Tag Archives: Trauma Harder Styles

Articles, Interviews

DJ Vortex: Interview from Trauma: Harder Styles Tour 2016

DJ Vortex (aka Vextor) is the A&R (Artists & Repertoire) manager of STIK Records and what some people would call the true Godfather of Hardstyle. He has been DJ’ing for 20 years and producing for 15, releasing on highly respectable labels such as Tidy, Activa, Theracords, and DJ’s United (and that is only naming a few!). You can catch Vortex on the Edmonton, San Francisco, and Los Angeles dates!

What inspired your stage name?

It was actually my friends who gave me my nickname: they said I was a Vortex… of music!

How did you get into the scene?

I was a vinyl collector; my friends used to organize parties; a lot of radio stations were born; it happened all by itself.

DJ Vortex at Trauma Tour
DJ Vortex at Trauma Tour – Buy your ticket here and get a free subscription to The HARD DATA!

What was the first record you ever purchased?

I’m having a hard time remembering, but it was probably a vinyl from Pink Floyd. Techno music wasn’t born yet.

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

I don’t have one! I just put all of them in my “Vortex” when I produce.

Would you describe your first DJ gig?

I was so excited, like I am now before every gig.

What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why?

There are many, for many different reasons: sometimes for the magnitude of the party, others for the crowd or the experience I had; I love to play big festivals but also in clubs.

What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now?

Basically, everything has changed. In the past you were a DJ first, and a producer second, but now they start producing and then begin to perform as a DJ but playing their own productions almost exclusively. The work of the DJ, as a researcher and discoverer of music, is disappearing.

Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like?

I have already been on tour in the United States and South America, but the Trauma tour is certainly the biggest of them!

What made you want to start producing Hardcore/Hardstyle/Rawstyle music?

I just was producing the music that I liked, then at some point some people in the Netherlands began to say it was “Hardstyle”.

What is your favorite track that you have produced?

Well, I could say “Incoming”, but honestly my favorite track is always the one I’m working on right now.

DJ Vortex
DJ Vortex

What advice would you give to up and coming Hardstyle producers?

Just produce; forget the rest.

What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why?

I have too many favorite tracks, it’s impossible to choose only 3.

Are there any exciting projects you want our readers to know about?

As many already know, I also produce uptempo Hardcore under the name of Vextor.

What artists would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t already?

Ennio Morricone: the king of soundtracks; but it’s just a dream.

If there’s anything we haven’t asked, what else would you like to say to the readers of The Hard Data?

I can’t wait to meet all of you!!! 🙂

Articles, Interviews

DJ Dione aka E-Noid aka SRB Interview

I’m sure this man needs no introduction, but since 1991 DJ Dione aka E-Noid, or maybe a lot more of you recognize him as the Terror act SRB, has been dominating dance floors everywhere in the world, and this year he finally got to destroy LA at TR-909’s Trauma party back in August. I can’t believe that I was given the honor of sitting down with this man and finding out more about my personal Hardcore hero. What follows is the official interview for you all to enjoy!

Austin: I want your reactions from Saturday. How did you feel about the party, as well as the American Hardcore scene (if you are familiar with it)?

Dione: It was an awesome party, I really liked it. Good sound, nice visuals and decorations plus of course a super dedicated crowd, I loved playing there.

Funny thing was that I was booked as Dione and it was an early hardcore/ old-school event but before and during my set a lot of people asked for SRB so I decided to play a few SRB tracks at the end and then all hell broke loose, in a good way that is

I have been in LA a couple of times but that was a long time ago, played at some smaller rooms so I really wasn’t expecting so many hardcore heads on this party. I know the hardcore scene in the USA is small compared to the scene over here in Europe so it was good to see that so many people showed up and I hope that this party gave the USA scene a boost. Got to thank TR-99 events also for putting up this party and for getting us to play there!!

Austin: What do you think of the direction that Hardcore has been moving toward in the last decade or so? Where do you think it will be going next? Where would you like to see it go?

Dione: That’s a hard question. Production-wise the music has grown a lot, sound quality (mixing and mastering) is at a really high level now. The downside of this is that it is harder for new talents to achieve the same levels.

Dione aka SRB aka E-Noid at Trauma 2015 2
Dione aka SRB aka E-Noid at Trauma 2015

Musically I notice that there are more and more sub genres in Hardcore. I don’t like that because for me it’s all hardcore. There are good tracks in every sub-genre and so I keep an open mind and pick out my favorites from every style. Hardcore is a feeling and not a concept.

It’s hard to predict where it will be going next, but I guess that the sub genres will mix more and more with each other. I think you start seeing it develop like that already; up-tempo with mainstream melodies, mainstream with crossbreed elements etc…

Austin: Which really came first, the Dione project, or SRB? Which one do you like playing more as? Which act has a better reaction from the crowd in your opinion (if you have noticed a difference at all)?

Dione: The Dione project came first; I started playing as Dione in 1991. Some 10 years later came E-Noid, my alias for Darkcore/industrial productions on the DNA label. And a couple of years after that I also started producing under the name SRB, an alias for the terror tracks I made for the ‘This Is Terror’ label. But those productions were so popular that I got many offers to play as SRB also. At first I only did it as a side project but nowadays it has grown more and more popular. I really love playing as SRB because I only play my own productions, which is very satisfying for a DJ; to see the crowd go wild on your own stuff.

But I like variation, so for me it’s a welcome change, to play under the different aliases and play all the different kinds of hardcore, whether it’s terror or industrial, old-school or mainstream. The reactions from the crowd don’t really only depend on the style I play, but also on what party or what country.

Austin:  Any advice for the American Hardcore scene?

Dione: Yeah, there’s something I like to say: I have heard that many party people don’t like the mosh pits at hardcore parties so they decide to stay away, but there’s a simple solution to this, which I saw at the Headstrong party in LA many years ago: keep a part of the dancefloor for the mosh pitters and the rest for the others. This way you won’t hurt each other.

Austin: What’s next for DJ Dione; For SRB?

Dione: I’m currently working on new Dione tracks which I hope to finish and release soon. And also some E-Noid and SRB tracks of course. I loved the holiday in the USA but now I’m back in my favorite place in the whole world: my studio!