Interview by Muzik
We dive back into the decadent realms of trance where we get the chance to catch up with a dj that has firmly played him into the hearts of South African trance fans. His known for releasing his brand of driving baselines and euphoric melodies on highly profiled labels such as Discover, A State of Trance, Conspiracy and of course his own labels Six:Thirty and Friendz music.  He is an in-demand remixer of tracks which you’ll continuously find on compilations from Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Above & Beyond and John Askew to name but a few and his here to headline Flights second birthday party at the Sound Room on the 5th of June. So buckle up Spencerville… Betts is back!!

Ian, your no longer a stranger when you come and play in SA, are you happy to be back?
I’m stoked! I had an unbelievable time when I was over before – great gigs, awesome crowds and fantastic hospitality everywhere I went. I also ate the best steak I’ve ever tasted - I can’t wait to get back out there!

What is it that attracted you to trance music and when did it actually become a career for you?
I can vividly remember the moment I became hooked – it was early 1996 at a night called The Gallery which was held at the sorely missed Turnmills here in London. It was the first time I heard Paul Oakenfold DJ, and I was taken to a whole new place. He played track like “Orange”, “Coma Aroma” and “Floor Essence” – it was an amazing experience, I danced like a loony (thankfully no photos exist)! After that I relentlessly hunted down all the mixes and vinyl I could get my hands on, and quickly became an obsessive! I heard Paul Van Dyk for the first time shortly after, and that was the moment that sealed it – there was no turning back! Funny thing is I’ve never really seen it as a career – it’s always been more of a passion or hobby, I’ve always had a ‘day job’ to pay the bills.

What are you thoughts on the UK trance scene at the moment and where do you see the future of trance heading?
The UK scene has definitely changed a lot since the peak years between 1998 and 2000. As the influence of the internet has grown, the audience has changed – the number of trance events has decreased dramatically so that you now find more people listen to trance in a non-clubbing environment, and as such the music being produced has also changed to meet that demand. I’m still from the old school – I like to hear big uplifting riffs played loud on the dancefloor of a club with hundreds of like-minded individuals!

You’ve had quite a few successful releases on your Six:Thirty label over the years and now you are managing the Friendz label. How difficult is it to keep a label up and running and pursue djing, manage a full time career and family life?
It’s a real challenge, my wife is very understanding and puts up with me disappearing into my office/studio for hours on end! As the scene becomes more and more saturated with small labels and new producers, it’s becoming harder and harder to make quality releases stand out from the crowd, simply because there is too much choice and people only have a limited amount of time to spend listening to new music. In the days of vinyl, record shops used to act as a form of quality control – in the digital age DJs are trying to find alternative methods to quickly filter out the rubbish, so it’s easier to visit a download site and browse the current Top 100 for new tracks to play, or to check A State Of Trance / Trance Around The World playlists. The danger is that the scene will become homogenized because of this, and the undiscovered gems will never gain the exposure they deserve.

When it comes down to remixing other djs tracks how does it work? Do dj’s send you their tracks asking you if you would be interested in remixing a new track or is this normally kept for djs and producers that form part of that specific label which the tracks would be released on?
It can work both ways. As a producer I will either be approached by a label or by another dj/producer. Labels tend to have a track they have signed and are putting together a release, for which they will commission several remixes – labels will often ask the original artist if there is anyone they would like to remix their track, or they will have a roster of signed artists they can use. DJ/Producers tend to have an original track that is not signed, but which they want to get remixed so that it makes a more attractive package to a label – commonly this type of agreement would be a ‘swap’ whereby the original artist would agree to remix an original track by the remixer in return. In either case, it’s important as a remixer to listen to the track being offered and check that you have enough to work with.

Is there a process to actually get your tracks signed by some of the bigger labels in the industry or would you say its all about networking with the right people or starting your own label?
Personally I don’t believe networking with the right people is as important as it once was, and as I mentioned before setting up your own label is getting harder and harder. The biggest single key to getting a track signed is to make sure that the production is as polished as it possibly can be, that the ideas are tight and that you focus on labels who suit the music. Most labels would prefer to receive one outstanding track than three average ones, so focus working on a single track to get it sounding the best you can. Production is a constant learning process, so never be put off by rejection – the more you produce, the more your tracks will sound better.

Can u give us a brief overview of your studio setup and what you like to produce your tracks on?
I work exclusively with software – I used to have several hardware synths (Virus, JP8080, Nord Lead and Supernova) but I always ended up coming back to software, so I sold them all off! I run Logic on a Mac Pro and have just bought a pair of Genelec monitors which are incredible. I’m a softsynth addict and have far too many instruments and effects installed. I tend to have my ‘workhorse’ favourites: Zebra, V-Station, Vanguard, Sylenth, Massive, Nexus, probably the same as everyone else! The ES2 synth that comes with Logic is a beast, and Discovery Pro is another unsung hero. I’ve recently bought Gladiator and Alchemy but yet to get to grips with them. As for effects, I tend to stick to the built-in Logic plug-ins although I have a lot of time for FabFliter and Camel Audio effects.

Have you got any new tracks in the pipeline?
Yes, several. I’ve just finished a remix of the classic “Mirage” for Hemstock & Jennings which will be released later this year, I’m working on a False Gods follow-up EP for Discover, I’ve got a new original track which is close to being finished and I’m tinkering with a remix of another classic which will be just for me to use in my sets. And then there’s the hundreds of half-finished ideas that I’ve got lying around…..!!

Flight has become one of Johannesburg’s finest uplifting trance experiences and you will be headlining their second birthday bash on the 5th of June. How do you feel about this and what can the crowd expect to hear from your set?
I’m incredibly honoured to be headlining the birthday event. I’ve heard so much about Flight from people who have been over here in London – watching the videos and seeing the photos has only made me more excited! You can expect a trademark set from me, big riffs and no let up in energy, plus I hope to have a couple of exclusive tracks fresh out of my studio that I will be debuting.

Where can people get in touch with you regarding bookings, gigs and also get hold of your music?
I have a MySpace page which I keep up-to-date: www.myspace.com/ibetts, or a Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/pages/Ian-Betts/26309891176. I’d urge everyone to sign-up for one of those and keep up to date with news, samples of new tracks, etc.

Ill leave you with one last question… if you could pick five UK dj’s to form part of the English football team to win the World Cup, who would you pick and why?
Goalkeeper - Dave Pearce. Solid and dependable, a safe pair of hands. Could also be in charge of handing out caps.
Defence - John Askew. A dominant presence, tough and uncompromising.
Midfield - Eddie Haliwell. A blend of skill and technique, bags of energy.
Attack- Tall Paul. The ultimate target man, would win every long ball.
Manager – John 00 Flemming. Experience and wisdom, everyone loves him.