In Trance We Trust With Menno de Jong

Hello Menno de Jong : ) a warm welcome to think IN electronic. Thank you for taking time out to do this interview with us.

How are you doing ? We sat here freezing, and would like to know what’s your favourite season?

Hi! I'm good and glad to chat to you. My favourite season is definitely summer because of all the great festivals and Ibiza shows.

1. We like asking all of our guest this, we know you have played in South Africa before what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear South Africa?

Biltong, and Braai. I don't think you can miss either in South Africa!

2. For all our readers out there who don’t know who Menno de Jong is can you tell us a little more about yourself on a non-musical front?

Well, actually most of my time is spent on music, but I also like to go swimming a couple of times a week to stay in shape, as well as watch TV shows such as Game of Thrones.

3. Growing up we all have aspirations, was your aspiration to always be in music and specifically EDM? What would you be doing if you weren’t in music?

I realised I wanted to do something in music at a very young age, around 15, since then I've been working non-stop on making it my profession. If I had not gotten into music I would have probably been a basketball player or business owner.

4. You have mixed one of the disc off the iconic compilation album In Trance we Trust, vol 20. The first ITWT was released in 2000 what were you doing in 2000?

I was working hard on my first couple of releases: Guanxi, Millionfold, Second Thoughts etc.

5. It must be a huge honor to be part of the ITWT family how did the opportunity for you to mix the album come to be and how did you select the track-list for the compilation?

A huge honor indeed! I asked some of the artists that I really like if they wanted to make a track for the compilation, as well as made one myself together with Adam Ellis, after getting a good 10 tracks together I gathered the last couple of tracks from what labels had sent me to consider for the CD.

6. What one track off ITWT do you wish you had produced and why ?

Johan Ekman – Rocking, because it's quite simply rocking :-)

7. What does In Trance We Trust represent for you.

When I graduated from high school I wrote in my yearbook comment: In Trance We Trust. That's just what was on my mind at the moment, not just the label, but also that if I trusted in my passion for the music it would bring me great joy.

8. Sneijder and Mike Saint Jules mixed the other 2 disc on the album, what about each of these producers stands out to you?

Sneijder has an amazing energy in all his productions, and Mike Saint Jules is just one of the nicest and most dedicated guys I have met in the Trance scene.

 

9. Can you describe to us the Menno de Jong sound in 3 words?

Melodic, energetic and mysterious.

10. Now a day’s every track seems to sound the same, or is a rip off of another track, do you prefer originality over conformity?

Absolutely, without new ideas in music it quickly becomes boring.

11. What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about producing and what’s  your favourite and least favourite thing about Djing?

Producing: the thrill of writing a song you love vs. the long hours spent alone behind a computer.

Djing: the thrill of rocking a crowd and meeting people that love the same music vs. the long hours spent alone in hotels and airplanes.

12. We are always trying to convert non-trance fans into trance lovers, can you name the 5 tracks that made you fall in love with trance?

Chicane – Saltwater

Paul van Dyk – For An Angel

Push – Strange World (2000 Remake)

System F – Out Of The Blue

Yahel - Voyage

13. Any last messages to the fans?

Thanks for your continued support, hope to see you soon! :)

mennodejong.com

blackholerecordings.com 

soundcloud.com/blackholerecordings

We are giving you an opportunity to Win a Copy of ITWT 20.. Keep a look out on our Facebook and twitter page ;)