Riya Sharma gives a sneak peek of behind the ‘stage’ action with Martin Garrix at the recently concluded music festival, Sunburn, Goa. In a candid chat, the Dutch DJ from Netherlands takes a look back down memory lane and discusses where his sees himself in the next five years
Jumping on a sofa, he said, “I am a computer nerd and have always been so. This is why I sit on my computer for 70 per cent of my day.” Martin Garrix, the headliner on the third day of the music festival, Sunburn, Goa reached the venue around six, much before time as he was expected to play his set which was scheduled at nine. We were backstage when this teenage, blue eyed boy walked inside the premises with a group of people including his manager, security guards and many family members. It was no less than a fascinating entry by the young DJ, sporting a black T-shirt with peace, love and war striked out, sports shoes and hoodie (to avoid any chaotic situation), who became a star overnight.
Twenty minutes after he walked into the artiste lounge, we saw Garrix, stepping up on the stage and keeping a check of the things that he might need during the performance. Once he was back and stepped back again into the artiste’s room, we found him casually talking to his friends and family.
Just before our interaction with him, we thought the 19-year-old must be under pressure and might only want to chill with his loved ones. Contrary to what we had expected, the music producer seemed quite excited and geared up for the conversation. What followed was the story behind the making of the ‘Martin Garrix’, accompanied with his excited, all-charged-up energy and expressions, which were to die for.
Excerpts from an interaction that followed:
We: We are really excited to meet you.
Garrix: ReallyIJ (with a huge smile). I am glad
We: How does it feel to come back to India and perform at Sunburn,GoaIJ
Garrix: It feels good to be back. I love India and the people here. I love the food, and I have played at Delhi and Mumbai before but not at Goa. I brought my family and friends, too, because it is like a holiday for all of us. To have them as part of the show tonight and to play in such a beautiful country, I am really thankful.
We: You are among the top DJs in the world, do you feel any pressureIJ
Garrix: Yes. At first, it was pressurising. But, when I do shows, I know what I am doing. Either people will like it, because I give my best, or they won’t like it and move to another stage. I don’t care. I know my show and I know people will like it because I play my own music. After Animals, people asked me, what’s nextIJ (raising his voice) And, I was like, I don’t know (rolling his eyes). I had just releasedAnimals and I didn’t know what I was going to do next. Right now, there is no pressure, but in the beginning, I felt it.
We: But, how did you startIJ
Garrix: I am a computer nerd (stressing on the ‘nerd’). I played guitar for eight years and then at one point, I heard electronic music, and I was like, this sounds interesting (in a casual tone). And I had a programme where I used to put my guitar melody in the computer and at that point I got so addicted to electronic music that I told myself, I am going to try to produce it on my own. The first three years was really bad but I spend a lot of time in the studio trying to be better and find my own music. Then I got some recognition by some labels and artistes.
later, I switched schools and I went to special academy for producers and musicians. It was a three year course and in the first year, I made Animals and then it exploded. But, I would still go to school after that. So, I would do shows on Sundays and on Monday morning, I would be back to school. It was a weird balance but somehow I managed to graduate. One of the artistes that really helped me was Tiesto, I released my first song, under his album, Musical freedom and then things started rolling.
We: But, after Animals, even DJs started following you. How did you react to itIJ
Garrix: It was great. I was surprised. I would go to an airport and hundreds of people would be there, waiting for me. And I would feel, ‘Oh, this is weird’.
This is such a new thing, it is hard to explain. When I am working in a studio, I like working on my computer. That is where I spend 70 per cent of my day but when I go for shows, they are sold out. like this one, I think there are 30,000 people waiting, and they told me that I am headlining it and I’m like ‘WhatIJ I have just started and I am not going to stop for a very long time.’
We: But, we really want to know what does Martin Garrix usually does before taking over the stageIJ
Garrix: Interviews (making a sad face).
We: That’s itIJ
Garrix: (starts laughing) No. I like to chill with friends and have few drinks. I like to keep myself calm before the performance.
We: The industry is quite competitive where you have young talent making headlines every six months. How do you sustain yourselfIJ
Garrix: I don’t care about the competition.
We: You don’t need toIJ
Garrix: (laughs) No, I am make music that I feel like making. There is competition I know, but I make my own music and if people like my work, they will listen to it.
It is not as if I am having sleepless nights (comically making a scared face and biting his fingers). No, that is not the case. I know my music and have trust in myself. So I have nothing to worry about (leaning back on the sofa casually).
We: So, where do you see EDM in next five yearsIJ
Garrix: I don’t know where I see EDM in five years but I see myself still making music and doing shows. I make whatever I feel like making; the next album that I am working on is different kind of music. It is not EDM. I am working with Ed Sheeran and linkin Park and it is a not only EDM but different kind of stuff combined. I don’t know what is going to happen in the years to come, but I will be in the studio, everyday, making new music and doing shows (he said in a stern voice).
Post our interaction, he went back on the stage to check if everything was at place. Started at quarter to nine, the young DJ danced along with the crowd, clicked selfies with them, made their video and seemed pretty much excited during the whole set. One thing that we really liked about Garrix’s performance was the screening of the main stage area on the big screen, so that the fans could see him very clearly - jumping, dancing, laughing and cheering with them.
That actually worked as a boost for many of them. “We provide them with all the visuals and lights required on the stage but what you saw in Garrix’s performance (his video on the big screen from the stage) was done by his own production team. Usually, before a show, we are told what all they need, and we make the arrangements accordingly. It is a long process but one thing that is needed the most is coordination.”
He added, “They even tell us in advance about the timing— when they need the firecrackers, confetti or a specific kind of laser. It is done much before the show,” shared Emran Khan, production head at Sunburn.