You’ve probably heard Sandstorm countless times if you’ve been to your fair share of clubs. Or maybe you’ve seen ‘Darude – Sandstorm’ all over the internet in random comments on Youtube videos and memes. Wherever you first heard of the song, Sandstorm will forever remain as one of the best trance songs in all times. Oh and one of the best memes of the 2000s.
Even if you’re more into billboard DJs like Martin Garrix or legends like Armin van Buuren, the Finnish DJ has inspired generations of DJs all over the world. At heart, he’s just a down-to-earth dad who didn’t get the whole “meme-thing” (isn’t it such a parent thing?) and eventually learned to embrace it. Because all publicity is good publicity, right?
We caught up with the man himself earlier this month to find out what he’s been up to when we were on It’s The Ship.
On his first experience on It’s The Ship
“I like it! The ship creates a specific, special atmosphere where it brings us performers closer to the crowd. Usually after half a day of craziness, the crowd get used to seeing us DJs on the ship as well, so there’s a mutual sense of respect and odd autograph and selfie/ hi five and whatnot, but other than that, we just get to mingle and hang out.
On why cruise festivals will still be popular
“It’s for the vibes, people gathering, having fun, making new friends, and hearing new artists that they might not have heard before. As a DJ and performer, being at a festival on a ship is like my playground!”
On whether a big stadium or small club is better
“YES. (laughs) I prefer both. It’s different.
Last night, I had a hard time at the beginning of the set trying to feel the vibe. The stage is very high and the first people are 20 to 30 meters away – I couldn’t hear the crowd. I’ve sort of learned to adapt and read it, but it takes a while; and that’s a downside of big festivals. I also believe that being a performer, even a DJ (or even more as a DJ) its not just the music; it’s also your personality and your connection with the crowd. Sometimes when you’re so far, its so hard to be interactive.
When I’m in a smaller club setting, I give the hi-fives, and look people in the eyes and share smiles and vibes. But nothing beats a mass of people roaring – it’s energising and invigorating. Playing to 100 and 200 people at a club is not that different, you feel the same level of high when you play a track and the bass line starts and you see someone like EUUUUUUGH (writer’s note: this is meant to express a moan of pleasure and enjoyment, not disgust) and vibing to it and you know what they are feeling.”
On his country wishlist
“Japan. China. I haven’t played anywhere in Africa; South Africa comes to mind when you talk about clubbing, but you don’t hear too much of anywhere else. South America I’ve been to a couple of times, but there’s a lot more places that I could go. Still a lot to do.”
On calling out the discrimination against female DJs in the industry
“One thing that I want to make clear is that there is definitely bad and negative stuff happening in the industry. You don’t have to have 50-50 percentage of men and women in any given industry. Like I don’t know as many women producers, but there are more women writers and singers that I can reach out too now if I wanted to. It’s natural that more females like to do whatever in a certain industry, BUT that has nothing to do with bad attitude where some men just don’t think that women can do this (DJ-ing thing). And they belittle them – I’ve seen that.
There are some women DJs who have used their other assets (to get ahead), so that can cheapen the (DJ-ing) thing for others. I don’t have have anything for that except for calling for someone in the industry who has influence and trying to stop the shit happening.
And, I don’t know where it comes from, but there is a bad rep of producers using female singers (on their tracks) but not crediting, paying or treating them equally. I try to make it a point now to always credit my singers or whoever I’m featuring on the track.”
On labelling a (female) artist
“Very many times a biography bit says a name and specify a female DJ – why you have to specify? You’re just a DJ – and that’s already labelling you as a female DJ in itself.
And sometimes it’s their PR companies who do that, and it’s such a multi-faceted thing. Compare it to this: people have a lot of different opinions whether you should spin vinyl or CDs or whatever, but if you put the DJ booth on the second floor, nobody is going to even see what gear you’re using. You just hear the music. I’m not saying we have to cover the DJ booth, but if you put a woman DJ or a man DJ on the booth – they’ll only react to the music, and that’s the only thing that should matter. The vibes should matter more than the sex of the producer.”
On tips for aspiring DJs
“I have no tips except to making the best music, and being the most real person.”
On keeping it real, then
“I don’t take myself seriously, but I take my work seriously. I don’t have an ego, and I don’t compete with anybody. If you make music and somebody likes your music better than mine; how can I change that? They just like your music better. I don’t try to talk anybody into liking me – I’ll just present my stuff and they can like it or not.
I also handle my own social media (with my manager of course), but it’ll be me answering the questions and not him. And when I’m here, I don’t try to hide from people. There is a bit of glitz and glamour and grandness in this industry. and creating those fake personalities as an artist benefit anybody.
I would advice anybody trying to get into the music industry is to try and do it for the right reason.”
On what the right reason for getting into the music industry
“Which is to make music and art that you love. Don’t try to make music for somebody else, or for the money, or going for it for the fame. BUT, there’s nothing wrong about wanting to make money from music. I make my own money from DJ-ing, but I still don’t make music thinking how much i can make on a track.”
On how important social media is
“TOO IMPORTANT. I like that social media is immediate. My Twitter is where my fans can get directly to me. I could be in Finland three months before my tour in Australia, and I talk to this guy and he’s all ‘I’m so excited to come and see you spin live in Sydney’ and this girl in Brisbane is like blah blah blah, and then I actually meet those people like partygirl89 on the dance floor, and I’m just hi-fiving her. It’s such an abstract thing to be talking with someone on the Internet across the world and actually being able to meet them.”
On being meme-ified
“It was irritating for a while because I would get 40 messages in an hour from my friends and family whenever a new meme came out, but if someone were to mention my name or my tracks name now, then go ahead, because it just brings attention to me. Its kind of calmed down on the meme side, but we were able to use it. Whatever works, right?”
On his favourite Sandstorm meme
“It’s such a random meme – like where does the cowboy come from. I just don’t get it.”
Header image from Colossal Photography x All Is Amazing
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