Interviews

Born to create beats that tear the walls down at every club they play, it's no surprise that Paul Bäumer and Maarten Hoogstraten have joined forces to create the synergy we know as the Bingo Players. By far the Fresh Beat's favorite performance from this past WMC, the energy and excitement that these two bring to their live shows is simply unreal. Their unique chemistry and floor murking sound have Paul and Maarten on a crash course with Electronic Dance Music domination. With the upcoming launch of their own record label and future collaborations with the some of the music industry's biggest names, the Bingo Players are poised for a HUGE year in 2010.
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RON KUSH: You guys seem to work perfectly together. What would you say differentiates your styles from one another?
BINGO PLAYERS: We think it's because we are a balanced team. During producing tracks, Paul is the one that keeps the concept in mind, the big picture. Maarten is working out the details and the technical stuff. While DJ'ing, we don't have a specific role though...

RK: It's great to see DJs that are intensely into their live sets, grooving back and forth with the crowd like you guys do. No matter who’s on the decks at the moment, both of you are letting loose behind the booth. You see some DJs out there that approach it more as business as usual. True; this is your career. But come on, you’ve got to love being out there working the crowd!
BP: Exactly,we love it! Though we think every DJ should do what he/she wants when they play. Some are more concentrated on working the knobs. We just love to give the crowd energy, and when they give that energy back to us, we are going even more bananas! :)

RK: So where exactly did the Bingo Players name originate from?
BP: A guy we know had a nickname on MSN Messenger called "I'm a Bingo Player". We thought it was funny and used it. We asked our friends first, because we weren't sure. But they loved it and so we kept it!

RK: What would you say has been your favorite venue to play at to date?
BP: It's very difficult to point out a favorite venue. We had so many great gigs last year that we can't really pick one. For the Netherlands, we had real fun nights in the Panama, Amsterdam. Also it was great to play in Cocoon, Frankfurt. It's such a legendary club, with a huge soundsystem and great crowd! We're also looking forward to play the festivals like Creamfields Australia and the big ones in the Netherlands this summer!

RK: You guys have worked with several well-known names out there to produce some legendary Beatport chart-toppers. Is there anyone out there you two would like to collaborate with in the future?
BP: We would love to do something with other artists that aren't specifically active in the house/dance scene. For instance, it would be awesome to do beats with Pharrell Williams (from N.E.R.D.) or record vocals with a famous rocksinger.

RK: Bingo Players have a very unique style that is definitely Dutch influenced. How would you describe your style, and where do you see it going in the future?
BP: Actually, we don't think about genres and labels very much. We just do what we love. Sometimes it has a housey vibe, other times it's more techy. As long as we feel it and it has energy, we'll release it. We really don't know how our sound will progress, as long as it will comply with these conditions...

RK: So you guys are getting ready to rock a live performance. Any pre-set rituals?
BP: Not really actually! Only drink a glass of Vodka & Coke and hype up ourselves, so we're ready to give it all we got.

RK: When you two aren’t in the studio or on the road, what can we find the Bingo Players doing?
BP: Expanding our CD collection (we love to search and buy rare 70's/80's & 90's CD's online), watching movies/episodes and playing videogames!

RK: So what's in store for the rest of 2010?
BP: We just released Tom's Diner and we also did a remix for Fedde Le Grand's "New Life", which will be out on Flamingo Records soon. Also, we're working on many original tracks, as we did so many remixes last year. We're working on an own label at this moment, which we will use to release our tracks on, together with great tracks from people we like to work with. So keep an eye out for that!
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Bingo Players recently put together this greatest hits set:
Check it out here

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MySace

The Fresh Beat recently had an opportunity to peak inside the brain of Holland's own Bart B More. As you all know Bart is a cat who is consistently cool with his work. Defiantly one of the front runners in the House Music world. Get your mind right and dive in to this Fresh Beat Exclusive!

So without further ado,

We bring to you:

Bart B More - Dance Floor Dopeness

Check out the exclusive interview and mix after the jump.

Click Read More Now!

