Clubbing Magazine

One of the best trance tracks of the late 90´finaly sees its release on Paul Van Dyk´s Vandit label. “The Eternal” by José Amnesia has been a favourite of many trance DJs and trance kids around the world know and love this tune that has been through so much. No doubt that this epic track once more will make waves on the dancefloor even on a broader scale than before. We talked to the mastermind behind the track Rob Aker also known as José Amnesia on the release.

What was the inspiration for you to make “The Eternal”?
- Well maybe it was the will to write something that could get placed besides the great tunes of that period and something important for the new trance generations, as every artist aim to do something not easily forgettable.

The first time I heard the track was on the Muzik compilation that Paul Van Dyk did in 2001 – at that time it was out on a very limited promo on Eva Nova – what happened with the release and when did Vandit sign it?
-“The Eternal” release has been incredibly long and complicated. Eva Nova signed it in 1999 and released in a few promos. Thanks to the massive PVD support it was signed for a major release to Virgin and Vandit in 2000 and London FFRR in 2002.

Paul Van Dyk told me some time ago - on releasing “The Eternal” - “We still have that on plan, it’s down to my time of doing a remix – I love it to death and that is why I signed it, but I think there is no time pressure on it”. What are your feelings that it took so long before it was released?
- I was very glad to hear when rumours were going about a PVD remix and who can say, never say never. Paul held it in his case from the beginning, and just recently he's going to release it, after 5 years. That only means he really loves it. So maybe he could remix it to some day, who knows. I'll be very happy if he does, if not, well, I’m still happy. Regarding the release delay? No comment as I'm only happy that it will be out for real now!

“The Eternal” for me stands out as one of the best trance tracks (epic) ever been done. How do feel that this finally is getting a proper release?
- It has been very frustrating to see wasted such a good tune. But thanks to Vandit it will get an important and deserved release now.

What do you hope for when it’s released?
- Hope to let people know more of my tracks!

It was also rumoured that is was going to be released in a Pulser remix – as far as I know it only made it as a promo?
- Yes, a Pulser remix was out on Virgin/VC (2000) promos and London’s FFRR released a few double promo packs last year with Pulser, Aspiration and Free Radical remixes together with the original mix.

What can we expect of remixes of the release of “The Eternal” on Vandit – I understand that a remix by NU NRG is included – how did that come around?
- The NU NRG remix was requested by Vandit to the guys, and they did something special with their massive uplifting style. I like it very much.

You have done the amazing “Visual Sonar” on NU NRG´s new album – how did you hook up and how was it to work together with the NU NRG guys? Are we going to see more releases in the future from the 3 of you?
- I met Andrea and Giuseppe talking about the remix when they got to do it, and due to the immediate feeling we arranged to do something together. They came in to my studio to do a track together - to guest onto their album - so “Visual Sonar” came out as a perfect melting of our styles. We love it. Yes, we got other juicy stuff ready for the epic fraternity; stay tuned! We got a strong friendship and hope to follow more and more tracks with the NU NRG vs. José Amnesia alias.

Tell me a little about yourself and the different project that you are doing – e.g. Cloudbreak with Stuart Matheson of Binary Finary?
- Well, I came into the electronic music in the early 90's when I started to love artists as 808 State, The Orb and FSOL. I got full immersed into trance in the golden age of “For an Angel”, “Greece 2000”, “Cafe' del Mar”, among others. I did “The Eternal” in the full epic trance years so I’m happy that a slice of that amazing time will live now again.

I met Stuart Matheson from Binary Finary when a great friend of mine, Helen, introduced him to me. We started the project Cloudbreak just to do an old school sounding tune and “Fake” is the result, to say the least. Then we did José Amnesia vs. Stuart Matheson "Difference", a progressive track that I will guest in my first album together with another collaboration, José Amnesia vs. NU NRG “Be Right Back", a track that NU NRG started to play in their recent UK and Canada live acts. As you can see I love to collaborate with other good producers especially when we get a good feel as friends.

Why the different names – so you can do different projects on different labels? Are we going to see release under Rob or José Amnesia in future??
- Yes it was an old exigency when I had to release two tracks in the same period, but now all releases will be as José Amnesia in the future.


EvaNova promo release	FFRR promo release	Vandit official release
Orginal + Life On Mars remix	Original + Pulser + Free Redical + Aspirations remix	Original + NU NRG + Thomas Datt remix

Interview: Christian Almind

José Amnesia "The Eternal" released on Vandit the 28th of July.