SOUNDS GOOD: DJ Paul van Dyk never sits back and is always searching for new sounds

The Grammy-winning trance DJ Paul van Dyk performs in SA next month. Lesley Mofokeng catches up with the music and the man

I have a pretty clear idea of the sound I want to bring across, and I believe it’s all about the interaction with the people.

I have been called the leader of the trance nation, but when you listen to the music there’s much more to it. There’s electronic music elements I enjoy putting together.

I don’t think it will disappear. Electronica is the biggest genre of music globally. There may be local variations and downfalls, like a local club closing and fans thinking the music is not doing well or dying. The quality of electronic music is higher and there is always a possibility of growth .

It’s the biggest global youth culture and every day there are new influences creeping in; it’s forever evolving. It has been about breaking boundaries .

In between a lot of elements I play my set with no turntables. I use CDs, two computer systems and play live. The program I use is called the ableton sequencer system. It enables me to play a lot of things live. It takes intense technical experience and using my skills as a DJ.

There are different things in different places and I believe Joburg is as important as Berlin, New York, London and Paris.

Twilo in New York which closed in 2001. I called it the cathedral of electro-music. Then there’s Space in Miami, Zook in Kuala Lumpur, 1015 in San Francisco and the Vanguard in Los Angeles.

I played at an outdoor venue on the Caribbean gulf coast named Playa del Carmen, near Mexico. In pouring rain 6000 Mexicans went crazy .

All kinds of music like Linkin Park, Placebo, the Vonbats, the British C Power. They have stupid names but are fantastic.

I have to stress evolution. No one should just sit back and not change things. I’m always searching for new sounds and progress is part of the creative process.