Interview: Tiesto brings Ibiza to Ingliston

Published on Friday 5 March 2010 14:18

SUPERSTAR DJs? Bah! Dutch demigod Tiesto could put the whole lot of them to shame.

Just look at all he's achieved. He has topped DJ Magazine's prestigious Top 100 poll three times on the bounce.

He's the only DJ ever to have sold out a three-month residency at Privilege in Ibiza, where he played to more than 100,000 fans.

He's the first DJ ever to perform in front of 200,000 fans (January, 2007, Ipanema Beach, Brazil).

He's remixed everyone from Madonna to Britney Spears. And he's the only DJ ever to be asked to perform at an Olympic Games opening ceremony (Athens, 2004).

Heck, even Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands appears to dig the Breda-born master of the mixing decks, having made him a member of the Order of the Oranje Nassau in 2004.

And it doesn't end there. The biggest DJ in the world has a waxwork figure in Madame Tussauds, and even his very own sneaker line.

All things considered, then, it's not hard to know why Tiesto's gig tomorrow in the Highland Hall at The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, has dance music fans in a fizz.

"I would like to see the sights when I'm in Edinburgh, but I'm not sure of my schedule yet," says the 41-year-old, who last played here during his Elements of Life tour in 2007. "Sometimes it's difficult, but I always try to make time to see the local culture."

As for his return visit to the Capital, Tiesto is promising fireworks. "The show is going to blow your mind for sure," he says. "It's not just about DJing, it's not even like going clubbing. Clubbing is going to clubs, this is the Tiesto sound experience. It's like a concert, it's about feeling the music and having a good time with your friends."

Scottish audiences have a reputation for being pretty wild, but how do they compare with the crowds from the Netherlands and elsewhere? "I would not say they are really extremely different, each country has its own unique qualities," comes his diplomatic reply. "I love performing in the UK. Everyone is always up for it and brings all their energy to the dancefloor."

But those heading along to tomorrow night's gig would be advised to keep the glow sticks at home, as the DJ can't stand them. So much so, that he's barred anyone from bringing all sticks of the fluorescent variety to any shows on his UK tour. "The scene needs to clean up, so skip those damn glow sticks," he moans. "They look horrible and they're too ravey."

The highlights of Tiesto's career are many, but the pinnacle would surely have to be his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympics in Athens - a first for any DJ.

"It was quite funny," he laughs, looking back. "I was playing a gig in Greece in September 2003 and this guy walks up to me and says, 'Hey Tiesto I just heard you play; you're amazing. I want you to play at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.' I looked at him, like, sure pal!"

Despite his meteoric rise, Tiesto - or Tijs Verwest to give him his real name - remains level-headed about all he's achieved. He is someone who clearly loves making and playing music above all the trappings of fame.

"It's a dream come true," beams the affable Dutchman, whose alias is an Italian twist of his childhood nickname. "I have been DJing in clubs for years. I always dreamed to be a famous DJ in Holland. And now it's worldwide. You can't imagine. I mean, I still can't believe it myself that everything has gone so well.

"I am very grateful for everything that's happening to me," he adds. "I just don't understand why it has to go to your head." Asked why he's become such a big star, Tiesto says, "Because people care, and they see that I care. I'm very honest in what I do. It's not an act or a gimmick. It's pure, it's emotion."

After a run of four top-selling electronic albums, Tiesto hooked up a host of names for Kaleidoscope, including Jnsi Birgisson from Sigur Rs, Kele Okereke from Bloc Party, Nelly Furtado, Calvin Harris and Tegan & Sara.

"The starting point was to work with different artists I liked, it was as simple as that," he explains. "Sigur Rs make beautiful music. Bloc Party are fantastic and exciting and innovative. But the hardest thing initially was to get those kind of people to collaborate. They don't work with dance artists as a rule, and especially not a dance DJ, but when we started producing these tracks, I was surprised at how well the styles work together.