THE FRESH BEAT: Ok, lets get the basics out of the way. Full name? Where are you from? Where are you now? Age?
AFROJACK: Nick van de Wall, Spijkenisse, the Netherlands, in my bedroom studio, 21 years young.

TFB: What's your style in three words or less?
Afrojack: Different, Crossover, Fat

TFB: If you could spin at any club in any city, where would it be and why?
Afrojack: DC 10 Ibiza, in the big hall, it has an amazing atmosphere constantly with almost no lighting, sound is sublime and the people are amazing!


TFB: With so many electronic music tracks released every day, what factors do you feel propel a track to the clubstream (mainstream)?
Afrojack: In my opinion it should have something recognizable, doesn't have to be original percé, but for me the sound has to be either big or very different, but still
has to sound good in the clubs. What I'm really noticing in Holland lately, is that people like a lot of different styles, so it can go from old school organs to
Klaas' big saw Tooths, as long as the sound blows you away!


TFB: Where do you see House music in 5 years? Do you see the US embracing a strong House Music culture the way Europe has?
Afrojack: House Music will rule the world! Lol, you never know, I love house music and everything attached to it, and I'm sure American artists that are doing hip-hop right now will find a way to put that sound in house music, but eventually when you lay all styles next to each other, it all has one thing in common, its music! Everything has its own way of climaxing...in 5 years even rock music will be electronic (I think
it already is?) and House Music will still be there, a bit bigger, but not extremely since it will never be accepted into society jumping up and down in a crowded room with drunk, sweaty people!! (but you know what they say, f*ck society)


TFB: We have seen other musical genres (such as pop and hip hop) embrace the house remix of top songs.. Do you think this is beneficial to the scene, or just unnecessary dilution?
Afrojack: I Think that it happens because the club scene is growing a lot stronger, and trendy, so the artists want their music to be played there too. I think it's nice because
it allows house music to introduce itself to the mainstream people, but it definitely doesn't bring anything extra to the people that already understand and have a house music mindset!


TFB: We completely agree, clubs are the epicenter of where the best tracks are dumped into the mainstream...besides who the hell doesn't think poppin' bottles isn't cool? The house scene has been geared around computers and the endless music libraries that they bring. Accessibility to bedroom producers and hobby DJ's is at an all time high. Do you see this as the inevitable next step, or does it take away from the pioneers that mastered the analog generation?
Afrojack: The pioneers of the analog generation will always be kings because they know how sound works, therefore they shouldn't have to be worried about the digitization of music, only some competition. But that what happens with big things! I myself have been a bedroom producer for I don't know how long!


TFB: What are your thoughts about house music blogs such as TheFreshBeat? Are they more helpful or more harmful for producers/artists both unknown and established?
Afrojack: Their helpful! Artists that say that it works against them are crying because they make less money, every artist makes enough money from his bookings. They
get bookings because they're popular. They get popular not only by BeatPort, but also by forums, big sharing sites and especially blogs! Don't get me wrong, I think
it's only respectful to buy the tracks because there is no chart for illegally downloaded tracks, so the artist would never be publicly "praised" for his work..
But when its there I couldn't care less if you bought the track or downloaded illegally.. 9 out of 10 people work their ass of for not so much money, how
can you expect them to buy music they can get for free? Let alone that it's easier to find something on Google or sharing sites/programs then entering your credit card info or making a Paypal account. To top that not everybody has a credit card or Paypal, but everybody does have internet!


TFB: Whoooooaaaaaaa! FreshBeat viewers, you guys read it here first, un-edited, un-cut and straight from Afrojacks mouth. Bold and it's the truth...eat it up haters. So Afrojack, how is your schedule looking? Are you living off your music and gigs?
Afrojack: Yes, I started with working a side job in bars etc. now only performing a lot in Holland, just a few outside Holland, say 20 a year, play about 20 gigs in Holland each month!

So, gigs are looking very good, and of course my music making is nice, but it doesn't make money directly, but they make the bookings possible. I also think that that's the reason you see some producers just not releasing any music for a few months, not because they're too busy touring, but they feel that that's not the thing that gets them they're paycheck so to speak.


