1. Hi there "Mr Infinity", how's everything in the world of Darren Bailie ?
Darren Bailie: Hi, everything is really good thanks. Enjoying the sunshine!
2. Being my very first time having the chance to speak to you, I really wonder how everything took off, who's idea was to get the record back on track, being heavily hammered by major EDM heads out there, huge support though. Please tell me the story behind the scene :)
Darren Bailie: I had the original idea to redo the old 1990 classic a while ago. I met and became friends with Paul Walden (Guru Josh) back in 1999, he gave me permission to cover the track as and when it suited me. I originally did a kinda pop trance version in 2004 but never pushed it. In 2007 the electro scene exploded and I thought the electro sound was perfect for the sax from the 1990 track, seems I was right :-) Anyway, I did the first rough edit in July/August 2007, I sent it to a couple of labels and got a immediate response from Big City Beats in Germany who took over and rocketed the track into the major league (officially the biggest worldwide dance track in a decade). In the meantime I bumped into Paul Walden whilst on a family holiday, I then invited him to join me in my venture, at first he refused as he had long since retired from music and had absolutely no interest in the project. He was working as a satellite TV installer, he called me a few weeks later about Sky viewing cards, and I asked him again if he was up for joining me. He then agreed and forwarded a mix of "Infinity" that he would not even listened to, it had been sent by a fan by the name of Anders Nyman. I listened to the track, loved the quality of the production even though the mix was a little cheesy, so decided to invite Anders to join as-well.. so that's it the Guru Josh Project was born! It was a perfect collaboration, I would produce and DJ, Anders would take care of most production and Paul would do the live show.
3. When it comes to the track's lyrics, whose idea was and what, or else who inspired you the most ?
Darren Bailie: I think I've covered most above but... inspiration... mainly 80's electronic music, I love it!
4. You have literally reached a whole new musical level of understanding releasing "Infinity". Is there another track of yours, or maybe a remix made by you, giving you the support you had with the previous track ?
Darren Bailie: Watch this space, myself and Anders are moving forward with some huge solo tracks, we are also moving forward together as the Guru Project and we have a bomb on the way, just waiting for clearance so we need to keep it a little quiet at the moment. The reason for the change in name to the Guru Project and not GJP is that unfortunately, when Paul Walden realized what a huge success we had with "Infinity 2008" he started to get greedy, and is now only focused on re-launching his own career at the expense of the project, it's a shame but that's the way this business is sometimes.
5. How has the music actually evolved since your whole inception into the EMI (Electronic Music Industry) ?
Darren Bailie: It's funny, after the Klaas mix of "Infinity" everyone in Europe went totally crazy, there were so many tracks trying to sound the same. The evolution... Hmmm... well so many styles are now using electro sounds i.e. Progressive, Techno, actually any House around 128 BPM everyone's doing it :-)
6. In terms of production, who else are you working with ?
Darren Bailie: We have some really cool collaborations coming very soon just can't say to much yet, but you will not be disappointed!
7. Any thoughts working with top major female vocalists in the future ?
Darren Bailie: For sure, I was approached by Lady Gaga while on a gig with her in Germany, just waiting for management to get on it.
8. "Silence" - conceptually, what is this project really all about ?
Darren Bailie: Simply it's about "Darren Bailie" more of a non-commercial cooler sound, I want to keep the two separate "Guru Project" more commercial & "Darren Bailie" cooler.
9. Speaking about it, you along Anders Nyman made a remix of Boy George's "Amazing Grace". Please share further details about it.
Darren Bailie: Originally it was just a bit of fun, our manager got hold of the accapella but it was too late to get on the release, so we did the mix as a booty. Matt decided to send it in anyway, they liked it so much they did a second mini release with our two mixes. This was so unexpected, no complaining though ;-)
10. Looking ahead, what does your future hold ?
Darren Bailie: As in question eight, Darren Bailie and Guru Project banging out loads of chooonz!
11. Having several major tracks nowadays and with such a full discography of yours, is there a future album on the pipeline ?
Darren Bailie: Hell yeah, I have one more single to deliver then its all about the album.
12. At what point did you start taking your craft more seriously ?
Darren Bailie: I've been DJ'ing since I was 16 and as a full time career for over 12 years, but the production was always more of a hobby until Infinity blew up!
13. Any highlights that you would like to point out before reading about it on any major EDM websites or magazines ?
Darren Bailie: NYE in Berlin was cool, 2 million at the event with another silly amount of millions watching live on RTL. Any gig in central & South America, these guys really appreciate the music and go totally nuts. Winning the best House/Garage tack at the IDMA's Miami WMC (Winter Music Conference).
14. Is there anything else that you would like to branch out and do, maybe even completely away from music ?
Darren Bailie: Not really, I've always been a bit of a entrepreneur keeping busy with various different ventures, but really any free time I get I spend with my family... I have two young sons and a great wife supporting me.
15. Any parting words to the TranceSound.net community or the ones reading this interview ?
Darren Bailie: Just keep it real, keep believing as one day it will happen... oh and make sure to buy all of my music... "Darren Bailie & Guru Project" :-) Thanks for your support.
Thanks for taking your time out with me today. Good luck with everything, and continued success to you.
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
If You would like to buy his latest track, "Darren Bailie - Silence" released on Maelstrom Records, please don't hesitate and click the link below, to purchase "Silence" from iTunes.
READ OFFICIAL PR (Press Release)
HERE
BUY "SILENCE" ON ITUNES
HERE
Links:
Darren Bailie official website
Darren Bailie @ MySpace
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
