Ferry Corsten - this is what I want to do

System F, Gouryella, Albion, Vimana, and Veracocha, are all synonyms of Ferry Corsten, famous Dutch trance producer and DJ. He is well know for hits like Out Of The Blue and Tenshi and has over the years released the very successful mix compilation series: Trance Nation on the Ministry Of Sound label.

How do experience your success?

- It is great having your name on hundred of thousands of compilation albums around the world, to see your own name on a Trance Nation album in Singapore –it’s very nice. I am going on tour in the US, Australia and later an Asia tour. Production wise I have stopped doing remixes for a while, but the record companies are calling me for remixes. So I am happy.  

Do you see yourself as a producer or as a DJ?

- First I see myself as a producer and composer and second as a DJ. This is what I want to do, but it has been difficult the last year, I have so many gigs I would like to do, also to see the world. I have realist it took up more than 80% of my time and I had nearly no time for the studio, so I am trying to slow down on my DJ’ing to do more exclusive gigs and special appearances.

You and Tiësto caught the UK market at the right time with the Dutch Trance sound, is it still strong or do you see a change?

- It has change a little bit, it’s gone down, it’s deeper now, and the media had said that trance is dead - it has to be progressive. But now a lot of record labels are putting out trance records again and a lot of good material is coming out. So it is still strong.

Have you changed your style as a DJ?

- I have become a little more progressive but still melodic.

You have done a brilliant remix of U2 – “New Years Day” – how did that come around and are there any plans on releasing this in the near future?

- The record company called me, and asked if I could do a remix of the track. I spoke to Bono, and he loves it and Paul Okaenfold also called me begging for a copy. The last ting I have heard is that the track is not coming out for the time being, it is very politic, as it refers to the problems in Ireland, and Bono is into politics now, so perhaps as a b-side on a single in the future.  

Do you see the DJs as the idols and pop stars of today?

- Yes, but not as massive as back in the 70’ and 80’, they have similar status. When I was in Japan some weeks ago I played for 3500 people, and when I arrived they spotted me, “ahhh look Ferry Corsten”, and the hole crowd went oooooo, so the security had to bring me to the DJ booth. When I was finished, people were waiting outside to get autographs and posters of me were stolen from the walls. You also see a lot of DJs on television, the media is more into it and it has a lot of attention. 

You are using a lot of synonyms, are you still going to use them?

- I have used a lot of synonyms, due to legal reasons signing with record companies. But I am going to focus on the System F and Gouryella synonym in the future. Tiesto and I are going to do a new Gouryella single and an album later in the year, when Tiesto is done doing his own album.