Markus Shultz - Following The Dakota Trail
Markus Schulz returns to Australia this year to play the Future Music Festival once again. 3D chats to the Florida-based DJ/producer.
What motivates you to travel so extensively-
I have always loved to travel. I consider myself not a US citizen or a German citizen (where I was born), but a citizen of the world. I feel very much at home in so many places, meeting new people, different cultures and all the beautiful landscapes that this world has to offer in incredible.
What was the contrast for you between playing in Israel vs New York last week-
New York has always been a place for me that I am nervous about. I grew up listening to the radio in NYC. The mix shows and DJs are legendary. I have always wanted to belong with the audience in NYC, so I have put a lot of pressure on myself whenever I play there. I think the night was very successful. I played for over six hours and I had the opportunity to really take the crowd on a journey. Israel was different because I have not played there in three years. It was almost like playing there for the first time, so I really wanted to make a good first impression. I played more progressive in Israel this time, but next time I go there I hope to have a long set like I had in NYC and really take it to another level there.
What can you reveal about you “really exciting new project” that you’ve been spending all your time on recently-
I thought that releasing another Markus Schulz artist album in 2009 was a bit too soon, however I have been inspired to create music the last six months. Back in the early millennium I used to make tracks under the alias, Dakota. These tracks I did for Yoshitoshi, Bedrock and Global Underground – much more proggy and deep. So I decided to do a Dakota album. I have already finished nine tracks. A few I have been playing out, and even put a couple in my Essential mix in December. I am really having a lot of fun with this project. It is much darker, deeper and big room club tunes. That is why I decided to put these out under the Dakota name. I don’t want people to think that this is the same as the ‘Markus Schulz’ artist albums.
Future Music Festival is a huge Australia-wide event. What can we look forward to from you-
I had such a great time last year and the tour really went by too fast. This year I plan on picking up where we left off last year, but really take my time and enjoy the people and the cities a lot more.
You have a loyal and international fan-base. How do you shake things up for people when playing live, knowing that they have probably heard your recent sets online-
When I play live, I realise that people want to go out and have a good time and also hear the best of the tunes and not necessarily the newest tunes. I use my radio show to play new music and from that people make connections to certain songs. When I play live it is more important to me to play the tunes that people have that connection with. I always drop some tunes that I do not want to debut on the radio yet, so there are always surprises in the live sets.
WHO: Markus Schulz
WHAT: Plays Future Music Festival, Royal Randwick Racecourse
WHEN: Saturday 28 February
MORE: futuremusicfestival.com.au