interviews

Adam White

Dear Adam, a big welcome on Trance Hub! Glad to have you here as our featured artist!
Thanks allot - it's nice to be your featured artist.

Wow we just sampled 'Nat Monday - Break And Fall [Adam White Remix]' on your MySpace and we are way impressed with your groovy remixing style!
Thanks allot - this was my first project for Perfecto Records. Nat is a great producer and a good friend of mine. "Break & Fall" is actually a fairly old track of Nat's, I first heard it a few years ago and opened one of my Australian 'Rush' compilation CDs with it. I decided to give it a make over simple because I loved the track so much. Paul Oakenfold loved it so much he signed it as Nat's first single release on Perfecto Digital so everyone's a winner really.

You started off your music career as a DJ, what got you into producing trance music?
I actually started producing music long before I was a DJ. I am a classically trained musician and I've been working in studios since I was 14 (I'm 31 now). I had my first studio at the tender age of 15 and I used to record allot of bands. I was also a session musician during my time at college and I recorded with artists such as Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones and Lisa Stansfield. I got into DJing purely through chance through Graham Gold in 1994 and I've never looked back. I wanted to establish myself on the scene as a DJ before I launched my career as a producer - allot of producers become DJs because it is sort of seen as a natural progression, I am pleased and really quite proud to say I did it the other way around.

What kind of experience is it to play at 'Knowwhere'? How is the crowd there? Are you a resident DJ anywhere else?
Knowwhere is a very unique party, which is why I agreed to be their resident. At the time I was touring extensively with Euphoria and I'd just finished a residency in the North of England. Like so many cases in this business politics play a huge role in dictating your direction within residencies – it is a very cutthroat industry and I vowed not to take on another residency until I met the people behind Knowwhere. Anthony, Stevie and Pablo were totally different to allot of other promoters on the scene, they were not led by money and it was all about the party so I agreed to be their resident. I've had almost 4 happy years as their resident and I've played some amazing parties for one of the best crowds here in the UK.

You are also hosting two radio shows currently, your own show 'Adam White presents Euphoria' on Ministry Radio and a brand new monthly show on VONYC.COM. Tell us something about them and how are these shows doing?
I have always been one of the major driving forces behind the Euphoria brand here in the UK and it was an honor to be asked to host their only radio show as their only official resident DJ. It is great to be involved with Ministry of Sound Radio too, they are without a doubt the biggest club brand on the planet and I enjoy having 100% creative input in such a high profile show. Paul van Dyk and Alexa from VONYC.COM approached me to host a monthly show on their station VONYC called 'Emalodic Session' which features mainly new music and exclusive tracks from me and artists on my label – it is a great way to see how the clubbing public respond to new music and new artists. Both shows are very different in their content and I am pleased to say they're also totally exclusive to the stations. They're getting stronger by the week with a new 2-hour monthly show starting on VONYC on March 17th.

Whiteroom holds one of the most renowned duos of you and Andy Moor behind its name. How do you share everything related to Whiteroom, in production terms. How do you find Andy Moor as an associate and person?
Andy is a close friend and one of most talented DJ/producers on the scene today. I went to see Andy about licensing one of his tracks for one of my Euphoria albums and he suggested hooking up in the studio just to hang out really – we never intended to write a hit like 'Whiteroom'. I am going to be working on a track with Andy for his forthcoming album and yes there will be a new Whiteroom single very soon, we're just both so busy with our own projects and touring that finding the time isn't easy at the moment.

All Whiteroom tracks have been great. How would you define Whiteroom's style of music?
I wouldn't really like to define Whiteroom's sound to be honest. It is pure melodic and comes from the soul like all music should do. Both Andy and I are musicians and engineers so the workload is evenly spread when we work together. We both have an enormous amount of respect for one another and I think that is where the magic of the Whiteroom sound comes from to be honest. You can't plan or orchestrate a magic sound, it sometimes just happens.

