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INTERVIEW: Catching up with trance sensation, Leon Bolier

Introduction

With an extensive and undeniably successful list of singles, albums and remixes, Dutch born composer, DJ and producer Leon Bolier, has well made his mark in the trance scene. It wasn’t long after his career began to flourish in 2008 – where he released a number of successful songs including ‘Ocean Drive Boulevard’ – that his creative producing and remixing magic was recognised and admired by listeners worldwide.

The follow up to his solo compilation debut is the highly anticipated and well praised ‘Streamlined 2011 – Tunis Mixed’, which was recently released on Streamlined Records/Spinnin. Featuring tracks and remixes from international electronic dance artists include Sander van Doorn, Sied van Riel, Orjan Nilsen and Vast Vision – to only name a few.

http://www.leonbolier.com/v5/

Catching up with trance sensation, Leon Bolier

Beatsmedia: First of all, congratulations on the new ‘Streamlined 2011 – Tunis Mixed’, you must be over the moon with all the positive feedback! How do you feel that it is now all out in the open, and most likely being played all over word?

Leon Bolier: It always is a great feeling when you finish something, and close the project you have been working on for so long. I always have to work towards a certain point where I can let it go – and tell myself: ‘ this is it’. Releasing the whole project and putting it out in the open always is exciting – and if the feedback turns out to be great I am a happy man!

Beatsmedia: Before we talk more about your successful release, where abouts in the world are you currently?

Leon: I am in the Netherlands actually, at Cliff Coenraad’s studio, working on a collab that is long overdue. We are planning to finish it this week, so I can play it out at this weekend’s Black & Blue festival in Montreal.

Beatsmedia: How did you spend your summer? Did you travel much?

Leon: Yes, same old same old I’d say! Lots of fun tho. In between the gigs I have been finetuning and finishing the Streamlined 2011 album as well as working on new singles to be released during fall/winter 2011.

Streamlined 2011 – Tunis Mixed By Leon Bolier
Tracklist & Details | Grab Your Copy

Beatsmedia: You released ‘Streamlined 2009 – Buenos Aires’ prior to the Streamlined 2011 – Tunis compilation, after receiving positive feedback from those in the industry, are you glad with your decision to release this kind of artist work?

Leon: Of course – In the end the things that matter most to me music wise is: ‘ do I like what I put out there’ , if the answer is yes and on top of that the feedback is massive, there’s no reason to complain at all!

Beatsmedia: Was the release of ‘Streamlined 2011 – Tunis compilation’ something that was in the works for a prolonged period of time?

Leon: Yes – after finishing my Phantasma artist album I already knew that the next project would be a new Streamlined compilation, shortly after the release of Phantasma I started looking for tracks and working on side projects to put on the compilation. For me it is hard to find a broad range of tracks that all fit my taste in a short period of time, so yes, it took some time till I got the amount of tracks I needed for a quality double CD compilation.

Beatsmedia: The compilation has made a special appearance on ASOT 525, how does it feel to have the album so well received by trance sensations such as Armin Van Buuren?

Leon: It’s great to have Armin’s support on my projects anyway, I always have been and still am very thankful to all support Armin gave me throughout my career – especially this year his support has been crazy. Having the album feature on ASOT of course was a great way to showcase the album to the big ASOT audience out there. Loved it!

Beatsmedia: Tracks 15 & 16 on CD2 are your own original tracks, is there any story behind the composition of these tracks?

Leon: Yesterday Eve is a powerful typical Bolier trance track I made especially for the fans of this sound out there (same goes for the track ‘ Staircase’ ). On the album I wanted to give the fans some exclusive tracks like this. Cape Town is a more straight forward affair, made for the dancefloors – and a perfect way to end CD2.

Beatsmedia: Building on the previous question, could you say that you wanted to include a couple of your own tracks as a special treat for your listeners?

