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DASH BERLIN
From: Holland. Style: “Trance 2.0.” Best known
for: “Dashing it up.” Tune of 2013: “Armin van Buuren
feat Trevor Guthrie ‘This Is What It Feels Like (W&W
Remix)’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2013: “3LAU.”
DASH Berlin is now an established regular in the upper echelons
of the Top 100 and the man behind the music, Jeffrey Sutorious,
has spent 2013 doing all he can to cement that position. With last
year’s ‘#musicislife’ album reissued with a full set of remixes, a
steady ?ow of single releases like sunshine trancer ‘Steal You Away’
and the gently melancholic yet anthemic ‘Jar of Hearts’, remixes for
Krewella, Hardwell and One Republic and a world tour in the bag,
he’s certainly been a busy man.
“The music is my fundament, so it’s just really cool when it’s
received that well in so many different countries around the world,”
says Dash. “The #musicislife world tour has been hugely successful
as well. Teaming up on stage with Emma Hewitt, Christina Novelli
and Jonathan Mendelsohn was memorable.
“The festivals were booming as well this year, Ultra in Miami, Global
Gathering in the UK, Digital Dreams in Canada and Nocturnal
Wonderland in the US were all spectacular and of course closing
the huge EDC main stage in Las Vegas was insane. My residency in
Marquee has become one of the biggest nights in Vegas, of which I
am really proud.”
He’s also made time to do a charity gig. “My charity stadium
concert in Mexico was an emotional highlight,” explains Dash.
“It felt great giving back to a country that has been supporting
me from the very beginning. Visiting and helping the Mixteca
communities in Mexico has made a deep and lasting impression on
me.”
The highlights kept coming with another IDMA award nomination,
this time for best trance track for ‘When You Were Around’, and the
launch of Dash Berlin Radio on Spotify, and Dash also formed a key
part of Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance 600 tour.
“What Armin and his crew are creating with ASOT is unique in the
world,” he says. “There is so much positive energy during these
events. If you can’t make it to an event you can be a part of it
online. It’s even uniting countries that are normally not easily
connected. It’s really special, it’s like a movement. I always prepare
a lot of new music for my ASOT sets; people listen to these sets as if
they were albums.”
Add to this his equally well-received ASOT sets at Privilege Ibiza,
and Dash is rightfully excited about the future. “There is a whole
new generation discovering the magic of trance right now,”
he says. “It’s super exciting to be a part of it. All-in-all it was a
wonderful year that is making me really excited for 2014.”
With the latest edition of his annual ‘United Destination’ mix
imminent and high pro?le collaborations, a remix for Armin van
Buuren and a new artist album in the pipeline, there’s little chance
of a dip in Dash Berlin’s work rate anytime soon. And seeing that
passion reciprocated by his many fans simply drives him on.
“Some things have to be lived to be believed,” he says.
“Seeing thousands of people sing your tracks word for word
is something that I will never get used to.” IAN ROULLIER
Have DJs’ fees got out of hand? “I’m not a businessman, but it seems to be a matter of supply and (popular) demand.” Has dance music
become the new pop? “Dance music has way too many layers to hastily generalise it like that. We must not forget to look beyond the
surface of the current hype. Beneath the wave is a whole ocean of fresh sounds.” If you could be any animal what would you be? “Maybe
a bonobo ape, did you know they solve their con?icts by making love?” Should DJs do ‘heart hands’? “Sure, looking all cool like you don’t
care is so yesterday. It’s all about having fun again.” Do DJs have a duty to speak out about drugs? “I prefer to inspire by example; I
don’t do drugs, I don’t drink. I’m high on life.” What would be on your fantasy rider? “No crazy riders for me, I’m here to play music!”
052 djmag.com