Trance-Atlantic flight plan

>> Holland's heartthrob DJ Tiësto takes off

by KRISTA

Tijs Verwest, aka DJ Tiësto, Holland's hunky and shit-hot trance DJ, began his illustrious career at the tender age of 14, sitting for hours in front of a battered tape deck, splicing disco hits together to make his own mix tapes. Said tapes led to a label and a slew of mix CDs (Magik Sessions, In Trance We Trust, Sunrise), which led to a studio, a record store and a reputation as one of Europe's most noted trance DJs and producers.



Mirror: It's so weird that the phone keeps cutting off. It's like there's a black hole between Holland and Montreal.

Tiësto: Funny that you should use the term "black hole," since that's the name of my record label.

M: The pun was intended. So you have been doing the DJ thing for about 15 years now, right?

T: Yes, maybe even longer. I started when I was very young, just making edits and stuff.

M: You had turntables when you were still in primary school?

T: No, I started to do mix tapes and edits with a cassette deck, then I got another cassette and would mix with both of them. I actually didn't get turntables until I was much older.

M: How very DIY. Were you into trance music even back then?

T: No, there wasn't really trance that long ago. I used to play a lot of disco classics like Marvin Gaye and Donna Summer. I was really into Giorgio Moroder as well, and some Italian producers. From there I got into hip-house, then acid house like Fast Eddie's stuff, and then I was really into nu-beat stuff like Front 242, Bigod 20, Nitzer Ebb and such.

M: When did the big love affair with trance music start? Was there one seminal experience or tune that made you say, "This is it?"

T: I have always really liked moody, emotional music, songs that lift your spirits or feel heavy. I think the first time that I heard "The Age of Love" or Moby's "Go" made me realize that I liked this kind of music. Both of those songs are very dark yet very beautiful, full of emotion.

M: Now you're Holland's number-1 trance DJ, travelling all over the world, residencies in London and Ibiza--

T: Yeah, it's really cool. I play monthly at Gatecrasher and God's Kitchen in London, and this summer I'll be doing a weekly residency at God's Kitchen Ibiza for all of July and August.

M: What else can we expect to hear from DJ Tiësto in the future?

T: I'm now working on my own album. It's time to do something that's all mine. I have four of the 10 tracks finished and the first single is called "Flight 463," after the flight from Holland to New York, because I'll soon be going there for a monthly residency.

M: That's kind of cool. Airplane noise makes good sample material as well.

T: Yes, well the story behind the song is that during Flight 463, something goes wrong, and I relay that in the music. The track gets very dark and I use a lot of heavy noises and such. The track then kicks back in full force when things on the flight get sorted out, and it has a really uplifting ending.

At Sona on Friday, Feb. 23, 2am, $20