Ferry Corsten interview at Partyscene

[dancemania]

Dutch website Partyscene.nl published an interview done with Ferry (in Dutch). You can find it here:

http://www.partyscene.nl/pages.php?page=260487

[Anlong]

Partyscene interview: Ferry Corsten

On Friday the 26th of May, Ferry Corsten's L.E.F. album will appear in stores. A series of mud-phat beats, electro and yes, some trance as well.

L.E.F. is the new concept by Ferry Corsten. It's the name of his new series of parties and now also his newest album, on which even big names like Duran Duran-singer Simon Le Bon and rapper Guru have collaborated. L.E.F. stands for Loud, Electronic, Ferocious, the new sound of the native Rotterdam producer. As a producer, it looks as if he has been moving on out of the trance scene. (text by Jesse Voorn)

L.E.F. has become a very diverse album, in which you barely celebrate yourself as a trancemaster?
Ferry: "That is correct. On albums you see different sides of the artist, and I was like I wanted to do that myself. I produce music since 1991 and in terms of production work I have already had all the colours of the rainbow: from ambient to gabba hardcore with which I started, but still I broke through with trance music. So yeah, I've been producing solely trance for about 7 years, and with this album I have been producing with absolute freedom, although I have tried to keep a "red line" in the whole album. That is what made it a huge challenge."

While many trance producers aren't really going deep..
Ferry: "Yes, and maybe because of my background. When it comes to listening music, I have grown up in the '80s and I still have a big passion for that sound, and that is why I have a certain passion for electro. With those influences I have been experimentating, and on the album it goes from pure electro to trance, but with that same electro filthyness. But there's also a reference to techno and there are some down-tempo tracks, because you don't want to hear banging tracks all the time.

Did you go back to the '80s with full consciousness?
Ferry: "No, rather in an unconscious way. I have been listening back to some of my old albums, for example the first System F, and the album before that one (Fair). It's a little underground, which was released in 1994 and there you already can hear the '80s influences. I have always been occupied with it. And now that the electro sound is that big, it increasingly reaches the foreground."

But you haven't hooked yourself into it?
Ferry: "No, not in the way that I really want to do it on purpose. I did intend to take a next step with this album after Right Of Way, my previous album which had gone into that direction with Rock Your Body Rock. This album is actually a refinement of that sound."

If you look back to all your previous albums, how do you look back to them?
Ferry: "Of course you hear a certain 'growth', that is very obvious. You don't just hear you productions grow, your studio is growing along as well, haha! You see a certain quality and dynamics in the music, and it goes from very thin on the first album to deliciously phat and broad on this album. You see someone who's been working with music in a period of time and has grown in it. But I also have seen a certain confidence was developed. I now know, this is what I want and this is where I feel good at. In my previous albums I was very much 'investigative'. When I began I thought it was good, but I was anxious to know what everyone would think. And now I just think it's good.. done! It's a sort of quality control I have developed for myself."

You are known as a trance DJ, but how do people react when you go further deep in your sets, like on the album?
Ferry: "I'm consciously very careful with that. From the moment I started spinning till now, I have built up a fanbase that expects a certain sound and that has got to know me for that trance sound. I still play regular trance, but with a little more steps to the left and right. I do pay attention. You can always mix another track into it, but it's dangerous to fully change the subject so I rather don't."

But do you want to?
Ferry: "No, maybe once for fun. But in the end, pure house or electro is not my thing. Trance is still my thing, but experimenting with other sounds. That is why I'd love to mix in a techno or electro track. The funny thing is that the music scene is mixing itself with all those sounds in a way that it's possible to do that. Of course there was a time that you weren't allowed to play other styles. Pure techno, back then non-melodious, now it can be melodious. That's what I really like and that's what gives you a fresh breeze. I now have a more accepted freedom."

How do you think that happened?
Ferry: "I think it's an interaction between DJ and audience. A DJ plays what he thinks is good, but ultimately has to keep the audience satisfied. It's always action and reaction. Sometimes the audience waits for something new. After a period of specific styles it's time to do something else. But people want to have fun and so they expect a certain thing from a DJ. I try to take people on a journey on a relaxed pace, and then other styles will do good as well."

Is L.E.F. your newest basis where you really want to do you thing?
Ferry: "Yes, that is so. During the L.E.F. parties I play other stuff besides trance. But for me it is a good basis to test those other things, so that people with a certain attitude have actually gone to them and it proved a success. Especially the residencies in New York and Los Angeles have been really great. You could make your own identity. People know what to expect, namely something extraordinary."

Was it difficult to set it up?
Ferry: "No, although it was difficult for a little while, for example the first L.E.F. stuff in Holland. That first edition was with Secret Cinema and we both are very different in sound. You could clearly see people coming for him and totally not liking my sound, and vice-versa. But it's fun to cause some confusion. I'm now going to push the whole L.E.F. further forward, now that the album is coming."

End of interview



I have to say, my vocabulary has suddenly run dry :S

[djgolf]

the link doesn't really work there.. but do you mind if I'm gonna translate it for ya if it's back on? ;)
neither here!

[Anlong]

as you can see the link is working again, and I have made my worst translation yet :)

[Sheila]

Anlong you should be our forum translator! Thanks again for taking the time to translate for us! :)

[Anlong]

Anlong you should be our forum translator! Thanks again for taking the time to translate for us! :)
thanks, and your welcome babe! ;)

haha, when Twan goes VUT I wanna take his place! :lol:

[amy]

Thanks so much for the thorough translation Anlong ;)

[djgolf]

Thanks for the translation.


I have been listening back to some of my old albums, for example the first System F, and the album before that one (Fair).

He released an album that was called "Fair"? I think he meant Ferr - Looking Forward.

[dancemania]

He released an album that was called "Fair"? I think he meant Ferr - Looking Forward.Yeah, I think the interviewer didn't do his homework very well, it's 'Ferr - Looking Forward' indeed! ;)

[Anlong]

Yeah, I think the interviewer didn't do his homework very well, it's 'Ferr - Looking Forward' indeed! ;)
or maybe he just misunderstood him, sounds more logical (Ferr and Fair)

[dancemania]

or maybe he just misunderstood him, sounds more logical (Ferr and Fair)
I know, but if he had did his homework something better, he would know that it was 'Ferr' and not 'Fair'... Ferr enough, euh... fair enough... ;)

BTW, does somebody actually has the 'Looking Forward' album?
I think I'm going to put it on this evening, but first I'm going to cooking forward now ;)

[Lissette Pichardo]

Anlong you should be our forum translator! Thanks again for taking the time to translate for us! :)

Thanks Anlong for taking your to do this translation LISSETTE