EDM producer Tiesto performs at Staples Center on March 2.
World famous EDM producer Tiesto returns to LA this weekend for a headlining show at the Staples Center on March 2.
When Tiesto last played a massive show in Los Angeles, he made history, playing before a crowd of over 26,000 inside Carson’s Home Depot Center. We had the chance to speak with Tiesto in a phone interview about the EDM’s crossover into the mainstream in the U.S., touring college campuses and his new album.
You were originally set to tour late last year but you hurt your back. Is everything now back to normal?
Yeah, everything is reasonably back to normal. I still have to train a lot and it’s a long process, but it will be back to normal in the future.
With an extended amount of time away from the booth, is it refreshing to get back behind the boards?
It’s been refreshing, for sure, because I’ve been out of touch for a month to six weeks. I had a lot of time to be in the studio and make new tracks, work out everyday and not party for a month. I really liked it.
Pulling from your past experience touring the world, what distinguishes the American EDM crowd from Europe and elsewhere?
It’s brand new. I feel like in Europe, EDM has been there for many years so people are more used to it. They’re very open-minded [in America]. They’re not pigeonholed into one style. It’s very refreshing. In Europe, it’s very different per country. In Holland and Germany, the crowd is a lot older because they are so used to dance music, but if you go to Sweden or some places in Eastern Europe, the crowd is really young and into it.
At other stops on your current tour you are targeting smaller venues at colleges. Why the choice to again target the college crowd stateside with your College Invasion tour?
I think the college crowd is very important. They are the future. They are very energetic and so into the music, and for me, that’s very inspiring. No matter how old you are, you always will remember your time in college. To be a part of that culture is amazing to me.
With some of these crowds, you may be the watershed figure that first introduces an audience member to dance music. Does it mean a lot to you to gain that opportunity?
That definitely means a lot to me. There’s nothing more satisfying than surprising people with the music, production, lights and visuals and just blowing people’s minds. That’s why I became a DJ—to play stuff and surprise people with it and make them have a great time.
You’ve remained a steadfast force in dance music. Instead of branching fully into fulfilling pop partnerships, your interests tend to fall more in line with a creative way to integrate diverse artists into the dance fold. Do you think that philosophy is what’s helped you remain so popular?
Yeah, I think so. I never really sold out over anything. I always do my thing and like to make and play music I can put in my sets. I think it helps that I’ve always stayed true to myself. People see it’s pure and it’s real.
You recently announced you have plans to release a new album this year. What can you say about how it’s shaping up?
It’s going be the same root as the Kaleidoscope album, obviously different but with very interesting collaborations with people of different genres. It’s just great dance music. Try to make the best dance album ever—that’s my goal. [Laughs]
How far along would you gauge the process?
Probably eight tracks; So four more, I think.
In the past, you’ve had ban glow sticks from your shows. Why make that aesthetic choice?
The main reason behind it was it’s just sending out the wrong message. Glow sticks are very much associated with doing drugs and the bad things of the rave culture. That, for me, was the main reason to ban them.
I wanted to show my crowd that I’m not part of that. Obviously, some people will always do it, but the image of the glow sticks at the parties was very bad, especially in Europe. Even in comedy movies, you would see a traditional raver, and they always show that he’s on drugs with glow sticks in his hands and in his mouth. I think we deserve a better image than that.
Tiesto performs March 2 at Staples Center. Find tickets deals on LosAngeles.com.
