Style: “Trance.” Best known for: “Subculture.” Tune of 2012: “Paul van Dyk feat Plumb ‘I Don’t Deserve You’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Will Atkinson.”
JOHN O’Callaghan’s 2012 hit a strange peak with a visit to Macau in China. “It was a four-hour flight from Singapore, I was suffering a shocking hangover,” he tells DJ Mag, “and then I was really amazed to see all the hotels and buildings that are mirrored there from Las Vegas.” John travels light on his international touring, as he is one of the new breed who make the most of the advantages of the latest industry-standard club hardware. “Three USB keys on CDJ2000s. Why bring a laptop when you can bring 96 GBs of music in your pocket?” he says.
Naming the A State Of Trance 550 event at Beyond Wonderland in LA as a highlight of his year, John explains: “I have played in LA many times and I have seen over the years how trance has gotten stronger there. ASOT 550 was the culmination of
that. I played in the evening time and I played exactly what I wanted to play, and I was buzzing to see the crowd react so well to it.”
Citing “a definite sense of teamwork and friendliness inside trance circles”, John is hopeful for what the future will bring for the genre. “I feel that 2012 was a really strong year for trance, as the massive commercial boom has separated the cheese from the real trance community,” he says. “I fully expect 2013 to be even stronger, as the commercial bubble will eventually burst and those who have stayed true to real electronic dance music will have much stronger foundations to build on.” DAVID MCCARTHY
55 03
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “To slow down time, so I could sleep more after gigs.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “Has to be a bit of both.” What does EDM mean to you? “Music that takes you to another place.” Should celebrities be DJs? “If they have musical ability, why not?” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “No.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “No.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “LA.”
56 01
RUSSIA’S DJ Feel, aka Philip Belikov, has been a regular in the Top 100 for the past few years, with his success tied in with burgeoning Russian and Eastern European scenes. “Russian artists are growing,” he says, pointing to Arty’s recent collaboration with Paul van Dyk ‘The Ocean’ as evidence. “In 2012, I had around 80 gigs and had a very busy time in the studio preparing my new artist album, tracks and remixes for Armada and other labels.”
He says the album will see the light of day soon, and it’ll include his single from this year ‘24.01.11’, his tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in
Moscow’s Domodedovo airport. Otherwise, he’s been pushing forward with his Trancemission radio show and festival. “It’s one of the most important things in my life,” he says of the brand that he fired up back in 2000. “We now have the most popular trance radio show in Russia, its biggest trance music festival, as well as our own label,” he says. He’s brought artists to Russia like Armin van Buuren and Above & Beyond, as well as showcasing local talent like Alexander Popov, Eximinds and beyond. “I’m happy to be a part of Trancemission.” ANGUS PATERSON
DJ FEEL
Style: “Progressive trance.” Best known for: “DJ Feel feat Aelyn ‘Your Love’.” Tune of 2012: Hard Rock Sofa & Swanky Tunes ‘Here We Go (Original Mix)’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Eximinds.”
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “Flying, so I can visit other worlds and planets, and meet creatures from outer space.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “Both, so everyone’s happy.” What does EDM mean to you? “EDM is my life, except for my wife and son, of course.” Should celebrities be DJs? “It is bet- ter for the DJs to be the celebrities.” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “My computer crashed twice in 10 minutes once during a set, and I was politely asked to go off stage.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “The most important is to be a DJ in- side.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Moscow, though it might take some time.”