. So I was really delighted to have the chance to do a remix of "Dennis Sheperd & Jes - By Your Side".
I also had the chance to do another remix for Lasse Macbeth & Josie Sandfeld for AVA Recordings. It was the song "You Can't Save Me". I started making trance music in the 2000s and haven't made trance music for a while. Now I'm more at home with progressive, organic, melodic techno. So it was a challenge again, and I think I succeeded quite well.
2) Best Artist of 2023(DJ & producer). Tell us why you believe he/she is the best, the factors that have influence you to choose this particular artist. What you appreciate the most from that artist.
Joston: For me, there are currently two producers that I simply adore. The first is "Proff" from Russia, who now lives in London. I just love his organic sounds. They soothe and go straight to the heart. I would love to work with him one day.
"Nora En Pure" is also an excellent and lovely artist. I love her sound. it's driving, melodically beautiful and just makes you happy. I love it and it would be my dream to be allowed to do a remix for her or to play in front of her somewhere.
3-a) Best Remix(es) from other fellow artists of 2023. For what reasons you chose this particular remix, i.e. production proficiency, technical reasons creativity and imagination of the remixer :
Joston: Here again, unfortunately, I'm with Marsh... He did a remix for "Estiva" of the track "Via Infinita". It's absolutely epic and you just want to start dancing. I find his creativity astounding here too. the structure, the middle part and the end are simply perfect.
3-b) YOUR Best Remix which you have produced of 2023! Why you believe that this is your best remix? share with us the technical challenges or special issues you had during the production of it.
Joston: I haven't really done many remixes this year. I produced less this year for health reasons. So I would say it was the one for Lasse Macbeth & Josie Sandfeld - You Can't Save Me. The challenge was that I hadn't produced any trance tracks for a while. A few years ago I switched to the melodic techno, progressive/organic house genre. For me was, the middle part a bit difficult to build up and not to lose too much energy at the end.
3-c) Best Remixer(s) of 2023 with short comment, for what reason u believe he/she is the best remixer? Technical professionalism and technological proficiency? the elements that stand out in it.
Joston: Marsh ! His productions are simply crystal clear and full of energy and emotions.
4) Best New Talent of 2023 (DJ or producer), for what reasons you choose this particular artist? Do you know him/her personally?
Joston: For me, that was recently "Mark Novas with Sweet Mistake". An insanely beautiful number and I love playing it... love the track and the vocal and the songtext.
5-a) Best electronic dance music album of 2023. Tell us the criteria behind the choice of this particular album and maybe highlight for the readers the best tracks from the album :
Joston: Unfortunately, this brings us back to "Marsh" and his album "Endless". I don't want to repeat myself. His productions are simply stunning this year. My Fav. tracks in the album are: "Touch The Sky with Simon Doty" and "Sleep feat. Jodie Knight".
5-b) Best artwork about single / album/compilation or promotional campaign of 2023. The criteria you applied to do this particular choice?
Joston: For me, this was the album cover of "Proff - Three Sisters". the song is already beautiful and the drawn album cover is just marvellous. i like it !
6) Best electronic dance music label of 2023. Please explain the reason behind your choice? what you particularly like or appreciate about this particular label?quality of tracks, great rooster of artists, personal connection?:
Joston: For many years, this has actually been Anjunadeep for me. Many of the productions and releases are really just what I need. I also play a lot of music from this label myself and I always notice at my gigs how much it connects you with the audience.
7) Best music composition software and hardware of 2023 with short comment. Why you believe this particular software/hardware deserves to be named as the best? great new features, easy to navigate, compose & produce? The advantages of this particular software & hardware that makes it to stand out.
Joston: I have been working with Logic Pro for some time now. I used to work a lot with FL Studio. I still use it from time to time, but it's becoming less common. I feel very comfortable with Logic. I like the structure and the ease of use of the software. I've never really got on well with Ableton. That's just how tastes are. However, I'm still finding out new things and trying out new things all the time. That's why my productions take a little longer.
8) Your Best personal DJ Gig & DJ performance of 2023. Where and when did you perform there? any funny incidents happened during particular performance; great crowd reactions. If there is video or sound recording please provide the link.
Joston: That was in Hamburg in a little club on the "Reeperbahn". Some people from poland are coming only for me and my 2 hours set. i was a half hour to late, because i had to much traffic on the road. and i was playing some of my own songs and all the people are screaming and dancing in front of me... it was so crazy.
9) Best technical tips/production skills that you learnt in 2023 in relation to your DJing or music productions:
Joston: I have to do a lot more with vocals and singers. That still challenges me and i learned a lot more in 2023 and looking forward to 2024.
10) Best piece of personal or music business' advice you got in relation to your career in 2023 and has helped you to progress even further and can help others who will read this interview:
Joston: My closest friends keep telling me to keep going. There were often moments when I wanted to stop because I couldn't go on somewhere. But in the meantime I have learnt through my friends and music companions that music and everyone connects and that it means much more than touring the world. Just believe in yourself, the music and life.
Dimitris: Do you have any concrete plans for 2024 regarding future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, DJ gigs? Please provide us the juicy details.
Joston: I definitely want to produce more music again in 2024. Also more in the direction of melodic techno, progressive house and organic house. Of course, I also want more gigs. However, I'm not in an agency and I don't write to promoters. I prefer to keep producing and look forward to the future. Perhaps with the odd booking enquiry. I would also like to do remixes for other artists and have already picked some out and will also ask one or two others in 2024. And I would like to record something with "Stella von Lingen" from Munich. She has an incredibly beautiful voice!
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for 2024.
Joston: Music enriches our lives and helps to overcome difficult problems...Those who love music get more out of life. Music is good for all of us and i cant wait to do it hopefully for many years
Thanks so much to team Sirup Music for organizing this interview.
Thanks to Joston for his answers.
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