Click for more on Patrice

According to the Mayan Calendar the world (or at least civilisation) is due to end cataclysmically on December 21^st 2012.  With economists and futurologists also almost all predicting a year of upheaval, Skrufff asked a bunch of our favourite DJs and personalities for their predictions for 2012; both musically and apocalype-wise . . .

Patrice Baumel: The New World Order & the Coming Chaos (interview)

“Democratically elected governments are taking decisions against the very people who put them into office, all to protect banks, oil and big money in general. We are already living right in the middle of a New World Order.”

Growing up in Dresden East Germany, nowadays Amsterdam based tech-house-eclectic producer Patrice Baumel was 14 when the Berlin Wall came down and 22 years later, sees more than a few cultural parallels between then and now.

“People are more educated and better connected than ever, so it becomes harder and harder to suppress the truth,” he continues.

“And once the mob gets angry because their pension is gone and their jobs are gone and their kids are hungry, they will mobilize and turn against the powers that be. It will get ugly,” he predicts.

“At the same time people will have to find other ways to happiness than consumption, which will lead them closer towards the truth in life and each other. Overall, change is good.”

For more on Patrice (who as well as touring the world as a DJ nonstop is also a resident and co-promoter of Amsterdam’s top underground club Trouw) click here: http://www.patricebaumel.com/

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What are your musical predictions for 2012?

Patrice Baumel: “The trend of indie music crossing over into EDM (Caribou, Radiohead etc) will continue. The house-hype will collapse. Hoards of bandwagon-jumpers will frantically scramble into the next safe haven of rehashed old ideas – I’m betting on straight techno. The trend away from boring laptop acts and towards exciting stage shows will continue in a big way. DJs will become even less relevant, bands will start to dominate the clubs. I predict a tough year for tested-and-approved big money formulas like Ibiza, WMC (Winter Music Conference) and many of the festivals.”

Skrufff: What do you forsee is the future for dubstep: for David Guetta-style dance-pop?

Patrice Baumel: “To me, dubstep has passed its artistic peak. The fact that it’s aggressive, loud and feels like hip-hop will make sure it will keep growing further in the mainstream and have a strong influence on more commercial r’n'b and pop productions. It’s the new Ed Banger. Fun, loud and shallow party music. I have no doubt that dubstep will be much bigger than house and techno combined in 2012.

I cannot say much about Guetta-style dance pop as I have very little contact with that music but it has been around for such a long time, but I’m sure it will play the same role within dance music it has always played – giving people without much musical education and interest a good time in the clubs, at company parties or at corporate sponsored events. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Skrufff: How concerned are you (if at all) by the Mayan Prophecy and their end time prediction of 21^st December 2012?

Patrice Baumel: “I am not concerned about the Mayan Prophecy at all. The worst thing that can happen is that mankind is going to get wiped out. As a race, we have to start asking ourselves whether we deserve any better. The way we exploit land, nature and each other is a fucking disgrace. A fresh start, whatever it looks like, would be great and necessary. Massive change is coming without a doubt. I know global warming is taking place and changing the face of the planet. Life will find new ways to adopt to it but it’s a certainty that it will not tolerate 7 billion people continuing to live the way they are living today, something’s gotta’ give.”

Skrufff: What about the financial crisis?

Patrice Baumel: “We are witnessing the end game of our monetary system – you can’t pay debt with more debt and get away with it. Einstein called compound interest the strongest force in the universe for a reason. Everybody will feel it, also the club scene. Our paper currencies will probably collapse sooner or later, a lot of paper wealth will evaporate into nothing. Many businesses will get wiped out.

But get educated, understand the likely scenarios and prepare yourself accordingly and it’s a great opportunity to get rid of a lot of competitors. Plus a bad economy often means great creative opportunities. I see empty office buildings everywhere with the potential to be transformed into studios, underground party locations or galleries. Focus on the positive side of things and everything starts to look really exciting. But the times of state welfare, job security and perpetual economic growth are over. Instead of striving for MORE, we should aim for LESS BUT BETTER.”

Skrufff: How much do you believe in destiny/ fate generally?

Patrice Baumel: “I believe that whatever happens to you in life is determined by your thoughts. Thoughts materialize themselves, so if you have an optimistic, positive mindset you will be rewarded with a positive life. The opposite is also true. I therefore do not believe in fate or destiny as a passive, predetermined quality but as something you shape with your mind.”

Skrufff: What’s been the biggest stroke of luck/ serendipity you’ve experienced? And the worst luck?

Patrice Baumel: “I have had some incredible luck, for example with how I met  my current partner and I put it down to visualizing exactly what I was looking for in a partner. I also had some close financial calls that miraculously got resolved by an amazing booking or financial stroke of luck. I’ve had very little bad luck, the worst luck for me are moments of mediocrity, the days that don’t leave any memories behind. Too many of those are just draining.”

