There are very few artists that can genuinely say that they’re in the running to stage the next big EDM breakout. After a 36 month production whirlwind, which has thrust him squarely into the dance spotlight, Dennis Sheperd is very much one of them. The 23 year old from Essen in Germany has spent that short period of time delivering some of the freshest, most creative music dance-land has heard in years. In doing so he’s recorded and remixed for some of the scene’s most forward-thinking & eclectic labels, racking up formidable club-anthems along the way!
Sameer and Jacquelina interviewed Dennis for TrancePodium.
Who influenced your passion for music?
First, it was my best friend. He brought me into Trance music at the end of the 90's.
Then of course the great producers and DJ's like Kyau & Albert, Cosmic Gate, Nic Chagall and also Dirty South, Axwell and others influenced my passion for music. If they wouldn't have done such great songs in the past, who knows if I would have stayed in this scene.
Where was your first performance and what do you remember most from it?
It was in a club in Bonn, Germany, some time ago and I played house stuff. I was a bit nervous but everything went very well. I was very happy in the end and from this point I knew DJ'ing would make as much fun as producing if not even more.
Do you actively hunt for new music or does it seem to sort of find you through mailing lists and friends?
I'm actively hunting for new music, definitely. I'm browsing the charts at Beatport very often and most times not the Trance charts to be honest. Most of the Trance stuff I get sent per email by the labels themselves so there isn't any browsing needed anymore. And of course advices from friends are also there but not very often.
What’s coming up production wise for you next?
Oh, there's a new upcoming 'Dennis Sheperd & Cold Blue' single which will appear on the High Contrast main-label in September. I'm very sure this will be one of our strongest singles up to now. It consists of female vocals by Chloe Langley, who also sang on 'Not Too Late' (our last collab single), and was written by Richard Bedford, the guy from 'Above & Beyond - Alone Tonight'.
Cold Blue and I had much fun producing it and each of our own mixes has his own style and will fit different tastes.
3rd of August gave us a release on Armada featuring you, care to perhaps give us some info on it?
'Somehow' (this is the title of the above mentioned song) is a collaboration with Australia's number 1 DJ, tyDi, and a US female vocalist Marcie. It comes along with a very strong Sebastian Brandt remix. I think the original mix sounds very unique and floats perfectly between House and Trance. The release is doing quite well at the moment, supporting-wise as well as charting-wise.
How did you and tyDi meet, what were the events that led up to the musical brilliance that is the tune you guys created?
First of all thanks for the nice words. tyDi and I just met through mySpace. I sent him a message telling him that I was in love with one of his remixes. He answered and told me that he felt in love with my stuff too. So we exchanged contact details and after a few weeks our collaboration started.
What would be the tune that has impressed you the most so far this 2009?
A very hard question to be honest. I can't pick up one favorite track but I can tell you that I really liked "Sign Of The Times" by Cosmic Gate, "Alamo" by Dirty South, Artento Divini's remix of "Kosheen - Hide U" (CDR) and many, many more..
Perhaps some advice so any up and coming Producers?
Believe in your dreams and work hard for them. Then they will become true!
Source :
Trance Podium - Dennis Sheperd interview
