Q&A: Catching up with EDM star Dannic

DJ Dannic. Courtesy of Urban Rebel

Dutch big room EDM star Dannic is making waves, both for his collaborations with friends such as Hardwell and Dyro, and his own massive productions.

He was voted number 30 on DJ Mag’s influential Top 100 DJs poll earlier this year, and is casuing a stir with massive gigs at Tomorrowland – and a recent UAE show at White Dubai (on June 5). We put some questions to the 27-year-old Dutch dance master.

How is 2015 going so far in Dannic’s world?

So far 2015 is going great. I’ve just played the first Tomorrowland Brasil last month, and I’m preparing to return to Belgium for the original leg in July – always a highlight. I also have a new release with Bright Lights called Forever which is coming later on this month. I’m ready to kick-off in style.

What’s the last great tune you heard, and why?

There are so many huge tunes coming out just in time for summer, I can't stop giving the Rezone remix of my Mayday track a spin, Michael Calfan's Treasured Soul will be riding high over the next few months too, still sounding huge wherever in the world I play it.

What’s the greatest misconception about EDM?

I think that many outside of our world – whether that’s DJs, producers or fans that align themselves more with other, more “underground” genres – feel that a lot of it is smoke and mirrors or that they are deafened by the imagery and huge productions. That is simply not the case. We work hard in the studio and have some of the world’s greatest set-ups, whilst getting the amazing opportunity to play to some of the most exciting crowds on the planet. Jealousy and envy of those experiencing success and who work hard for it, shouldn’t be a disguise to taint or label what falls under the bigger umbrella of “EDM”.

You once released tracks under the name Funkadelic... surely you knew that would confuse people?

Robbert (Hardwell) and I together released the first track on his Revealed label under my old DJ Funkadelic name, Get Down Girl. Funkadelic was originally an American funk band in the 1970s so I decided to combine my name (Daan) and my sister's name (Nikki) together for Dannic!

How did you meet and become good mates with Dyro?

I first met Dyro at an early Revealed night in Amsterdam when he was earlier into his career, since then we’ve been on bus tours together and shared stages for special sets all over – Miami back in March for Music Week was cool. It’s great to see him branching away and doing his own thing with his WOLV label too.

Another big name – you’re often referred to as Hardwell’s “protégé” - how do you feel about that term?

People always want to pin artists down to genres and their collaborators, but Robbert and I are friends, which is the bottom line. I wouldn’t say I’m a protégé of Robbert’s as I’ve grown as an artist in my own right – we’ve been releasing work both together and individually for almost five years now, so it’s not like I need guidance in this world, but of course, support between friends is always a blessing.

It’s the million-dollar question: The Netherlands – why so much DJ talent?

There is something in the air [laughs]. I think it’s just ingrained in us with so many iconic figures in dance and electronic music coming from The Netherlands before, that it’s not alien at all, it’s a wave of culture that feels constant to us.

If you could steal any DJs virtual record bag, who would it be?

Fedde Le Grand, easily, or maybe Calvin Harris, the exclusives and edits they receive are obviously out of this world. I’d love to get my hands on some early Calvin tracks and add my Dannic spin.

I hope I’ll always be working in the music industry one way or another, but if not, I would definitely be doing something hands-on still and hopefully artistic – graphic design or moving into label management, I could see myself getting involved with those from the other side of the fence.

Who would you have to DJ at your wedding? Or 30th birthday party?

Dead or alive? For my wedding the dream would be to have Stevie Wonder perform, can you imagine? Or a huge band with Motown and soul influences, I really love the emotion in those kinds of artists. Then, when it’s time for my birthday party, I’d have a huge group of my friends, family, team and peers, pounding out the peak-time tunes – maybe I’d get a special guest in like Lil Jon – he’s brilliant, I met him out in Miami and he was SO ready to party!