BRACE FOR A REAL SENSATION

A phenomenal party packed with creative themes, cool lights, killer sound and of course all-night top-quality music by globally renowned DJs, Sensation was born in Amsterdam and now reckons it’s ready to take on Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan. 

Heineken, which is sponsoring the tour, arranged a quick but exclusive interview this week with one of the headliners of Sensation Bangkok, DJ Deniz Koyu.

Tucked into Bed Supperclub, the German-born, Netherlands-based progressive-house spinner only recently joined Sensation, starting in Prague two weeks ago. He was still gushing about it. 

 

The Prague event at the O2 Arena really was a “sensation”. 

The party was sold out. There were 16,000 people, which of course was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played for, and I was very nervous! It was a good thing that the DJ booth was in the centre of the arena and revolved slowly 360 degrees, so I didn’t see the whole crowd at the same time, otherwise I’d be too nervous! 

 

How did you tie in with Sensation? 

Thanks to my track “Tung”, which was played at all the Sensation parties by all these big DJs like Fedde Le Grand, who introduced me to the people behind Sensation. Sensation is a big, big thing – everybody knows about it. Everyone wants to go to Sensation and every DJ wants to perform there. 

 

How come we haven’t heard much of you yet?

I started in the scene a year and a half ago, but I started with music production earlier. It took me a while to learn how to make electronic music, and it was just two years ago that I started to make music professionally. Last summer “Tung” came out, which became my breakthrough. 

 

How did you get into DJing?

I played piano when I was five and that was just that. Then I got into pop music when I was a teenager and became a Michael Jackson fan. Then when I was 15 or 16 I got into electronic music and I’ve always loved Daft Punk. 

It got serious when I was about 18 when Axwell, Eric Prydz and Fedde Le Grand just started in the scene, and they basically got me into house. I thought, “Wow, I get to make my own music!” At the beginning I liked funky, disco house music and a lot of commercial music. Then I got into techy stuff. 

I think most everyone started with commercial music, and when you’re educated and know more about what else is out there, you grow to like different styles. Then, you want to hear more techy, deeper music. 

 

What label are you on?

I’m with Flamingo Recordings, which belongs to Fedde Le Grand. He found one track of mine called “Grunge” which I put out two years ago. It was one of my early attempts to break into a music career. 

Nobody noticed the track at the time, but somehow Fedde did and liked it. He played it in his sets for over a year. Later on when he heard “Tung” he contacted me, and that’s how I got onto his label. I moved to Holland last summer and took over Fedde’s second studio, where I can stay and work on my music. 

 

Is the music scene getting too competitive? 

It’s very competitive, of course, because it’s not that difficult to be a DJ. You can go to YouTube and get a good tutorial on how to make electronic music, and you can even post your songs on the Internet. And there are a lot more new artists, more comparisons and more competition. But I like it. It’s very lively and there’s more good music coming out. In the end, everybody is taking advantage of it. 

 

What’s the plan for Bangkok?

It will be a great line-up, because Sensation always has great DJs. It will be a great experience!

Come early and stay till the end. It’s a show, not just a few big DJs playing. There will be shows all night, and if you come late you’ll definitely miss something. 

I can guarantee it will start with a bang and end with a bang.

 

WHITE NOISE

Sensation: The Ocean of White is on August 18 at Impact Arena.

Regular tickets are Bt1,500. The Bt2,500 deluxe package gives you access to private bars, exclusive terraces and the reception room where you get three free cans of Heineken and complimentary food from 7 to 10pm.

See www.Sensation.com/thailand/en