with Simon Lee & Alvin
Posts tagged Closer
JES To Guesthost Radio KUL 150
Jul 19th
This week we celebrate 150 radio show episodes of simply great dance music by inviting one of the very icons who got us involved in the first place, JES.
Only one artiste has single-handedly worked with Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, BT, and Gabriel & Dresden and earned mainstream recognition in the Billboard Decade End Charts and Dance Airplay song of the decade.
JES ventured into the scene as Motorcycle (with Gabriel & Dresden) back in 2003, voicing the record “As The Rush Comes” that every dance music lover has memorised by heart. Her first solo album Disconnect (2007) then spawned chart toppers such as “Ghost,” “Heaven,” and “Imagination.” And this year she released the new album High Glow that we personally adore. It features outstanding pieces such as “Awaken,” “Lovesong,” and “See Through.” This album continues to produce singles and remixes, and she has also 2 new tracks with producers Richard Durand and BT.
In essence, every record that JES touches becomes gold. So we think there’s no better way to celebrate our third year of Radio KUL than to have the soulful and edgy queen of Poptronica to guesthost. Here is the warm up interview with JES.
JES
Hi JES, it’s great to be speaking with you. Where are you currently and what has been a recent highlight?
I am in Los Angeles now, but I have been going back and forth to NYC. I try and work in both places, writing in NYC and recording in Los Angeles at my studio. We just finished the video to my new single “Closer” and that was definitely a highlight.
Let’s talk about your track with Richard Durand “NYC.” We personally think it’s a great record, and it’s been included in the new In Search of Sunrise 8 that Richard Durand compiled. Haven’t there been enough songs written about this great city?
There are never enough songs written about NYC in my opinion. I love NYC so much that I was really excited to write something about it. It’s fast paced and edgy and I wanted to put those elements in the song. I got to get a little soulful on this too, which is another great element of “NYC.” I was able to give it a little attitude and sing out.
We think given the chance, you could work with just about any producer you choose to. Are there any that catches your attention currently?
I would love to work with Timbaland one day. There are a few pioneers of EDM like Moby and Underworld that would be fun to create something with. Also, I like seeking out some lesser known producers to do collaborations with. It’s all about inspiration what that person and you do together.There are some big names out there but I still always have my eyes and ears open for people that I can create that magic with. There is some very interesting new talent and since the Internet is global, it is very easy to collaborate.
Your latest album, High Glow, is a real gem. How long did it take to put this album together, and what are some of your favorite tracks?
Thank you so much. I am so happy people are liking it. It’s a little different from the kind of songs people know my voice from, so it was exciting to make. It took about a little over a year. I wish I could say it was a faster process and I would like to in the future focus and make an album in a three-month period. I’m aiming for that but I’m always on the move so we don’t get to stay in one place too much. We recorded in UK, Holland, NYC and LA for this one. In hotels and studios, which was a fun,interesting and sometimes crazy process.
What was the motivation to remake “Lovesong?”
Covers are a fun thing. You know the song, so it feels really good to sing them. They evoke a certain feeling because they represent such a time and place you remember. I have always loved The Cure and try not to do too many covers, but when I heard the original “Lovesong” on the radio I decided to look up the chords and was just initially playing around with it. I liked the way it felt when I played it, so I decided to just try and see what it would sound like if I made it into a more modern Rocktronica version. Being in the clubs and touring and always listening to EDM, I just naturally went that direction with it. I was holding on to it for while and I had submitted it to my record company. When I was finishing the High Glow album I thought “Wow this sounds so good I should put it on there.” It became the lead out single for the album.
“The Light In Things” is featured on BT’s new album These Hopeful Machines. Tell us about the making of this track.
After touring with BT on the Elements of Life tour, we had started a couple of ideas on the road. I held on to them for a while and just one day it kind of clicked for me what I wanted to do. I thought a lot about wanting to write something with a lot of hope and it’s funny, I didn’t know what the name of BT’s album was yet. I was a little nervous, I wanted to do something really good.” The Light In Things” was the first song we finished sending things back and forth to each other. I really love that song so much even though more people know about “Every Other Way,” I hope people will listen to that one too. We really liked the way that one came out so much we decided to meet up at his studio. It’s so much nicer to be in the studio when creating with each other. There are so many ways to do it these days, but that is always fun to be in the same room! That was the time when we came up with “Every Other Way”. BT has a lot of instruments all over the place and we created the loop that is the supporting vibe to the song. It’s a very special song and I was really inspired to do something beautiful with BT because he is so talented. You just bring out the best in each other.
