Exclusive Interview with DJ Neon

Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with DJ Neon, shortly before his performance at Above Eleven on 7th November.

Where are you answering these questions?

I'm at the office. Working with a huge hangover :-). The Belgian National Footbal team just made it as Number 1 team in the world yesterday and I played the afterparty. Everyone was there, all the players, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike... So you can imagine things were pretty fun ;-).

You are a DJ & Producer from Belgium – voted 5th Most Popular DJ of Belgium by the Studio Brussel listeners in 2010. You have been playing at every edition of the Tomorrowland and you also played at first edition of TomorrowWorld in Atlanta. How did you get in touch with electronic dance music in the first place and how did you get into DJing?

When I was 10 years ('95) old I started playing my dad's old records. I only had 1 turntable & one oldschool tape deck :-). I learned it the hard way :-). I was born and raised in Destelbergen (home of world famous new beat club "Boccaccio" in the 90's). It didn't take long until I discovered my love for house music. I started organising party's and Mike Thompson (Resident dj of the Cherry Moon Club) gave me a chance to play at his club and things went well since then :-).

You play & produce House music. How would you describe your music in a few words, what is distinct about it?

Actually I'm more a Dj than a producer. I think I only made 3 tracks in my entire career :-). The thing is that back in the days, a Dj was known for his technical skills, his record collection, etc... Right now everyone has acces to all the newest music, it's never been so easy to mix records technically,... In my case, I'm known to be one of the best technical Dj's in Belgium & for always exploring new styles, trying to play the tracks that no one else plays but in such a way that everyone can understand my set. I never play for myself, I always read my crowd and I try to give them what they want: A great night out and going home with loads of shazamed tracks that's the never heard before ;-).... Also the fact that I've been around for so long it gives me kind of a secure position in the Dj Scene.

What tracks, remixes or mix-sets would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?

Right now I'm really into the sound of Chambray, Dirty Bird, Leftwing & Kody, patrick Topping... It's my style of "deep". It just has that extra punch in it, that extra deep bassline, extra phat moogsound, ...

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

All the dates untill the end of 2015 are taken. I'm kind of fully booked every Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun... So far for my social life :-) I'm currently focusing in my schedule for 2016. Tomorrowland Brasil, Miami WMC, ... are just a few to start the festival season in 2016.

What was the best and the worst gig you ever played, and what was the funniest thing ever occurred during any of your performances?

It's so hard to pick the best gig :-). I think that must have been Laundry Day 2009. I closed the mainstage after Tïesto. it was the year that dance music started to go eclectic: Tïesto ended the set with some drum& bass. I know the crowd was ready for an eclectic mix of styles! My cup of tea :-).

The funniest thing must have been that one time I did a stage dive during my set and one of the dj's that was also on the billing (Deejay Lanka) jumped in right behind me. The public was busy with me so he tricked, fell on the fence and he broke his legg...He did play his set! #respect

You will perform live in Bangkok at Above Eleven on 7th November. Have you visited Thailand before? What can the Bangkok crowd expect of your performance?

No I have never. I've been on tour in Asia before (South Korea, ...) but never Thailand! I'm really looking forward! Expect to get "Neonized" ;-)