"I've been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with all the amazing guests on Kaleidoscope," he continues. "It all happened very organically. I first hung out with Nelly Furtado in Miami last year. We freestyled in the studio together and realised we had chemistry.

"I met Kele from Bloc Party when I was in London and it turned out he and the guys were big fans, which was such an honour. Tegan & Sara played with me live at Bonnaroo and I remixed one of their tracks. We took it from there."

Ultra-busy, Tiesto says he's not yet looking ahead to a follow-up to Kaleidoscope, as he's concentrating all his energies on the current tour.

"I have also launched my brand new fan site called InTheBooth which I am very excited about," he says. "With my busy schedule, I am constantly moving around the world. The site allows me to interact with fans, share my music and stories from the road. I am really happy with how it has turned out so far."

Tiesto, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, tomorrow, 6pm, 40 (60 VIP), 0131-335 6200

Tiesto is . . .

• The first solo DJ to sell-out a 25,000-seat stadium two nights running.

• The only DJ ever to be asked to perform at an Olympic ceremony (Athens, 2004).

• The only DJ to be voted Best DJ in the world three years running by DJ Magazine.

• A member of the Order of the Oranje Nassau in Holland.

• His single, Traffic, was the first instrumental to reach the number one spot in his native Holland for 23 years.

• His remix of Delerium's Silence was the first house track to gain daytime radio airplay in the US in a decade.

• He has toured the US with David Bowie and Moby.

• First DJ to perform in front of 200,000 fans (January, 2007, lpanema Beach, Brazil).

• World ambassador for Dance4life, an Aids project.

All we hear is radio Dada Life

That's the mantra of Tiesto's support act Dada Life. The duo don't care about genres. They don't care about smartness. They don't care about the things you care about. Dada Life just want to make you jump up and down. Then make you crash into a wall with a smile on your face. The formula has been a winner since, in summer 2006, Dada Life released Big Time, and DJs everywhere got their first taste of the duo. Since then they've had a steady stream of hits: The Great Fashionista Swindle, Vote Yes and Fun Fun Fun. As DJs Dada Life always have a little extra in their record bag and constantly produce their own remixes/edits of good tunes in order to have something unique to play. Experience them tomorrow at Ingliston.

WIN gig tickets and cds. . .

SEE TIESTO'S SPECTACULAR KALEIDOSCOPE TOUR FREE

The Guide has teamed up with Colours to give you the chance to see the world's number 1 selling DJ, Tiesto, at his only Scottish tour date of 2010 – tomorrow at The Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston.

Tiesto is a man of firsts. He was the first DJ to sell out dates at the Brixton Academy, Alexandra Palace, the O2 Arena, and last summer he was the first DJ to headline and sell-out a truly wondrous show at Victoria Park, London to 25,000 fans. He is the only DJ ever to sell out a three-month residency at Privilege in Ibiza last summer, where he played to over 100,000 people. Now Tiesto is back in Scotland and we have five pairs of VIP tickets and five pairs of tickets to give away for tomorrow's spectacular.

To enter the draw to win, simply e-mail your name and telephone number with the words EVENING NEWS in the subject line to [e-mail]. uk before midnight tonight. Winners will be chosen at random and telephoned tomorrow. By entering this competition you confirm that you are 18+. Usual Johnston Press rules apply.

TRANCE DANCE CLASSICS

THE GUIDE has teamed up with Godskitchen to give you the chance to win Godskitchen Pure Dance Classics on CD.

Spread over three CDs, Pure Trance Classics is the definition of real trance anthems for the loyal clubbing generation, bring together a huge selection of exclusive tracks and mixes that have not featured on other albums including huge tunes from Tiesto, Armin, Paul van Dyk and Ferry Corsten, plus future classics from the likes of Sander van Doorn, Marco V, Deadmau5 and Above & Beyond. To enter the draw to win, simply e-mail your name, age and address to [e-mail] with the word GODSKITCHEN in the subject line. Entries with more than one title in the subject line will be disregarded. Entries to be received by midnight Sunday. Usual Johnston Press rules apply.