Having achieved so much success with every track and earning all the accolades, do you feel creatively pressured when making music these days?
I do! I mean I always want each song and record I make to be better than the last one. To grow as an artist and to make something my fans can relate to and touch them with… I know some people just want to make music for themselves, but I really want to make music for everyone else! I know we are all so much alike and I do get some joy from trying to connect us through music. For myself, I want to feel like I’m getting better at it, so yes I do feel pressure. You also get a lot more criticism each time you put out a new song so I feel that too!
Thank you so much for being part of our 150th episode. This is truly an honor. What can fans expect from the show?
Well I’ve enjoyed being part of the show. Thank you for having me. It’s incredible to have the music reaching you so I thank you for the support! We are going to be playing some new songs and some old songs talking a little about what I will be up to and give a little background to the music.
And where will you be performing for the rest of the year? Any more releases coming up?
Well, I will move around the globe. I will be in Las Vegas, Denver for Global Gathering, China, India, Russia, NYC, Egypt and the Middle East… and hopefully Kuala Lumpur! I played there with Tiesto at the Formula One races and never forgot what an amazingly beautiful place it is. We are adding a lot of shows so be sure to visit Planet JES or to follow me on Twitter. There is MySpace and Facebook too.
Lastly, a message to your fans from around the world reading this.
Please write me. I can’t tell you how inspiring you are all to me. I go on and read messages and it makes me feel so connected to each other. You make me want to write more and I thank you for supporting the music.
JES will guesthost Radio KUL 150. The first hour will be mixed by Simon Lee & Alvin and hosted by JES with a selection of some of her discography, followed by a guestmix from Stoneface & Terminal. Airs Friday, 23rd July 2010 at http://www.radiokul.com/ and available as a podcast on iTunes and on Mugasha. Radio Hi-Tec Netherlands and 1Mix Radio UK will also stream the show live, see website for schedule.
High Glow is out now on Black Hole and Ultra.
More info :
Susana Takes Centerstage
Jan 25th
As we continue to kickoff 2010 in style here on Radio KUL, we’ll be bringing you closer to yet another international singing sensation this week.
Susana Lise, better known as Susana, is the voice behind some of our favourite records. By chance, she was featured on Ernesto vs Bastian’s “Dark Side of The Moon” in 2005. Little did she realise that it would mark the beginning of a very successful career in dance music. Originally from an alternative rock background, she brings edginess and powerful vocals to all of her tracks.
Susana has been very fortunate. Almost all of her tracks have gone on to be massive singles. “Shivers” (2005) and “If You Should Go” (2008) were international smash hits and remain as festival favourites, and last year she scored pure gold again on Rex Mundi’s “Nothing At All,” which was a DJ favourite and deservingly one of 2009’s top tunes. In between all that, she’s worked with Talla 2XLC, Ernesto vs Bastian, and Re:Locate too. She’s also gone on tour with A-list DJs to perform her tracks. Her talent and gift will continue to shine this year as she reveals her brand new album.
Here she is speaking with us for this exclusive Radio KUL Extra interview.
Susana
Hi Susana, thanks for speaking with us today. How are you?
I am doing fine, thank you. Thanks for having me!
It’s been a spectacular 2009 for you. Your track with Boy Hagemann aka Rex Mundi “Nothing At All” was not only a DJ favorite, it was also one of the top tracks of the year in terms of popularity and sales. Only you can tell us what this feels like.
It’s a great feeling of course. Ever since the first time I heard the instrumental I felt a strong personal connection to the track. So, to know that so many people have been touched by “Nothing at All” in the same way feels great. It’s a great feeling to know that something you have put a lot of emotion into is so much appreciated by others.
You’ve already made many wonderful records with Ernesto vs Bastian, Armin van Buuren, Talla 2XLC and many more. What got you involved with dance music?
I have basically been singing my whole life. I remember how, as a little girl, I would sing along to my dads records, teaching myself how to use my voice by mimicking the singers. When I was 15 I started to take professional vocal lessons to learn more about my voice and it’s capabilities. Around that same time I was participating in shows at my high school on a regular basis and I joined a band, further developing my skills and love for music. The music we made with the band was rock/alternative based with some funky flavors added here and there, and my vocal lessons focused mostly on classical music and jazz.
