Interview with Steve Allen
His tracks have appeared on the biggest labels in today’s scene including Armada, Vandit, Magic Island, Monster Tunes and many more. With such high profile releases it’s no wonder that his productions have quickly become a firm favourite with the likes of Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, Judge Jules, Paul Oakenfold, Roger Shah & Markus Schulz.
With constant support from Tiesto himself, Steve was asked to perform a guest mix on his own award winning radio show “Clublife” broadcasted around the globe to millions of listeners on Radio 538 in Holland.
However don’t pigeonhole Steve as just a production wizard, his energy and enthusiasm behind the decks has lead him to perform regularly with the likes of Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, David Guetta, Judge Jules, Richard Durand, Matt Hardwick both in the UK and abroad, for the biggest brands in the industry such as Judgement Sundays & Passion to name just a few.
1. How did you start DJing/producing? When always started?
Steve Allen: I started when I was 18, I bought belt drive turntables, I just loved the music so much and wanted to play it and maybe one day make my own tunes to play! Ive been really lucky that all my hard work has now paid off and I am able to live the dream!
2. What are the reasons and the sources of inspiration that motivates you to produce a track?
Steve Allen: I get mad and random ideas in my head all the time, my main motivation would be the energy in a track, I want to make pounding club music whether it be uplifting or dark! My other inspiration would definitely be the mood im in when I get in the studio, that always dictates how the track turns out.
3. What is the main reason for underlining your euphoric melodies and all these explosive breakdowns within your tracks ? Is there a message behind it ?
Steve Allen: When im on the dancefloor, I want to feel like ive been “Touched By God” and have the hairs on my neck and arms stand on end, a shiver sent down my spine! So every track I make I try and make as euphoric as I can to hopefully achieve this for the clubbers who hear my music in the clubs.
4. In relation to your music, what your main influences are, and also what your thoughts are in relation to other artists and bands within music spectrum ?
Steve Allen: I like a lot of different styles of music, I get influences from all kind of producers, some not even in Trance music. I wouldn’t say I look for music by one particular artist any more, there is so much music around, and my style is so specific now I look for tracks other than artists when I search for my new music.
5. Lately you had massive support from great EDM heads, the likes of Armin van Buuren, how do you feel about it and if there are any top major artists that we have missed ?
Steve Allen: It’s a great honour to have people like Armin playing your tunes, it means your production is the best it can be and that great to know. Im lucky to have had support by every major DJ in the scene today with the like of Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold, Tyas, Askew, Aly & Fila etc.etc, all having played my tunes at some point, it makes it all worthwhile to know clubbers are hearing the sounds I have created.
6. Many producers are launching more and more commercial/mainstream tracks nowadays; and that makes the style becoming more or less productive as we all know it. Do you think that can influence the quality of trance sound in the future ? What is your take in this ?
Steve Allen: I couldn’t really care what anyone else makes, I make music that I like, and that my followers will also hopefully like. It makes it much harder when gathering tracks for my live sets, hence why I started making my own mashups to have material I like, that is suited to the style I play.
7. How do you describe your sound and what is your own particular production criteria/stamp that really had a mark in your life? ? More like, what describes you the most as an up and coming EDM artist ?
Steve Allen: Pure energy, madness!
8. Tell us further information in relation to your own label and radioshow “Digital Upgrade”
Steve Allen: Digital Upgrade is now a podcast that can be downloaded from my Soundcloud, I have recently decided to make the show a monthly podcast opposed to a fortnightly one to showcase more of my sound, instead of settling for tracks to fill a show every fortnight.
9. You are giving away a lot of free tracks and interesting mashups, supported by big names such as John Askew; do you reckon, that this is the right path that would help you becoming more popular within EDM scene ?
Steve Allen: I give away material as I believe music should be made accessible to people to want to hear it when they want it. However I only give tracks away if they wont impact on labels sales, theres no point giving away a mashup of a track that’s getting a re-release as it will just hurt the scene. If I can give away a few mashups and get a few more people who didn’t like Trance into the music I love, then ive helped the scene grow, and it needs to grow again!
10. What about your future plans in terms of projects, gigs, collaborations ?
Steve Allen: I am currently working on a lot of new material, I have just signed my new single with Jonathan Carvajal to a new sub label of Fraction, which im very excited about. I also have music coming out on NTR and Silent Shore, plus my own label Digital Upgrade. Studio wise im working on colabs with Gary Heaney, Brian Flinn, Scott Envy and a few others.
11. What is your favourite place/gig/club/event to play and why ?
Steve Allen: I recently played at Escape in Swansea,Wales. I have to say the clubbers were amazing, the club was great but the people who ran the event did so in such a way it reminded me of how the scene used to be.
12. In relation to your studio, what that consist of, such as hardware and software ? Any VSTs that we should look into ?
Steve Allen: Not much hardware at all, I have a custom build i7 desktop, with a pair of KRK Rokit 8’s and a Focusrite external soundcard. Software wise I use Fruity Loops, with a lot of VST’s and plugins
13. Is there a message from you to our in-house community, or anyone else reading this interview ?
Steve Allen: Keep support the scene, artists and events, they needs you
Interview made by Marin Marian (TranceSound.net Senior Moderator)
Courtesy of cluboverlord.com
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