RAM will be our guest in our May episode of “Enter The Arena”. So we took the chance and talked with him about his music and his plans for 2014! Enjoy the reading!
TranceAttack: In this really sad end of 2013 (again our deepest condolences) You played an impressive tribute set to Amelia at the Grotesque Indoor Festival only a week after this tragedy and premiered “Ramelia” as intro. How did the music and the fans help you to manage this difficult situation?
RAM: Thank you … Well it was an emotional rollercoaster but I had to do this to pay my respect to my wife in front of everybody. And from the moment I started with RAMelia the whole room was full of lighters and people crying and showing there sympathy. That was just amazing I never expected that. 2000 people completely in the moment with me in a room full of love and respect. Most difficult and beautiful set in my life…
For me music has always been my thing to let go of my emotions, so that and the support of all those people was heartwarming.
For those who missed the set:
TranceAttack: 2014 has just begun and you are already heavy on wire, with 2 tracks on “A State Of Trance 2014” and a wonderful collab together with Arctic Moon! What can expect for the forthcoming months from you after this great start?
RAM: Well, I’m working on my album which will contain lots of great collabs with vocalists like a new track with Susana. And at the end of the month my track “Kingdom of Dreams” will come out on ASOT…
Then I will release the track “Epic” on DS-R and after that “RAMore” will be released on the new Grotesque label. Got a collab with Andy Moor & Christina Novelli on the way, which is really awesome. I just did a remix of “Waiting” from Dash Berlin and a remix of “Concrete Angel”. I’m also working on some classic reworks of Gouryella & 4 Strings… Doing the new Technoclub CD with Talla 2XLC so enough on the way… so stay tuned!!
TranceAttack: We just featured a very event with you in the leading role, “Strictly RAM” on 20th April 2014. What’s the idea behind?
RAM: When the voting for Tune of the Year on ASOT started, I said that if “RAMelia” would make it into the top 3 I would do a free event to pay my respect and thank everybody for all the support I got for myself and the track. “RAMelia” became nr.2 and for many people nr.1 so it I had to keep my promise and do this as my thank you to all those people. I will do a 8 hour set with the best trance & classics and a special hour of hardtrance classics at the end…
TranceAttack: Additional to your work as deejay and producer, you are also active in the event organization and responsible for the popular “Grotesque” parties. What plans exist from you and PT events for the next months?
RAM: We’ve got the Amsterdam Weekender with FSOE & Subculture together June 7th and 8th. That will be an amazing 2 days. One day in a Club, the next day at the Beach with more than 30 DJ’s performing. We have the best of the best in trance, so this will be awesome… In the summer we host stages at Electronic Family, Ultrasonic & Summerlake Festival again and in the last two months of the year GIF2014 & the “In Concert” edition. So it’s a nice program for this year. 🙂
TranceAttack: There are a lot movements in the music scene which focus back on the roots of the trance scene – like Solarstone’s “Pure Trance” or Armin van Buuren’s “Who’s afraid of 138!?”. What do you think of these movements?
RAM: I love it. There should be more of it. I think concepts that relate to DJ’s are great. It’s a good way of marketing yourself and putting the music in the picture as well as the party. So win-win for everybody.
TranceAttack: The technical evolution of deejay equipment is really impressive. What is your preferred equipment you spin with? Do you prefer CDJ´s or USB Stick?
RAM: For me it’s all USB. I love the fact that I don’t have to carry around suitcases with records or cd’s anymore. It also made searching of tracks a lot easier, because sometimes I had a hard time finding the right cd… great evolution in DJ-ing. 🙂
TranceAttack: How can we imagine such a day if you are playing a club or festival? Are there special rituals in front of a gig? What is your favorite drink at an event while you work?
RAM: No rituals for me. I like to start with an open mind and take the moment as it is.. prepping is not my thing.. As for the drinks it’s wodka or beer 🙂 that keeps the engine going, lol.
TranceAttack: What is your opinion on the future of the EDM?
RAM: Enjoy it and embrace the evolution of dance and all will be fine… Music is there to enjoy not to judge…
TranceAttack: Thanks for the interview and we wish you all the best for the future!
Connect with RAM here:
https://www.facebook.com/RAMofficial
https://www.twitter.com/djramnl
www.soundcloud.com/djram-nl
www.youtube.com/djRAMofficial
www.ptevents.nl
2014… the year of RAM!
