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| SnuggLe |
Hi Peepz,
The Holland forum had some ideas, which resulted in a new initiative: the TranceAddict.com Interviews! We are taking interviews with unknown and famous DJ's who are from the Netherlands.
We just finished the first one: DJ Eye-Riz!! She's a member of our own forum! In the future you can find MORE exclusive interviews with dj's in the Holland forum. Some names: DJ Quintin, Marco V, DjRV, Luna, and many more.... We'll Keep you informed!!
Signed.
The Holland Forum Crew!!
DJ: Eye-Riz
Name: Iris Morsman
Biography:
Music has always been something I couldn't do without. Singing, dancing, playing the piano, playing the guitar, just listening...
In '93/'94 I became familiar with 'house music'. Rasta, a friend of mine, wanted to let me hear some house music, because he knew for sure that I would like it. In that time, I just knew the top 100 - house, which I really hated. After a whole night of listening music to things like Red Herring from Union Jack (Platipus Rec.), and cd's from DJ Fly, Mazzo Mix-Up, Billy Nasty, Carl Cox, and some other stuff, I was sold....
I started visiting parties, in and around Utrecht and Amsterdam. But some parties missed the warm, deep, and happy sounds I was looking for.
I decided I wanted to have my own records, so I could make my own selection of music. But, the question for me was where to find them. I never heard of something as 'import record stores', I didn't know where to buy vinyl. And, not less important: I didn't know what kind of gear I needed to play records.
In the mean time I kept on going to parties. On one of those parties, I met Johan. As we got to know eachother, I found out he was dj-ing, and obvious: he tought me the first things to know about spinning records.
I gathered two old turntables, with a turn-pitch control, and an old mixing panel. In that same month, I opened at our own '&joi' party. At least... I was trying :)
Since then I played at all kinds of parties. Our own (&;&joi and Nexus), but also at other parties: big and small, indoor and outdoor, in a club or a squadhouse Always with the same enthousiasm, because the size of a party doesn't really matter.
Being resident of Nexus makes me proud. Playing for an audience that is really there because of the music, is the best a DJ can have. To them it's not about style or appearence, not about hard or mellow, not about fast or slow, it's all about the music. And that is how it should be : )
Eye-Riz, most people know you as a member of the Holland Forum of Tranceaddict.com, and as one of the people behind the famous Nexus-parties. Was Nexus the first experience with dj-ing?
In 1998 I spinned my first record, but things became a bit more serious in the end of 1999. My first experience was "&joi", a party that I organised with my boyfriend, as you can read in my biography. I spinned the first hour, what was really exciting, even though the crowd wasn't that big. But at the end of that hour there WERE people dancing, which made me forget the failures I made during my set. It made me proud...
What was the first record you bought?
I bought two. One of them I don't spin anymore (you can make mistakes when buying records, mostly when you go to a shop to buy records and you keep on listening, at the end you're exausted). The other record I still bring with me everytime I have a gig somewhere, it's "Defiant/Free" from Nüw Idol at the Zoom label. It really ROCKS!
Who do you take as an example?
Hmm...I don't really have examples. I only have examples in how to listen to music. But these examples aren't famous dj's, but friends.
With whom do you want to cooperate in the future?
I really can't give you names. What I would like, is to invite all the producers of my favorite records for a summercamp, where we only talk, listen and make music. Everyone can do his own thing, but in cooperation with everyone else. I would like to see where that ends....
What was the climax of your carreer so far?
That would be probably the "Sixpack" party, the biggest and coolest Student party in Utrecht @ Central Studio's (> 2000 people). In 2001 together with Armin van Buuren and Per, in 2002 together with Leander, San and Erick-E (..'cause Marco V got ill...).
The first time it seemed like there was magic in the air. The last half an hour I played back2back with Armin, that was very cool! It also was the first time that I got a round of applaus from a really big audience. Pretty strange, I can tell you!
What are your plans for the future??
I dont have any I think. Some time later on I want to make my own music, but I haven't got the equipment at the moment, and I think I won't get the equipment this year or the year after this one. For now, I'm not done spinning records yet
Which party is still in your mind, and gives you the best memories?
First I want to say that I will leave Nexus out of consideration, cause that wouldn't be fair!
Then I would have to say Sixpack 2001, but also a small party in a squad in Dordrecht. The whole party was a bit of a disaster in the beginning. The dj that played before me was spinning like , it was so hard and noisy, it drove me almost nuts.
After he also took half an hour of my time I was fed up: I took his record of the turntable and put mine on (normally something which you shouldn't even consider, because that's very impolite, but as I said: I went nuts!). People started cheering and screaming, and the few people who were still there went nuts and came bouncing to the little dancefloor! also that night there was magic in the air, cause you really can feel the vibe as a dj, and then you get some sort of an action-reaction. Superb!
About your own mixing skills: what are your weak & strong points?
My strong points: I think I have to say my choice of records, and the way I build up a set. I started mixing cause I liked to dance, so maybe thats why I think I can 'feel' the crowd. I can catch the vibe that's in the air, and I know how to put that vibe in my mixing.
My weak points: I'm not technical wonder, I can't perform tricks and treats like turntablism dj's. I think I haven't practiced long enough for that (bit lazy). Further more, I'm more nervous for Nexus-parties than for others. On a Nexus party I have to fulfill the expectations of the crowd; a Nexus crowd is a 'demanding' crowd! Thats why I tend to get a bit insecure, what makes my set technically speaking not the best.
But besides this, I tend to have a lot of misfortune with the equipment: stuff that doesn't work, or some twat that bumps into the turntables.... always the same.
Is it difficult to be a woman in the house-scene, is it different?
Yes, it's different. I think it has 2 sides:
1) People think it's cool, a woman behind the turntables. I really don't see why it's that cool.... you're just a dj, guy or girl. A dj isn't a god, just someone who spins his/her records.....
2) Sometimes you see people think like "Ah, she's only spinning here 'cause she's a girl!"
In the beginning i found it pretty difficult to cope with these things (which are pretty opposite), but nowadays I don't care that much anymore. I think that's because I'm more sure of myself, but also because I don't give a what people think about it. That's a good thing I think, 'cause you have to believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, who will?!
Are there DJ's in the scene that are overrated or underestimated?
I think EVERY known dj is a bit overrated! There are so much unknown dj's in the world, who are sometimes far better, but weren't there at the right time and the right place to meet the right people.
What do you think about the party-scene in Holland, I mean: the size , the choice of dj's, etc?
You can see that the bigger parties tend to book the same dj's over and over. A bit boring... Holland does have big parties, but most of the organisations don't have the guts to do something new, progressive and different. That's why I rather go to the smaller parties, 'cause they tend to be more refreshing. Also, the people who are going to small parties, go for the music, not for the dj or the face behind the dj.
What do you like more: mixing at small parties or big parties?
I really like playing at big parties. The wave you can see when you watch the crowd,the humping and jumping is really cool to see. The vibe you feel can be really overwhelming. But on smaller parties I tend to be 'one' with the crowd, so I feel free to do what I like, and that really does it for me. Makes me party better, cause say for yourself: as a dj you got the best party spot, the best view, never a queue to get your drinks, and always enough space to dance....
Are there more things you want to say to the people that read this?
Ehm..not for now. Will have to get back on that one.The only thing i can say is: COME TO A NEXUS PARTY!
Eye-Riz, thanks for this interview, i will see you around on the next Nexus party i think :)
If you want to know more about Eye-Riz, you can mail her at info@nexusparties.nl , or take a look at http://www.nexusparties.nl. You can always come & visit a Nexus party. There is one the 15th of february in Deventer, and the 29th of April in Utrecht. See you all there...
Greetz,
SnuggLe |
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| Dj Lex |
Cool interview with the best female dj I ever heard :D Some new things for me, but especially the things you tell about the vibe I recognise, because you say that over and over ;)
:D |
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| franzelare |
nice interview snuggle!
when i'm done with making a review of her last cd for partyflock i will try to translate it and post it here, she can use al little attention.
see you all at nexus 15-02-2003!! |
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| Bouma-Bros |
| Nice interview! Looking forward to see her play one time, probably the next Nexus if they return to Utrecht (I hope)! |
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| SnuggLe |
| quote: | Originally posted by Bouma-Bros
Nice interview! Looking forward to see her play one time, probably the next Nexus if they return to Utrecht (I hope)! |
They will :)
The 29th of April they are in Utrecht again.... |
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