Mees Dierdorp

Last week saw the acclaimed Dutch DJ/Producer headline his first UK show. Described as ‘the Poet of Music’, Mees has been creating a huge buzz at Ibiza’s DC10 this Summer, as well as releasing tracks on prolific labels such as Eskimo and Hot Creations.
His show – at East London’s Kachette – saw the venue transformed into a woodland fantasy and as he dropped his set from within a shroud of foliage, a cascade of leaves fell upon the crowd. The whole effect was reminiscent of a magical stage set and his fans loved it.
We caught up with Mees after the show for a chat…

Music News: As your first London show at Kachette, what did you think of the crowd/how did your set go down?
Mees Dierdorp: Everything about my first show was near perfection: The crowd was amazing! At first me and the organization were pretty nervous: It was my first gig in London and I was headlining also, did people really knew to find me and get out of their comfort zone to step into a new world with me? But the people that came to the sold-out show, the smiles and vibes I got when I was playing, the whole production of SOLO, all far beyond imagination. I will remember this night for decades to come for sure: I started off very slow and deep and then built up… but the souls in front of me really took to it so well and had the openness and energy to really explore depths as well as peaks with me, such patience and focus and fun…, truly, amazing.

Music News: How does playing London compare to playing at home in Amsterdam?
Mees Dierdorp: It feels a bit too early to compare I must say... I’ve been playing in Amsterdam for a while and only once in London. What I experienced though is people were very diverse and open minded at my London-gig, I can say this about the people who came to the show in Kachette, but I can’t generalize of course. In Amsterdam I had some amazing experiences with friends and big productions as well: Shoeless, Thuishaven. Pleinvrees, Strafwerk, even the smaller venues and parties can bring a lot of lights and insights. All memorable for sure, but what happened in Kachette was just pure magic.

Music News: Musically, how would you describe your sound? Do you like to differ from your recorded music when you play live?
Mees Dierdorp: As with feelings, sometimes it is hard to describe sounds and music. I know most people want to hear something. At least more than: ‘’electronic music with a subtle swing and soulful ambience’’. So after a couple of brainstorms it could sound something like: ‘’swinging soulful electronic music with acoustic influences coming from improvisation and human hands, combined with poetic atmospheres, soulful, jazzy and bluesy notes and African like- waves which create a guide to your senses for the dance floor as well as your home. Too long maybe? Everything clear? No? Thought so...Just listen and feel, I think that will do sometimes…
About diversity: I try to capture any feeling in my productions. In this way I make dance-music for early in the night, but there are also some more heavy tracks for later on. As a DJ I want to be able to adapt to different atmospheres (while playing as many own songs as possible) and at the same time tell a full story. Sometimes the music of other artists have a certain feeling or flow which is needed for a context, so that’s why I also love djíng other works. But with a well prepared live-set the story is mostly set already, in this way you create more room for improvisation inside each tracks. Different ways of beauty and storytelling: On both levels enough to explore still....

Music News: You've been snapped up by the impressive Eskimo Recordings... How have they contributed to your musical progression?
Mees Dierdorp: There is so many quality music on Eskimo, a wide ranging selection of higher waves: I was honoured to have them releasing my EP Aviar Alom. I am currently working on a remix which I can’t tell much about in this phase, but we are not done with each other, that’s for sure.

Music News: Will you be looking to release on other labels?
Mees Dierdorp: Yes, there are some pretty steady lines already made at the moment, I keep this a little surprise at the moment though. A funny fact is some works of my debut album are now being published on a compilation CD from the number 2 DJ’s in the world.

Music News: You have also been described as a Poet of Music... Do you feel you are telling a story with your music and DJ sets?
Mees Dierdorp: I can at least say I try to! The power of music is still not explored by science (will it ever?), it goes SO deep! Even in very young children, or grandparents, globally, music creates a way of communicating thoughts or feelings on a very pure level. The sense of music, the endless ways of interpretation, the memories which can be stuck or opened with it. So much possibilities, to keep it short, I love telling a story when people are open to listen. Communication is an essential key in this world, in my eyes (and ears).

Music News: We've also heard that you're keen to develop a live music set... Does this differ from your traditional DJ sets? And what kit do you use for this set up?
Mees Dierdorp: The eventual set-up is still under construction, but I will have two different live-set ups for the future. One is me solo, and one is with other artists playing live-instruments (kind of old-scool, band-like but with a modern twist towards modern day music of course, conserving the Mees-sound). I have a lot of ideas about both of the set-ups, but they are susceptible to change so I don’t want to create too much different expectations (a word which can turn anything into negativity, although humans can’t seem to live without it…) But for my live-set I want to do something different than my DJ-sets. It’s going to be a layered story with even more subtle depths and room for improvisation and communication.

Music News: What has been your Tune of the Year?
Mees Dierdorp: Oh man, this is always such a hard one, I think it can’t even exist for me… I listen to so many different genres and vibes, there is not one tune for me to pick over a year. In this case I sometimes wonder, how do other artists do that?
With all the extensive touring I’ve been listening mostly to Chopin, Miles Davis, JJ Cale or Nicolas Jaar for example when I have a quiet moment. Also my own stuff of course, endless re-listening to fine-tune a song, I’m so happy I like my own music! My Waver’s Huwol is definitely the one I had on repeat for the longest period this year, unreal elusive harmonies. But also the moment Damian Lazarus played Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further at the Circo Loco DC10 closing in Ibiza was breathtaking. Everytime I hear that track now… Sweet memories… And what about Darkside’s Golden Trail...? Too many for different moments...

Music News: Where are you spending NYE?
Mees Dierdorp: I haven’t had any ‘’time of’’ this year, and maybe NYE is a perfect moment to finally chose for my family and friends. But on the other hand there are some plans which are drawing me towards some special DJ-booths…

Music News: What does 2015 hold for you?
Mees Dierdorp: To be honest I haven’t had time to channel all my experiences of 2014 yet, such a wild ride with my debut album, EP’s, gigs at DC10, Fusion Festival, London... But I am just getting started and there are some big things planned already for 2015: remixes, festivals, originals, live-sets: Some concrete and some still abstract, all I can say at the moment is: join the ride.

Find out more at https://soundcloud.com/meesdierdorp