Eric "Fender" van der Kwast @ Dance Music 101

Eric van der Kwast is the founder and CEO of TTTM / Talk To The Management, a boutique artist management company since 2011 and he also is a DJ under the alias “Eric Fender".

- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you? 

In 1991, when I heard a radioshow called "For Those Who Like To Groove" on Dutch National Radio, it was a radio show that only played underground house and techno. Before that I was listening to synth and electronic pop music but these house and techno tracks from NYC, London, Berlin, Milan and especially Detroit and Chicago really got me hooked. 

- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun? 

Must have been on Ibiza with a group of friends this summer, enjoying good food, drinks, sunshine and good quality underground house and techno! 

- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that? 

Playing vinyl is still great to do, I have a nice collection of classic house and techno which is not available on any digital portal so these records are very valuable to me and always great to play, especially on a solid soundsystem with a rotary mixer (or Richie Hawtin's Model 1 mixer, that I tested recently).

- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?

In 2006 I was involved with the first releases of Fedde Le Grand, I remember the email he send me with "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" as an “.mp3”, it blew me away. The rest is history. Dutch house music and Dutch dj's became even more populair. In 2007, I started the Sneakerz MUZIK label with Dutch Dj Erick E and his business partner Dick Leijen who where running a booking agency that already organized the so called "Sneakerz" events, we worked together with Spinnin' on the distribution side. We did over 300 releases including succesfull hits by Sidney Samson, Franky Rizardo, Bingo Players, Bassjackers, Ralvero and so many more. I was looking for talents and we gave them the opportunaty to grow as producers and DJ's. It worked very well and was a very “exiting" couple of years.  

- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?

There is so much new and fresh music, new styles and combinations of various genre's that make today's dance music spectrum, scene and industry very interesting. New markets open up, like in Asia, other markets like USA start to focus on American talent instead of international. It is a contant moving market. I think every country should have their own hero's in dance music, this creates a scene which only makes the genre to grow. Dutch DJ's and producers are still all over the globe and focus more on cross-over dance music aswell.   

- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?

As the middleclass is growing in various bigger countries in Asia and South-America, demand for dance music and events will keep on growing. There will be more festivals with a greater variety of dance music , not only bigroom , future house or trance. In Europe and especially in The Netherlands we have a great festival season from April till September , with over 150 festivals with "dance" as the dominating genre. And with ADE as biggest get-2-gether of the global dance music industry it feels good to be Dutch and in the centre of dance music. I am expecting many years of growth in our industry. 

Yuri Dokter @ Dance Music 101

Yuri Dokter is the founder and CEO of DJ Monitor - the global pioneer and market leader in music identification and rights monitoring since 2005 by using advanced technology and a relevant database. Yuri has more than 30 years of experience in creating pioneering concepts in the fields of Technology, Entertainment, Media & Communication.

- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?

It seems Dance Music always had a huge influence on my life, from early influencers like Jean Michel Jarre and Kraftwerk to the first summer of Love in 1987 with Chicago. I have pioneered making Dance Music as early as 1988, and ran labels and a big recording studio here in Amsterdam. Throughout my Technology ventures Dance has always been a major influence in all my decisions. That's why DJ Monitor is Music Recognition Technology specifically designed for Dance Music. I'm happy to see it becomes a vital integral part of the ecosystem allowing a fair compensation for Dance Producers.

- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun?

I guess during the PRS for Music / DJ Monitor dinner that we did during ADE together with AFEM and Ticketmaster. Seeing so many old and new friends, remembering experiences from the past whilst creating new ones. It was a blast!

- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?

Besides my Family which i love most of course, I love technology. As Arthur C. Clark said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." We live in a very exciting time and through technology we will be able to literally reach for the stars.

- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?

Last month I have signed PRS for Music and PPL for the UK territory, which is very significant for me, as well as to members in the UK and around the world. The UK is such a great market, representing world class talent, and we are truly honored that we have been selected!

- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?

Technology as an enabler and unifier of human interaction and data collection. We are sharing data of what DJs play live through various apps and collect tracking information through apps, social media and wristband technology. This allows for truly rich data, creating unique insights and business models.

- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?

A Global Repertoire Database; we are currently busy with AFEM members, Performance Rights Organizations and other stakeholders setting one up for electronic music. Audio combined with the proper metadata coming from authoritative sources, which will allow MRT companies such as DJ Monitor to audio fingerprint this repertoire and make sure that the members are being compensated correctly. That's why we have coined the phrase 8 years ago "Get Played, Get Paid".

Miguel Marangas @ Dance Music 101

Miguel Marangas has founded Mellow Management in 2003 and also serve as worldwide curator of Dance Music with the Rock in Rio for the last 16 years.


- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?
When I was running to catch the bus to go home quickly after school to listen to a radio show called “Discoteca“ with my friend Miguel “Michael Jackson” Espírito Santo.
I guess also when I first decide to go to a club ( obviously in the afternoon ) : The Acapulco where they played Pop, Disco and 30 mts with slows instead of Rock Rendez Vouz, the Rock ‘n Roll club all my friends were going and talking about.
On a different level in London early nighties when I first got into Ministry of Sound box and “Jesus“ was playing from 6AM onwards. The funny thing is that “Jesus“ is called DJ Harvey and I am proud to have him as a very good and special friend today.


- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun?

The last time i went out clubbing and was not working. Also me, my daughter and a couple of friends all went to surf the other day and that was over the moon.


- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?

My daughter . Do i have to say more … (-: ?


- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?

When I joined pioneer dance music record label Kaos Records Portugal as an International A&R on the record industry. Later when on management and agents market while working with International Acts and DJs bookings to Portugal in the very late 80’s, early 90’s and with Portugal DJ Vibe Worldwide. Recently being invited for 13 editions of Rock in Rio Festivals all over the world as curator, booker and roadie to do the Dance Music stage of the festival and the chance to work in Brazil , all left me pretty stoked!


- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?

It’s a "all new world out there" and that’s pretty exciting.
The digital era and digital reality which is not necessarily the real, real thing.
Unfortunately it looks like there are less proper clubs everywhere and is becoming difficult to some clubs to book certain DJs which will be important to carry on happening for the scene to develop in the clubs too.
This fact also had opened doors to certain clubs to build their own scene, market and heroes but had split more the market into sub categories and genres and the consequent divisions.
But then we got the festivals to make everybody happy and trying to accommodate it all and cover all areas.
Festivals are now like babies , being born all the time but they will have to focus.


- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?

We can’t deny the relevance of the Asian market. for a while it was on test but it’s becoming more and more relevant the years to come. the north and South American market also will solidify. Europe is bringing the culture and the new flavors all the time .the recording industry still be relevant . artists will need to broadcast their music not only through the digital via . there’s still excitement in not being or looking only to a computer or cell phone which is actually becoming boring. offline will be the next level so streaming services will have to work on that too. you can’t never gave up on the live show and the live experience and the music to be played live rather with a computer or with a guitar or with two turntables and a mixer, and people want to have that . with their friends. Together. The digital era is fascinating. at home on a Friday night I can now listen and see through different platforms and social media to Luciano in New York, Gaslamp killer in LA and Carl Cox in Ibiza and everyone wants to share so we´re pretty lucky with everything that will come over in the business in the years to come.

Peter van Galen @ Dance Music 101

Peter van Galen is the founder and president of Earproof, a leading company in The Netherlands, founded in 2003, and which main focus is the hearing protection in the music industry.


- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?
Very early 1985 – I was sitting in the back of Parkzicht Rotterdam and for the first time in my life I heard: Slave to the rhythm by Grace Jones. As stoned as I was – I walked to the empty dance floor and just listened to this track.


- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun?
I try to have fun every single day, I can laugh with my children, I laugh a lot when I am surfing with friends and most of the time when I travel around the world I like to make fun with new friends.


- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?

Must name three or as one it’s my family, my two boys and Marianne.


- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?

Launching the www.freefloat.net product in combination with the Shure white label cartridge and the Xone series at Dance Valley, having a backstage area for the DJ’s with the latest technology, great food by the @kookvogels.


- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?

Listening to vinyl records and finding out where it all started. Youth discovers the EDM kind of dance music and will be attracted by this music, at a sudden moment they will hear different kind of genres, in my ears it is all dance music, or as we heard over the last days in ADE developed disco music. I believe the dancing as one on the floor makes people strong and brings a unity feeling.


- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?

We have now two types of dance, large scale events with a lot of entertainment value, CO2 cannons, large sound systems, confetti, visuals and fireworks – and music festivals. I see a constant change of collaborations and I am pleased to see a producer like Henrik Schwarz is working with the Dutch metropole orchestra.

Lee Morrison @ Dance Music 101

Lee Morrison is the Managing Director of Seaside Music Group – a new music venture which is an extension to an established recording studio in Brighton, running both a label and 360 services company. Morrison is the ex-GM of Believe Digital UK, where he spent six years before leaving in June.

- Life: when was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant to you?
From an early age I was always into music with a 4/4 beat but after leaving home at 16 I eventually found myself at a huge rave in the north of England, from that moment on I knew dance music was meant for me.

- Laugh: when was the last time you had real fun?
Last weekend at the closing of Space in Ibiza, after frequenting the club for the last 23 years it was an emotional yet amazingly funny night at their final ever closing party.

- Love: name the one thing you love more than anything – and why is that?
My family for obvious reasons… 

- Past: name a significant moment in your career in Dance Music – and why is that?
There really are too many to specify one moment but I do remember many years ago the first time I was invited to speak at ADE, at that point I really thought that I had finally started to see all of my hard work paying off, another notable was being voted onto the AFEM exec board last year, being voted on by my peers was a special time for me.

- Present: what do you think that is trending today in music, clubs and festivals?
I think it depends on where in the world you are, there are different trends in different countries / continents especially in emerging markets… For me trends mean very little, it’s all about the smaller clubbing experience with a more intimate vibe…

- Future: where is industry heading in the years to come?
I think the industry moves in circles, kids will continue to want to dance and people always want to make music and DJ. Electronic in whatever form will continue to be the number one dance floor music, I think the only thing that changes is the popular form of electronic music at that time…