HAVING entered the Top 100 last year, Guatemala’s leading DJ and producer, Francis Davila, has had an even bigger 2012. “It has been a year full of blessings,” he says humbly. “Being able to visit different places, performing in front of thousands of people and feeling their love and energy, has made me appreciate my fans more and more each day.” Francis also uses his fame for the greater good, taking part in the recent anti- violence, Voices For Peace concert in Guatemala. “Being chosen as one of the top representatives of music in the Central American region and going on a massive
Style: “Screw genres. Big room tracks!” Best known for: “Being an electronic music scene pioneer in Central America.” Tune of 2012: “Steve Aoki ‘Ladi Dadi (Tommy Trash Remix Instrumental)’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Bingo Players.”
tour,” have been among the highlights of 2012, he says. “As well as seeing my face on a special edition of beer cans!“ With many tipping South America as the next dance music Mecca, it’s certain that Francis will be at the very forefront of the region’s musical revolution. IAN ROULLIER
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “Melting guns and weapons to stop violence and war.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “For myself, because I don’t sell out. People come to see me because of what I do and they like it.” What does EDM mean to you? “Choosing the right path in my life, because no other path would have given me all the experiences I’ve had because of EDM.” Should celebrities be DJs? “It makes me sad to see a celebrity with no talent as a DJ, distort- ing our profession and disrespecting the true meaning of the art of DJing.” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Never. Not even in a town fair full of cowboys.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “No! One of the biggest skills you need to be a good DJ is perfect and impeccable beat matching, without using any technology that makes the job easier.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Las Vegas, after my last visit I can say that Elvis is back! It’s amazing that the stars you now see in Vegas are DJs.”
D-BLOCK & S-TE-FAN
Style: “Hard dance.” Best known for: “Melody and bass, euphoric music.” Tune of 2012: “D-Block & S-te-Fan ‘Rebel’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “F8trix.”
DIEDERIK Bakker and Stefan den Daas began their partnership in 2004, taking inspiration from Bakker’s father’s musicianship and the happy hardcore scene. Describing their vision of hardstyle as “filling in the gap between trance and hardcore”, the pair tell DJ Mag: “it is really cool to see this scene growing to where it is now. It is not the easiest music to listen to, but it is for sure the best music to lose yourself to on a night off!”
Namechecking DJ the Prophet, DJ Dana and Technoboy as hardstyle pioneers, the duo don’t hold back when it comes to embracing new techniques. “We are playing with SD cards,” they say.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “Fast flying, that would save a lot of time and irritation.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “A DJ is there to serve the crowd, not himself.” What does EDM mean to you? “EDM to us means that we can live our dream, and that we can do what we love most; make music and per- form. It is our life!” Should celebrities be DJs? “Times are changing, DJs are the new celebrities!” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Once, a long time ago in our hometown, for tearing up the place!” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Beat matching is not really the criteria anymore, but in this day and age not being able to beat match is pretty lame.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “We have been perform- ing in so many cities the last couple of years, and every city is crazy in its own way.”
“Love it! Never looked back since the vinyls. 0.5 kg of music to take with us is heaven on earth!” With 2012 highlights including their set at Gelredome in Arnhem — “always a pleasure to get on stage in this amazing stadium,” they say — their plans for next year are simply to “make a lot of cool music!” DAVID MCCARTHY