EDM Life is proud to present our new interview series 10 questions with…. First up, Darin Epsilon! (and bonus mix!)

10 questions with… Darin Epsilon!

Internationally acclaimed DJ, producer, radio host, and label owner Darin Epsilon is often referred to as a leader of the Progressive & Tech House scene. His Perspectives radio show and podcast, along with his frequent guest appearances on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio (siriusxm.com), allow him to reach tens of thousands of listeners on a regular basis. His SoundCloud page (soundcloud.com/darinepsilon) alone has over 450,000 plays and receives a whopping 10,000 plays per month. He launched his record label Perspectives Digital (perspectivesdigital.com) in November 2010 as an extension of the brand, further solidifying his influence and presence within the global dance community. To top it all, he was named one of the winners in John Digweed & Beatport’s DJ Competition during the summer of 2011.

10 Questions with Darin Epsilon:

Darin, you grew up in Chicago but live in Los Angeles now. What brought you to LA?
First of all, thanks for inviting me to do this interview! Well, LA has always been known as the cultural hotspot for media and entertainment. I’ve always wanted to be a musician since I was young. I figured that the high concentration of EDM industry people could certainly help push me towards the right direction. Since I moved here, there’s been so many extraordinary opportunities that came my way that would certainly not have happened if I was still living in Chicago.

You are one of the few producers and djs out there right now championing the ‘progressive house’ sound. Have you always been involved with this genre or have you moved in this direction after working in another before?
When I was 17, the first records I bought were actually Hard House and Trance. I didn’t fully understand or appreciate Progressive House until I heard Sasha’s GU Ibiza compilation. After a few listens on repeat, it finally began to sink in, and I haven’t been able to look back since. The sounds are so much more mature, developed, and advanced compared to any other genre.

You have already played some amazing parties in 2012 including Nocturnal Wonderland and massive shows in Mexico and Africa (!!!), not to mention a few high-profile dates alongside Armin Van Buuren and John Digweed. Which party in 2012 has been your favorite and most memorable?
Being able to headline Vertigo in Costa Rica was definitely my favorite gig of the year so far. Everything from the visuals to the sound to the lighting was flawless. Plus they had one of the coolest DJ booth setups I have ever seen in my life. Nocturnal Wonderland and the Sunglasses At Night party in Kenya have also been highlights.

You had the opening slot at Nocturnal Wonderland last month… how does playing an early set differ from a peak time set for you?
When it’s early, I like to keep the tempo at a moderate pace and keep it groovy. You have to pay really close attention to the subtleties of your tracks. This is a lot more challenging in some ways than a peak time set, where all you simply have to do is play one banging track after another.

Traveling to Africa to play a gig this past summer must have been an amazing experience. Tell us more about the party? Did you get to fit in a safari while there or take in the local culture/sights?
It was a themed party called Sunglasses At Night and was held in Nairobi National Park. I saw the savannah, which was absolutely incredible because it spanned as far as the eye could see. We were looking for the lions and hippos, but I guess we got there at the wrong time of day. The Tribe Hotel was also one of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed in my life. They use that same hotel for US diplomats and ambassadors.

What can you tell us about your most recent release?
My latest single is called ‘Lapis Lazuli’ and has been receiving huge support from Beatport and TrackItDown.net. There are some really excellent remixes here from producers in Hungary and Brazil.

Since 2007, you have run your radio show called Perspectives and launched a label based on that name, called Perspectives Digital. Can you tell us how the label came about?
Well, I reached a point in my career when I decided that it was time to branch off and do my own thing. And unfortunately, it seems that not many labels out there have the artists’ best interests in mind. My radio show Perspectives was doing well, so I figured it would be a good idea to incorporate the name into the record label. Having my own label has been a mostly positive experience. It’s given me so much flexibility and freedom. Now I can release whatever I want, whenever I want.

What are your favorite tracks right now?
That’s a very tough question. I’ve had the Sasha remix of Hot Chip ‘Flutes’ stuck in my head all week. Todd Terje also did an unbelievable remix of Hot Chip for their track ‘How Do You Do’ which I’ve been playing a ton in my sets.

You’ve played at the last few Winter Music Conferences… will we see a Perspectives Digital party in 2013?
It’s definitely a goal of mine for the future. Right now I’m focusing on getting PD T-shirts printed. Slowly but surely things are falling into place!

Any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for?
Yea of course, I’m always working on new material. My track ‘Shine The Light’ is supposedly being used for Nick Warren’s upcoming Renaissance Masters compilation. I’m also in talks with 16 Bit Lolitas to do a remix for them, as well as collaborating on a new original track with Cid Inc.

Many thanks to Darin for this interview!

check out a mix Darin made just for us!

[MIXCLOUD]http://www.mixcloud.com/EDMLife/darin-epsilon-guest-mix-for-edm-life/[/MIXCLOUD]

LINKS
http://www.darinepsilon.com
http://www.facebook.com/darinepsilonofficial
http://www.soundcloud.com/darinepsilon
http://www.twitter.com/darinepsilon
http://www.youtube.com/darinepsilon


UPCOMING DATES:
11/02 – Exchange LA w/ Andy Moor & Alex M.O.R.P.H. (Los Angeles)
11/03 – Vision Nightclub w/ Martin Roth (Chicago)
11/10 – Foro Insurgentes (Mexico City)
11/12 – Playhouse w/ Nick Warren (Los Angeles)
11/21 – Perspectives 6th Year Anniversary on friskyRadio.com
12/15 – Avalon w/ Hernan Cattaneo (Los Angeles)


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

[SOUNDCLOUD]https://soundcloud.com/darinepsilon/darin-epsilon-live-at-insomniac-presents-nocturnal-wonderland-sep-22-2012[/SOUNDCLOUD]

http://www.beatport.com/release/lapis-lazuli-feat-tom-sela/969681