| Speedy - SA's Trance Master |
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| Tuesday, 15 February 2011 23:21 |
 Mr Spencer chatted with another person that has made it in the music industry. He claims to only go to braai’s with friends that already have good music. That he has never had to ask a brother to change the CD, and his love of trance music started way back when Delerium brought out the song ‘Silence’. Let’s give it up for South African DJ Speedy. When did u get into the music industry? I started in Portugal as a light jockey back in 1995, loved the vibe about clubbing and the music and fell in love with it. I really wanted to start DJing so I asked the resident dj to teach me how to mix. I guess from there it all just came together, when I moved back to SA I started playing at clubs and events. What shaped your motivation? It is definitely the love for dance music, especially trance music. It just has so much power over your emotions and can really make a difference in your life just by listening to it. Do you have a life defining band from way back then, that when you heard them, your life was never the same? Paul Oakenfold was always my favourite DJ back then, his uplifting style of music really did it for me. If I had to choose a song I would say it was definitely Delerium- ‘Silence’ that will forever define my career. What career defining moments spring to mind? There were a few actually: Winner of the South African DJ of the year competition in 1999. Winner of The People Magazine Crystals awards for best DJ three years in a row Ranked in the DJ Mag Top 300 at number 249. What is your most epic moment in dance? That is in 1999 when trance was really blowing up in South Africa. To me that was my best year ever in terms of where music was and what it was all about - The Music. In that year of 1999 I played at an event called Camel Experience to 35 000 people, it was unbelievable! Tell me, what is playing in your car now, and what do you listen to at home on a Sunday? Right now I have a few demos of other DJs and also a new song that I’ve just finished producing alongside Andre Frauenstein (Dirty Herz). If you would describe the direction dance music is going in right now. What words spring to mind? There is a definite fusion between all genres starting to happen but I would say that in SA we are starting to see a big shift towards trance music again which is very encouraging. Trance is a genre that Armin Van Buuren and Armada Music have sprung life into. I cannot stop hearing more and more from that label all over the world on my travels. What do you think does the most for our trance following in South Africa? Specific venues, labels, radio content etc..... Well Truth is really the only club that currently still plays trance and has a dedicated trance floor, I think we have absolutely no support from radio whatsoever. 5fm for example have four house DJs all playing the same music over the weekend, not sure what the points of that is. There should be more support from these stations. Dance music has many genres which are not being promoted on radio like they should be. Armada music has had a big impact in South Africa. I actually signed the first Armin album back when I worked at Sheer music and since then look how far Armada and Armin have come in SA. The more support you have the more supporters will follow. And being a huge trance supporter yourself, what would you say you are doing right now for the dance scene? Are you involved in any particular projects that we can look out for? Truth Trance Room is a little project that myself and DJ Louis have launched with the help of the Truth owner and management. We think this concept is going to help pave the way for Trance music to once again become a pioneering sound in SA that can still appeal to the masses. I’m also busy with my own track at the moment which will hopefully be licensed by a big major in SA and internationally as well. And finally I have a mixed album confirmed for 2011 as well. If you had one hour left on this earth, what would you listen to? Armin Van Buuren- A State of Trance 2009 - Disc 1 If you go to a braai, do you always take emergency supplies of music with you? What would that be? The braai’s I normally go to have good music, they’re all in the industry :-) When would you ask a brother to change the music, in what specific state of emergency? Mmm, I wouldn’t unless it was really, really bad. But I choose carefully who I go and listen to. Most embarrassing club moment ever? Most embarrassing moment for me, taking the wrong needleoff the record at a mother event way back in 1999. Very sad indeed. Interview by: Andrea Steyn
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