Melody on a loop

DUTCH TRANCE DJ Jorn Van Deynhoven, the man behind such eponymous hits as “New Horizons” and “Freaks”, jetted into Bangkok recently to man the decks at the FHM model party at DND nightclub on trendy Ekamai. 

Based in Amsterdam, the 38-year-old half-Dutch and half-German producer, whose real name is Jorg Loeffelmeier, has been in the music business for two decades and started off as a DJ in the 1990s when vinyl records were the spins of choice.

His varied career has also included running his own record company, producing and hosting his own radio show on Afterhours FM. He returned to the club scene in 2009 and since signing with Armin van Buuren’s record company, Armada Music, now plays at clubs and festivals all over the world.

Rather than trying to emulate any particular DJ’s, Van Deynhoven is influenced by all types of musical genres, ranging from rock, techno, indie to classical music and Coldplay. 

Despite an impressive career trajectory, Van Deynhoven has faced his share of hurdles. After a hiatus from DJ-ing, he had to adapt to CDs as well as a scene that has changed greatly in just a few years. However he was soon selected for Armin van Buuren’s world famous weekly radio show “A State of Trance”, and tells XP that he almost certainly owes his current success to this stroke of fortune.

Though not broadly known, this was a actually a case for tit for tat, as Van Deynhoven’s record company had helped shoot van Buuren to fame in 1998 by releasing the then unknown DJ’s remix of Denzel & Dwayne’s “Force of Habit”.

Despite his success, the smiling DJ insists he’s not famous. “But I am lucky to have a loyal fan-base in the trance scene,” he says. “My fans are central to my success and I love being able to produce music from the heart, make interesting and quality tracks for the people and do shows that tell a story”. 

To do this, he limits himself to two original tracks and three remixes a year so he has the time to work on music that both he and his fans enjoy. Eager to create the best music possible, he remixes a number of other DJ’s tracks, and is happy when others remix his tracks.

Van Deynhoven describes his music as “classic, typical trance”. He never plans his performances, preferring to reflect the audience’s mood and play what they want. Always looking for ways to improve, he watches other DJ’s and takes note of their style and interaction with the crowd and, while not always following them, the broad inspiration helps his own style evolve.

“A producer and DJ has to change his sound to hold their business, it’s very important to evolve.”

That evolution in style has contributed to Van Deynhoven’s success. His earlier tracks were very light and uplifting but today are heavier, more in the mood of “Spotlight” and ‘The Anthem’, which was selected for “A State of Trance”.

So what does the future hold for Van Deynhoven?

“I guess finding and maintaining a balance between work and personal life. I want to make time to be in the studio so that I can continue to make music for trance lovers all over the world,” he says.

“I produce music for my art and when I have a feeling I can produce a track, then I can produce whatever I want. I also want to produce remixes for others and create quality tracks.”