Interview with Jon O’Bir – Trance’s shining star!

This article is about QUDOS Presents JON O'BIR @ Club Mango in Reading (UK), Fri 10 Jul

Jon O’Bir is a name that’s been splashed across the industry since he catapulted to the front of the line in 2002 after winning a prestigious competition run by Passion and M8 magazine. In the seven years since this Jon has gone from strength to strength in gaining respect, fans and accolades.

Hi Jon, thanks for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to answer some questions.. so how has 2009 been for you so far? I see you’ve been busy moving into a new home recently?

2009 has been really busy so far, just how I like it! There have been many cool gigs and I’ve also got a lot more ahead to look forward to. This past weekend I’ve moved house, things went really well and I’m settled in and feel at home already in the new place.

You have done nothing short but rocket yourself to the forefront of the trance scene in quite a short period of time.. what would you say has been the key to your success?

I’ve had a hell of a lot of support from many people in the scene, from the guys who gave me my residency at Godskitchen to the big DJ’s such as Armin and Paul van Dyk consistently showing support in me. It’s always a massive factor when you have guys like this getting behind you! I think the album ‘From Within’ which was released early 08 has helped push me further and I guess the production side of things is also a massive factor, something that I’m really working hard on, to get more quality stuff out there, to hopefully propel me onwards and upwards.

So you’re the head honcho of the record label Conspiracy.. tell us more about the label, it’s artists, and how it was conceived?

Conspiracy came together in 2005, Rob Stevenson and I decided to start up a label to help push the up and coming producers from whom we were receiving tracks from on a daily basis. Things seemed to snowball and move onwards really fast, pretty much exactly how my own career has gone so far! We continue to push our ‘up and coming’ artist theme and our debut compilation titled ‘Introspection’ is due out on 15th August, showcasing past, present and future releases. We are constantly thinking how to move the label forward from where we are now, so expect more exciting projects from Conspiracy and us in the future.

You have just mixed a new compilation I see – tell us a bit about that, and what made you choose the selection of artists which appear on this album?

This is our debut Conspiracy compilation, we decided to call it ‘Introspection’. It was about time we got a compilation out there, but I’m pleased we left it a couple of years as this gave me a lot of tunes to play with to create a nice flowing, double CD mixed label comp. all the tracks are releases, past, present and future taken from all our Conspiracy labels, so expect fresh productions by fresh producers!

Looking at your string of consistent productions - how much time do you generally spend in the studio in the week? And if you’re not in the studio, or dj’ing, what do you like doing with your time?

I don’t spend so much time in the studio to be honest, due to the amount of time taken up by A&R and general admin work in the week both for myself and Conspiracy and of course the gigs and traveling. Usually at least one day a week I sit down and work on ideas to then take to the studio to work on when the time comes round. A new years resolution is needed for more time in the studio! When I have a spare minute, I like everything sport, going to the gym and all that, also keen on cooking, but that needs a bit of improvement, no Jamie Oliver yet that’s for sure.

Some of John O Birs popular releases:

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You’ve had the opportunity to work with some of biggest trance artists in the world, namely Paul Van Dyk – tell us how that came about?

Its been amazing to work alongside all these top names, in the days of my Godskitchen residency I had the pleasure of warming up before the majority of top DJ’s out there. Paul had shown support in me for a couple of years, both with my productions and DJ sets. He was the first person I sent my album to and to my delight he snapped it up, so with that came a whole bunch of opportunities to work alongside him both at gigs and in the studio as well.

What other producers do you like to work with?

I work alongside Rob Stevenson (Activa) with my productions. It’s a pleasure to be in the studio with him, such great talent and I have learned a lot from him! Doing the Emery & O’Bir tracks a couple of years ago was also great fun, Gareth has done really well and deserves all that is happening to him at the moment, hopefully we’ll get another collaboration down in the future.

I see you have a forthcoming EP to be released on Vandit – tell us more about this.. what download sites will it be available from?

The main track from the EP is called ‘Answers’ which is very much the Jon O’Bir – Ways & Means sound, this is supported by a track called ‘Prophase’ which is slightly different to what I have done in the past, but I reckon you’ll still pick out the O’Bir in there. Hopefully we are looking at late August release date and it will be available at all major download stores including iTunes, Beatport and Audiojelly.

What or who inspires you and your music?

I’ve been inspired and always will be inspired by all the guys who introduced me to this amazing music. PvD, Armin, Tiesto, A&B and many more I listened to for a good few years before I started climbing the ladder so to say. There is always something different that I’ve found inspires me every now and again, such as movie soundtracks for ideas with tracks and listening to some of my fellow DJ’s sets to pick up anything that makes their audience go crazy!

In your travels you’ve played at some pretty amazing gigs! Such as Global Gathering, Radio One’s “One Big Weekend”, Homelands, Gatecrasher, Goodgreef, Slinky, Planet Love in Dublin, 1015 in San Francisco, Gossip Club in Vietnam, Cream at Amnesia etc…. what have been your most memorable gigs and why?

There have been many memorable occasions in my DJ career so far. Up there with the best would have to be Cream, Amnesia. To play in front of 5,000 people, all there on their holidays and the majority all knowing their tunes, standing in the tall DJ booth looking from left to right seeing all the hands in the air in a break down and seeing it go off when a track kicks in with the canon bursting down, an amazing experience that I will never forget! Another gig worth a mention would be New Years Eve 2005 in New York City playing the midnight set before Paul van Dyk in front of 5,000 people on my 21st birthday, great memories.

I hear also that you’ve just been signed to an agency for US bookings?

Really pleased with this! We have been after someone to represent me in North/South America for a good few years now and for one of the agencies we really wanted to be involved with, Pam DJ’s to come along and help me out, really great news! Massive thanks go out to my manager James, John O’Callaghan and of course Pam for their input into helping me jump aboard on the agency, I’m very much looking forward to working with all at Pam in the coming weeks/months.

So do you prefer playing at home in the UK or abroad?

There are pluses to playing both in the UK and abroad, audiences all over the world are very different, some places are crazy such as South America who REALLY love their music and it’s the place to play in the world at the moment as I think many DJ’s who have played there would agree. But also there are some fantastic nights in the UK, one of favorite this year was Goodgreef, Warehouse Project in Manchester, an amazing atmosphere, also some wicked smaller nights such as Digital Society, Leeds which continues to impress the masses. I love playing my music, so any crowd that’s there listening, wherever it be in the world makes me a happy man.

Other than Trance, what other genres of music do you like to listen to?

I like allsorts! Bands such as The Killers and Kings of Leon are my favorites. Quite a sucker for some pop stuff recently as well for some reason, must be me getting older or something? Lady Gaga is quite catchy, did I just say that? Also loving One Republics ‘Dreaming Out Loud’ album. This is in the small amount of time when I’m not listening to promo’s etc!

What other trance producers can we expect to hear in your sets?

I’m loving the work Daniel Kandi is doing, supporting most of his stuff, also anything Activa as well of course, massive work. The recent album from John O’Callaghan was very impressive and many of his tracks have been included in recent sets, there is some great stuff out there at the moment that I’m looking forward to playing over the coming weeks/months.

Leading me onto what your top 3 favourite tracks are which you’re playing at the moment?

The Super 8 & Tab remix of PvD – Nothing But You, Cosmic Gates remix of John O’Callaghan – Find Yourself and Ferry Tayle and Static Blue – L’Acrobat are all massive with me at the moment!

Thanks Jon!