What kind of music are you interested in other than trance? Name some of your favorite artists of all time.
My father is a country music singer and guitarist so I was brought up on everything from Hank Williams to Queen. I am a huge lover of classical music and movie scores, Hans Zimmer is one of my favorite. Like almost every trance producer and DJ, Jean Michael Jarre and Vangelis were huge influences. I fronted a rock band while I was in college so I have a love of rock music too. Motorhead, Guns & Roses and Metalica were some of my favorite bands. U2 I would have to say are my all time favorites though.

Did you see any obstructions coming in your way to be a DJ? If any, please share it with the fellow aspirants.
Like anything in life there will be obstructions and things that throw you off of your true course. I think it all depends how you deal with them that makes you who you are and defines where you end up. I've had my fair share but I've learnt from them.

And what are you telling us about your releases in 2008? We noticed on several forums that you are certainly looked upon as big thing in 2008!
In 2007 my main goal was to launch my new label 'Emalodic' and work hard to establish that within the trance market globally. For 2008 I have already completed 7 remixes for Perfecto including 3 Paul Oakenfold singles. I also have 2 single projects to be released on Perfecto in the coming months, one of which is the long awaited 'Chimera'. I have signed some amazing artists to my label too, a young producer from the UK called Noff and another called Simon Hunt. I signed an artist last year that my girlfriend Emma discovered called Rozza, he's gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months and I am really proud that he's established himself so solidly within the industry off the back of us signing him.

It is being marked that a lot of producers are coming up with their own labels. There will be a time when everyone will start producing under his or her own label. How do you see this as the owner of 'Emalodic Records'?
It is very easy to set up a label these days at relative low cost, it is easy to promote and distribute music via the Internet. Retaining the level of quality to make the label a success is however a different story and requires allot of hard work and a good ear for a great track. This is something I know I am very good at so I see the fact that the market is swamped with labels not a problem – most of them will disappear as quickly as they arrived. It does make it hard for the download stores though as they have about 3000+ releases a week to deal with but they're now starting to find ways of policing that which is good for labels like 'Emalodic' and other good solid labels in the marketplace.

How many times you had people coming to you and saying "Wow I want to be a DJ too!"? It's like you get hot chicks pouncing over you and you also get to travel the whole world!
Of course part of being a DJ means that you do get allot of attention, especially when you travel overseas. I love seeing the enthusiasm of young clubbers and new DJs; after all they're the ones who'll keep this scene alive. As far as hot chicks go it is one of the perks of the job for a single DJ though a massive distraction, not for me however as I am getting married next year to my fiancée Emma. Without her love and support I wouldn't be doing this, after all behind every good man is an even better woman.

How was it like working with Stace on "Piece Of Mind"? The tune is just bomb!
Stace is a real talent and a rare find in the industry these days as she is an amazing singer, songwriter and performer with absolutely no ego what so ever. "Piece Of Mind" was another one of those unplanned magical music moments I spoke about earlier.

Any plans to play here in Asian countries?
I'd love to come and play over there so any promoters reading this, you know who to call... ;-)

Alright, so tell us something about your style, the fashion quotient as a DJ. We came across a picture of you wearing black nail paint! Interesting.
I am a big lover of fashion and image is a massive part of what I do. I wouldn't say I have a style as such as I am a firm believer that style comes from within. I like to be different to everyone else hence occasionally wearing black nail paint – it's a talking point and makes people remember you... you did so it proves it works. These days you have to be more than someone who can mix brilliantly etc, you have to be a performer and a showman and really entertain your crowd. You have to look the part and act the part in my opinion especially when you're visiting a new country.

Thanks a lot for your time and interview on Trance Hub. We wish you a great year ahead!
Thank you for having me.

For more info related to Adam White check out the following links:
www.djadamwhite.com
www.emalodic.com
www.myspace.com/djadamwhite

Written by: Apoorv
Compiled by: Mr. Yank