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Welcome to the very first episode of Hardnews TV.
We thought it would be a cool idea to do something with videos besides the website
We will take you with us to several artists, labels, studios and events
And that's why we are going to visit Erik Smeets, better known
as DJ Artic
Erik thanks for taking the time so we can take this interview with you
Let's start with the first question
Who is Artic?
That's me
I am Artic. It's kind of a difficult question
I have been working with music for quite some time now
I have produced different types of music with different aliases
Also hardstyle, my origin lies with hardcore
And since a few years I have been producing with the name Artic
I started on Deepack's label called Hardcopy Recordings
And since a short while I'm a member of A² Records
How did you end up at A² Records?
Through Adaro I came in contact with Randy (Ran-D)
At that time Randy still did the A&R for A² and Scantraxx
I just finished a production called 'In The Night'
And he asked me if it wouldn't be something for A2
He discussed it with the guys from Alpha Twins
And they thought it was very suitable for A2 Records
I started talking about this with Hardcopy
Because I wanted to grab this opportunity with both my hands, so that's what I did
And I'm very proud of that
If you had the choice, would you choose to be the closing act
at an event of your choice
Or a collaboration with an artist of your choice
Phew, that's a good question. It's also a difficult one
I really like being in the studio and I love producing
And I have a lot of admiration for a few fellow hardstyle artists
with whom I would really love to sit down together in the studio
But to be the closing act at an event of choice
That's also very cool
For example an event like Qlimax is not something I would turn down
But I think for now I should focus on my productions. So for now I choose
to collaborate with a fellow hardstyle producer
and probably Adaro
or Ran-D to name a few
That's what I would choose right now
Before you started performing under the name Artic, you have also performed under the name Haze
How did it happen that you decided to
quit with Haze and go on with Artic
Before I started peforming solo I was a part of a Hardstyle duo
You might have heard about it, Haze & Abyss
In the past we had a few great gigs and made a few productions together
When that period in my life ended I decided to go on with my alias Haze
And after a few years of have stopped playing hardstyle
I wanted to give my career a new impulse
So I discussed it with Deepack and we choose a new name
Which became Artic
What do you prefer, the Hardstyle of today or from 5 years ago. And why?
Another difficult question
I also played hardstyle 5 years ago
And there has definately been some changes in that period
But I have to admit that the hardstyle of today fits the way
I produce better
So I feel more comfortable with the hardstyle of today
Very clear!
What has been the most extraordinary thing that you experienced
At an event where you were performing or where you were as a visitor
There is really only one thing that stands out from the crowd for me
It's quite some time ago already
I had to perform at the Hemkade, Zaandam
And I had to play a longer set there of a few hours
And halfway through my set, ony of the monitor speakers fell down. It was hanging very high
A few meters high and it fell down right on my arm
And my arm was heavily broused and I had to go to the hospital inmediately
So I couldn't finish my set. That has been the weirdest thing every happening to me at an event
I can see why indeed
How do you see the hardstyle scene in about 5 years
And how do you see yourself
as Artic in that time.
I believe that the Hardstyle in about 5 years
Will be as good as global
I can already sense a big movement
In the beginning it was mostly Holland, Germany, Italy and Belgium
And now you also see Hardstyle in Las Vegas
It's really incredible and I believe that it will continue to grow
So in 5 years there might be
a big party on the bahama's or something
Or Hawaii. And I hope that Artic will play a big role in that ofcourse
And that I can also go global
With my productions and DJ sets
We are very curious. How did you come up with the name Artic?
I have to admit that I don't really have a clear explanation for that
I have made some house tracks and used the name Artic for that
And when I was on the verge of switching from Hardcopy to A2
And I wanted a new name for myself
Because it became a new genre for myself. I changed everything basically
So I decided to use the name Artic for that
And not for my other projects
You are currently with A2
Personally I think it fits your style perfectly
But could you describe your style for yourself?
Hardstyle?
A bit harder, a bit more raw
Maybe a bit experimental sometimes and a trip to the melodic
I'm currently working on a new track which will be more melodic then the previous
But it will always be with a raw bite
Erik thank you very much for the interview
We basically asked anything that we wanted to know
So we were wondering if you have something you want to tell us and the viewers?
A while ago my new production with the Anarchist came out
called Project Destiny
I'm currently working on a new track
and I hope to see you soon
at an event where I will be playing
So check my Twitter and Facebook
To follow me around. Thanks!