DASH BERLIN – My Year Of Dance 2010
Dash Berlin is a true deejay at heart with a profound passion for the comprehensive culture of dance music. Dash Berlin, was born as Jeff X. Sutorius, in November 1979, in The Hague, the Netherlands. A family with wide musical tastes surrounded him and because of his late father, who was a distinguished drummer in a jazz band; Dash became acquainted with the typical marks of rhythmic music at a very young age. While still at high school, he became a devoted fan of electronic music, regularly enjoying mix tapes that his older sister brought home from the clubs she worked at as a professional dancer.
In his late teens, Dash Berlin started working at a record shop and became a dedicated vinyl collector with a fascination for melodic, synthesized house music, subsequently known as “Trance”. Inspired by pioneering figures such as; Sven Väth, Oliver Lieb and Sander Kleinenberg, he slowly but surely started to develop his own innovative style of mixing and producing. Propelled by his passion, he literally performed everywhere, from nine-hour long gigs in shopping malls to the notorious illegal Dutch warehouse parties.
In early 2006, he teamed up with fellow producers and close friends, Molijn & Kalberg, who were regular customers at his record shop. “These guys are amazing visionaries and astonishing studio wizards, they are the foundation of my sound” Dash remarked, “I still learn from them every day”. In 2007, Armin van Buuren revealed his newfound discovery to the world and featured Dash Berlin’s debut record “Till The Sky Falls Down” on his legendary ‘Universal Religion’ album. In the beginning of 2009, under the mighty wings of Armada Music, plans emerged to expand the Dash Berlin universe with his very own label called ‘Aropa’. It represents an eclectic high-quality outlet for Dash Berlin’s avant-garde productions and collaborations.
The VMM Asks Dash Berlin all about his Year Of Dance 2010.
VMM Q: The VMM would like to know what has been your biggest achievement in 2010?
Dash Berlin: Career wise it’s definitely my entry in this years DJ Mag top 100 as the highest entry at number 15. It’s the biggest compliment I could possibly get from my fans. It’s a dream come true really.
VMM Q: The VMM would like to know what has been your funniest moment of 2010?
Dash Berlin: When the movie ‘The Hangover’ ends, check out the pictures during the closing credits. Almost choked on my popcorn! (laughs)
VMM Q: Can you sum up in five words your 2010 year of Dance?
Dash Berlin: “An amazing journey so far!”
VMM Q: Djing and clubbing around the globe can you tell the VMM what has been your favourite event or night of 2010?
Dash Berlin: 2010 has been an amazing year for me in terms of unforgettable debut gigs; events like ASOT 450, Sensation, (the final) Trance Energy, Trancemission and Dance Valley all bring back great memories. My completely sold out concert in Mexico City tops the list for 2010 though, since it was my first ever solo event, which was a fantastic experience.
VMM Q: We would like to know at the VMM what has been your favourite label for 2010?
Dash Berlin: This year we saw Armada Music join forces with Paul van Dyk’s legendary ‘Vandit’ label and Paul Oakenfold’s classic imprint ‘Perfecto Records’, and that definitively reaffirms their status as one of the most important dance music labels of 2010.
VMM Q: The VMM would like to ask you who is your favourite newcomer for 2010?
Dash Berlin: If a big fan of Hoyaa and I’m very pleased to have him on my Aropa imprint.
VMM Q: Can you give the VMM your choice of artist of the year for 2010?
Dash Berlin: I think Armin van Buuren is among the hardest working people in dance music right now. Becoming number one is hard, but staying there on the other hand under all this public pressure is quite an achievement.
VMM Q: Can you tell the VMM what are your top 5 tracks from 2010?
Dash Berlin:
01. Armin van Buuren feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up On Love (Dash Berlin 4AM Remix)
02. First State feat. Sarah Howells – Reverie (Dash Berlin Remix)
03. Gareth Emery – Sanctuary
04. Dash Berlin – Till The Sky Falls Down (Arctic Moon Remix)
05. Tiesto & Diplo – C’Mon
VMM Q: Can you tell the VMM what moments from 2010 will you never forget?
Dash Berlin: The live CNN footage of the mineworkers being rescued in Chile almost brought me to tears in front of my TV. It’s really hopeful to see what people can accomplish when they work together. Career wise, winning an IDMA award In Miami together with Emma Hewitt among artists such as Tiesto, Deadmau5, David Guetta & Armin van Buuren was really special to me. Last but not least, I won’t soon forget winning the award for ‘Highest New Entry’ at the DJ Mag party in London. It’s been quite a year; my fans have been really good to me with all their support.
VMM Q: 2010 is coming to a close so can you tell the VMM what do you have planned for 2011?
Dash Berlin: I’m very excited to announce that I will be doing my own monthly iTunes top 15 kicking off in January. I am silently working on my new artist album for quite some time now; we’re aiming for a release later in the New Year. My new single with Emma Hewitt is coming up, with a brand new music video and I’ve also been working on 3 new remixes that will all be released in 2011 as well. There will be a new world tour, which will also include Asia this time, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to.
Thanks Dash and best of luck for all your 2011 projects from the VMM
Dash Berlin: Thank you so much for having me guys, good luck with the magazine!
