On the idea for his new album, Afrojack said, “I was working on my DJ sets and making mash-ups. Sometimes I couldn’t find the right drop, so I started creating drops, just purely for the sake of it. That’s how most of the record came about.”
Afrojack continued, “I have been producing for such a long time, and I can create what I want. After a while you go into the studio, just to create more club drops. By doing it in preparation for your live sets, it comes out really naturally and very fun.”
For Afrojack, it was impossible to select a personal favorite song from his Press Play album. “They are all pretty cool,” he admitted. “I play all of them in my set. They all have their own effect.”
Most recently, Afrojack launched his “Global Remix Battle I,” in an effort to find the most talented producers in the world. “We are basically offering this opportunity to anybody from all over the world. They just have to prove themselves worthy of it,” he said. “We want to see how far people are willing to go, and what they are willing to show. We are looking for people that are courageous and willing to move forward.”
Regarding his plans for the future, Afrojack acknowledged that he is focused on the younger talent. “I want to teach and guide the younger talent, in order to turn more dreams into reality,” he said.
The acclaimed electronic musician continued, “With our music, we take a very strategic approach, which is the opposite of what we do with festivals. Festivals are so much fun because they are pure realness. I rarely go to a studio to make a song. I am always on my laptop fucking around, and if something cool comes out I’ll save it.”
Afrojack shared that he would love to work with Sia again. “I really love what she is doing now, and what she has been doing,” he said.
Digital transformation of electronic music
On the impact of technology on the electronic music scene, Afrojack said, “Technology has made music easier and more accessible for people. It is less of a physical community because you don’t have to go to a record store to get music. When I grew up, people went to the record store to buy music, and not just stand there and talk about it. Right now, Instagram and social media have more of a community feel than before.”
Regarding his use of technology in his daily routine, Afrojack said, “I collaborate with other artists over the Internet mostly, so everything goes digital. I use social media, and I do interviews via Skype, which is very fun. FaceTime makes everything more personal and more interesting.”
Afrojack acknowledged that he learned how to DJ via Virtual DJ software and BPM studio. “The world doesn’t change. People change,” he admitted.
For his fans, Afrojack expressed his sincere appreciation. “Thank you for sticking with me through the good and the bad,” he said. “I will still make music and I hope to introduce you to a lot new artists along the way, and I hope to inspire you to become the best version of yourselves.”
He defined the word success as “Waking up with a smile, and going to sleep with a smile.” An added component to success for Afrojack is “peace of mind.”
To learn more about Afrojack and his music, check out his official website.
Read More: Digital Journal reviewed Afrojack’s latest artist album, Press Play.