Leon: Indeed, and the fans of the melodic sound – the sound that might be nice for home listening too, not necessarily being club bangers -, I wanted to give them something back for their support with tracks like this, and tracks like H2O, Intro (Open Your Eyes) etc, because those tracks aren’t really what I am releasing as singles nowadays – simply because unfortunately tracks like these might be a bit too complex or difficult to be played out on the big festivals.

Beatsmedia: Featured tracks on the album include Sied van Riel’s ‘Rush’ and Sander van Doorn’s Purple Haze comeback ‘Timezone’, was there any particular reason as to why you chose to remix these tracks?

Leon: Sied asked me to remix one of his tracks, a year ago I think. He told me to pick one, and I picked ‘ Rush‘ because I love that track. As for Sander’s Timezone – that’s the original mix I put on the CD, and I LOVE it.

Beatsmedia: Is there a certain sound or style you like to incorporate in all of your remixes? Or do you just create what you feel best fits your interpretation of a track?

Leon: The latter. Nowadays I try to rework it into something I’d play to a big crowd tho, so I am looking for ways to translate stuff into a bold, clubby sound.

Beatsmedia: Would you say that the album as a whole is almost ‘subgenre-free’ – as in it isn’t confined to one particular genre?

Leon: That’s for others to judge, I have always been into melodic dance music, later on I found out people called that ‘trance’ but if there’s a house, techno or progressive track I like I will play it out – and it will influence my productions as well.

Beatsmedia: It was said that your CD was dedicated to the Tunisia people. Was there an underlying reason behind this decision?

Leon: With the compilation series I want to dedicate the different chapters to crowds I have enjoyed during my gigs. Tunisia is one of those countries where I have played a lot and I always enjoy myself over there. That’s the main reason. Secondly – music unites people, no matter what sex, race or religion they are. Particularly in Tunisia, before and after the Arab spring and the revolution, the music stayed the same and the people still enjoy listening and partying to it!

Beatsmedia: In addition, there have been many listener comments such as ‘Thanks from Tunisia’ and ‘Respect from Tunis’ made. Do you think by dedicating the album to the Tunisia people, you have contributed in lifting the spirits of those affected by the Arab Spring?

Leon: I won’t be so arrogant to say so. But I think the Tunisian fans were delighted with the recognition of their scene as being a part of the world wide Electronic Dance Music scene. Especially after the Arab spring youtube bans etc have been removed, which opened up the digital aspects of the scene over there – essential for any scene out there nowadays, internet is a key factor.

Beatsmedia: What would you say the next step in your career might be? Perhaps more original compositions are on the agenda?

Leon: I have just finished an EP called The Peacemaker / The Lovemaker which will be out October 24th. Next to that I am working on follow-ups for those already – tracks with a clubby edge, aimed for dancefloor devastation. I will start working on a new artist album soon as well!

Beatsmedia: Tell us about your studio setup, what is your most prize pocession? and what do you hope to add to your studio setup in the future, is there anything you have your eye on at the moment?

Leon: I am using Cubase 5 at the moment, with a big load of VSTs. Every day new VSTs are being released, and basically I want them all. That’s gonna be an expensive affair tho, so I guess I will pick a hardware synth here: Dave Smith Poly Evolver has been on my to-buy list for a while now, and I should get it soon. I’m using some more hardware in my studio at the moment, such as the Access Virus TI, Nord Rack 2X, Dave Smith Mopho and so on.

Beatsmedia: Furthermore what software do you use for the production of your releases? and can you tell us about any plugin must haves?

Leon: As mentioned before: Cubase 5 as a DAW (I will upgrade to Cubase 6 soon tho). Essential VSTs for me at the moment: Sylenth1, Trillian, Omnisphere, East West plugins, FabFilter Pro Q, Camelphat3, NI Massive, NI Razor..too many to mention!

Beatsmedia: And last but not least, in three words how would you best describe your latest compilation ‘Streamlined 2011 – Tunis’.

Leon: Driving, melodic dancemusic.

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