Calling Michael Woods an ordinary musician would be a grave injustice. The British DJ and producer has successfully dabbled in progressive and electro house, and well as trance. With remixes for the likes of Deadmau5, Armin van Buuren, Calvin Harris, Tiesto and many more, Michael Woods has created quite the niche for himself in the dance music realm.
We caught up with the Brit prior to his India tour, beginning this week to discuss his music, his love for India and much more. Read on.
TBB: How did your journey in the music industry start?
Michael: I guess it started a long time ago when my father first sat me down in front of the piano from the age of around 4 years old and got me playing my first music notes.
TBB: Hypothetical question. If you had to choose between being a producer or a DJ for the rest of your life, what would you prefer?
Michael: If I had to decide between the 2 I’d probably have to go with production – I’m a producer first by nature, I love getting musical and technical in the studio plus I’m not sure how long I could sustain a DJ career without the production to back it up.
TBB: As you’ve said earlier, your music is a melting point of diverse sounds. How does a quality Michael Woods record come to life?
Michael: I always picture what I want my goal to be and aim to work towards that goal. In the case of making music its to see the crowd energised, enthusiastic and loving the music, and keeping this vision in my mind throughout the production process is what brings all my ideas to life.
TBB: Do you think electronic music is headed towards the direction of indulging in more experimental records as the scene and the music itself continues to evolve with each passing day?
Michael: Experimental electronic music has been around for a long time and definitely has its place. I’m not sure its going to appeal to the masses in the way mainstream EDM does but what we love to do as pioneering DJ’s and producers is to take elements from not so popular genres and produce them in a way that has mass appeal.
TBB: What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
Michael: There’s been many memorable moments but one has to be waking up on a Sunday afternoon to find out that one of my productions had just gone straight in at #1 in the official UK charts, the record being “Changed The Way You Kissed Me” which I produced for Example.
TBB: How are things going with your Diffused label? Any new signed artists we should look out for?
Michael: Things are going very well, Diffused Music is run under the almighty wing of the Armada label, which as you know is overseen by Armin Van Buuren, which in itself ensures everything that comes out on Diffused gets the attention it deserves. One artist to look out for is Alex Madden – he’s remixed one of my previous releases and has a great record coming out in June called “In The Night”.
TBB: Your latest release ‘Take My Love’ is a club-oriented thumper featuring a wicked tribal inspired percussion. Did you have anything special in mind for that one?
Michael: Yes, I had the idea come to me one night whilst trying to get to sleep actually, I kept hearing the drums over an over in my head so I ran down to the studio and laid it all out, and Take My Love was born. It’s great to see it getting so much support from the likes of Tiesto, Steve Angello, David Guetta, Oliver Heldens and so many more.
TBB: Which rising artists do you think are poised to kill the game in 2016?
Michael: I think Jauz is killing it right now and is set to destroy 2016!
TBB: What can we expect from Michael Woods in the next 12 months?
Michael: I’m currently working on a whole bunch of new material, material which sounds nothing I’ve ever made before and I think people are really going to love it – so stay tuned for more music from me in 2016.
TBB: You’re returning to India after 2014. Feels good to be back? Any special memories you have from the country?
Michael: Yes I can’t wait to return – I absolutely loved playing the Sunburn Festival and seeing and interacting with the ever-so-energetic Indian crowd – I’ve travelled to and performed in many countries but I’ve rarely seen crowds with so much energy and enthusiasm for music as I have seen in India
TBB: Your Top 3 Bangin’ Tracks at the moment?
Michael:
1) Offaiah – Trouble
2) Univz – Lucid Dreaming
3) Sikdope – Snakes
Michael Woods plays in Mumbai this weekend at Kitty Su, Mumbai.
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