VMM Interview MARC VEDO - Koolwaters Three Hundred & Sixty Five’ Vol:2 Compilation
Koolwaters returns for its second instalment of the Koolwaters ‘Three Hundred & Sixty Five’ concept mix compilation. With two stalwarts of the modern dance music scene joining forces to create a formidable partnership on the latest edition of this Koolwaters DJ mix series, Paul Thomas and Marc Vedo have compiled a carefully selected track list to showcase some of the finest quality house music that has been tearing up the clubs across the globe in recent months.
As producers Paul is currently one of the most in demand in dance music, releasing music on Toolroom, Positiva, Data, Size, Spinnin’, Doorn and Funk Farm Records to name but a few and cementing his place as an almost permanent fixture in the heights of the Beatport download charts, including his latest single ‘Ultraviolet’ reaching the Beatport Top 10. Marc is currently carving himself a very prominent name in the music industry through his collaborations with Boy George and forthcoming remixes for George Michael and Joss Stone. With both gaining continued support from many of the biggest DJ’s on the planet, along with dates at some of the scenes most respected parties and the ever growing name of the Koolwaters brand with his Club Nights and Compilation series things are moving fast for this superman of House music.
VMM speaks to Marc Vedo about the latest Koolwaters Compilation Three Hundred & Sixty Five Vol:2 and to find out what’s been cooking up in the studio and where his worldwide dj travels have taken him already in 2011.
The Interview:
Hi Marc great to speak to you again here in the VMM hope all is going well!
VMM Q: Marc the VMM would like to ask you how do you manage to juggle all the massive projects you are doing with the Koolwaters brand label club Nights, working with a major artist like Boy George and your own DJ and production career do you ever sleep?
Marc: Thanks for having back again. Well, I am a workaholic, it’s the only way possible to make all these projects work together. I also have a really good solid team behind me at Koolwaters so it helps. I never stop really, whilst I am travelling on the plane, I am doing my music. When I am waiting in airport lounges or in hotel rooms, I am working on my Koolwaters stuff, label stuff and then when I am back at home, I am working in the office.
VMM Q: So you have released your 13 track Koolwaters Compilation Three Hundred & Sixty Five Vol:2 that’s been mixed by yourself and Paul Thomas can you tell the VMM how did you both decide on which tracks were going to be included on the track list and did you have the same ideas on what you wanted to bring to the table for the Compuilation, how did it work?
Marc: Well, it’s a two cd compilation, the first mix if mine and includes 13 tracks, some of mine are my own and others by artists like Fatboy Slim, Chris Lake, D.Ramirez amongst others. It’s a really difficult process actually. You first have to find a balance of a cd that is going to represent what you play in the club and something people can listen to at home. You then have to work out which tracks you can actually license as some of the bigger tracks out there will costs a small fortune to license so they make it unviable to have on the cd. The next stage, once you have all the tracks licensed is making sure they all flow well together. It’s a process that took us 5 months from start to finish. The same process was then repeated all over again for Paul’s mix.
VMM Q: On the track list is 3 of your own tracks Marc so can you tell VMM some information about the tracks what’s behind the music and titles?
Marc:
1: Track 3. Marc Vedo – Escada (Dirty Secretz Mix)
This track is something I have been working on for sometime now, looking for some tribal drums, with a hint of classic piano house music from the 90’s in the breakdown. The title is actually a Portuguese name, it means staircase. It was a symbolic title I decided to give the track , it felt like I was taking another step in the right direction with my music and a step up in the production ladder. Being half Portuguese I thought “Escada” symbolised that well and brought a Mediterranean feel to it
2: Track 6. Marc Vedo – Don’t Take (Mark Vedo Re-Edit)
This is something I have been working on with Boy George and its coming out on our joint label together called VG records. The vocals are by Drew, an amazing new singer George brought to the table and he sounds incredible.
