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Oct. 31, 2007
Bout Time For An Update! This is whats going on in my world!
Here is a recent Interview i did for Trancesound.net in london:
Interview with Ben Evans ( 10.09.2007 - 16:30 GMT UTC )
1. Hi there Ben, I`m glad You are having this exclusive
interview with us, but for people that don’t know You better, please
introduce Yourself, and what You do for living, as an artist and also
in real life too.
Ben Evans: Hi Cosmin, thank you for inviting me on your
website and for the interview. My name is Ben Evans, I have been
actively involved in the dance music industry for around 4-5 years now.
I started out as a faithful promoter and punter much like most of us
and had taken part in the trance movement in Melbourne across those
years, starting out helping with event crews and local club nights,
getting a feel for the industry and learning it ins and outs. Now I run
a party crew called Interview which is focussing on bringing some much
needed energy back into the EDM circuit in Melbourne, its primary
musical scope is Trance, Psy-Trance, Progressive and anything else
that’s got a wicked groove. In the real world so to speak I work full
time for a website called realestate.com.au as a creative coordinator
in Advertising Operations. Realestate.com.au is a website where Real
Estate agents can list their properties and use many other associated
features to benefit their business.
2. Have you had any specific feedback from well known
artists worldwide of your music, who know You better, in real life
aswell ?
Ben Evans: Not specifically, as I am still very new to the
production tip and i am focussing on building my events and Dj-ing
before I dive too far into the production training. But currently I am
putting a lot of my energy into the psychedelic realm of it all. When I
have some stuff out there I will let you know!
3. I have seen this line on Your MySpace profile: 'I
run the Interview Parties on a monthly basis and always looking for new
talent!' please tell us more about it.
Ben Evans: The Interview events that I have been running
have been my heart and soul for the last 2 years, having started at the
grassroots of the industry and building it up naturally to suit the
city, its needs and its flow and direction within, Hoping that this
structure keeps it fresh and exciting each time. You will find that a
lot of nights will start up and fade away really quickly, maybe it’s
the venues or the promoters or just the ever-changing music but that’s
one thing we want to avoid and by bringing in fresh sounds and new
artists that is a sure-fire way of keeping it on the forefront of each
genre. Luckily we never fall within any genre boundaries and we have
the flexibility to research new alternatives and sounds at each event.
4. That was a smart business move, as in advertising
Your name and so on, what’s the best or smartest business move You have
learned ?
Ben Evans: I think one of the best things I have learned
within this industry is to stay out of the bullCENSORED politics and
learn to really enjoy everything the music is and has to offer.
Jadedness is the killer within this scene and if you give anyone an
excuse to dump a whole lot of politics and bullCENSORED on you then
you’re not doing a good job of avoiding it. Advertising my name was a
good decision I thought because when I was doing the promotions prior
to starting interview I made my name known across all parts of the
scene, something people could recognise on a flyer or forum, so I
figured it would be a waste if I didn’t use my name out there as all
these people know me already.
5. Okay, so how has that affected You as an artist ?
Do you feel you have a leg up on the competition because You are also a
website founder and owner ?
Ben Evans: The Industry in Melbourne and the rest of
Australia is a very difficult industry to catch a break in, you need to
be able to offer something to the greater community to become a part of
it, In my mind I saw all these parties and events and really wanted to
be a part of them, as I quickly learned I will need to be able to bring
something to the table if I am going to make a name for myself across
the country, so instead of wasting my ideas on other nights which never
really listened I would implement them into my own project and use them
to build a crew within itself, made up of passionate musicians and
people who are truly dedicated to making something special in our city.
I think the Interview Crew is a massive leg-up to everyone involved in
it as it offers so much more than just a night out.
6. Please tell me more about the EDM scene in
Melbourne area, since I`m European, I don`t know so many things about
it, and I would be happy to find out more tho, Steve May and Joven from
Tenishia told me their side of the story, but I want to read Yours too
:)
Ben Evans: I explained it briefly above but I haven’t seen
the rest of the world so I would not be able to base it on any city I
particular, but I think it’s a really difficult but very enjoyable
city, which sort of knows what it wants but is too afraid to find it in
some circumstances. Popular culture is the pit to which most will fall
in when “going out” I think there is some great things about the scene,
especially the people involved and the music is absolutely top notch!
