You will find in this category each week, an interview or a biograhpy of a Dj or artist which is breaking the news. All styles are on the “menu” of this category: minimal, house, electro, techno or even trance in some cases.
The topic will be supplemented by other Djs following the latest electronic music news.
Belgian brothers Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike have come a very long way in a very short period of time. In just 2 years, they’ve bypassed the usual steps to making it big by proving they have super-star quality in everything they do. They are sought after producers, remixers to the A-list elite and number 1 hit makers. The accolades they’ve clocked up within this relatively short time ar...e equal to those some DJ stalwarts amass during a lifetime! It followed notably the interviews of other famous producers like Marc Romboy, Da Fresh, Umek, Avicii or Dr. Kucho and Belgium producers we interviewed like Kolombo and Compuphonic. First, I wanted to thank Dimitri and Like Mike who answered our questions.
"Hello Dimitri and Like Mike,
Some days ago you played in Paris for the Technoparade. There were “300.000 CRAZY M*F*kers destroying the streets of Paris”. How was the party? Was it the first time you come to Paris and play there?
> It was insane… We have a similar thing in Belgium, called Cityparade – which is also very cool... But Paris was pure mayhem… so many people!!! We did a show in the Virgin Megastore at the Champs Elysees few months back with FG… Now that was some crazy sh** too J
You like festival, right? Indeedyou released the official Tomorrowland anthem with Afrojack and Nervo where you mixed too. What do you prefer: a party in a club or playing at a festival, with crazy people in front of you? When you prepare a set, will you play the same tracks between these two environments?
>Definitely festival… we like big crowds and high energy… clubs are cool to but it needs a smoother approach. Of course play quite some similar tracks… we can’t resist the heavy beats!
Concerning your music, what will be your next release?
> The next big one will be ‘Momentum’ with a friend of ours called Regi, we’re recording the vocals this month…
If you look back to the beginning of 2011, what can you say about it? What is your vision of the couple past months? I think we can say it is the year of your explosion! Am I right?
> Yeah it’s been crazy… we started the year with the collab with Axwell, then we had 3 releases in one month, one crazy summer and then suddenly we’re in the djmag top 100… unbelievable. But we hope this is just the beginning!
After you give us these info about your music news we would like to go back to your musical roots. Could you briefly tell us how did you two become DJs and producers?
> (D) I have been a dj as long as I can remember… like when I as 13-14…. And everything just grew from there.
(M) I was more into hiphop, but at a certain point we realized an MC could work great on House too!
How did you two work together? Have you some precise role: one work on the bass, the other one on the strings. Could you please give us some clues of your working process?
> It mostly goes like this… one of us starts a project, the other one finishes is… or works on it a bit more, sends it back and so on… we don’t sit in the studio together a lot… to much work.. And we work faster alone…
Have you some solo project going on, or now will you always work together, following your previous successes?
> The solo projects might appear… we might focus a bit more on Mike’s vocals… but at this point the DVLM is the focus.
How did you two met? When I interviewed M.A.N.D.Y. some months ago, they told us they met on a tennis court. What about you?
> We are brothers… ‘nuff said! J
At the beginning, did your family understand what you did for a living? And now are they proud of what you achieved along the years?
>Absolutely not… it was only until we were able to invite our parents and grandparents to Tomorrowland last year that they fully understood what we were doing. It was hard for the to have 2 no-job sons for so many years… but they’re proud now... at least we hope so J
In 2009 your remix of “Work That Body” gathered global media attention and sparked the interest of label boss Axwell, who immediately commissioned them for Abel Ramos’s “Rotterdam City of Love”. The success that came with this remix topped every major download chart in the world, and with this, the requests came flooding in. Can we say it was your first success?
> Yeah defo…. That remix opened a lot of doors.
Are there one or two Belgium artists you would like to introduce us today?
> Yves V is a guy we believe in and support a lot… you will hear a lot more from him in the next year. Also WolfPack is a new formation we’re supporting… they will have their first release on our ‘Smash The House’ very soon…
Dimitri and Like Mike, the interview will be published on a website mainly read by French people. So, what do you know about the French electronic music scene? Are there some artists that you personally know or especially love their music?
>DAFT PUNK!!! Hahah… there are so many… from the legends to the current icons like David Guetta and Bob Sinclar who are some of the most talented artists around!
Besides music, what are your hobbies?
> Hobby? What is that? J that is the downside of making your hobby your career... You only work…
Is there anything you would like to add?
> We hope to back in France soon… crazy people!!
Dimitri and Like Mike, before we conclude this interview we have a few more questions. Sometimes one word is enough!
The track you advice us to listen to in your discography?
> Everything.
An artist you would like to work with one day?
> Eminem.
3 words to define your music?
> Smashin Phat Beats.
Are you using vinyl or mp3 for your mix?
> MP3.
The software you use to produce?
> Logic.
One privilege, being DJ, gives you access to?
> Free booze.
Your favorite track these days?
> Momentum.
Some words about the website I manage: Actualités Electroniques?
> Great site… really worth following!
Dimitri and Like Mike, thank you very, very much for the time you devoted to Actualités Electroniques and particularly for this full and exclusive interview. We will wait for sure for your next productions and your live dates. A bientôt!”