Interview with Mike Dierickx
Pin ItHi Mike! Grand welcome on Trance Hub. What’s going in your mind at the moment?
Hey guys, cool for having me here!
Well, I’m just back from 2 days Euro Disney to recharge the batteries after months of touring and finishing up my new album ‘Global Age’.
By the time you will be reading this, ‘Global Age’ would already be out! What’s the central idea behind this album?
Well, the idea came last year when I did release the ‘Universal Voice E.P.‘ by Push, so I thought the time was right for a full album again, and I’m really happy with it!
What would you say about producers like Sean Tyas, Ruben De Ronde and Klems getting the opportunity to remix some tunes in this album?
Before I started this album, some of the remixers did participate on the new Push releases.
And when I was working on the album, we thought; hey, let’s make CD-1 a full new album, and CD-2 a bonus CD with the better remixes of recent Push tracks and some exclusive content.
Your ‘Global Age’ promotional tour does not list Asia, considering that Asia is developing as a huge market for Electronic Dance Music and anyone would expect a legend like you to play there.
I LOVE Asia. I just been to Singapore a month ago, and in the past year I have toured Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, China etc… all of which I really enjoyed.
So I do tour throughout the Asian region, but not as much as I would like unfortunately!
We are going to take you back in time. Tell us something about your project ‘Liquid Overdose’ and the track "Ancient Space". How’d you come up with such fascinating names? I’m sure there’s a story behind it. And will we see another Liquid Overdose release anytime soon? We’ve been waiting since 2004, trust me!
Well, Liquid Overdose was part of my label project I did under Scanner Records.
I discontinued the label due to time limitations and my new imprint which I started back in 2004 with Armada Music called Club Elite Recordings‘, but you never know, maybe it might come back in the future!
Music is my life, so is touring around the world with my sound, my music and making people smile when they go back home after a M.I.K.E. / Push gig!
Music is all about imagination, visuals and more. Do you visualize the tune before you finally start producing it? Because we do when we hear them.
No, I just go in the studio and I never know the outcome.
I’m really serious.
I don’t really focus on a sound or style when I power up my studio.
I just sit down, and go with the flow of today and I might come up trance, techno or even progressive house.
How do you manage to keep track of so many aliases? And which ones are those special ones?
I have ditched a lot of my aliases over the past few years.
The scene general changed, people are getting too confused nowadays if you release to many music.
I do regret we had to say goodbye to the good old days, but it all will come back, and that’s why I revive some of my older aliases like Push and Plastic Boy.
Your ‘A State Of Trance 2004′ deluge "Totally Fascinated" had us breaking the dance floors. And as our hopeful nature, will we see any production under your ‘Fascinated’ alias in the future?
I’m on a new Fascinated project, correct, one of those to come in 2010!
How about the story behind the tune "Urban Shakedown"? Your fans must be really interested in digging it out.
All my projects and titles are referring to something out of my life.
Honestly, with Solar Factor "Urban Shakedown" I just felt the dance floor underneath going "kaboom".
It’s just such a huge track and has that powerful bass line and leads that everything explodes, even now when I play it, the roof goes off!
Can you tell us something about collaboration with Fred Baker; how it is working with him? Because whenever you guys get into the studio, we know there’s an anthem in the making!
We’re working on some new Active Sight tracks towards the end of 2009 early 2010.
Fred is a longtime friend and he only lives 1u away from me.
I have a lot of good friends in the scene, but Fred Baker and John Fleming having both a heart of gold.
I love working with Fred, we just feel each other in the studio and that is very important!
So, more Fred vs. Mike stuff to come in the near future.
A question we make sure we ask everyone we interview: what is your take on the current trance music scene? This is very generic question but we would also like to have your critical views, keeping in mind your epic experience and presence in the scene.
I’m very skeptical about its future.
I’m into ‘Trance’ the past 15 years … pwew … long!
There is too much competition between artists, which creates less unity, and I feel sad by that idea.
In the house and techno scene I feel people are more mature about it’s sound.
I hope the ‘trance’ scene will pick up soon again where it left couple years ago, peace!
Let’s take a look at some of your unforgettable club experiences – the crowd, the ambience – when everything made you feel like ‘the one’.
Well, there are so many.
Trance Energy in 2001 was unforgettable.
But also my tours in Australia are always amazing.
I have to say I’m blessed with playing the rights venues and events, I never have any regrets so far … I have been very very lucky in that I have been able to play ALL over the world, every country and city.
We won’t let you leave without asking some random questions! So here they are:
Your current favourite tune (by other producer): not really one at the moment.
A gadget you love to flaunt: my iPhone!
Favourite clubbing destination: California and UK … actually, the whole world!
If your life can be summoned in one word, it would be: blessed
The best compliment you ever got: I love you
Message for your fans.
I love you guys out here, thanks for all support the past decade!
For more info related to Mike Dierickx check out the following links:
www.mike.be
www.twitter.com/Mikepush
www.myspace.com/officialpush
