inthemix | Features | Ronski Speed: Trance at lightning velocities

Beginning his career as a DJ and producer in 1997, the illustrious Ronski Speed has been responsible for a plethora of trance behemoths, from last year’s Love All The Pain Away to 2004’s E.O.S and the outstanding The Space We Are – which is still as fresh as it was two years ago when the likes of Armin, PvD and Tiesto were hammering it to rapturous audiences around the globe.

Remixing a long list of luminaries from Kyau & Albert and Aly & Fila to world #1 DJ Armin Van Buuren to much acclaim, it’s somewhat surprising that Ronski sits modestly at #44 in last year’s DJ Mag Top 100 poll. But with a monthly radio show in its fifth year, a debut artist album due out this month on Euphonic and a whistle-stop tour of Australia starting this weekend, perhaps this year’s voting will be more reflective of this superb talent’s stature. ITM shoots the breeze with the East German champ about his upcoming album, label politics and the alter-ego.

How is your upcoming artist album Pure Devotion coming along, will audiences get a sneak peek at some of the new tracks on this tour?

The album is finished and will come on 29th of August on Euphonic Records. There will be 22 new tracks on it from different genres. Older tracks will be there in new versions. So this will be quiet interesting for the people to have a listen to. The more danceable tracks I’m already playing in my sets live, the first preview was the track All The Way With Us with Aruna on vocals.

Can you give us any hints about collaborations or vocalists on the album or will we have to wait and see?

There are a few collabs with singers, including a new track with Sir Adrian, who made The Space We Are vocals. Jenry, a talented US singer, some rock and pop singers like Karen Ires, Farita, Mque, Alynn Carter, Anyem and Charly Coombes. I don’t want to work with the voices that were already a million times used in trance tracks. I wanted to find new inspiring talents and tracks.

Speaking of albums, which LP, electronic or otherwise, do you wish you had produced and why?

Chicane Far From the Maddening Crowds, and why – it’s timeless, clearly produced and full of emotional tracks. It’s still an example of how trance music should be.

Your sets are epic, big-room affairs flavored with mash-ups and remixes. Will you have to tailor the sound to suit playing more intimate venues on your Australian tour, or will you give your fans the full on laser-kissed experience?

I’m usually try to do my sets like I think it would be fitting into the venue, and to the people. Actually I can’t escape from playing my stuff, and the people expect this from me.

Do you think the ‘DJ Mag Top 100’ has had a positive influence on the dance music industry or do you think that it has led to an increase in artist ego and label politics?

For sure, everybody is looking at the list. So the impact is quite big. Actually I’m pretty sure that the promoters and clubs are booking the DJs for the kind of music they are playing, and the crowds they will bring into the club.

Outside of the studio and away from the decks, how do you like to spend your free time?

Relaxing, watching movies, hicking, anything that brings me to other thoughts and relieves my mind.

What would Ronny Schneider be if he wasn’t a DJ/producer?

A Hollywood actor and star.

Have you heard of Basshunter? I was recently in the UK and his earbleeding eurodance album is sitting happily at #1 in the charts. Are there tracks of your own that you are less proud of than others, or will you stand behind everything you have created over the years?

I know Basshunter, he was successful with his sound in Germany too. There will always be senseless stuff around. Ask me next year if anybody remembers this guy. Actually, I’m happy also with all my older stuff that I’ve done, as I’ve always tried to do quality music. Some tracks of 10 years ago might not sound up to date, but they still are OK.

What is the most extraordinary thing you have ever seen in a club, whether from behind the decks or as a clubber?

I actually remember a gig from Canada where a hard dance DJ was jumping like a frog around the whole set, and nearly destroyed everything. He was full of drugs and alcohol. I was afraid to go to the stage and play after him.

What has been your toughest crowd so far, and what has been your most adoring?

I would say it like this, some British crowds are hard sometimes as the are used to having a big star DJ in their club every weekend. Too much of a good thing. The East European and South American crowds are outgoing and partying the whole night, also for the warm-up DJ too. That’s nice.

Young Australian artists Jaytech and tYdi are amongst the most exciting progressive trance producers in the world right now – is there anyone that you would earmark to make a similar impact on the scene over the next twelve months?

At the moment I can’t see somebody special to come up with extraordinary productions.

You have remixed trance legends Markus Schulz, Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond and Kyau vs Albert amongst others. If you could remix any other artist in any genre who would it be?*

I think I love Pet Shop Boys and New Order or fresh bands like Snow Patrol. To remix German bands like Wir Sind Helden or Juli would be interesting.

You have been broadcasting your radio show True To Trance on Di.FM since 2003. Is it still a useful outlet for you or are you finding that it will become less sustainable as pressures to constantly tour increase?

I’m doing my radio sets usually in hotel rooms or airports somewhere around the planet. So it’s a good thing to spend time and listen to new music for my sets.

Is the Shadowrider project alive and well, or was it one beautiful moment in the annals of trance?

Ha ha, in 2003 I made a few tracks for my project sun decade like Protonic and Blue Horizon. After the huge success of I’m Alone the tracks were spread to other projects like Sonorous and Shadowrider. I dealt with different partners to release it and finally 5 years later Blue Horizon appears. At the moment I don’t think there will be a follow up, but you never know.

And finally….being both a Sydneysider and a huge fan, I’m sure I speak for many ITMers when I say I am sad that you are not hitting our city on this tour. Are there any plans in the pipeline for a return on a larger scale, perhaps around festival time next year?

As I’m starting a brand new project in my home country Germany, I have to shorten the international gigs. In the next month I’m trying to reduce my DJing a bit, especially inter-continetal. Sorry Sydney, maybe we will rock the city again in 2009.

Catch Ronski Speed at the following dates across the country…

Friday 15th August – Rise, Perth
Friday 22nd August – Viper Room, Melbourne