To go from being completely unknown, to playing alongside some of the worlds biggest DJ's in some of the best clubs the UK has to offer is an achievement in itself, but to do it in the space of 8 months is really saying something!

Dan Ascherl has only recently burst on to the UK trance scene but he is already sending shockwaves throughout the industry!

Not only has he managed to gain a prestigious residency with Sevensins @ The Honey Club & The Gallery @ The Honey Club, Brighton but he has also played The Gallery @ Turnmills, London with Paul Oakenfold, Seb Fontaine & the mighty Gavyn Mytchel! and is now set to return there this month with the one and only Armin Van Buuren on 26th May, this being his second time on an Armin line up!

Dan has also had the privilege of playing alongside some of the other great names such as Ferry Corsten, Eddie Halliwell, Judge Jules, Adam Sheridan, Simon Patterson, Smith & Pledger, John O'Callaghan, Agneli & Nelson and is soon to be playing out with the worlds latest trance star Sander van Doorn!

With a fast growing fan base and a busy diary ahead, I was lucky enough to catch Mr Ascherl the other day for his first interview to find out what really makes him tick and has driven him to pretty much overnight success!

Hi Dan! It's really been an amazing past 8 months for you, how do you feel about what you have achieved so far, in such a short space of time?

Yeah, my career has really kicked off now ! Gavyn Mytchel took the time to listen and gave me residency for The Gallery @ The Honey Club, Brighton, back in December. Incidentally, a week or so later I was told by Gary Turner & Wayne that I had gained a residency with Sevensins @ The Honey Club, Brighton. All of this has really given me the exposure that I needed.

So what would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?

There have been so many! Playing with Armin Van Buuren and Gavyn Mytchel for The Gallery @ The Honey Club a week before Christmas, this was all my presents wrapped up in one! It was amazing!

Seeing a coach load of Team A supporters/friends on the dance floor at my Turnmills debut in January! That was high moment, nearly as high as playing on the same line up as Paul Oakenfold!

Playing on the resident’s night along side my good friends DJ Cheeky, Adam H & Dave Godding at the Honey club in January! Headlining the Honey club in March! These events are all special to me and the high moments keep on happening!

And the proudest moment?

For years I’ve partied in my home club The Honey Club, for years I had only dreamed of playing there, to then hear within the space of two weeks that I was to be resident for The Gallery & Sevensins night, well you can imagine, this made me very proud!!

The Honey Club is one of the best clubs in the country, it has been voted into the top 20 best clubs to play in the world by the big named DJ’s, So that says it all!

How would you describe you style, and what do you look for in your music?

I love so many styles of trance music. I love music that is a bit different to what everyone else is playing. I like to play a hard-edged euphoric sound, but still maintain the bounce to keep people dancing.

I also like an element of psy-trance, not many mainstream trance DJ's play this. The psy-trance I play really gets the dance floor going, especially at the end of a set. Within a set you need directional change in the music to keep the crowds interest, otherwise it just becomes boring.

Who have been you biggest influences so far? Who do you really respect?

John 00 Fleming has always been a big influence for me as a DJ. He has been a big player in helping to shape trance music over the years. I have always loved his productions, and he has always been very passionate about what he does. We've become good friends over the years - he has given me loads of advice about DJing, music, promoting and helped in my studio set up etc.

Funnily enough, John text me this morning. We haven't spoken in a while as he is in such demand all over the world with his career. His sound is spot on at the moment, he is currently on tour in Brazil for a month with Infected Mushroom. He got me into the psy-trance about 5 years ago.

Who's productions are you really loving at the moment?

There are a lot of really good producers out there but for me Steve Birch and Digital Blonde, stick out from the rest.

I have known Steve for a few years now through John; he is signed to John's label J00F. I love his sound because it’s so different. Steve likes the softer psy-trance sound like me, which is so prominent within his productions. He has been on a roll just lately with a new album out, so I've been playing a lot of this.

I have followed Blonde's work for many years now too, it's not as predictable as a lot of the trance out there - My all time favourite trance track has to be Digital Blondes (Gothica)

Have you any plans to start on your own productions in the near future?

Yeah, I’ve been in the studio with Ade and Andy from Bio Music, I have been playing their productions out of late. I'm also working with Ben Gold on some new tracks and a remix, so watch this space!!

Aside from yourself, who else do you think is looking set to challenge the big guns?

Ben Gold is going to be the next kid on the block!, He is an amazing producer/engineer and DJ all at the grand old age of 21! Ben rocks a crowd and can do things with a CDJ even Pioneer didn't think were possible, all I will say is look out Eddie Halliwell!

