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14th Jul 2010
Grammy nominated artist, globally acclaimed DJ and audio architect, Paul van Dyk continues to dominate the electronic music charts and appears at the pinnacle of every Top DJ list around the globe.
He has sold over three million records so far, and has a touring diary that takes him all over the world from New York, London and Ibiza to India, China and Singapore.
This year ‘PvD’ as he is fondly known celebrates the 10th Anniversary of his label VANDIT Records, and will return to Creamfields to headline his own Vandit 10th Anniversary Arena in August. He will also be returning to the White Isle to take up his exclusive residency for Cream Ibiza at Amnesia.
Here he takes some time away from working on his new artist album to talk about his plans for Ibiza and what to expect from his headline performance in the VANDIT Arena at Creamfields.
This year you’ll be hosting your very own arena at Creamfields for the first time, what can we expect from your arena and your set?
Well obviously it’s going to be 100% me, and as I’ve been working on my new artist album this year I’ve prepared a lot of new stuff for my set. We also have the 10 year anniversary of Vandit Records this year and seeing as we have had a relationship with Cream that exceeds 10 years with most of the records we’ve released being massive hits in Cream at Nation and Cream Ibiza, it makes a lot of sense to really combine these elements and celebrate the birthday together in our own Arena.
You’re not a stranger to Creamfields, and you're part of the Cream family now. What has been your standout Creamfields memory?
I have quite a few. The very first time I played ‘For an Angel’ was actually at Creamfields, so that was a very special moment. I also remember another time when we had a bit of a ‘gathering’ when Paul Oakenfold was playing, Eddie Halliwell was playing and Ferry Corsten was playing. Armin was also there and we just hung out together and had a great time and in the sense that this music brings people together, we really celebrated that.
Will you be checking out any other performers at Creamfields this year?
If I can I will check out as many acts as I can, but it all depends on whether time allows!
Do you prefer performing at big scale outdoor festivals or more intimate indoor club shows?
It’s completely different, but I like to play both. The thing about the music I like to play and the set I like to play really depends on the general audience feedback and an audience at a festival will always be different from one in a nightclub.
Your record label VANDIT is 10 this year, how do you feel about reaching the 10 year milestone? How do you feel dance music has changed over the past decade?
It’s great, especially since things haven’t been so easy for the music industry over the last 10 years. Us still being around shows we must have done a few things right!
How would you sum Creamfields?
Creamfields is one of the best festivals in the world, and you get the chance to see one of the best line-ups you can get. It would be stupid not to go!
How do you think dance music has changed over the past ten years?
Music has always changed, electronic music started as a small club culture and now it's one of the biggest music genres around. At the same time, our general sound is more and more used in the normal pop world, more and more people are getting used to the electronic sound and if you listen to the Top 40 chart there’s a lot of songs that are ‘danceable’ - but many of these songs lack our vibe and our feel. People who make this music they never experience electronic music the way we do. It may sound similar, but they never have the ‘bang’ and the ‘oomph’ that we as electronic artists put into it.
What DJs are on your radar at the moment?
There are quite a lot people such as the ones we work with very closely including Filo & Peri, Alex Morph, Giuseppe Ottaviani just to name a few, who we continue to work with and grow their careers.
Tell us something that people will be surprised to know about you?
Well one thing that might surprise people is my interest in dressage… the elegant way of walking and working a horse. I don’t ride myself, my wife does, and she was very successful when she competed last year. I try to watch her as often as I can but sometimes with my DJ’ing commitments it can be difficult.
You’ve held down an amazingly successful residency at Cream Ibiza over the last nine years. How do you feel the night has changed over the years?
Obviously things have changed over the years, and this is why I think it’s even more important to stress that no matter what has happened economically etc. Cream has always stuck to its main principle – quality; and this is why it is so successful. They offer quality electronic music with a level of quality that maybe not everyone offers and this is why people keep going back every year.
You’re going to be playing in the Mixmag Terrace twice this year, are you excited to be playing the other room? Can we expect a different type of set from you for the exclusive Terrace performances?
It will definitely be different because the vibe is completely different in that room and the set up is different. Where the main room is dark the terrace is quite a lofty space, and we will of course have a stage there too so it’s going to be quite an experience for me and a bit of an experiment. I like a challenge and this is why I’m doing the terrace - to experience a different room and vibe from what I’m used to.
Do you get to see much of the island when you’re there?
I’m pretty much flying in and flying out, that’s my Ibiza agenda. I won’t have the chance to experience the island.
Will you be playing any exclusive tracks in Cream Ibiza this year? (off the new album?)
My new artist album will be out around six or seven months after the season, so you can expect the first play of some of the tracks from this at Cream in Amnesia.
What do you think it is about Ibiza that makes it such a special place for clubbers?
Well people go to have a good time, but you can also go over and not have as good an experience if you do the same thing night after night. You have to ensure that you see the island and go to different clubs. That’s why Cream Ibiza is such a good night, because it’s nothing you would experience at home.
Can you sum up Cream Ibiza and your forthcoming exclusive residency for us?
It's high quality electronic music with the most level of entertainment and the biggest guarantee of having the best night of your life!
Paul van Dyk will headline the Cream & Vandit 10th Anniversary Arena at Creamfields on Sunday 29th August Bank Holiday weekend.
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