3: Track 10. Marc Vedo feat. Desi Slava – Kalino Mome
This is another track coming out on VG records in the near future as well. Desi Slava is a huge pop singer in Bulgaria and her voice is outstanding. It gives me goose bumps when I hear the break in this track. Really epic. Not sure what Kalino Mome means but I know its Bulgarian.
VMM Q: Your travels take you all over the world Marc each week so where would you say is your favourite country and club you have done a DJ set?
Marc: I recently played in Singapore, its definitely one my favourite cities in the world but one place that really stands out above the rest was in Croatia this summer at Carpe Diem. What a club and what a location, on its own island in the middle of the ocean. You really can’t beat that and the club was outdoors, pine trees everywhere, truly amazing!
VMM Q: You run Koolwaters Recordings what new tracks can we expect to hit the download stores in the coming months on your imprint?
Marc: We have a whole host of artists releasing stuff on the label, mainly unknown producers so we are giving them a platform to release material. I am also releasing some material on the label as well but we are really concentrating on pushing the Compilations forward as the latest one has been much more successful than I expected so it’s a avenue I want to follow up.
VMM Q: Can you tell the VMM more about the high profile remixes you are doing for the artists George Michael and Joss Stone how did you feel when you were approached to remix George Michael and when will these remixes be hitting the download stores?
Marc: It was really exciting to hear I was going to be working with George Michael. The response has been amazing and I have managed to get a huge amount of new fans from George Michael really supporting my work now. Fans that I would probably never be able to tap into unless I had done this collaboration. The tracks are due for release really soon, I don’t know exactly when but its definitely not long now.
VMM Q: Marc the VMM would like to know what’s your thoughts on the Dub step sound that seems to crossing over into so many genres these days have you thought of including this vibe in any of your new tracks, and genres are so blurred these days do find it difficult putting Compilation and sets together or is it more interesting with such a mix of sound?
Marc: I actually really like dubstep but then I was always into Drum&bass so it feels very natural. Many of the emerging artists from this scene are also from the Drum&bass world so it feels more like another genre of drum&bass, but more eclectic. I am have noticed many other djs are mixing dubstep, with hiphop, drum&bass, electro, indie electronica. Its crazy really, so many ways you can now take your set in different musical directions. At the moment, I am sticking to my own sound of tech house, progressive house, big room house, electro. Its complicated enough as it is
VMM Q: Finally Marc what’s next for the Superman of House music where can we see you jet setting around the globe in the coming months and what’s your plans for Koolwaters brand for this winter any parties club nights planed?
Marc: The winter is pretty much set now, with my first Tour of China this year coming up in December, promoting my new compilation with Paul Thomas so that should be fun. Playing in India for the F1 event in Dehli, Amsterdam for ADE Music Conference, Switzerland, Russia, Italy, Romania and so many other places I would bore you if I listed them all.
Thanks to Marc Vedo for taking time out to speaking to the VMM about his new Koolwater compilation OUT NOW Three Hundred & Sixty Five Vol:2 , and we wish his success for his future projects into 2012.
Released by: Koolwaters Recordings OUT NOW! Click to buy
1. Fatboy Slim – Right Here, Right Now (Freemasons Full Mix)
2. So Called Scumbags – Punch (Original Mix)
3. Marc Vedo – Escada (Dirty Secretz Mix)
4. Jesse Garcia ft. Corey Andrew – Stormy Weather (David Penn Vocal Mix)
5. David Penn feat. Monia Amore – Ocean Drive [Open Your Mind] (Vocal Mix)
6. Marc Vedo – Don’t Take (Mark Vedo Re-Edit)
7. Adamski – Killer (Hoxton Whores Mix)
8. Moguai & Westbam – Original Hardcore (Bass Kleph Remix)
9. D.Ramirez & MARA Feat Steve Edwards – Keep Us Together – (Original Club Mix)
10. Marc Vedo feat. Desi Slava – Kalino Mome
11. Sebastien Krieg & Weekend Heroes – Mercury (Original Mix)
12. Prok & Fitch – Cabala (Original Mix)
13.Chris Lake & Nelski – Colours (Original Mix)
