Electric Daisy Carnival returns to the National Bowl on July 9, as usual bringing an unparalleled artist line-up with it.
Markus Schulz was a favourite player last year, and fans are thrilled with his return in 2016.
He talked all things EDC with Total MK...
Tell us what you bring to the party that is unique
Trance melodies that touch the soul, with an emphasis on my recently released Watch the World album. Relentless basslines, booming emotions, stories with words that bind us together as a community - and most importantly for a festival, music to make you dance the day and night away.
Tell us about your best EDC experience so far - on stage, or off
The 2012 edition, the second that took place in Las Vegas, was something that could have been written in a book.
Halfway through my main performance, the festival ground to a halt due to high winds; disappointing DJs, attendees, and a worldwide listening audience collectively. I retreated to the temporary radio studio, where good friend Armin van Buuren was hosting the radio portion and preparing for his own set. Sharing a desire to entertain the listeners and facilitate the radio stations, we began an impromptu back to back session, and were quickly joined by duo Cosmic Gate.
Some ninety minutes later, I was asked by Insomniac if I would like the opportunity to play for the fans that had remained on the grounds of the speedway. No fancy gimmicks, no big stage setup, no visuals; just some CDJs, a mixer and speakers on an art car.
What followed was one of the most surreal yet special moments I have experienced. This third set of the night acted as a throwback to those mystical days of innocent Nevada raves; and a reminder, if it was ever required, of how blessed DJs are to be able to do what they love for a living.
Who will you be most looking forward to checking in with on the day?
From the same stage at Dreamstate, my New World Punx partner in crime Ferry Corsten of course, who is doing amazing things this year with his Gouryella festival concept. I am also friendly with John O’Callaghan, and I’m absolutely delighted that Paul van Dyk will be there, following his terrible accident earlier this year in Utrecht. We have had him in our thoughts ever since and I was delighted to read on his Facebook account that his recovery has gone well, and he is getting back to touring and back behind the decks where he belongs.
And on the main stage, Eric Prydz has had a fantastic year with his Opus album, so he is a must see. And I enjoy the company of both Oliver Heldens and Robin Schulz, even though their sound spectrum would differ from mine. Despite having no relation to Robin despite sharing the same surname, I am a huge admirer of his work.
Your own set aside, how will you spend the rest of the day?
At the time of responding to you, a lot will depend on what surrounding gigs I have either side of EDC UK that particular weekend, and therefore will impact how much time I actually have to spend to explore. Generally, I’m not one of those people who goes there to do my set and then leaves. I still feel like a clubber at heart, so I would be keen to check out plenty of other sets on the day if it’s possible.
It’s a bit of a tradition for me after landing in London to have some fine English tea. I’m always so happy to be in the surroundings of England. I actually lived in London for two years at the turn of the millennium, so being able to immerse myself in the culture (and let’s be honest, enjoy some proper tea!) is something I value a lot.
EDC takes the live experience to a new level, but how do these huge outdoor events vary from the more usual show for you?
Like any festival, they act as a shop window for you to showcase your signature sounds. Normally with a club show, you are the headliner and you get to play much longer and have the opportunity to explore and learn from your mistakes.
But with a festival, everyone is the top tier of who people want to see, so you have the opportunity to tap into fans of other DJs that may be checking you out for the very first time. So lots of your tracks are trimmed down and tightly edited, to help make the experience for the fans more memorable.
At the end of April, I released my sixth artist album Watch the World, and had a bit of a preview party with an open to close solo set, playing for six hours at Ministry of Sound in London a few weeks prior. However, this will be the first time I will have the opportunity to showcase these tracks at a UK festival, so to marry that with the excellence in production EDC brings is very welcome.
How important is EDC as a brand?
The role it has played towards the explosion of dance music in the United States and beyond cannot be underestimated. When they moved the main edition to Las Vegas in 2011, I originally thought it was so risky, because of the legal age laws regarding accommodation and so on. But it turned out to be a watershed moment for the scene, where a new generation had united to celebrate what they loved.
So for EDC to come to the UK again, having experienced it last year in person, I can only see it as a huge positive towards the scene. Some of the festival goers will be experiencing a live event for the first time, and if they enjoy the experience, it will help them contribute towards the weekly and monthly club events at the likes of Ministry of Sound in London, where I hold a residency.
Sadly, we have lost a festival staple in Global Gathering, so it’s vital that a respected brand such as EDC can not just fill the void, but build upon its legacy. It’s so important that we have a healthy dance music festival scene in the UK, because it keeps the weekly and monthly club events healthy too.
EDC aside, what does the rest of the summer have in store for you?
Summer to me generally means festivals and Ibiza. You could say it begins at the Las Vegas edition of EDC in June, and the chaos just continues from there. I’ll also be at Electronic Family in Amsterdam and Nature One in Kastellaun, the latter is important for me personally being German born, meaning that my German family can attend and see me perform in person.
I am also in the process of A&Ring remixes from my Watch the World album, and many of those will be saved for both EDC in Las Vegas and in Milton Keynes. I can’t wait to come back. Last year was one of the best shows I had in 2015, and I can only see things getting bigger.
To book tickets for the Electric Daisy Carnival visit http://uk.electricdaisycarnival.com/
