C-Heads talked with the very simpatico Slovenian DJ Tomy DeClerque. His current Carl Cox remix Nexus went to 13th position on Beatport Techno Top100. And although it´s more important for him just to make a real good track instead of worrying about chart- positions – the young producer can be very proud! Enjoy the interview and Tomy´s favourite November Charts.

Tomy DeClerque “My Chart” (November 2011) by Tomy DeClerque

Hello Tomy, first of all thanks for your time! I hope you are well and first I want to congratulate you because your remix Nexus (Tomy DeClerque Remix) went to 13th position on Beatport Techno Top100 ? Are you very excited about that?
All good thanks! Well – I was very excited when my manager told me I was going to do a remix for Carl. It is like one of the biggest dreams coming true, doing a remix for such a legend is a big privilege. There is another remix of the same track – the full vocal remix ( I don’t know if I can even talk about ) :) but we are waiting for the right moment to put it out :) As for Beatport I’m happy that the track reached that position, but personally I’m not into positioning music or djs in charts. It seems that then all are just focusing on getting higher in the charts instead of making a good track. And I heard lot of great tracks that haven’t come even near the charts :)

That´s true! I am just listening to your track Leavin [gift for Carl Cox] ? it´s brilliant and I really love it! – you have been working on that track for a long time and you said that it was very special to you and is one of the best tracks that you made. Why is it so special to you?
Because I really took my time to make it! I think it was about 6 or 7 months. I didn’t mind to just make a track – I wanted to do it right and in an old school way. Recording things, trying different edits, leave it for couple of weeks , return to work on it when I had time. Change some things, record real instruments – it was not just “lets make a track and release it”. That´s why I give it to Carl and all his fans. And is still free for download on my soundcloud.

You started Djing when you were only 17 and later you also started producing- has it been your childhood dream to do that or you just somehow got into this?
As a child I loved playing with Lego. Builded things up, take them apart and build something else. “When I was a teenager I did the same thing but not with legos anymore. More like TV, amps, … That´s how I got interested in technology and how all this things work together. Almost it was more this that got me into DJing than music. :) And later on this all got me into production. But if you think – producing music is as legos :) You can use same things (samples, synths, …) and create different stuff all the time :)

What kind of electronic music or music in general were you listening to in your youth?
Well, the very first music that I was aware of – like …uuu … I like this … was … khm khm …well … country … but don’t tell anyone :) But I was like 8 or 9 and then when the electronic music started to come to Slovenian coast through Italian radio stations  I was in. From the beginning.

I watched a video where you explained how you work- it really shows how complex the work of a DJ is, – one has to be totally focused and be able to multitask etc? have you ever had a situation where you completely lost track during a set-up?
Too many people just don’t understand and use new technology in a wrong (or easy ) way. All this new software and controllers are there do make some things easier. So you can be creative and concentrate on different stuff you can do . But I see too many DJs just buying top charted tracks, loading them in the software, press play and they call themselves DJs. But being a DJ is faaaaaaaar more than that! I spend a lot of time trying to discover new things and test different setups to get as much as possible from the new technology and to make it most interesting for the crowd in front of me. You need to be extremely focused, or you just lose it. And need again some time to see where you have left off, but in the meantime – the moment can already be gone and you could not do what you wanted to do. So you have to get a new idea and do it again. In a couple of seconds! With time this comes more natural – but at the beginning there were some moments I didn’t even know where I am. And I don’t mean with the music … hahahaha

I like it that you are very focused on watching the crowd when playing and then give them what they want rather than just playing a track list. Certainly that is what makes a good DJ. I guess you have to connect with your audience to be able to do that- does it ever happen that you don´t feel this connection to your crowd?
I must admit that there were few times that I was like …mmmm no , no , no … thats not good … during the set … but after they were all happy and amazed by the performance. So it was just my wrong feeling. This always depends on how the crowd is used to party. In some countries they are screaming with hands in the air so you get the feeling that all is good. But in some places they are just dancing (or better say stepping from one foot to another ), watching up in console and they do like this for 2 to 4 hours . So u get the personal impression that they are not having a good time. But this is how they have good time :)

Do you have role models- people from the music scene you really admire?
Yes … whoever does it with passion! And you can see it and feel it from their performance and mostly from their behaviour before and after the performance.

What or who inspires you?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. It is something you absorbe during all day long. It´s funny how some people in the business talk about pop music. That pop music doesn´t affect them. But this is absolutely impossible. If you are out and eating a pizza and listening to the radio there – and f.e. Lady Gaga is playing… it affects you. You are not aware of that but your subconscious is absorbing that.

You are from Slovenia ? How is the electronic music scene over there at the moment?
Like everywhere else in the world. Everybody is complaining there is nothing going on. But when something is going on here …then the same people don´t  go … hahahahahaha

Now- what`s the story behind “My Chart” of November?
There is no particular story. Just 10 tracks that are the best in my promo inbox at the moment. Also the chart which I created in no classic order – like from the best down. Just 10 best tracks of the month! With of course my newest track in the 1st position like every month … hehe

Where can people see you live next?
This weekend I will play with Laurent Garnier in Ambasada Gavioli and after that I will play in a new club in Italy called “Cube”. But the best thing is just to follow me over social networks to know where and when. Things are changing fast. It feels like there is a period of “last minute “ bookings … hahahaha …

And last a few typcial C-Heads questions:
The perfect day starts with and ends with…?
Good coffee … yes … I’m coffee addicted … and ends with couple of good news that arrived during the day. And maybe a good track that has been finished or just started – just to have the satisfaction in my head before going to sleep.

5 things you cannot live without?
Coffee, phone, music, something to do (anything) and another Coffee

The most important thing in life is..?
Life itself … too many people are just dreaming about how they wanna see their life just instead of focusing on what they have already and enjoy it .

Many thanks for your time and music:)
Thank you  :)

soundcloud.com/tomydeclerque

Interview by Christine & Sigrun Guggenberger