STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW

It would be an understatement of rather epic proportions to say there was excitement when – after making us endure a torturous four-year wait – Dutch trance megastar Tiesto announced he’s be finally returning to Australia. His return was tantalizingly hinted at with a message written across the sky at this year’s big Big Day Out in Melbourne, but not long after ITM dropped a bomb with the announcement that he would indeed bringing his massive ‘Elements of Life’ tour to Australia. The hysteria that greeted the announcement illustrated more than anything just how much sway Tiesto holds with dance music fans. He’s transcended his status as a mere DJ/producer, and has well and truly become an icon.

‘Elements of Life’ certainly made a big impact last year. A conceptual affair that was tied in with the 2007 album of the same name, he took it on the road in the US and played to stadiums of up to 30,000 people. In the process he succeeded where so many others have failed, by cracking the notoriously tough US market. Billboard.com was even inspired enough to rank the show as the musical highlight of 2007. “Tiesto’s spectacular tour featured sky-high video screens, pyrotechnics and trippy appearances by Blue Man Group,” enthused the US media outlet. “With a lighter-hoisting rock scope and a ‘concert-style’ set programmed to match the visual onslaught, the tour blazed a new trail for DJ performance.”

Now, we get to see it all for ourselves. As the man himself says, “It’s been four years since I was last in Australia, so I think Australian crowds and Tiesto have a lot of catching up to do.” ITM’s Angus Paterson speaks to the icon about all things ‘Elements of Life’ as he prepares to descend on the country.

Tiesto will be playing the following shows around Australia:

Thu 24th Apr – Family, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
Fri 25th Apr – Family, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
Sat 26th Apr – Festival Hall, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
Sun 27th Apr – Festival Hall, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
Thu 1st 2nd May – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Fri 2nd May – Festival Hall, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
Sat 3rd May – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
Sun 4th May – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Have a look at this spectacular clip from the ‘Elements of Life’ tour to give you an idea of what we can expect…