STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW
It must be equal parts exciting and intimidating to be labeled as the ‘next big thing’. And so it is for Markus Schulz: rising to the #13 position in last year’s DJ Mag 100 poll, he’s been tipped to shortly join the ranks populated by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk and Ferry Corsten, as one of real heavy hitters in trance. This obscures the fact that only a couple of years ago, he was widely known for playing progressive house, rather than trance. But it’s this same musical heritage that’s allowed Markus to stand out from the pack: it’s the deep grooves, layered sounds and forward-thinking musicality that have been wowing the fans, just as much as the euphoric melodies and epic breakdowns.
There’s been a renaissance in trance over the past few years, with new wave of electro, tech and progressive influenced sounds meaning that it’s all sounding fresh again. And this has been what’s brought Markus into the fold. “As far as my tastes and what I look for in music, I almost feel like I’ve stayed pretty much the same. But I’ve noticed that the trance sound has moved closer towards me … There’s a lot more trance out there that’s accessible to me, because the genre itself as a whole has moved a lot closer towards where I’m at as a DJ/producer.”
He had a bunch of huge club hits last year, including I Am and the divine Daydream. He was last Australia in 2006 for the first Future Music Festival tour, warming up the crowd for headliner Armin van Buuren, but now he’s on this way back as the top trance performer at that very same festival. And what’s more, he’s got a genuine passion for what he does. Here he talks to ITM’s Angus Paterson about all the excitement in his life at the moment, his upcoming tour of Australia and how he’s been snuggling up nice and close with trance.
Check Markus Schultz out when he returns for the following shows…
Mar 1 – Future Music Festival, Brisbane
Mar 2 – Future Music Festival, Perth
Mar 7 – Sublime, Sydney
Mar 8 – Future Music Festival, Sydney
Mar 9 – Future Music Festival, Melbourne
Mar 10 – Future Music Festival, Adelaide
And check out this clip of Markus playing live at the Trance Energy party in Europe…
whoseyadaddy says...
That video is from the A state of Trance 300 party.
tomxon says...
haa sick kennnt :)
zealbee says...
Markus Schulz is amazing, can't wait to see him at Future.
em_bem says...
I have had the Live Trance Energy CD in my car for so long, and when I heard he was going to be at the Future Music festival this year I nearly had a heart attack.. This guy is AMAZING!
AVB_No_1 says...
Markus is an absolute STAR!! I remember rocking to him at Two Tribes 2006, he was fucking amazing. Not only that, his GDJB get better and better each week. He is the only reason I’m going to Future Music, Can’t wait to see him.
JDxx says...
Amazing!!! He is just so in tune with where trance is at. luv it... oh, btw, any1 know the name of that song playin in the clip? ive heard it time 'n time again but dont know the name or its its been released. cheers
niallmurphy1979 says...
well if thats not a straight out driving progressive house track, i dont know what is, its quality alright, but trance? i doubt it
jasbags says...
THEY AREN'T THE DATES FOR THE FMF???
natente says...
this guy is the only reason for me to attend FMF too.. i cannot WAIT. markus needs a melbourne side show too :)
racheld83 says...
He's playing Future Music Festival Perth on 2nd March!!