So many times we have been told that our music is sounding better than
the internationals for the night, which is a massive statement! Locals
such as Steve May, Mike Nichol and Blinky are providing Melbourne
clubbers with a unique style of club music. And we are very thankful
for artists like these guys who are making their imprint on the city
and the world. Local live acts and Djs are coming up with exciting new
ways to share their vibe with the crowds and its great when thrown into
a city like Melbourne and then know that your guys can really deliver
time and time again!
7. So what makes You different ? How is Your style more unique than everybody else ?
Ben Evans: I wouldn’t say it’s any more unique than anyone
else’s style but its certainly different. I like to play a mixture of
styles and always like to play music that people don’t really know or
haven’t heard before. Melbourne is a city which is bored pretty easily
so I like to keep my music fresh and different to a degree, which is
why I have ventured along the psy-trance road, as I think there is some
amazing work that producers have done and the flexibility that the
genre holds is so diverse and well kept that it fascinates me time and
time again!
8. What were some of the big differences You saw
between the electronic culture in Australia as opposed to the
electronic music culture in the world ?
Ben Evans: Unfortunately I have never been out of
Australia, I really want to someday, when the time is right. Then I
will be able to answer this question.
9. Do You think Your website, encouraged Your role as
an A&R ? Thinking that Your website though is about developing
artists though isn`t it ?
Ben Evans: Not really, it is more an information page about
upcoming acts and events that we have coming up, until the final
designs on the new page are ready. Once we have the new site up and
running it will feature articles and news about the artists involved,
biographies, video’s, music, photo galleries, and much much more. So
stay tuned for that one coming out soon!
10. Well has Your age ever been an issue for You yet ?
Ben Evans: I think it surprises people when they find out
how old I am (22) because of what I have achieved so far with the music
and the events. So far it has never been a burden to me, if I was to
find a burden it would be that I have not learnt all that I want to
learn and that will all come about as I get older anyway.
11. On 12th of October, You`ll be having an upcoming
set, for the Paul Van Dyk @ Metro - Interview Room, is that gonna be a
warm up set or afterhours ?
Ben Evans: Not too sure as yet which one it will be, as I’m
sure he will be playing for 3 or 4 hrs so somewhere amongst the night
when the set times are released we will have a better outlook on the
nights proceedings.
12. I know that You`ll be having a featured guest mix
for the DI.FM Radio - Club Damage hosted by Kuffdam & Plant',
please tell me more about the hook up with Kuffdam and his mate, Plant.
Ben Evans: I have just toured Kuffdam around Australia last
month and he loved every second of it! He is a great bloke and a
fantastic producer and Dj! He had invited me to do a featured guestmix
on his show Club Damage in September, so I am looking forward to that!
13. Are You a resident Dj of the Godskitchen events in
Melbourne ? Cause I know Steve May will have a gig, the same day, who
else is coming on 6th of October @ the Vodafone Arena ?
Ben Evans: There are quite a few great artists booked for
GodsKitchen this year, In Australia this only happens once a year so
its always a great night out! This is our first time playing under the
superbrand Godskitchen and both Steve and I are very much looking
forward to it, funny enough Steve is actually my housemate here in
Australia and I have learnt a lot from his music! The artists for this
gig are as follows: Rank 1, M.I.K.E (Push) The Thrillseekers, Richard
Durand, Alex Gaudino, Kurd Maverick, Bodyrox, Micky Slim, Mashtronic
(live), Gleave and more.
14. Do You have someone that You look at as a mentor that has instilled these values in You ? Cause we all do.
Ben Evans: Yes of course, all of my close friends. They are
my lifeline and we are learning so much as a group rather than
individually, we are always there for each other no matter what and we
always try to guide each other down the right roads. If it wasn’t for
my close friends and my sweetheart girlfriend Yael then I would not be
the person I am today and I look up to them in every respect. My Mum
and Dad were the ones who taught me the values in life and how to treat
everyone equally.
15. One of my last question, I always ask this. Have
You got anything to shout about for the TranceSound.net members and the
ones reading this exclusive interview ?
Ben Evans: If you ever find yourselves in Melbourne,
Australia and really want to party then you know where to look!
www.interview.net.au And also more importantly, if you are as
passionate and dedicated to the best in electronic music and want to
share this with some Aussies then please let me know if you are coming
to the country and would like to play, as this is very possible, also
if you are reading this and think you have what it takes to slam the
Melbourne crowd please get in touch with me via Anomyst@gmail.com.
Thankyou Cosmin! And I wish you every success with trancesound.net!
Keep on rocking!!! Much Love BEN EVANS (Interview Productions
Melbourne).
www.benevans.com.au
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