What’s behind the name Bass Modulators?

That’s a very short story. We had two tracks ready for release but the label needed a name. We were checking our keyboards, and there was modulation key and I was like, “Okay, modulation, what should we modulate? Oh, Bass. Bass Modulators.” We were actually not planning on using this name forever, but it just worked.

What label was your first release on?

DJ’s United Records from Italy

What came first producing or DJing?

Well, Roland was already a DJ, and I started with producing, and then became a DJ. I think that’s a pretty good thing, if you start with both, you know how to produce tracks for DJs, and you also know how to play those tracks live.

How did you get into the rave scene? What year?

Back in the 90s, we got into clubhouse and after that it just evolved with harder music. We really got into Hardstyle back in 2001, 2002 but only attended Raves. We started to produce in 2005 and it evolved from there.

What was your first DJ gig as Bass Modulators?

Matrix. We had gigs before, but those were not paid, or just for fun. Matrix was a club in Holland, like 2,000 people would attend. I didn’t really know how to DJ back then … Roland handled most of the set. The funny thing is we only knew how to play on vinyl back then, so it was the first time for us playing on CDJ’s. I didn’t even use the cue button, I was on vinyl mode the entire time.

Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career?

Noisecontrollers, Past and present. For us it was a pretty big surprise like a year or two ago, that he wanted to make tracks with us, and now he’s one of our best friends too. It’s really cool. We learned a lot from him.

First record you ever purchased?

(Roland) When I was like eleven, twelve, I bought some singles from Cher. The first clubhouse track was probably Northern Lights by Justin K. It was the first vinyl I bought, blue see-through vinyl. It was really cool.

Rick, Did you collect vinyl as well?

Actually I can’t remember the first single, but I remember a happy hardcore compilation CD from Charly Lownoise and Mental Theo… I played it until it broke.

Funniest moment during a performance?

We played in Denmark like six years ago, and they had a fully stocked bar for us. We were drinking like crazy. The DJ before us had to stop because he fucked up big time, the boss of the club kicked him off and asked us to play.” We were like, “Oh, we have to play.” We were drunk, we had to play for three hours straight. We ended up playing the same record twice. The DJ booth was suspended on cables to prevent the records from skipping, and then somebody from the audience wanted to shake Rick’s hand, Rick leaned forward and scratched the record with his belly … It was the most awkward moment, and the last time we were drunk on stage.

Any future projects that you guys are excited about, maybe something you guys have been working on, or a gig that’s coming up that you’re excited about?

We are working on some new tracks together with Noisecontrollers, A couple solo projects, and a lot of cool gigs coming up including Qlimax.

Any advice for aspiring producers?

(Roland) Keep it real. Don’t try to be someone else on stage; don’t try doing all kinds of tricks/gimmicks. Just focus on what’s really important, the music. That’s your key. You can clown on stage, you can try to do cool stuff, you can promote on Facebook, but if your music’s shit, you can’t do anything. Stick to yourself, stick to your music.

(Rick) Just practice, practice, practice. It’s pretty much the key to everything. If you put in ten thousand hours, then you might be good enough to break through. You have to make choices in your life. If you want to be this big producer, then you have to sacrifice other things. It’s really important. Some people forget that, but it’s really the most important thing.