As well as releasing his acclaimed debut artist album Vapour this year, Patrice recently made the music for a new Nike commercial. Click here to watch and listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY10aH2-lWY

http://www.patricebaumel.com/

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

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Posh people’s lifestyle guide Debretts issued new guidelines for mobile phones and ring tones this week, so Skrufff decided to ask a bunch of DJs about their personal choices, including high tech techno type Dave Clarke . . .

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What’s your main ring tone- and what does it say about you? (Debretts’ options include ‘ head-banging rocker, fashion-conscious teenager, gamer, sci-fi nerd, smooth seducer, tv addict, ‘invisible’ – see below)

Dave Clarke: “I would say that 98% of the time my ring tone is silenced as I have the phone on vibrate. It’s been like that for many years; otherwise it’s just an old fashioned bell sound.”

Skrufff: Have you had many customised tones?

Dave Clarke: “I have a few self edited ring tones, such as ‘Susan’s Strange’ by the Furs for my girlfriend, Jah Wars by The Ruts for a friend: and the opening bar of ‘Evil’ by ABC for someone I don’t like.”

Skrufff: Have you ever been embarrassed by a ring tone (yours or someone else’s?)

Dave Clarke: “Nope, though an old road tour manager had the Screech Screech from the film Psycho for his girlfriend, that was always funny.”

Skrufff: How important are ring tones for business?

Dave Clarke: “Not at all.”

Skrufff: What winds you up the most about how other people use mobiles?

Dave Clarke: “That they answer on the car phone without telling you there are other people also in the car until halfway through the conversation.”

Skrufff: Have you ever had a full-blooded row’ on your mobile (ie in front of others?)

Dave Clarke: “I tend to take it away, maybe round the corner, I very rarely argue on the phone, but if I do it also has to be private for the person you are arguing with, they deserve privacy too.”

Skrufff: Debretts say ‘Don’t make calls to people from inappropriate venues; a call from a bathroom is deeply off-putting’: have you ever done that?

Dave Clarke: “Sometimes you can’t help it, just cover your mouth and phone so there are no real delays, or pretend you are testing out a new Lexicon plate reverb.”

Skrufff: Do you have any links where people can buy your ring tones?

Dave Clarke: “I hope not.”

http://www.daveclarke.com/

http://weblogs.vpro.nl/whitenoise/

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Awakenings- click for more

“We’ve been around for so long that people know that they get value for their money with us. For our latest outdoor festival this year we sold out four months in advance. That was a new record for us and it for this summer it was the fastest selling out dance festival in Holland.”

Almost 15 years after throwing their first party at Amsterdam’s Gasworks, Awakenings has become one of the world’s most popular techno festivals, most recently attracting 35,000 to their latest outdoor bash, one of numerous events they present throughout Holland each year.

Tickets (including for 2 day events and their upcoming New Year’s Eve party) cost less than 50EUR, and as a cursory glance at any of the last 9 years of line-ups listed on their website shows, commercial compromise has never been on the agenda.

“How much of a temptation is it for us to book a David Guetta or Afrojack? No temptation at all,” event founder and Awakenings figurehead Rocco chuckles, “Awakenings is strictly techno!”

While the likes of veterans such as Jeff Mills and Joey Beltram are represented at every party, next generation tech stars such as Luciano, Egbert, and Joseph Capriati also feature prominently, fitting into a formula that’s simple but highly effective.

“The most important aspect still are our killer line-ups,” says Rocco, “Plus our state of the art visual show which includes the best LED, video, lasers, lights and indoor fireworks.”

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff); What’s your assessment of the state of techno in 2011: how has it been affected by the worldwide recession?

Awakenings (Rocco): “Speaking for the Netherlands and particularly for Amsterdam, the state of techno is really healthy. There is a lot of local talent here but we can also listen to international techno DJs every weekend in the variety of clubs we have and then a few times a year Awakenings puts on the greatest of raves. You can see the economic crisis is having some effect and for the clubs it’s not always easy but we still sell out every single edition of Awakenings.”

Skrufff: What’s been the toughest experience you’ve had?

Awakenings (Rocco): “I’ve had a New Year’s event cancelled a couple of years ago because the owner of the warehouse made a mistake and didn’t apply for the license in time. That will never happen again.”

Skrufff: House and techno have dominated European club culture for well over 20 years now: how likely is it that dubstep, or some other new genre, could come along and sweep most of the old guard away?

Awakenings (Rocco): “We have dubstep parties and also most other genres you can find around here. It’s nice that the people can choose where they want to go.  Competition is positive and healthy for the club scene. We like to think that the techno scene will keep on being creative and putting out great music because that’s what it’s all about.”

http://www.awakenings.nl (Jeff Mills, Marcel Fengler, Matthew Jonson and Sandwell District headine the next Awakenings, on Friday November 25, in Amsterdam)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48NGtFhxas8 (Awakenings on Youtube 2010 trailer)

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff