If you're looking for the next superstar international DJ, the Netherlands are a good place to look. Home to Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and Fedde Le Grand – Don Diablo managed to beat all three in the recent GKA awards, the Oscars of the Dutch Dance Scene, where he won the title of Most Popular DJ, as voted by the fans. His artist album is set for international release featuring tracks that he produced, mixed, and performed himself. In case you don't know Don Diablo yet, maybe you know the fellow Dutchmen that he discovered and signed to his own label – Mason, the producer behind the electro smash "Exceeder." With an ear for edgy music, massive DJ skills, and spot-on production – Don Diablo is definitely one to watch in 2007.
DJ Ron Slomowicz: Congratulations on winning the GKA Award for Most Popular DJ.
Don Diablo: Yes, thank you.
RS:: Were you expecting to win?
Don Diablo: No, definitely not, because these people don't warn you
in advance. I didn't even plan on going, but I was in the
neighborhood so I just walked in to the venue and saw my name there
and I was like, oh that's cool.
RS:: Your competition was pretty fierce with Tiesto and Armin.
Why do you think the Dutch people are making so many great DJs?
Don Diablo: The Dutch crowd is very critical and it's very hard to
please them. They've seen it all and they've done it all, but it's
not only in music, it's with everything because they're used to
getting the best and they get bored very easily. There's a big DJ
culture and a big dance music culture and it's very much embedded in
the musical culture, probably when you look at other countries it's
less. There's a lot to pick from and there's also a lot of foreign
DJs that come in to our country. A lot of the Dutch people fly to
other countries and go to Ibiza - so they've seen it all and they've
heard it all and they got bored easily and you still have to entertain
them all. It's different when you go to a different country - once
you're able to entertain the people in your own country over here,
it's a lot easier when you go out.
RS:: So The Netherlands is like the training camp for future superstars.
Don Diablo: Oh yes, it's definitely a training camp because it
doesn't get any harder than over here. It doesn't really matter that
you're a big name or you've got a small name, they'll stand on the
side and you know you have to prove yourself over and over until
you're at a certain point where they have respect for you and you know
you've got your own crowd. When I throw my own parties, I have like a
carte blanche, but when I play a random party or rave, people don't
pay attention, so it's just you and your turntables and you've got to
prove yourself over and over.
RS:: Do you think the Amsterdam Dance Event had helped a lot with
the people loving dance music?
Don Diablo: I think it helps with putting Amsterdam on the
international map and bringing people from all over the world to our
little country and seeing what Amsterdam has to offer. People still
think that Amsterdam or Holland is just a little part of Germany. But
obviously people who like dance know that that a lot of good stuff is
coming from Holland, at first the trancey stuff and right now the
electro and the electro house stuff. The Amsterdam Dance Event helps
because they see that we have good clubs over here and they see the
local talent. People over here already know it and it's very much
part of our culture, going out every week and going crazy.
