“It has been a pretty full-on year,” chimes Daenen. “Basically, I’ve been working on a live set over the last 12 months or so and have been establishing that. I’m excited about getting the show onstage and to start touring with it. For me, it was always something I had considered – getting the visual aspect onto the stage – it has always been a natural extension of the musical side of things.”
Indeed, the lad is tweaking the live show which includes a keyboard player and drummer as well as a rather impressive setup of electronic gear – and with that, he hopes to apply a new direction to last year’s aptly titled full length album 2 (it was his second) which was released of course on the seminal Hospital imprint. But there is no rest for the wicked it seems, for work on album number three has already commenced.
“I’ve started work on my next album after touring for the last couple of months,” he explains. “It has been a good opportunity for me to get back into music. I’ve been thinking about new directions and new styles. For example, I am really loving house music right now. I’ve done a lot of drum and bass so it’s good to be looking at doing something different.”
And of course that doesn’t mean he can’t have other aspirations too. “I want to collaborate with Diplo to be honest,” he says out of the blue, almost as an afterthought. “I think he is a fantastic talent. There are some other people I’m looking at too, because there are a lot of underground artists out there that haven’t been discovered yet. I’d love to find those people!”
That said, Boris admits life has been rather hectic for him in recent times. “There was a time where my music was getting picked up by some pretty cool labels like Ganja and Spearhead.” But things really happened when Hospital Records came to the party having endorsed a number of tracks he’d produced. “From there, basically things became exclusive and of course now I’m aligned with them, which has been great for me.”
No doubt too, having been embraced by one of the most important – read well-respected – imprints in the industry hasn’t hurt his reputation. In turn, it has cemented his capability as a bit of a newcomer with serious street credibility. So in 2013, it will be his studio work that will be keeping him out of trouble. And his pipeline of work should have his fans equally excited.
“I’ve got a few singles that I’m working on,” he says. “Something should be out in April this year but I hope to keep releasing things over the coming year. I’m still going to keep releasing on Hospital Records – hopefully I can get my third album out with them, as it’s exactly where I want to be right now. Sure I’m looking forward to exploring other things as well, but I’m really happy with where things are at for me.
“When I produce, I do sort of try to keep my style fresh and different. I’ve also moved away from just trying to purely please my fans. I do enjoy taking risks and that’s something I have always tried to do.” Likewise, this is a common trend in the music industry – and a positive one at that. “There is a difference between doing a track, an EP or a full length album. You’re telling a different type of story – and you’re not always making tracks for the dance floor. Especially if you have the freedom, time and space to experiment a little.” Certainly, sometimes it’s hard to believe that Daenen has seemingly come from nowhere to create a following that is almost unprecedented. As well, he is doing things differently – his own way. But that is the nature of the brave new world; bedroom DJs showing up their more established brethren in ways no-one thought possible.
Finally Daenen shares his explicit love of the nations in the Pacific and particularly, his love for Australia. “I love it down in the south end of the world – South Africa, New Zealand, they all have a special place in my heart. But Australia – that’s the realest culture shock! That’s why I love it. When you see something really different to what you are used to at home, you really get that feeling. I also really love going to places where the scene is growing and then also where it is kicking strongest – I think Australia falls into the second category.”
BY RK
