• When did you start DJing and what were your early influences?

The first time I installed a DAW (digital audio workstation) on my PC was at the age of 12. I always wanted to be creative and make something out of nothing. After a few years of practising making my own music I got asked by a promoter of a local club to perform on his event. So, I bought a little DJ set, and started figuring everything out. Because of my knowledge of producing and knowing about arrangements of dance songs I managed DJ’ing in no-time. At that time (November 2010) I was producing and playing house music with Latin influences. I always get a smile on my face when I listen back to those songs.

  • What is it about DJing, compared to producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?

I always go very technical with my sets, everything has to be right. The transitions, the track selection, literally everything. The feeling of performing in front of a crowd, taking them on a journey while mixing your own songs and mashups is a whole different experience, because you get to share the songs you’ve created yourself and see how people react to it. I make a lot of mashups- and edits to take my set to the next level and create some exclusiveness.

  • What do you usually start with when preparing for a set? Is there a specific process for preparing and selecting tracks?

Every country is different, in my opinion you can’t play the same tracks everywhere, so I always check the music charts to see what’s going on and what will work. Eventually for a DJ it’s the most important to give the people a night to remember and create memories. That will be harder with songs they don’t know. Besides that, I always try to test out new songs. It’s really important in the process of finishing a new production.

  • Can you describe your state of mind during a DJ set? How do you deal with any distractions from the crowd?

That’s a very deep question, I like it haha. Most of the times I feel like I’m in a sort of trance during my DJ set. It’s just me, the music and the crowd. I forget about everything else. If you don’t receive the same positive energy from the crowd back, it can be distracting, but it can also be a motivation to work harder. Eventually I want every single person in the audience to have a great time.

  • In the early days you had a residency at the Brothers Festival Dome, any favourite memories from this venue?

I had such an amazing time during my residency at the Brothers Festival Dome. A few years in a row this club has been awarded as #1 club in the Netherlands, so it was a huge honour for me to perform there twice a month. I played alongside very big names in the EDM scene, so I always had the possibility to watch their sets and learn from them, but also show them the tracks I’ve been working on.

  • In your opinion, what’s more fun, playing at festivals or playing in nightclubs?

That’s the most difficult question a DJ can get.. if I have to choose I’d go for nightclubs. These are most of the times smaller, so more intimate and easier to read the crowd and interact with them. But seeing thousands of people jump at the same time at a festival is also priceless of course.

  • You’ve already played an impressive number of shows this year, what has been the most memorable for you so far?

Pretty hard question, but I have to choose Ultra Europe. This show was really one for the books. It was Sunday, the last day of Ultra, so people came a little bit later. We (My MC and I) started our set with a small crowd, but in no-time, the whole place was packed with hundreds of people. After a while, It was so packed we did a sit down with the entire field, started a mosh pit, and did a lot of other crazy stuff. Definitely one of the best crowds I’ve ever experienced in my career. And i’m looking forward to next year already!

  • It looks to be a busy back end of the year for you too with a run of shows in Japan, China and South East Asia, I bet you’re looking forward to this?

Yes, super excited to go back on tour again. The past few weeks my management planned some time off for me to focus on new productions, and I took use of that. I locked myself up in the studio and I finished lots and lots of new songs. I can’t wait to release them all. Looking forward to it!

  • Finally, what’s the next step for Jimmy Clash? Any special shows you can give us the heads up on?

My management and I are in the middle of the DJ Mag Top 100 campaign, so I’m really looking forward to see how that is gonna turn out. Super exciting! As I mentioned I’ve finished a lottt of new songs, so also stoked to give more information about that soon. In a few days I’m leaving the Netherlands to do another Asia tour. Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Myanmar and China are on the schedule and after that I’m doing an India tour. I’ve never been to India, I’ve heard a lot of good things about the country so I can’t wait for that! The future is looking bright!