John O'Callaghan: "I’m ready for a full audio assault"

Hi John, where do we find you today?

Today is my birthday! So I am having a day off and a few beers later.

In that case, happy birthday! You're playing at Rong's second birthday party soon, which is a special one as the line-up had been voted for by the clubbers. How different will that fact make it feel to a normal set?

Actually I didn’t know that so that is really nice – wow! Thanks Manchester! I have always had a really strong crowd there and it's good to know people are still hanging in for Trance. I best prepare a stomping set.

Do you have anything special planned for the night? What can clubbers who've voted for you expect?

Brand new, uplifting, energetic music with a few sick Tech-Trance twists. It’s my first gig in about 3 weeks due to illness, so I’m ready for a full audio assault.

You've had a summer or festivals and Ibiza… what have been the highlights?

I think Cream in Ibiza this year has been amazing week in week out. And playing last from 4am to close has been extra special, to see so many true trance fans sticking 'til the end. We all know commercial music is creeping in everywhere and to see trance still has a foothold in Ibiza was an important moment for me.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

Right now I am working on a new vocal track, big room trance. It’s with a new vocalist so that is always exciting. I am also in the middle of a remix for Armin van Buuren. Oh and I also have a new Joint Ops single due very soon. Lots of bits to come!

How did growing up in Ireland influence your musical path? Was there much of a Trance scene there when you were growing up?

Oh yes, I was a Temple Theatre regular. This was the core of dance music in my teens and early twenties. I seen artists like Picotto and Van Dyk regularly. This got me into trance and tech-trance, most of which has influenced my sound very heavily. It was a cult scene in Dublin back then but nowadays it has gone even wider circle and only commercial EDM has a crowd. Hopefully the curve continues back to real EDM.

Trance has had its ups and downs over the years - do you think that the genre is in a healthy place at the moment?

Yes I always am confident and happy with how trance is doing. It’s hard to say… it’s going to be a good year this year but how does anyone know that. It all depends on the talent out there, and who is willing to stick to trance rather than join the bandwagon of the commercial sound, where the money obviously is. But trance will always remain a dedicated underground following and to be honest I think that’s where we most like it.

Are there any up and coming Trance DJs/producers that are exciting you at the moment?

Yes, well I tipped him last year in DJ Mag but I firmly believe Sneijder is coming into his own and in the next 12 months we will see him up his game further. I am doing my best to help him along, as I believe the genre I’m in needs new solid talent, and that is what I believe Sneijder is.

Can you describe your DJ sets in 3 words?

Melodic dynamic energy.

What's the most ridiculous thing that's ever happened while you've been DJing?

Having a promoter state that he would book me, but only if I played a new track by his son, which I never even heard!

And finally - what are your top three tunes of the moment?

John Newall - Dropkick (Sneijder Remix)

Bryan Kearney - Get The Edge (Original Mix)

Giuseppe Ottaviani & Solarstone – Falcons

Thanks John! 

John O'Callaghan plays at Rong's 2nd Birthday party at Venus on Friday 28th September. Tickets are available below.

Interview: Jayne Robinson

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