THE word wunderkind was pretty much invented for the likes of 23-year-old producer Nicky Romero. In the past year, things have really got out of hand. Starting when David Guetta stumbled across his bootleg of Green Velvet’s stone-cold classic ‘Flash’ a couple of years back, the flamboyant Frenchman has taken Romero under his wing, gifting him a monthly slot at Fuck Me I’m Famous at Pacha and crafting with him the vast anthem ‘Metropolis’. “We do some stuff,” he says, a bit modestly about his unofficial mentor. “2012 has felt a bit like my launch year. And it feels like the first year I’ve been accepted as a main stage artist.” It takes most people years to reach that point. Romero has done it in no
tyle: “House.” Best known for: “‘Metropolis’ with David
Guetta.” Tune of 2012: “Swedish House Mafia ‘Don’t You Worry Child’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Tony Romera.”
time at all, and all the while maintaining a prolific production schedule.
Looking at his output, it’s hard to know how he’s been able to produce remixes for Madonna, and fistfuls of tracks collaborating with Calvin Harris, Fedde Le Grand, Nervo and Avicii in a single year. “I don’t either to be honest! I’m very dedicated to producing,” he says, therein adding the title of understatement of the year to his estimable output. BEN ARNOLD
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “The power to travel in time.” Should you play for the crowd or for yourself? “For the crowd, always. People go out to be entertained. You have to give them the experience of their lives.” What does EDM mean to you? “It’s a term that people from the States brought to Europe!” Should celebrities be DJs? “As long as we live in a free world!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Not yet. I hope it stays that way.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Beat matching is part of DJing, for sure.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Amsterdam or Stockholm.”
SANDER VAN DOORN
Best known for: “Identity radio show, ‘Eleve11’.” Tune of 2012: “‘Nothing Inside’.” Breakthrough DJ/ producer of 2012: “Julian Jordan, Firebeatz.”
SANDER van Doorn has ensured his continued hot streak of form in the upper echelons of the Top 100 by fighting on a multitude of fronts. This year has seen the Dutchman maintain his usual, relentless global DJing schedule as well as serve up massive productions like the emotional ‘Nothing Inside’ and bouncing, Beatport chart-topping, Julian Jordan collaboration, ‘Kangaroo’, and he’s also contributed a remix of a track from the huge Halo 4 videogame soundtrack. So, not a bad year, all in all? “Amazing! Incredible in fact,“ says Sander, who’s also
got a fair few tales to tell. “Where shall I begin?! Lost luggage, fans that follow from city to city, a tarantula brought into the room on my girlfriend’s head on our holiday: pick any! The best would be playing b2b with AN21 in Ibiza when I wasn’t meant to be. I believe I owe Tiësto for missing a flight out of Ibiza as well.” It seems the life of a superstar DJ is anything but dull! IAN ROULLIER
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If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “Easy. Teleporta- tion.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “I believe that I have a responsibility as an artist to introduce new music to people, but that doesn’t mean we play for ourselves. I 100% play for the crowd, but that means read- ing what they’re into and being adaptable.” What does EDM mean to you? “I guess if I used real instruments like a piano and a guitar in a song I wouldn’t be an ‘EDM’ producer anymore!” Should celebrities be DJs? “Pffff!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Well, no. But I have fought with a sheik in Vegas when he came in the booth with me uninvited. He treated me and my team to a cabana the next morning.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Is that really a question? Like asking, ‘Can you ski without snow?’ Yes… but it’s painful!” Where’s the next dance music capital? “I think we should focus on building on the success of ones we have!”