Hi Mike, We’re looking forward to seeing you at our Slinky Classics night on January the 30th. How has 2009 been for you and have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2010?
Well, 2009 was a great year and full of M.I.K.E. revivals such as Push, M.I.K.E. and recently Plastic Boy. I got high expectations for 2010 including a big kickback in M.I.K.E. music and touring around the globe!
What’s the dance music scene like at the moment in your native country of Belgium, and are there any differences with it and the UK scene?
Belgium gone bad when it comes to Trance music to be honest.
Only the bigger festivals do program Trance, but other then that House and Techno are the most common genres in Belgium.
That’s one of the reasons you will mainly catch me overseas like in the Uk, Ireland, the U.S. etc…
Speaking of different locations and different scenes, I understand you’re moving to New York soon. Is this to further your musical career and will you be spreading the sound over in the US when you’re there?
I LOVE New York City…it’s so vibrant and inspirational, every time I’m playing in the U.S. I feel so respected.
I guess that why Trance hits high in the U.S. , look at Tiesto or Armin, half their schedule they do tour in the United States.
I’ve seen it all in Europe, so yes, being in the U.S. is a real challenge.
And my wife is from New York, so that makes it easier too
You recently stated in an interview that you thought over the last couple of years trance had lost itself, but now was back. Could you tell us why you thought the music was having a low?
Spot on, I felt it was gone, yes.
It became boring and generic, parts of it still are today..but…
…past year, 2009, saw a real come back in great Trance productions, innovatie combos in genres and a new breed of producers who did understand the music we all love.
I feel we’re going back to basics, I also discussed this with Gareth Emery, and when he asked me for the new up and coming Plastic Boy tune “Chocolate Infusion”, he pm’d me saying “ M.I.K.E. is back with a vengeance” …and that’s exactly how I feel and want to show the world what REAL Trance is all about.
You have collaborated with many different artists from Sinead O’Connor to Mauro Picotto, so we guess you must find it easy working with other people’s ideas. But of all the artists you’ve worked with you are your favourites and why?
I don’t have any particular.
If I have the change to remix a great tune or I can do a collab with a person I feel cool with, great things can come out!
Sinead O Connor did turn out a great remix, true, but also my collabs with Armin Van Buuren “Intruder” and Fred Baker under the Active Sight alias where on a roll.
Do you personally place any value on accolades such as the DJ Mag Awards and is it important to you to receive that type of recognition?
No comment lol…well..
I think that’s personal and everyone on its own.
It’s a marketing pool and tool, and yes, I was on it 3 years in a row and for a reason unknown kicked out.
It did not affect my gigs or my music, it actually made me feel stronger and the hunger for going back to the underground side of edm, but being in it does make you more accessible to others.
This gig being Slinky Classics, what’s your classics trance anthem that never leaves your DJ box and why?
Mostly, my own tracks, haha..
For me it all started in the Uk, performing in Top Of The Pops with Push “ Strange World”, and I’ve got 6 Top 40 entries in the official British Single Charts, including “Univeral Nation” and “The Legacy”…
But a couple to mention would be Solar Factor, Push, Jam & Spoon, Oliver Lieb, Rank1, just call it breakthrough Trance Music.
Outside of music, clubbing and DJ’ing what other passions do you have that you could tell us about that we might not otherwise know?
I love to spend time with my kid, who just turned 5 years old.
We do play football together all the time, he loves Fc Barcelona (so do i), so one day, who knows lol, and other than that, snowboarding if I got time, and watching some movies and spending family time general.
If you could change one thing in the World, what would it be? Serious… or not so serious?
“Serious”, I would like to LIVE a little bit more “greener”, but with all the air travelling I’m doing almost weekly, I can’t challenge this yet.
“Not so serious”, I have no idea lol
Lastly, you’re a well travelled man of the world, and with that in mind we’re going to leave the last word to you with anything you think has been left unsaid.
Stay true to your roots, enjoy every moment in life, cause it’s way out to short sometime…let 2010 commence and a Trancefull year!
