An Interview with oliver Lang

This article is about WE ARE LONDON LAUNCH PARTY @ Pacha in London (UK), Fri 03 Apr

Oliver Lang leapt into the limelight after winning the title of Mixmag’s Future Hero in 2005. Four years on and he’s just signed a publishing deal with Fabric, has toured the world and is venturing into his 11th year in Ibiza where he has played Guest slots alongside Carl Cox at Space, at Manumission, Amnesia and Moneypenny’s as well as holding down a residency at the infamous Bora Bora.

Any DJ that has received critical acclaim for his remix of the Ibiza Anthem Café Del Mar, has remixed for the likes of Jamiroquai, Big Love Records, Umm Records and has had collaborations with Whelan and Di Scala, which have been signed to Tiesto’s label Blackhole, should not be one to pass by or ignore!

What more can we expect from the man who set out DJing in clubs at the age of 14, had released a record by the age of 16 and at 18 had packed up his record box and moved to Ibiza?
.…Well, there is just no stopping him and 2009 is set to be even bigger! With a change of management and the launch of his own new Label, alongside more killer tunes and remixes, I’m guessing we’ll be hearing a lot more from the man that is Oliver Lang!

I Caught up with him to chat a bit about his life, his new projects and the love affair he has with the White Isle…..

Hi Oliver. Tell us what you have been up to this year. Has it been a good one so far?

It’s been a fantastic year so far. Over Christmas and New Year I was touring Asia and Australia. When I got back I signed a publishing deal with Fabric, so I’ve been in the studio with my new production partner Rob Blazye working on new productions and remix projects… There are some big ones in the pipeline, which I’m really excited about. DJing wise I’ve been everywhere including places like Vienna and Venice. My residency at area 51 in Manchester is going well and I’ve got some cool gigs coming up.

You started DJing at such a young age. Was this some kind of escapism from school work or just a ploy to get some love action!? ?

I just love music and its all I ever wanted to do. My next door neighbour was a few years older than me and had some decks so from that point on I was totally hooked! Then I discovered music technology upon leaving school and I knew I could make a go of it.

If someone didn’t know your music, how would you describe it?

Chunky, Tech house music.

Do you listen to any other music outside the dance scene at all?

Of course, I love listening to chill out while I’m relaxing at my place in Ibiza, I get a lot of inspiration from all types of music.

I’ve been doing a bit research and have been watching snippets of your dad on you tube… (youtube.com - youtube.com )

His band the Mindbenders were one of the groups that played a part in the mid 1960s British Invasion on the US. Do you think that your love for music stemmed from your Fathers influence or were there any other inspirational artists that really got you into it all?

Absolutely! I grew up surrounded by music and my dad has always been very supportive and taken a huge interest in my DJing. He even played alongside me at Bora Bora last summer, which was legendary!

… and was there any pressure on you to pick up an instrument rather than grace the decks?

Never. I did try to learn different instruments but my real love lay with the decks and programming music on a computer?

What is your favorite piece of equipment you use in the studio and what do you choose to play out on these days?

My computer definitely. I do have a certain penchant for certain plug ins in logic like camelphat and effectrix. I find with these pluggins you can make any sound into something different which can be inspirational especially when you’ve got writers block.
I play out on 3 CDJs and a Pioneer efx unit - It means I can really change the music and sound of the mix to my own style, what you are hearing is essentially live writing!

Ibiza is just around the corner again and it will be your 11th season there. Has there ever been any moment when you have stood back and wondered how much longer you can take it all? … How do you keep the feeling fresh from year to year?

I’m never as excited as I am at the start of may! Its an amazing feeling knowing all that fun is coming up, parties, sunshine, good food plus I’m gonna see all my old mates again In a beautiful environment. You just need to have a level of control and having a home there means I feel settled and fresh anyway, well sometimes not so fresh but hey,it is Ibiza!

Some people have suggested that Ibiza clubs have been caught up in too many legal affairs due to opening hours and drug-related issues. Do you think that things are changing much over there, so much so as to affect the great vibe that we know and love?

Things are always gonna change, it’s the same with everything. I’m sure the next generation of clubbers will love Ibiza just the same as I did when I first went there. People get older and forget the times before anyway, Its just natural progression. Of course Ibiza is not the same but I’m prepared to work with it however tricky it gets…

And how would you go about persuading someone to go that isn’t quite sure?

I would say to them that its nothing like Ibiza uncovered and there are so many other things to do apart from going clubbing. I’ve traveled the world and I think Ibiza has some of the best scenery, beaches and restaurants. For me its paradise!

I read somewhere that you were intending on launching your own label. How has this been going? Was there a reason you were spurred on to do this?

I’m launching my own label imminently. The reason I’m doing this is so I have a level of control over what happens with my music rather than leaving it to someone else.

And the label name Dojo, how did that come about? Do you have a secret past in martial arts we should know about?!

Actually it’s something I’ve had up my sleeve for years, I thought of it in Ibiza and I was going to do a night in once at DC10 but it never happened, however the name stuck in my head so I decided to use it for the label.

If you could sign anyone at all to the label who would it be?

Probably Guy Gerber. Genius production.

If you were to finish DJing and producing tomorrow where do you think you’d head in life…what one Job could you see yourself doing if you had to choose?

I really don’t know, id probably be a chef or own a vineyard.

Do you have still time for other things, besides your Production and DJ-schedule, what do you do to relax?
I go to the beach mainly. I love food so I also go out to eat a lot.

What does the future hold for Oliver Lang?

Lots more production and lots more gigs. I’m going to start to add different things to my sets such as visuals etc also watch this space for my own cool intimate parties in Ibiza and the UK.

You are due to play for WE ARE LONDON at Pacha. Sell yourself to the crowd in 5 words!

Wicked Tunes + Top Crowd = MAGIC!

Quickfire round:

Your hot tip for Ibiza this year?
Go early

One thing you would take on a desert Island with you?
A girl

An 80’s tune you’d love to remix?
Frankie goes to Hollywood-relax

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
Ibiza

Biggest highlight of the past year?
My gig last week in Venice. I played in Saint Marcos square to 6000 people. That was special.

Top 5 tracks past or present?
Voodoo ray
Duke-so in love
Guy Gerber- Stopage time
Nights of the jaguar
Stardust- Music sounds better with you