Sonic Death Fart
In an industry currently monopolised by 30-something half bearded millionaires, it is refreshing to see that the EDM torch is slowly being passed down to the next generation of producer/DJs. The new breed are raw and exciting, with potent rock star DNA replacing the formerly archetypal geek stereotype that usually accompanies a fresh faced electronic musician.
If dance music were to have a spiritual home - a figurative mecca for the blooding of future industry kings - it would be impossible to look past the fertile breeding ground of Holland, which just so happens to be home to one of the most exciting young stars in modern electro - Kevin van Veelen AKA DEM SLACKERS.
The feisty teenager first appeared on our radars back in 2010 courtesy of an amazing remix of Sandro Silva & Anjiro Rijo's Fifty What; the track fittingly nicknamed ‘The Brown Noise’ due to its uniquely cruddy bassline.
“I still think it's so strange that track got so big. It's basically just a fart sound with some big live sounding drums. I never expected so many DJs would play it out!” he laughs.
Although he is only known to us as an electro producer, van Veelen honed his craft in other mediums before switching to digital composition.
“Music has always been the number one thing in my life,” he says. “I used to play the guitar and then switched to electronic music when I was about 12 or 13. I started out making hip-hop until one of my friends got a couple of his tracks signed to Dutch label Spinnin' Records. I was really interested in the whole dance thing and decided to give it a try… And the rest is history!”
Barely 19 years old, the Dutchman has already chalked up a healthy catalogue of original material and remix work including recent re-works for Canberra’s own The Aston Shuffle (Start Again) and Peking Duk (Welcome), the latter recently finding its way onto the playlist for one of DJ Tiesto’s radio shows.
“I love the Peking Duk boys, they're doing big things,” he says. “I'm always really happy when Tiesto plays one of my songs on his show. He has been doing it for a while now so I have to try and not see it as something normal… Because it is pretty freaking awesome!”
With success comes notoriety and demand, and the new year looks to provide a lot of opportunity for Van Veelen to increase his profile around the world with some big announcements due soon.
“Beyonce's dad is managing this new girl group called From Above and I just did a remix for them. I did a mix for Tuff Em Up which will also be the label that drops my new single Schlingel soon. And I've got a bunch of other remixes in the works but I can't say anything about those yet. So head over to the Facebook page and stay informed!”
That Fifty What remix really does sound like an extended fart, I'm telling you. It's awesome. Anyway, Dem Slackers play at Trinity Bar on Friday February 3.
