Digital Society Catches up with Activa ahead of his set at the DS International Volume 3 Album Launch Party on Friday 13th August @ The Mint Club, LeedsHey Rob, hows it going? – Its been a busy 12 months on the DJ Front from what we hear – any standout performances? whats coming up?Definitely, its been really busy. The main standout gig for me was the Vandit Night in Berlin last December. Just me and Paul van Dyk on the lineup which was a bit nerve racking with Paul playing before and after my set. It was an amazing night though and one ill remember for a long long time. Tomorrowlands in Belgium was amazing too. Great weather and a great crowd.
I have some really good gigs coming up too which I am very excited about. 1015 in San Francisco is definitely one that I cant wait for. I am also travelling to Italy for a night called Art of Trance which should be great.
Sounds like a busy year ahead! Last years 'This World', your debut artist album is still high in demand - did the success of the album surprise you?I was hoping that people would see and hear the effort that I put into the album. I wasn’t expecting anything in terms of a reaction in particular, having said that, I knew that it was (at the time) the best work I had done and was just hoping that it would be well received.
It was more of a relief than a surprise when people’s feedback came in as I was always thinking about what people would think about it and whether they would understand why the album was put together the way it was.
2010 has seen you launch ‘Borderline Music’ and you have had some great releases lined up. can we look forward to any more upcoming Activa production material in the near future on the label?I will be doing various work on the label from original tracks under Substate and Activa as well as remixes and special reworks. I am wanting the label to stand out from other digital labels in not only the style of music it will be releasing but the quality as well. I have some amazing producers on boards like Sonic Element and Impulsive Drive, both relatively new, but both with music that, for me, is unique while keeping the quality and style of the label how I want it.
I am also working with the likes of Marcos and JK Walker, two producers that I rate very highly and are up for working with Borderline.
This summer you have mixed 'DS International Volume 3'. your association with digital society is well known with your long standing residency, how does it feel to mix the forthcoming ds album release?Its fantastic. Ever since the first DS International was released I wanted to mix a CD and now that I have had my chance and the mix is done, I think it will stand up against the other CD’s. There are some great new tracks on there as well as an old favourite and some recent quality releases. It should have a good mix of known and unknown music and will hopefully flow nicely!
Finally (thinking back to Live As in 2008 any words of wisedom for the DS faithful ahead of the album launch party? It should be a really cool night with a high quality of music. DS nights always flow in terms of the music and the album launch will be no exception. It will be a great chance for DS fans to see me play an unrestricted peak time set which a lot of the time, they don’t get to see because I tend to play late. Im really looking forward to it. It’ll be better than Live As I reckon!
Cheers Rob, looking forward to another cracking nightCheers, me too!
Activa Activa (Production maestro Rob Stevenson) is a man on fire. Labeled by Paul van Dyk as his producer of the year, Activa productions have appeared on Spinnin, Discover, High Contrast and of course the mighty Vandit Records - which has seen Activa tracks & remixes feature in sets from the biggest names in the industry. 2009 saw the tech-trance titan complete his first and highly acclaimed artist album 'This World', and has worked with the likes of Giuseppe Ottaviani, John Askew & Jon O'Bir in recent times. Coupled with new projects on Anjunabeats (under the Solar Movement alias), and with Dave Parkinson under his Revalution 9 guise on Activa's very own brand new, independantly run label, Borderline Music - a label which is set to take the Trance scene by storm. Alongside tour dates in Europe, Asia, and the US throughout the calender year, Rob's renowned UK residency with Digital Society is held in the highest regard.
Activa has done a special guest mix for this weeks Digital Society Podcast as a preview before his set at The DS International Volume 3 Album Launch Party on Friday 13th August @ The Mint Club, LeedsThe Digital Society Podcast with Activa
01. Jon O’Bir ft. Fisher – Found A Way (Original Mix) [Liquid]
02. ID – ID (Original Mix) [Borderline]
03. David & Carr vs. Sonic Element – Hydralo (Haris C Remix) [Alter Ego]
04. Ercole – Carnival (Original Mix) [Fraction]
05. John O’Callaghan – Desert Orchid (Original Mix) [Subculture]
06. Martin Everson & B.Prime – Confidence In The Future (Peetu S Remix)
07. Sneijder – The Venom (Original Mix) [Vibration]
08. Greg Downey – Send The Gods (Original Mix) [Reset]
09. Stephen Coyle – Abort (Original Mix) [Aria]
10. Activa vs. Revolution 9 – The Fall (Original Mix) [Borderline]
Download here : DS Podcast with ActivaFriday 13th August 2010 -
The Mint Club, Leeds (10pm - late)
Digital Society Album Launch Party
Ashley Wallbridge & Activa
+ support from Will Holland, Rav Takhar and Paul PearsonTickets - £10.00 Available from these outlets :
Buy Tickets from TicketwebBuy Tickets from Skiddle