You can see him playing along side Sander Van Doorn, Gavyn Mytchel and myself on 23rd June, The Gallery @ The Honey Club (oh yes sorry I realise now, shameless plug!).

How did you get into DJing in the first place?!

When my mum brought me a fisher price turntable at 4 years old! She couldn’t understand why I asked for two!

At the age of 14, I started as a roadie for the Fusion Discotheque Group, warming up the sound system at the beginning of the night, I soon progressed to warm up sets.
I believe I was one of the few DJ’s beat mixing at the time most of them were just chopping the tracks and talking in-between. I hated talking on the mike so I beat matched to keep the flow going.They soon let me play main slot! This was 1000 capacity under 18 nights held once a month and I was still only 14!

Can you remember your first ever play out?

Yeah, my first proper play out was at a big party/rave ATW (After the Weekend) organised in a field near me. I owned a big Marquee company at the time, so we had all the marquees at the event.

I had just returned back from Ibiza to play, however I had broken my heal bone on a drunken night out! I Landed the day of the party and went straight to the field - I had been up for 48 hours and just done a week in Ibiza so you can imagine how I felt! As the night progressed, the pain got worse, so I drank more vodka (to numb the pain!, I will never for get that night!

From then I became a part of ATW and between us we started a night in Woking called Seventh Heaven. Following this we met Alex Collins, and opened a night in London called No Angels. These were my first play outs and gave me some good experience. Unfortunately the club shut down, just as it got going.

Can you tell us a bit about Team Ascherl and its concept?

Team A is all about the supporters and friends who follow my career. Team A has regular coach trips to some of the clubs I play at, these are the best! 40-60 people all on a coach, no one has to drive and we can party from Brighton to where ever I'm playing! As it happens are next one is this Friday up to Turnmills! It's a great opportunity to get everyone together and catch up on things.

I also make all my mixes available to Team A first. As I always say it's not just about me, we're all in this together! And we are, without all my friends I wouldn't be doing what I love! There support means so much to me.

What other venues would you really like to play?

Difficult question, there are so many. The Gallery @ Turnmills was one of the ultimates being a Trance DJ and with all the history that's attached to it. I love the underground feel to the place, my sound works well there & being voted the best club in the country four years running says it all, but that said, I really do think The Honey Club will give any club a run for its money this year with the changes!

Other clubs - Passion @ The Emporium was one on the list, I played there the other Saturday heading The White Room and had a great time. I would now love to go back there again and play main room, again this is another club & night that has a real history behind it with Tiesto playing there last year on their 10th Birthday celebrations, the crowd there are again one of the best, Andy Bagguley & Marc West, two top guys, are the residents there.

Following I think would be the other well renowned venues like Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Slinkys and so on, I know that Jackie has Talltrees/Yarn and Inside Out @ The Arches on her wish list! lol, so we shall see, but for now I am extremely happy with where I am at and if by chance anything else comes along it will be an added bonus!

And which DJ would you love to play out with, that you haven't yet had the chance?

I have been truly lucky enough so far, having played out with the worlds No 3 and No4!
Seeing my name on the same flyers as Armin, Ferry Corsten, Paul Oakenfold, Judge Jules, John 00 Fleming, Eddie Halliwell, John Askew, Gavyn Mytchel, Si Patterson. So thinking about it that only leaves the likes of Van Dyke and Tiesto!!! ;0)))

The main DJ I wanted to play out with was John 00 Fleming! I'm on the line up with him again in September for the Gallery in Brighton, which I'm really excited about!

Having already accomplished so much, where do you see yourself in the future?

To carry on where I am at now and also to experience playing in clubs around the world, and doing what I love full time!

What aspect of being a DJ do you enjoy the most i.e. what really motivates you?

I’ve always been a get off your backside and do it kind of person, having built up from scratch two of my own companies which in turn has given me the financial freedom to DJ or work with music of which, I enjoy all aspects of.

What motivates me??

Any thing to do with trance music! When you love something so much, and you finally begin doing something you only dreamed of, that is enough to get you motivated, but best of all playing out live - nothing can beat that feeling!

Other than trance, are there any other types of music you love?

Nope! I don't have enough time for all of the trance I need to listen to, let alone other types of music!

Dan, finally have you got a message to everyone out there that has supported you so far?

Remember its not just about me, we're all in this together! Team A & all my other fans out there, you rock! Thanks to you all and see you on a dance floor soon!

Thanks for your time Dan, wishing you all the best for this Friday where we will be seeing you rock that Turnmills floor once again!

For more info on Dan Ascherl and his forthcoming dates visit or Team Ascherl!