Exclusive Interview with Wolfgang Gartner
“I have to make something that’s never been made before; have to make the best thing that I’ve ever done in my life - otherwise it gets stagnant or worse,” says producer/DJ Wolfgang Gartner. Whether or not his progressively more maximilist take on electro-house is your bag or not, you have to respect his exponentially steep rise through the electro-house ranks. And Lord knows, you’ve heard it -- or about it: flipping Beethoven’s 5th for the 4 am crowd; eight #1 tracks on Beatport; remix/collabs with Britney Spears, Timbaland and Black Eyed Peas; festival-highlight performances at Coachella ‘10 and Electric Daisy Carnival’s ‘10 and ‘11.
How would you describe your music in just a few words?
House music from the future.
Out of all tracks you have made, which tracks would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?
Illmerica, Space Junk, or Love and War.
In September 2011 you released your first studio album Weekend in America. It’s an dance music record, but features the Hip Hop artists Eve, Jim Jones, Cam'ron will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and Omarion. What can you tell us about the album and what made you decide to work with Hip Hop artists?
I have always loved rap just as much as I love dance music. So it was just a natural inclination to want to combine the two worlds, but to do it in a way that no other dance artists were doing it, by staying true to the music and letting the artists be themselves instead of trying to make dance pop songs for mass consumption like other DJs have done. It was all about keeping both genres real and combining them which I don't think anybody else had really done, and still hasn't really done.
Your single "Wolfgang's 5th Symphony" was the highest selling song on Beatport.com in 2009 and with over 2,9 Million views “Illmerica” (from your album Weekend in America) is your most popular track on YouTube. Were you surprised about the success of those tracks? Did you feel that those tracks would be special while you were making them?
I had a good feeling about both of them while i was making them, yes. I knew 5th Symphony would be a #1 before I even finished it, it was the timing of it, using that Beethoven sample, everything was just aligned at the right time and there was no question in my mind it was going to be a big international single. I also knew Illmerica would be big, I didn't know how big but I knew it was going to be one of my most successful songs to date, and it was, and still is.
In an interview with DJ Mag you stated that 2012 has been the best year of your career. What were your highlights?
The usual perks of the job - great gigs, making songs that I was happy with, having a year that was more successful than the last, so far every year has been more successful than the previous one in every way, and more enjoyable, so after this year I'll probably say 2013 was the best year of my life.
You have a weekly radio show. Can you tell us about its concept and where can people listen to it?
It's called "Kindergarten Radio" which is named after my label Kindergarten. I play my new hot picks for the first hour and have a guest DJ mix the 2nd hour. Right now it's on the internet on iHeartRadio on the Evolution channel, and also spreading to FM stations across the USA starting with Boston so far.
You travel a lot. What are the things you miss the most when you are on tour?
My cat, my house, my bed, basically just being at home.
What was the best and the worst gig you ever played?
Best: Sasquatch Festival, in Washington State. Worst: If I said where it was, I'd probably never play in that city again, so I won't!
On 6th February you will perform live at Levels here in Bangkok. Will it be your Bangkok debut or have you played in Bangkok before?
I've never been to Bangkok before. Actually I've never even been to South East Asia before, I've always wanted to.
Are you adventurous if it comes to food? Do you try the local dishes of the countries you travel to, or do you usually eat what you know from home? Will you give spicy Thai food a chance?
It depends on what country I go to! Russia? No. Thailand? Yes. I love Thai food. I can only imagine how good it is in Thailand where it's actually from compared to what I eat in LA.
What can Bangkok’s party people expect of your performance at Levels?
2 hours of really really really dope music.