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… 

Aurélien Dubois @ Dance Music 101

Aurélien Dubois is the founder and president of Surprize, a leading promoting company in France, in charge of the Weather Festival and the Concrete Club in Paris.

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

When I have discovered that I could compose all by myself. (tracks I mean)

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

At “la Gare St. Lazare” for our first Edition of “HORS SERIE”. Amazing crowd and such a crazy atmosphere inside a train station with a 100% French House Music.

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

Felling the crown getting in trance during a performance of an artist

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

 When the Spiral tribe came for the first time at Concrete.

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

 The trending is clearly going into underground music. There are ten new gigs per week in Paris around this genre every weekend!

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

Less and less about star system I think and back more into creativity and youthfulness.

Alex Fish @ Dance Music 101

Alex Fish has been with Pulse Radio and also with Boiler Room as LatAm responsible and he is now with BE-AT.TV as a Global Business Development officer. Fish has also a DJ career in NYC under his alias, Holosound.

- Life: When was the moment you figured out that Dance Music was meant for you?

When I was 15, I visited Israel in 1994 and came home with a cassette tape of psy-trance which I couldn’t stop playing for about six months.  I subsequently became a DJ and spent nearly every weekend at clubs, festivals or in music studios while working various “regular” day jobs during the week.  Only in about 2011 did I get involved in the business side of the industry itself.  Every year since the demand for dance music has continued to grow and I find myself getting more and more involved!

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

I’ve been very lucky to travel a lot for my work so sometimes I tend to take things for granted like amazing DJ sets or beautiful nightclubs. However, this past season in Ibiza there was a one villa party on a Tuesday night with Ame and Dixon going B2B that was pretty mind blowing. 

Solomun was in the front row with tears of joy streaming down his face from the records that were being played and Adriatique and Bedouin were pretty speechless as well.  The Martinez Bros and a bunch of other DJs and were all having a great time and just relaxing. 

I had a bunch of friends from EU and US visiting the island and it was nice to see how excited they were to be a part of the night.

The whole thing went down in a private villa with a Void Sound System and open bar for over 12 hours. 

Paris Hilton was also getting pretty unexpectedly after it on the dance floor to some deep techno which was good for a few chuckles.

I’d say that was a pretty good time!

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

I love how international and borderless house music is.  It’s shown me more of the world than I ever thought would be possible, and has introduced me to some truly amazing people.

The majority of the people who care about house music and culture also share a common regard for the wellbeing of this earth and a basic respect for people from different backgrounds.

I love that the world is starting to fully recognize and acknowledge a form of music the majority of my family and friends thought I was crazy for devoting my life to 15 years ago.

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

I think the most significant moment in my past career was when I returned home from a DJ tour in Europe in the fall of 2011 and decided I wanted to have more control over my future than whatever the next booking I could get was.

This led me to Pulse Radio where I began interning, then writing, then managing the North and ultimately South America regions for the site. 

Pulse gave me a voice and an entry into a side of the industry I really hadn’t experienced as an artist.  I’ll always be thankful for this important starting point to my music career.

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

I think one thing that’s been growing at a faster clip than everyone realizes is the appetite for “underground” music.  The global rise of EDM really opened up the floodgates to a bunch of new people.   30%+ eventually grow tired of the predictable drops and consistently find their way back towards the types of sounds where I feel most comfortable as an artist and businessman.

Probably the greatest proof of this reality is the growing global success of Ultra’s RESISTANCE concept.  The lineup for Ultra Rio’s Resistance is massive!

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

I see lots of things happening that I think will become even stronger trends down the line.

Live Performance in sets: As technology advances more and more I think more artists will incorporate additional performance elements into their sets to retain a unique edge in an increasingly competitive DJ landscape.

Live Streaming/360/VR: As the world gets smaller and smaller and fans and artists alike now expect to be able to tune in or share their sets in real time. 

People can really drill down into exactly what they want to hear or see through what’s available online via the wealth of festival and nightclubs streams.  When I got started in ’98 my taste in music was dictated by what the local record store stocked or who the rave and club promoters were booking.  That’s no longer the case at all.  With services like BE-AT.TV, there’s unprecedented access available to events from around the globe.  People are free to explore whatever gets them excited.

Also, as more and more nightclubs and festivals compete for ticket sales, it’s imperative to have an honest record of the event that goes deeper than your traditional aftermovie.  Having your festival available for On-Demand viewing serves as a calling card for people to check out how a party was when they’re deciding whether or not to attend the next time.

Brands Will Enable Innovation: Electronic music lovers are experts at avoiding direct advertising such as banners and television adverts.  They’re also adept at getting access to the best content at little to no cost.  Brands who want to resonate with this difficult-to-message-to consumer will find unique ways to deliver valuable experiences to people within the umbrella of electronic music and aspirational music festivals by leveraging technology and disruptive thinking.