AS the foremost exponent of “Dirty Dutch”
house, DJ Mag asked Chuckie whether he felt
de?ned by the term?
“For me Dirty Dutch music is all about
cross breeding genres,” he explains, “it’s a
multicultural mix of music and that happens
to be the way I grew up.
“Growing up in the suburbs with people
from different cultures with different
backgrounds made me understand society
even better.” Highlights of this year
included a debut visit to India. “That was a
real crazy experience, considering the fact
that my great, great, great grandparents
from my father’s side have roots in India,”
Chuckie says. DAVID MCCARTHY
Have DJs’ fees got out of hand? “I agree that DJs fees are
astronomical at the moment but I would not say it got out of hand.
The reason why DJs fees are where they are right now is simply a
matter of supply and demand.” Has dance music become the new
pop? “Dance music has de?nitely become the new pop music, in other
words it has become popular. It became a billion dollar industry but
the most important thing is that there is also a very big underground
scene which, in my opinion, is the backbone of it all.” If you could
be any animal what would you be? “If I had to choose, I would be a
lion! It’s always nice to be on top of the food chain... haha!” Should
DJs do ‘heart hands’? “In my opinion, DJs can do whatever hand
gestures [they want] in order to communicate with their audience.
It’s always good to have a great connection with the crowd!” Do DJs
have a duty to speak out about drugs? “Because DJs have a large
following on social media nowadays, their social role has changed.
I like to have a positive impact on society but at the end of the day
it’s not a duty...” What would be on your fantasy rider? “To have a
Boeing A380 for every gig so I could bring all my friends and family
with me to all my gigs! Oh, and don’t forget a little bottle of water in
the DJ booth.”
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CHUCKIE
From: Holland. Style: “‘Dirty funkin’ house aka
Dirty Dutch.” Best known for: “High energy live sets
that let the bass kick.” Tune of 2013: “Martin Garrix
‘Animals’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2013: “Showtek.”
FEW groups embody the EDM generation quite
like US trio, Krewella. Born and raised in house
music stronghold Chicago, their eclectic take
on EDM sees them incorporate everything from
house to drum & bass to hardstyle into a sound
that’s proving a heady concoction with the
masses.
They released their ?rst full album, ‘Get Wet’, on
mega-label Columbia recently — a telltale sign
that EDM has risen far out of the underground.
“It was our fans who inspired us to write
the album,” they tell us. “This past year has
felt like a comedy/action/drama movie, and
we’re constantly being creative and thinking
on our feet.” With the hysteria surrounding
this trio growing bigger with every passing
day, it’s a new way of life that they’d do
well to get used to. STEPHEN FLYNN
Have DJs’ fees got out of hand? “If an artist is going to raise
their show fee there better be a good fucking reason — they
better be working their ass off for it!” Has dance music become
the new pop? “Putting music into genres is putting art into a
box. ‘Pop’ can be music de?ned by melodic writing, repetitive
hooks, and catchy writing. Or it can mean music that is just
popular. What about pop music becoming dance?” If you could
be any animal what would you be? “An animal that is spry...
powerful... sexual... and loves being touched... I’d say a young
black cat.” Should DJs do ‘heart hands’? “It’s a beautiful
way of showing gratitude towards fans at shows. If a simple
gesture can make someone’s day, why not?” Do DJs have a
duty to speak out about drugs? “Given the tragedies that have
occurred, we personally feel compelled to encourage EDM fans
to educate themselves and surround themselves with caring
friends before they explore their desires to be under the in?uence.” What would be on your fantasy rider? “Cats, our family,
a masseuse, and a tattoo artist. Nice and simple. They’d all join
us on the road.”
44
NEW
ENTRY
KREWELLA
From: USA. Style: “Everything from progressive
house to drum & bass to hardstyle.” Best known
for: “‘Alive’.” Tune of 2013: “Calvin Harris feat
Florence & the Machine ‘Sweet Nothing’.” Breakthrough
DJ/producer of 2013: “Zedd.”
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