Versluis WILCO
'It was a typical friends-for-friends party: we brought the music we wanted to hear ourselves to the nightlife scene.'
Why do you see yourself in this position, and why specifically at Dekmantel?
In summary, I see myself in this position because music is my passion and organizing festivals under the Dekmantel brand would be a dream job.
From my previous experiences as running my own company and organizing or co hosting parties, expos, collaborations, and partnerships has given me the skills needed to plan and execute successful events. Furthermore, I admire the work and loved collaborating with professionals by the likes of Michiel Peeters, Levi Smulders, Marco Muhring, and my childhood friend Paul Boex, who have inspired me to pursue this career path.
As for the position, I see myself as a good fit for the organization due to my strong background in event organization, music curation and collaborations. I have experience in bringing together different lifestyle elements such as art, dance, fashion, and music, which aligns with the diverse nature of the Dekmantel festival. Furthermore, I have a keen eye for detail and a passion for ensuring that events run smoothly and exceed expectations.
Additionally, I am drawn to Dekmantel non-hierarchical approach and emphasis on creating a space for everyone's input, creativity and innovative ideas. As someone who values collaboration and believes in the power of collective creativity, I believe I would thrive in an environment like Dekmantel where everyone's voice is heard and valued.
Working alongside two natural selectors as David and Lisa would be an honor and a good breathing ground for a lot more great festivals to come!
Which DJs, acts, live bands get me excited?
DJ’s:
4Am Kru, Afra & Serge, AK Sports, AliA, Antal & Hunee, Anz & Carista, Bakey, Borai & Denham Audio, Batu & Om Unit, BSS, Carlos Valdes, Casper
Tielrooij, Cawd Slaydayz, CCL & Jasmín, CcC, Chulek, Claus Schoening, Coco Bryce & Darwin, Coco Maria, Credit OO & Marsman, Dagga, David
Vunk, Dj Gigola & Partiboi69 & MCR-T, Dj Mell G, Dj Overdose, DJ Madam X & Bluetoof, DMZ birthday party, Ellen
Allien, Eycee & Mia Koden, Folamour, GiGi FM & MSJY, Hamdi & Sir Hiss, Heap & Mr Ho, Hermeth, Identified
Patient & Mad Miran, Jenson
Interceptor & Dj Fuckoff, Job Jobse & Eris Drew & Octa Octa, John Talabot & Oberman, Latoya & Passion Deez, livwutang & Suze Ijo, Loma Doom & Luke Cohlen, Luke Vibert, Mall Grab, Mark Knekelhuis & Randstad, Maruwa, Mary Anne Hobbs, Mi-el, Moktar, Mor
Elian & Smokey, Moxie & Peach & Shanti Celeste, Nasty King Kurl, Nelly, Nèna & Zohar, Nia Archives, Or:la & Roi
Perez, Palms Trax, Pearson Sound, Pessimist, Phillip Jondo, Riz la Teef, Roza Terenzi & Luca Lozano, Sherelle & Dj Spit, Sicaria, Skin on Skin, Teki
Latex, Tiga, Titia & Nala Brown, TV.OUT, Upsammy & Jeans, Young
Marco & Orpheu the Wizard and X Club.
Acts:
8O8 State, Acid Arab, Animistic Beliefs, Aphex Twin, Babyfather, Bicep, Ceephax Acid Crew, Cosmic Force, Colin Benders, Chaka Khan, Crystal Waters, Darkside, Das Ding, Debruit, DMX Krew, Fatima al Qadiri, Fatima Yamaha, Floating Points, Gesloten Cirkel, Giorgio Moroder, Giraffi
Dog, Hype Williams, Ibeye, Intercity 106, Jon Hopkins, King Shiloh Soundsystem, Kink, Kubus, Legowelt, Max Cooper, Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Moderat, Nicola Cruz, Nicolás Jaar, Octo Octa, Paranoid London, Parrish Smith, Quantic, Róisín
Murphy, Robin S, Rude 66, Sansibar, SebastiAn, Shlohmo, Suzanne Ciani, Tafkamp, The Chemical Brothers, Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes, Ultrastation and Underworld
Bands:
Air, Alt-J, Amadou and Mariam, BadBadNotGood, Basement Jaxx, Bonobo, Caribou, Damian Marley, Depeche Mode, De Likt, Dollkraut, Eiskalte Engel, Faithless, Fugees, Glass Animals, Gorillaz, Groove Armada, Justice, Joy Division, Kamasi Washington, Khruagbin, Kokoko!, Kokoroko, Kraftwerk, Manu Chao, Maribou State, Massive Attack, N.E.R.D., New Order, OY, Pet Shop
Boys, Tame Impala, The Prodigy and The Roots
In my opinion, what I think is important when programming a festival line-up?
Diversity in the bookings; I love a mix of high and low from Headliners, (almost forgotten) Legends, to new talents and live sets. A mix of nice and complimentary genres keeps things open to a more mixed crowd and provides a great bespoke festival. Also, great to consider the tempo over the duration of the event, ebbing and flowing each day towards a buildup on the main day of programming. As any large platform festivals should be encouraged the representation of a wide section of people - in turn making itself open to all!
How do I keep track of trends and developments within the festival and club landscape?
By following the artists, clubs, festivals, labels, record stores, and streams that I like, but also by getting lost on YouTube, Bandcamp & Discogs. Then I’m also a music enthusiast that loves going towards festivals in the Netherlands, but also abroad.
To name a few of the things I follow to keep up with my own hunger:
Artists: The list that I provided before to name a few…
Clubs:
Ankali, Berghain, De School, Garage Noord, Kisloty (RIP), OXI, PIP, Printworks, Radion, RadioRadio, Razzmatazz, Robert Johnson, Trouw (RIP) and Tresor.
Festivals:
Atlast, Ava, Dekmantel, DGTL, Dimensions, Dour, Draaimolen, Glastonbury, Horst, Lockdown (RIP), Kala, Love International, Lowlands, Melt, Orbit, Outlook, Pitch (RIP), Pitchfork, Primavera, Sonar, Strange sounds from beyond (RIP), The Crave, Waking life and Worldwide FM.
Labels/stores:
Bakk, Clone, DMZ, Friends of Friends, Hessle Audio, Hypercolour, Hyperdub, Klasse
Wrecks, Mechatronica, Moustache, Murder Capital, Ninja Tune, Pinkman, Rat Life, Rush Hour, R&S, Stones Throw, Tempa, Time is now, Uncanny Valley, Warp, XL Recordings and Young Turks.
Streams:
Boiler Room, Future Intel, Hör, Keep Hush, NTS, Operator, Redlight (RIP), Rinse FM, StrandedFM, The Lot, and Tiny Desk.
Exciting project(s) you have done in the past. What were your responsibilities and what did you like about it?
This must have been the parties we hosted and co hosted or the collaborations we did, when I was running my own company, men’s wear brand ‘ILL’, as described before. Where I was responsible for running the show with everything that came by for example: designing our in-house clothing collection, collaborations, partnerships and brand direction to name a few. All this simultaneously and under specific calendar deadlines - a full-on experience for a first time entrepreneur, but a hugely rewarding one! I mentioned the ‘ILL’ community and this was really the most precious part, feeling that I made a space for people to come together and connect. Some of these projects can be seen below and with links in the digital version.
