Interview with DJ Tiësto

Around the world: DJ Tiësto on touring, technology and style…

During a phenomenally successful career spanning three decades, award-winning, chart-topping, Dutch DJ sensation Tiësto (aka Tijs Verwest) has experienced a spectacular rise to the top. Globally renowned for breaking new ground and drawing a crowd of rock star proportions, he was the first DJ to pack out a stadium with over 25,000 people via a solo performance. This, however, was just the beginning of Tiësto’s big gigs. Attesting to an international influence, his inimitable DJ set at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens was witnessed by billions around the globe. As further confirmation of his amazing popularity, he was also the first DJ to receive a number one ranking in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs poll for three consecutive years (2002–2004).

Tiësto continues to be at the centre of immensities. Typically, his Central Eastern European tour in November was such a raging success that it had to be extended. What’s more, with an Around the World theme, he will be taking his acclaimed In Concert tour to Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, before completing the US series of dates on 12 January 2006 in Miami. The awe-inspiring Tiësto in Concert events are unparalleled in scope, vision and style. Each show is a unique, contemporary experience, an immersive panorama of 21st century technologies. DJSounds.com tracks down the world-shaking DJ to discover more.


How was the Central Eastern European Tour?
“The tour has been a great success. All the shows were sold out and the crowd was amazing. We have therefore decided to do another leg in December in order to complete the territory, covering Serbia and Montenegro, and Croatia.”

The Tiësto in Concert US tour has adopted an Around the World focus, did the theme influence your music, which is maybe more worldly-wise than ever, or vice versa?
“I initially developed the Around the World concept for the first stadium show in Holland in 2003. But I decided to rework the concept for the USA in Concert shows, as I did in Los Angeles and soon will for NYE in Las Vegas. Indeed, it gives me extra freedom to implement certain types/styles of music from those particular continents, like opening a chapter with a certain song. It shows my audience that I have a global sound, not just 100% trance but melodic music with influences from all over the world. Travelling as much as I do, naturally I’m influenced by a range of styles.”

Could there be any link between the influence of classical music and your incredibly diverse audience?
“I like to make music inspired by many different styles. The most important thing with music is the melody, and that should always touch you. Classical music, as well as trance and house, is full of melodies and that’s mainly why I produce the music that I love, regardless of its style. Some of it is suitable for clubbers and some is directly mainstream music.”

In an interview with DJ Magazine, you said ‘vinyl is dead’, what led you to this conclusion?
“My decision to stop playing vinyl was mainly so that I could travel light and always have my CDs with me, instead of losing my record box 100 times a year when I can’t afford to be without my music! Secondly, CDs always sound great and if a CD gets broken or something I can easily have a replacement copy within a few hours as we keep backups of my current catalogue in the office. The CDJ-1000 MK2s have never ever let me down and, of course, I can complete more tricks with CD players than with vinyl decks, such as pitching down, reversing and extending the breaks etc.”

You are also using DVD decks on tour. Are you mixing video and, given that visuals are an important part of the show, is this something that you are exploring?
“Touring with two Pioneer DVJ-X1s gives me the liberty to control additional parts of the show. In other words, when I feel like playing a certain track for which special visuals have been developed I can do it easily and at just the right moment from the booth, which is great. I intend to develop this further for future shows and for that the DVJs are great to work with.”

The visuals are by Christopher Andrews/Stoptime341 Productions, how did you come to work together?
“We started to work together on one of my first club tours in the USA which was organised by my agent in New York. We became good friends and exchanged ideas about how my visuals should look. We are both creative people and so the idea of creating special visuals for my last CD, In Search of Sunrise 4, and for my shows was born. Chris has since continued touring with me in the USA, South America and recently in Eastern Europe, and there are lots more plans for the future.”

Do you always connect with your audience regardless of its size and what do you see as a way forward in terms of live performances – bigger stadiums, more special/visual effects?
“I do like to play big stadiums but also still love the intimacy of small clubs. However, since my status has grown so fast I usually end up playing at bigger venues rather than clubs. This is great when it comes to pleasing large crowds but it can be harder to connect with my audience, as they are further away in terms of visibility. The bigger the show the more we do with effects and visuals. Visuals have always been an important part of my show and with the technologies available nowadays I intend to make them even more significant. But yes, wherever I perform, the crowd and I maintain a close connection at all times.”

Will there be another Tiësto DVD released in 2006, would you consider releasing singles as DVDs?
“We’re not planning to release any new stuff on DVD in 2006, but of course you never know. As far as releasing singles on DVD, I don’t know, if there is a market we might consider it. What we usually do now is a single and video clip, but the market for singles has dropped a lot in the last year, so who knows, maybe it’s time for something new…”

Can you tell us any details about the NYE Tiësto in Concert event to be held in Las Vegas, and how has the US audience reacted to the show in general?
“Well I can reveal the location now, it’s the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, and I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully the In Concert shows will open doors to the future. I had such a great time on the first Tiësto in Concert in Los Angeles, nearly 10,000 people showed up. The energy was great and I hope to enjoy the same in Las Vegas.”

Do you have any other plans or future projects to reveal?
“There will be a lot of new things in 2006. Unfortunately I can’t reveal anything now as it’s all in the early stages of development, but it’s sure to be interesting!”