Exclusive
Interview with DJ Suzy Solar by Kostas W.Voulgaris
(DJ DragoN)
(This interview was taken on March of 2014 for Generate Project)
Suzy Solar (from Florida,Usa)
is a name that is synonymous to pure direct, emotional and powerful trance music!
Just by witnessing one of her events, seeing the reaction of the crowd to the
intensity of her performance and positive vibe you can easily see this is what
this talented DJ was destined to do!
She is a
multi talented individual that literally can do it all, as she is a writer,
producer,
DJ and vocalist! Dance Music certainly is her
passion and that can be seen in everything she aspires to do!
Since 2001 she attains her own radio show “Solar Power Sessions” which is one of the longest running weekly trance shows in
the world and happens to be a
big hit on the airwaves with listeners tuning in globally! She also runs her
own music label titled “Solar Power
Music” along with her partner
DJ Lil’ B.
Her DJ mix compilations “The Perfect Trance 1 and 2” on Neurodisc
were a huge success and achieved high positions in the Billboard’s U.S. Electronica charts!
2004 was a height in her career as Paul
Oakenfold handpicked her track “Ocean Of Love” (which was co produced with Miss Shiva) for his Grammy nominated DJ
mix compilation “Creamfields 2004”!
It was also featured on the Austrian
compilation “Colors by Shiva”!
Later in 2007 “Ocean Of Love”
was released again on a superb package including three new remixes plus a great
music video!
She also
crafted a track along with Thomas Bronzwaer (Arizona) called “Samurai” which completely elevated her in the dance scene as this
was a track that had it all!
“Samurai” was infused with power, an emotional
breakdown and everything else that is needed for a track to achieve the status
of an anthem! It was even supported by some of the world’s top DJ’s including Armin
Van Buuren and Ferry Corsten! Till today this track can do major damage on any
dance floor across the globe!
Suzy
keeps busy with a high powered schedule of live gigs all around the world and
working on her new tracks in the studio!
She certainly is an inspiration to anyone that
loves dance music and I for one am psyched to have the honor of doing this
exclusive interview with her!
Question 1:What was the first thing that drew you towards dance music?
As a young child, I imagined
electronic music in my head before EDM was a genre. I later became obsessed
with finding songs that would fit that description and would search record
stores with no luck for many years. Then in 1992, I found a trance compilation
called "Tranceformed From Beyond"
at a record store and I felt that it was what I was searching for my whole
life. That was the beginning of my beautiful relationship with trance music:)
Question 2:While growing up did you ever imagine you'd eventually head
down the dj road?
I knew I would be a DJ as far
back as I can remember. My parents had the radio playing nonstop and it
inspired me. As soon as I could speak, I told my parents that I wanted a record
collection and by the time I started kindergarten, I had my own huge collection
growing.
Question 3:How did you start out your career as a DJ and when was the turning point when you
really witnessed your career lift off?
I decided to go for my childhood
dream of being a DJ in 1997 after listening to a very inspiring track called The Calling by Solarstone. Things just fell into place from there. I started by
releasing a couple of demo tapes, which got me bookings locally, then I
branched out into the world by playing on Internet radio stations. I first
started to see my career taking off when I released "The Perfect Trance 1 and 2" compilation albums on Neurodisc/Capitol Records, which did
very well in the Billboard dance charts.
Question 4:If I'm not mistaken you had several tv appearances in the
past.How was that like and how did it come to be?
I went to school for video
production but decided to do music instead. My parents told me that I would
grow out of the music phase and they talked me into going to college. I agreed
to take mass communications and psychology but ultimately decided that I was
going down the wrong path when I realized that I never grew out of the music
phase like they said I would.
Question 5:I know this is a question you get asked a lot but I still
got to ask.Which do you most enjoy doing? Djing or producing?
I enjoy both! I get a rush from
DJing to a loving audience but producing satisfies the need to create.
Question 6:What moment stands out in your memory as your most special gig?
There's so many special memories!
Recently, I opened for Armin van Buuren in Tampa, Florida. Some of my favorite
parties are the massive arena events that I've done in Calgary, Canada. The
people there are like an extended family to me. I also loved playing in Hawaii;
it's so beautiful and relaxing there:) Also I can't forget the crazy times
playing in Colombia and Ecuador. I also had lots of memorable times playing in
Germany and Holland.
Question 7:Of all your tracks you've created is there any that holds a
special meaning to you? And if so would you please share why?
"Samurai" holds a special meaning for me. I'm descended from
samurai on my mom's side, so I wanted to do a track that commemorates my
heritage after my mom passed away.
Question 8:You run your own label Solar Power Music.How is that like
and is it a company policy to sign lots of new artists? If so,what is the
criteria to be on the Solar Power team?
We're still in the works on
signing new artists. We lost our distribution so we'll be looking into that a
bit more down the road.
Question 9:Which artists would you like to work with if you got the
chance in the future and which has been or have been your favorites to work
with so far?
There's so many producers that I
would love to work with, like Simon Patterson, Photographer, MilamDo/Harmonic
Rush, Aly & Fila, Simon O'Shine, JOC, the list goes on. So far, my
favorites that I've worked with are Thomas Bronzwaer and Daniel Wanrooy.
Question 10:As I know there is a new album brewing in the Solar Power
lab! I for one am certainly eager to get my hands on it! What can we expect to
hear and will it contain any special surprises or guest collabs? Right now
I'm working on a collab with Philip Mayer and it's an awesome uplifting
trancer:) The other collabs and solo tracks will be sold as singles instead of
an album.
Question 11:If you had to choose a favorite track in dance music from
the last decade which would it be and why?
Darren Porter & Gareth Weston
- First Contact (Extended Mix) [Aria Recordings] because it's the most
emotional track I've ever heard. It perfectly conveys the intense conflict of
pandemonium, doom, beauty and hope that comes with ushering in a new era of
such an encounter of first contact with an alien race. This is my favorite
track to drop at the peak to a massive audience. I love to see their reaction;
they totally lose it!
Question 12:It has come to our attention that you recently had an
appearance in a new movie cast as a DJ! How did that come to be and can you
share a few details about the experience?
Last year, one of my friends had
recommended me to a film production company and they cast me for their action
film short titled "Peace, Love,
Unity and Revenge" for The Action Film Challenge. They also used two
of my tracks in the film. It was fun and I might continue doing more film
projects if time permits:)
Question 13:Do you happen to have any plans on doing a new dj mix
compilation in the near future? I know I for one would be happy to hear a
follow up to the superb "The Perfect Trance" 1 and 2!
I was going to release a new
compilation on my label and had already licensed the tracks, but the
distribution fell through. I was also talking to another label about it. I'll
keep everyone posted!
Question 14:The new year is well upon it's way! Do you happen to have
any plans for 2014 or any personal goals you've set for the year?
My plans this year include
producing, singing and playing more shows. For more info about my upcoming
releases and tour dates, please like my music page at facebook.com/djsuzysolar.
Question 15:Do you happen to have a secret or something not many people
may know about you that you'd like to share with us?
I have a funny secret to tell
you. I had to kick out a top 100 DJ from my house party a couple of years ago!
I'm not going to say who it is, but he got blackout drunk and did a bunch of
stuff like throw food all over my kitchen, humped a guy's leg, tackled my bf
for no reason and scuffed up my walls, then he followed me in the bathroom and
locked the door behind him! Everyone wanted to kill him lol!
Thanks so much for taking the time to put
together this special interview with me Suzy!
Keep on Trancing!
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