TFB: This is some good insight for those who are planning a career around this. You better know how to spin if you plan on making it a living. What DJ's/things inspire you the most?
Afrojack: Laidback Luke, even though I know better producers, he is my first and only production teacher, not literally but he always was there when i didn't understand stuff,
his forum helps too BTW, check it out here.

Erick Morillo, don't know the guy, heard a few of his sets and they were cool, but not OMG WTF crazy too cool for school or something, but still he was THE Rockstar DJ everyone wants to be and all the girls want to be with, and he played the scene so well that he still is and probably will be for a while!

Axwell, for his music, every year he makes one track that touches my feelings!

Daft punk, for their music, 9 out of 10 tracks they made show how simple yet effective music can be, the big example that you don't have to make commercial music to become known and respected as a producer!Above that, they have a crazy fat sound

Carl Cox, because as a DJ I never saw anyone do it better! When I listen to him on a set I don't care too much because he doesn't always play my favorite music, but live performance... it's like being thrown into the best party ever every time!


TFB: Man, it can't get any better...First off, that shyt you said about Carl cox is as truthful as it gets...when he played down here for Ultra, it was one of the best live performances we have ever seen...for real! That is not an overstatement. We have been to many WMC events and tons of live performances and Ultra every year..it was pure death, hands down. Alright, So what do you got going on right now and what are your plans for the future?
Afrojack: Just Finished a track called "I Want To Sound Like Daft Punk", gonna easily continue my path of producing, releasing on my own label, do some remixes here and there and hope that people will like my music.

The biggest plans for 2009 to start, are releasing on a regular basis, release not only clubby house tracks but also listening music, sign other imo talented artists ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , always feedback ;-) and last but not least, party like there's no tomorrow, one thing I learned last year is that if you want to do something, you have to do it immediately, "dreams" are not that far way, never!


TFB: Good to hear you work hard and party harder...it's the Depot "straight hustle" lifestyle. Break down your equipment both hardware and software for mixing and production.
Afrojack: Hardware...I have no synthesizers or anything, just a big quadcore computer with two 22'' screens, a bigass m-audio midi controller / keyboard, focus rite saffire soundcard, m-patch 2 volume controller and 4 KRK Speakers, 2 rokit 8's and 2 VXT 8's, for my headphones, I used to use the beyerdynamics but I lost them. Working on getting a Sennheiser dj-headphone right now and I do not recommend it for producing!

Software...a lot of people look at me like WTF when I say this, but i use and always used for almost 10 years now Fruity Loops, started with Fruity Loops 3, and now its FL Studio 8, its been a while. I use almost only standard fruity compressors for effects, my main synths come out of the Arturia Juno and NI Massive / Pro 53, but also Fruity's old 3xosc, for the "mastering" (I never let anyone else touch my tracks, it might not sound as big as a Steve Angello or David Guetta track, but atleast i did it myself!)...

Well the "final mixing" then, I use a lot of Waves plug-ins, won't say anything but the last thing it goes through is the L3, and between all the compressors and other effects there is also an Izotope Ozone. For easy/light mixing I used to use a Kaerhus or something "Classic Master Limiter", still use it on my laptop but I dropped it from my Final Mix in summer 2008, it does a good job but not as precise
as the Waves Plug-ins for instance

MYSPACE

THE FRESH BEAT: What is your full name, age, where are you from, and where do you currently reside?
Ryan Riback: My name is Ryan Riback, I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, I'm 27 years old, and I currently reside in Melbourne, Australia.

TFB: What's you style in three words or less?
RR: SexyTwistedDirtyElectroTechHouseMusic (that counts as one right?)

TFB: If you could spin at any club in any city, where would it be and why?
RR: Watergate, Berlin. The lighting and the atmosphere in there looks insane!

TFB: What are your thoughts about house music blogs such as TheFreshBeat?
RR: I think its a good way to find out about the latest music, even though the artists are seeing no loot...