So you could say I was creating a pretty diverse musical background. However, I never really explored electronic dance music. This changed when a neighbor of my family, after having seen me perform with my band, decided to introduce me to producers Raz Nitzan and Adrian Broekhuyse in 2003, when I was 19 years old. Just a couple of months later we went into the studio and recorded the vocals for Ernesto vs Bastian’s “Dark Side of the Moon” which was released in 2005… So that is basically how I entered the world of EDM,.. and I don’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon!
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw most of my inspiration from music itself and from my own emotions and experiences. Within trance music my preference goes out to the more progressive tracks with a deep beat, multiple layers and a little mystery to them. Besides listening to trance and progressive tracks I love listening to singer/songwriters, especially the female ones, like Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and Imogen Heap, to get inspired by their lyrics and to learn from the way they communicate emotion with their voice. Because I believe that is what being a vocalist is all about: conveying certain emotions with your voice. And I believe these emotions need to be sincere in order to really touch people. So that is why, when for example I am recording vocals in the studio, I search for inspiration in my own emotions and current and past experiences.
What else are you currently working on?
It has been 5 years since my first official release and I am celebrating this with the release of a complete album later this year on Armada Music! So I have spent a lot of time in the studio lately working on new material in collaboration with different DJ’s and producers. We have just recently decided on the album title, which is going to be ‘Closer’. Most tracks are finished so we are now in the process of preparing the release, which is scheduled for this spring. And since I am expecting to be doing a lot of live shows this year I am also taking extra vocal lessons and will be participating in a two day vocal workshop in order to keep my voice healthy.
Who are your current favorite artistes? Is there anybody you would like to collaborate with in particular?
Well, I have already been very fortunate to work with a lot of different great DJs and producers for my upcoming album – whose names will be revealed in time ;) – but amongst some of my current favorite EDM artists are definitely Armin van Buuren, Rex Mundi, Markus Schulz, Arnej, Dash Berlin, Nic Chagall/Cosmic Gate and Deadmau5. As for my fellow vocalists I really like the sound of Aruna, – especially in Cosmic Gate’s “Under Your Spell” – and Jes, Nadia Ali, Jaren, Jennifer Rene and Departure, the male vocalist of Markus Schulz’ tracks “Without You Near” and “Cause You Know,” which, by the way are two of my favorite tracks because of their edginess. Speaking of which, I’d like to see more male vocalists in trance music! But I’ve heard Markus Schulz’s artist album will feature a new male vocalist. So I can’t wait to here that!
Somehow, all of the tracks you’ve recorded have gone on to be major releases. Do you attribute this to luck or are there particular projects that you’re drawn to?
Of course it is important to have talent, to put your mind to it and to work hard. But, in order to become successful I think a little luck is necessary as well. I have been very fortunate to get in touch with Raz Nitzan and Adrian Broekhuyse, who are not only great producers but also have an amazing track record and have a lot of the right contacts. And to be honest, over the years we have also recorded many tracks and vocals that did not get released. However, we never get rid of anything, because you never know when the right moment to release a certain track will arrive. My album for example will contain a track that we’ve recorded I think at least two years ago.
How do you think you’ve changed, as a person, and professionally, between the time of your first release to today?
Wow, that’s an interesting question. Let me think. Well, first of all, on a personal level the biggest change must be that, about 1,5 ago, I finally decided to focus completely on music. Music has always been a passion, but besides becoming a professional singer one of my dreams had always been to live in another country for a while, experience new cultures, meet new people, go backpacking… In other words: I longed to stand on my own two feet and experience some adventures. So, after finishing high school, when I was 18, I traveled to Peru in South America and stayed there for 5 months. I went to school there to learn Spanish, worked with disabled children and went backpacking. I know this might sound cliché but it was a live changing experience. I fell in love with South America, with its language, its culture and with the feeling of traveling independently and meeting new people. So, when I returned to Holland I decided I wanted to study Latin American Studies at university. I loved it and of course it took up a lot of my time.
