When you hear the music of these celebrated Dutch superstar-DJs nowadays. . . my God, I wouldn't even feed their music to my dog. I don't consider that to be my sort of dance music.
A scene can be created when people are coming together. Either to shop or to hang out.
In nightlife you can do anything you want, because that is the fantasy life, the opposite of your daily life. Everything - except violence - is tolerated. And that is why it is so surrealistic in a way.
Most of this innovative new music doesn't make money so it's regarded as uninteresting for the business people and considered as "underground".
The way Electronic Dance Music [EDM] is manipulated and exported to the world is a very strong, and "total" concept. But it's not that interesting artistically. EDM is seen by some media as a kickstarter for kids who have no idea how deep dance music can go.
I think that is a great, great thing, to create your own identity and foster a true family spirit.
Sometimes I happen to be the right guy in the right spot at the right moment.
I was born in Belgium and moved to Amsterdam when I was 17. I am not a Calvinist Dutchman but a Catholic Belgian. I think that makes a big difference.
Fun is the main thing. Because fun helps you transmit your message. You can only do that - transmit - when people are receptive.
Shops and clubs are very important when you want to change things. And they have a common denominator; the customer.
Even nowadays some people see me as a "vreemde eend in de bijt" [translated literally as the strange duck in the pond. In other words, an outsider].
If you just take the time to look, then yeah, you will find some really great music in Holland. Just scratch the surface and look underneath the corporate surface.
People are receptive in the best way when they are together enjoying themselves in a club; with others who are on the same wavelength. Then the experience becomes a very creative and spiritual thing.
I don't like cliques. I used to go out a lot in London with friends. And London can be very cliquey. I mean if you don't belong to one set you don't go to a particular party.
I guess that my activities inspire people and that I offer opportunities without realising what is going to happen next.
When you go to a club you can talk intimately to strangers you have never met before. And they will tell you things that will be shocking to hear. Because, on the whole, people behave honestly in this situation. At the same time they can be very false.
Of course I knew disco and dub from years before but I never heard such a radical new sound like house. It blew my mind!
There are so many international musical connections here, in Amsterdam. And some of them are amazingly successful.
Holland is very good at avant garde, probably due to the Dutch character. Good at design. Experimentation sometimes works here very well.
I don't like to sit and count my money and be a "happy entrepreneur".