Exclusive Interview with Marc Vedo

Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Marc Vedo, shortly before his performance at Live RCA on 11th September.

Where are you answering these questions?

I am answering them in my hotel room in Jakarta right now. I am on a 3 week Tour of Asia and this is the first stop on the trip.

You are a UK-based House music DJ & Producer. You have had numerous tracks in the Beatport Top 100, played major festivals such as Ultra Music Festival and DJ MAG has signed you as their world Tour resident. How did of you get in touch with electronic dance music in the first place, and how did you get into DJing and music production?

I have always loved electronic music since the first time I heard it. I then started following DJs and listening to their mixes at school and eventually started going out to clubs to listen to them play. I think it was when I started going to clubs that I started thinking this would be a cool job to try so when I finished school, my first job was Djing at this holiday resort in Portugal. I told the club I was an experienced DJ in the UK but I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was doing. I had to ask the bar manager to show me how to use the mixer! I was hooked and decided then this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, work in the music industry making and playing music but also wanted to have my own events company. I started producing music much later in my career, DJing and promoting events came first. I bought loads of equipment right at the beginning of my career but didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I was never happy with the quality of what I was doing, it takes years to perfect that craft. Its only been in the last 3 years that things really have started to kick off with the production and it was reaching my first Top 100 on Beatport that really made me appreciate how difficult it is to become a successful producer. I have now had 2 Top 5 singles on Beatport and 23 Top 100 and I am still striving for that #1 spot ☺

You appeared on the front cover of Tillate Magazine with the magazine quoting “Proper House Music - Marc Vedo leads the way”. How would you describe the music you play and produce in your own words?

My music is all about groove and basslines, I don’t mind some interesting vocals if they work. I like to keep my sound bouncy and energetic, doesn’t matter if I am producing my deeper house sound or the more pumping tech house, it needs to have energy on the dancefloor. House Music was the beginning as the famous song goes, the constant force that has been driving this industry for the best part of 30 years now and all these different styles that come and go, like EDM right now is really popular but will eventually fade away, one thing you can guarantee is that proper House Music is always going to be around so I am proud to be associated with proper house music, it means a great deal to me.

Your Stealth Records EP “Freak Out” reached the Top 10 charts on Beatport and remained there for over 10 weeks. What other tracks, remixes or mix-sets would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?

I have just released a new single on Pinkstar Records (EDX’s label) called “Reality Check”. Its very groovy, old classic house synth with a modern bassline twist. Its just gone into Beatport Top 100 at #26 so you can go and check it out. This is the more deeper, groovier stuff I produce but I have lots of new material coming out that will surprise people. My sound this summer has been heavily influenced by my weekly residency at Bora Bora, Ibiza. It’s had such a dramatic impact on my sound so expect some new music coming out very soon!! If you check out my Soundcloud page you can find a recording from Bora Bora Ibiza this summer which gives you an idea of the more tech house sound I play.

What is on your agenda for the near future and what are you currently working and focusing on?

This is a landmark year for me in the industry and it’s been jammed packed with lots of exciting new things. My clubbing brand Koolwaters celebrates its 15th Anniversary this year, we have planned a series of parties all over the world to celebrate the brands birthday. I just played an amazing party for our birthday party with Michael Calfan in the UK and will be doing a back to back set with Roger Sanchez at ADE, Amsterdam in October as part of our celebrations. This year my record label also celebrates its 50th release so I will be releasing a special EP to celebrate this landmark release. Asides to all these celebrations, Koolwaters has expanded this year and we have created a second company called ME Agency dealing with all the EDM/ POP acts whilst Koolwaters Agency has changed its roster to House artists only and we have taken on chart topping acts like Lost Frequencies, Watermat, Nora En Pure and many others. On top of all of this I am still touring every week, working in the studio and generally never stop! haha

What were the best and the worst gigs you ever played and what were the funniest things that ever occurred during any of your performances?

I have seen some very interesting things on my travels, I suppose in Ibiza at BoraBora is where I have seen some really crazy people, dancing naked, with horse heads, guys dancing in mini-skirts with bikini’s on, girls dancing with no tops on, its pretty crazy what you see in Ibiza. One of the funniest things to happen to me was when I played Space Ibiza for the first time I was so nervous and excited and couldn’t wait to get on! I was waiting to get started and at the same time the club had a show planned to start. What I didn’t realize was that I was standing on stage right underneath a massive giant curtain that was about to drop on my head. Slightly embarrassing as there was about 3,000 people watching, although I don’t think anyone saw it! Anyway, I got up tried to look cool and carried on ☺

You most recent visit to Thailand was in 2012 when you performed together with Boy George at Levels in Bangkok and Bliss Beach Club in Phuket. On September 11 you will return to Thailand to perform at the DJ MAG Thailand Party at Live RCA. Did you keep your previous Thailand performances – and Thailand in general - in good memory? What can the Bangkok crowd expect of your upcoming performance?

I have been to Thailand a few times now and always love it. I think Phuket is one of the best places in the world to relax and also to party. I have had some incredible gigs in Bangkok as well so my memories of Thailand are very good and I am excited to be coming back again. My show will be full of new music, groovy funky tech uplifting house music!! It's all about the party so make sure you come with an open mind, your dancing shoes and lets make this a memorable night!