Meanwhile I kept on planning new travels, thinking of ways even to find a job abroad. Then slowly I became involved with trance music and started to fall for that too. So, you could say that at one point my heart was torn between two passions. But I think eventually you need to decide what it really is that you want in life. What really is your place. And I found that music is where I want to be. And so I decided it was time to give it a chance. I mean, it is not easy to make a career out of singing. But I decided that if I didn’t at least try, I would come to regret it later in life. So after I graduated my bachelors degree in Latin American Studies I decided not to go on to get a Masters degree. And I have not regretted this decision, not even one second. Because since I started to really put my mind to it things started developing very fast.
And now I am even releasing a complete album! Sometimes I really need to pinch myself. On a professional level I think the biggest change is that I am much more aware now of who I am as an artist. I really found my spot in electronic dance music and have a clear idea of where my preferences lie within the genre. I believe it has so much to offer and the music itself is developing very fast, I feel like the different subgenres of dance music are starting to fuse more and more with each other and I think this fusion is a very interesting development. I am also under the impression that using authentic instruments and live artists is becoming more and more mainstream in dance music. Which I think is great.
So, it’s obvious EDM has not yet reached its limits, not by far, and I cant wait to explore it further.
What are your other interests besides music? What do you do when you’re not making music?
As I’ve explained I studied Latin American Studies for a couple of years and I combined this with a minor in International Development Studies and a minor in European Union Studies. And even though I didn’t continue my studies my interests still lie there. I met some of my closest friends at university so I share that interest with them. Which is nice. And currently, besides working on my career, I have a part-time job as a supervisor of market research at Amsterdam Airport, which I enjoy very much. When I’m not working at the airport or working on music I like to hang out with my friends, watch a movie, cook dinner. The usual stuff. But, I must say, I also often find myself daydreaming to music. And I can do this for hours. I am the type of person that, when I like a song, can play it fifty times in a row without getting bored by it. Oh and I love working out in the gym accompanied by the trance and progressive sounds on my mp3 player. It always gives me a great rush. You should try it! Preferably on the crosstrainer haha…
In your opinion, how can EDM artists make a difference to the world?
Even though I am pessimistic about a person being able to change the world completely, I do think that, on a smaller scale, anyone can make a difference. Of course a public or famous person can use it’s status to inspire people to take action, or to donate, as we see is happening a lot now with the earthquake that has struck Haiti. But first and foremost I think EDM artists, or any artist for that matter, can make a difference through reaching people with their music. I receive a lot of messages of people telling me how a certain song helped them through a difficult time in their lives. I think this is the strength of music and it’s amazing. I remember Armin wearing a t-shirt once that said: “Make music, not war!” and I think that is a very true statement!
Will you perhaps be touring again soon? When and where can we watch you live next?
At the moment I have no live shows scheduled because we want to wait until after the album is released. But I can’t wait to go on the road again because performing is the greatest feeling in the world and I am impatient to share my new tracks with the crowd! I am really looking forward to the summer. To the festival season. I will post any updates about upcoming tour dates on my Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
How does it feel to be guesthosting this week’s Radio KUL? :)
Yes, thanks for having me! It’s a great opportunity and a fun challenge. I have never done anything like this before. I have done some short voiceovers for radio in the past but I never guesthosted an entire show. It’s a nice way of speaking about my work and plans. I do hope I come across naturally though! And for lack of a studio nearby I recorded the show in my room. But every once in a while a car would pass by and I would have to rerecord my take haha. But I had fun! And I hope your listeners will enjoy the show as well.
How do you expect 2010 to turn out?
I am feeling very excited to get to work a lot this year! And I am curious to see how the album will be received. It is going to be an important year for my career. That’s for sure. And I hope to be able to combine my two passions – music and travelling – a lot this year by going on the road to perform live!
And lastly, any message to your fans reading this.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that is always sending me such nice comments through Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. That really means a lot to me. It’s great to know that there are people out there that share the same passion for music! And also thanks to those who give me chills down my spine each time I perform by singing along with every word of the song :) I hope to see you somewhere in a club again soon!
Join Susana as she guesthosts Radio KUL episode 124. Airs Friday, 29th January 2010 at http://www.simonleeandalvin.com/. and available as a podcast on iTunes and on Mugasha. Radio Hi-Tec Netherlands will air the show the following week, see website for schedule.
Rex Mundi featuring Susana “Nothing At All” is out now on ColdHarbour Recordings.
More info :
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Radio KUL 150 - JES, Stoneface & Terminal