Dutch DJ Tiësto brought his ‘Club Life Campus Invasion Tour’ to Syracuse on Sunday night. The DJ talked to the Daily Orange about his current tour, the popularity of house music and his plans for the rest of the year.

The Daily Orange: What do you think will set the Syracuse show apart from other shows on your college tour?

That really depends on the fans. I’m coming to Syracuse ready to play an amazing show that they won’t forget, and it’s up to them to go crazy and make this show even more memorable.

Why do you think the popularity of house and electro music in the U.S. is rising right now?

DJ Tiësto: Without a doubt the fact that pop, R&B and hip-hop artists have embraced dance music production in their own music has made a big difference. Now electronic music is a lot more mainstream in the U.S. than it ever has been. 

Are you interested in exploring new music styles?

Of course, I can never stay complacent with my music, and I’m always looking at other music for ways to get better as a producer and a DJ. My sound is always evolving.

What was your favorite performance so far? What is your favorite song to perform?

I don’t have a favorite performance because each place I play is unique. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small or large venue; each crowd has something special that they bring to each show. 

What does a day in your life look like? Do you ever have some downtime to relax?

My day usually has a lot of travel and most likely a show to end the night. I have days off in between shows sometimes, which gives me some free time to unwind and recharge so I can put everything into my next shows.

What are your plans for the future? Any exciting collaborations with other artists you have lined up?

Once I finish up touring this year, I’ll be getting back in the studio to work on a new album for 2012.

Do you ever miss the Netherlands? What place do you call home?

Holland will always be my home. Places like Los Angeles and Las Vegas are like second homes to me, but I always try to take time to get home to see my mom and my family.

 

Q&A with Porter Robinson 

Accompanying Tiësto on his current tour is 18-year-old Porter Robinson, a young phenomenon in the house music industry. The Daily Orange talked to him about plans for the future and being a rising star in the music scene.

The Daily Orange: How did you break into the industry?

Porter Robinson: I put out ‘Say My Name,’ and it went No. 1 on the site Beatport, which is huge. After that, it happened fast. I got several booking requests, and Tiësto’s management contacted me for this tour. There’s no real trick to it, you just have to be passionate about your music and love producing it.

Touring must be hard. Do you ever feel like you’re sacrificing the lifestyle of a college student?

Yeah, touring all the time is hard, there are points when you get pretty miserable after a 2 a.m. show. But in the end, it’s so rewarding. I chose not to go to college to pursue this wholeheartedly.

You started producing music when you were 13. Where did you learn the skills to mix electro sounds at such a young age?

I never took any musical lessons, but I had a mentor who always gave me critical feedback. The other part was holding myself to a really high standard. You don’t have to invest a lot into it financially but, you have to be willing to invest time and do a lot of hard work.

Do you have any specific plans for the future?

Nothing I can announce quite yet, but I’m always writing. Right now, I’m just focused on the present.

kvdolins@syr.edu

Published on September 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm