| DJ Preach: Music for Life and the World |
| By Amanda Connon-Unda |
| If you're in Montreal, check out Aria nightclub on a Friday night and you might catch DJ Preach pounding out a techno mix. Even though DJ Preach has scheduled a move to Europe he will remain a resident at the popular club, which will make many fans happy. DJ Preach's beliefs that music "has no barrier" and "the basic values are universal" serve him well on a global scale where he is gaining recognition. Most recently Carl Cox said that he is "the man to watch in 2005" and included him on the Intec label. Already with an impressive production discography, Dj Preach's releases are found on labels like Session, MB Elektronics, Edit, and Primate, and soon on Restructured, ID&'T, and Armada. This April Dj Preach's first mix CD on his own Relic label also makes its debut. Relic Mix Compilation is a timely investment and an idea he got from providing live sets on his website. He says, "This CD will give a real human contact between all of us. It represents exactly what I like about music and my vision of the future. I want people to have something to keep - not only on their hard drive." |
| With these briefly divulged accomplishments it remains a mystery as to how 25 year old DJ Preach has managed to accelerate his career in the highly-competitive industry. Preach has already toured North America, Japan, Europe, and South America, and this spring in Australia. All lives are ordinary, yet each has its own unique story. Preach explains, "I was born in an average family - I never really liked school! My parents believed in my choices and taught me never to give up. The fact that not many people were doing this in Quebec City made it attractive. The only reason I am alive is my music!" Dj Preach shows his passion daily since he outgrew his teenage years and became more confident. He comments, "Naturally my talents got better. I have had positively overwhelming responses from other producers, as well as feedback. I will always have challenges, but my work is maturing." DJ Preach also shows his understanding of the relationship he has with his audiences and the importance of thinking about them, which is something he learned from a Quebec City DJ who he produces with, Marco G. Preach acknowledges, "When the crowd gives you so much you need to give them in return. It is an exchange of emotions through music. Some DJs play selfishly?but they realize this is not the right path to build your career." |
| Preach explains that for DJs today, "It is really difficult to become as big as Carl Cox or Chris Liebing. It's easy to understand why because the first talented guys who worked seriously had the chance to create something new." Today DJs need to produce music but Preach continues, "A lot of sounds have already been done and it's hard to produce something different. Now it is competitive and not many people want to give space to newer DJs." With promoters and label owners who can only invest in a limited number of DJs he contends, ?Competition helps everyone to improve and reach audiences and convince the market to invest - As turntables, CD players and mixers are made simpler many people learn." It is clear why many people would like to DJ and tour DJ Preach does - but he seems to maintain a work ethic beyond his years, underscoring that he is in fact 'No Child' as the title of his EP on Hardsignal proclaimed. "We need serious people to make things faster", says Preach. "I work every day, and am on time with deadlines. It's not all about partying - When your life is all about music it?s meaningful." |
| One of DJ Preach's biggest supporters (with whom he remixed the track "More than a Life Away" for) is Marco V from Holland because Preach believes, "He says what he really thinks - something this industry is missing." Today Preach says he risks a lot for his career which wasn't always the case: "I used to be a very simple guy but I realized how important it is to achieve your dreams. If you never push your ambition you might regret it and loose your passion. I have no serious responsibilities now - it is perfect." Rather than using abstract musical references Preach expresses a free-thinking humanist view, "My music is produced from emotion and experiences - There should be balance between the inner self and the outside world - It is not necessary to include samples to reach people. It is within your talent and creativity to be unique." A perfect example of the introspective nature of Preach's work was the inspiration of the ruins he saw in Eastern Europe, which he used for his 'No War in the Summer' track on Iturnem. Preach says, "We live in a very peaceful country and the only real war we see is on television. I felt the pain of war by seeing the destruction of buildings in Croatia and Kosovo. I realized that if I have an influence I should use it to create something that will make people feel happy and in peace. It captures the vibe of the South American islands where you can only see palm trees and waves beside the violence around the cities." |
| Preach added, "I don't think that people care much about the type of music you play. They care more about where you bring them." Performance has become an importantly evolving skill for DJs since visible stage set-ups became prevalent. Preach is a breed of DJ who intuits, "you have to show people how interested you are." Preach exalts, "I am not dancing because I want attention, but because I have confidence. The DJ is not only the guy who plays music. It is about creating an atmosphere of fiesta, bringing people into your own world, and playing the music you have been working on for hours to complete." |
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| For Klublife Magazine |