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pul p @ da ilyor a nge.com
Q&As with electro music DJs Tiësto and Porter Robinson By Karin Dolinsek ASST. COPY EDITOR
Dutch DJ Tiësto brought his “Club Life Campus Invasion Tour” to Syracuse on Sunday night. The DJ talked to the Daily Orange about his current tour, the popularity of house music and his plans for the rest of the year.
The Daily Orange: What do you think will set the Syracuse show apart from other shows on your college tour? DJ Tiësto: That really depends on the fans. I'm coming to Syracuse ready to play an amazing show that they won't forget, and it's up to them to go crazy and make this show even more memorable.
Why do you think the popularity of house and electro music in the U.S. is rising right now? Without a doubt the fact that pop, R&B and hip-hop artists have embraced dance music production in their own music has made a big difference. Now electronic music is a lot more mainstream in the U.S. than it ever has been.
Are you interested in exploring new music
styles?
2012.
Of course, I can never stay complacent with my music, and I'm always looking at other music for ways to get better as a producer and a DJ. My sound is always evolving.
Do you ever miss the Netherlands? What place do you call home?
What was your favorite performance so far? What is your favorite song to perform? I don't have a favorite performance because each place I play is unique. It doesn't matter if it's a small or large venue; each crowd has something special that they bring to each show.
What does a day in your life look like? Do you ever have some downtime to relax? My day usually has a lot of travel and most likely a show to end the night. I have days off in between shows sometimes, which gives me some free time to unwind and recharge so I can put everything into my next shows.
What are your plans for the future? Any exciting collaborations with other artists you have lined up? Once I finish up touring this year, I'll be getting back in the studio to work on a new album for
Holland will always be my home. Places like Los Angeles and Las Vegas are like second homes to me, but I always try to take time to get home to see my mom and my family.
Porter Robinson Accompanying Tiësto on his current tour is 18-year-old Porter Robinson, a young phenomenon in the house music industry. The Daily Orange talked to him about plans for the future and being a rising star in the music scene.
The Daily Orange: How did you break into the industry? Porter Robinson: I put out “Say My Name,” and it went No. 1 on the site Beatport, which is huge. After that, it happened fast. I got several booking requests, and Tiësto’s management contacted me for this tour. There’s no real trick to it, you just have to be passionate about your music and love producing it.
Touring must be hard. Do you ever feel like you're sacrificing the lifestyle of a college student? Yeah, touring all the time is hard, there are points when you get pretty miserable after a 2 a.m. show. But in the end, it’s so rewarding. I chose not to go to college to pursue this wholeheartedly.
You started producing music when you were 13. Where did you learn the skills to mix electro sounds at such a young age? I never took any musical lessons, but I had a mentor who always gave me critical feedback. The other part was holding myself to a really high standard. You don’t have to invest a lot into it financially but, you have to be willing to invest time and do a lot of hard work.
Do you have any specific plans for the future? Nothing I can announce quite yet, but I’m always writing. Right now, I’m just focused on the present. kvdolins@syr.edu
Lack of audience prevents band from truly thrilling performance By Gabriela Sarzynski CONTRIBUTING WRITER
dailyorange.com
From the shadows emerged a figure fully equipped with a f lashy jacket, glittery glove and black f lowing locks, vigorously thrusting his hips and hitting every high note perfectly. Although there was an uncanny resemblance, the King of Pop had not been resurrected. Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band performed to a small turnout at the Westcott Theater on Thursday night. Who’s Bad consists of seven band members, with two alternating performances as Jackson. The performers first embarked on a collaborative endeavor to salute the King of Pop in 2004, according to the band’s website. Casey Jared, box office manager at the Westcott Theater, said about 100 tickets were sold, a slap in the face for a band that is accustomed to selling out venues internationally. Taalib York, one of two lead vocalists of the group, said the turnout was “a little sore” for them. Who’s Bad kicked off with instrumental track “Why You Wanna Trip on Me” followed by “Jam,” from Jackson’s 1991 album “Dangerous.” The band covered songs from his early days, from The Jackson 5 tunes to solo hits from the best-selling album of all time, “Thriller.” The audience needed the most easily recognizable songs like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” to get out of their seats and start dancing. “I think this was a small crowd that sometimes lacked enthusiasm,” said Linda Doran, 49, of Syracuse. Despite the small crowd, Doran said she enjoyed the performers’ show. “As they went along, they got better and better. The costumes, the dancing, everything,” she said. Jackson trademarked the moonwalk and slick moves that seem to defy the laws of gravity, but York perfected them. The crowd roared whenever he levitated across the stage. “On the dancing front, they definitely did
[Michael Jackson] justice,” said Shaun Sutkus, a production assistant. But there’s much more to recreating the world famous persona that was Michael Jackson, York said. “It’s not just what he looks like,” York said. “It’s how he holds himself, how he holds his face, how he looks at the audience. It’s a lot of little pieces that go into that emulation.” In a guitar solo during “Beat It,” Patrick Cross strummed his guitar from behind his back, not once missing a chord. York said the audience had diverse age groups. “That’s every show,” York said. “That’s what Michael brings.” An elementary school-age boy showed off his best Jackson moves front and center as his mother snapped pictures alongside clusters of senior citizens tapping their feet and clapping their hands to the beat. To stimulate the crowd, Joseph Bell, the other lead vocalist, invited girls, or pretty young things, up on the stage. Bell announced that it was the birthday of the saxophonist and creator of the band, Vamsi Tadepalli, and asked if anyone in the crowd was also celebrating a birthday. Four out of the nine girls on stage were. “Wow, this is the birthday of all birthdays,” Bell said. The caretaker of a handicapped man wheeled him toward the front of the stage and announced that it was his birthday, too. With a total of six birthdays, the band almost seemed obligated to sing “Happy Birthday.” “What keeps it interesting is the crowd’s involvement,” Tadepalli said. “That’s our No. 1 goal, to interact with them, to make it fun for everyone.” Who’s Bad is now approaching its 800th show. In October, they are scheduled to play in several South American cities. “When you believe in yourself, the sky’s the limit, right?” said bassist Darion Alexander, “Or there is no limit. That’s not cocky. I’m serious. You’re given dreams for a reason, so follow them.” gmsarzyn@syr.edu