General discussion / Interview with Tartaros
Not a bad read i suppose. 
"THE THING THAT I FIND REALLY IMPORTANT IN A GOOD HARDSTYLE TRACK IS A GOOD ATMOSPHERE"
i actually think this is funny since it's what HS lacks. (Imo).
"THE THING THAT I FIND REALLY IMPORTANT IN A GOOD HARDSTYLE TRACK IS A GOOD ATMOSPHERE"
i actually think this is funny since it's what HS lacks. (Imo).
greg4850 -
Fear.FM Resident DJ
Fear.FM Resident DJ
Good interview & i added Tartaros on the PS3 
Hi, I’m good! Thanks for asking.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? Who is Tartaros?
Well, my name is Juul Koopman. I’m 21 years old. I live in a small town called Tubbergen in the east of Holland and I study ‘ School of Creative Technology’ at Enschede.
Other than studying and producing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time I really like to watch movies and play Call Of Duty on my PS3, add me for a game some time: Juul-K. For the past few weeks I have also been busy learning to use Adobe After Affects. Really love that program; you can do so many cool things with it!
What kind of things are you creating within After Affects then, any movies for your tracks?
Since I am only a beginner, I just make intros for my YouTube movies and that sort of stuff. When I get to know the software better, I hope to create cool movies for my tracks that I can put on my youtube channel. The aftermovie I made for WiSH outdoor was also created with Premiere and the finishing touch was done in Adobe After Effects.
So when did you begin to get involved with music?
I was always very curious about how electronic dance music was produced. When I was 15, my curiosity was so big that I decided to buy my first load of DJ equipment, 2 turntables and a mixer. At that time I started to figure out Fruity Loops as well. In the beginning I focused more on mixing because with that I could make music immediately, but with the first things I made in Fruity Loops you couldn’t exactly call music haha. A few years went by and at that point mixing wasn’t really a problem anymore so I decided to put more time into producing music. In the summer of 2008 I locked myself up in my room/studio and produced almost every day. When my tracks became better and better I started to send them on to other DJs such as The Vision. He really liked my track ‘Lingering Melody’ and decided to play it at Q-Base that year.
Where did the inspiration for that track come from and what steps did you take to produce it?
Most of the time I start with producing different sounds for a track, but in the case of ‘Lingering Melody’ I found the vocal first. I really like it and the atmosphere in the track was immediately apparent. So from there I started to build the track. After the vocals I created the melody and when I was satisfied with that I began producing the mid! So actually, with this project, I worked through my usual production formula in reverse.
So do you think it’s best to vary your ‘formula’ from time to time?
Yes, my formula isn’t the same all the time. You may find a very nice vocal that creates a great atmosphere (like I did with ‘Lingering melody’). It’s important to do what you think is the best for that particular track at that particular time. There is no secret formula or anything like that, and there never will be. It’s just different for every producer and every project.
Who would you say have been your main influences?
One of the main DJs that I have liked since the beginning is B-Front. The thing that I find really important in a good hardstyle track is a good atmosphere. And in every B-Front track, the atmosphere is just perfect, so much emotion! Other artists from the Fusion label have really inspired me as well. Zany, always delivers high quality and we can’t forget Michel Pollen, the man that’s behind a lot of tracks at Fusion. The way he produces his tracks is so unique.
“…THE THING THAT I FIND REALLY IMPORTANT IN A GOOD HARDSTYLE TRACK IS A GOOD ATMOSPHERE…”
I can see why they would be an influence! Would you say that certain life experiences have inspired choices in music, and if so can you explain how?
Actually, yes! In 2008 I was in a car accident. I had 50% chance of being confined to a wheelchair, and after that moment it really changed the way I look at life. I see everything in a much more positive light, and now I know that life can be over in a split second at any time. And that thought helps me drive myself towards my dream of being a producer and DJ.
Sorry to hear that, but it’s nice to hear it has had such a positive affect on you!
Yes it really did. Your way of living really changes after such an experience.
So what is it about Hardstyle that you like so much?
I don’t know actually. I listen to so many different genres but every time I end up back listening to hardstyle. The kicks in that overwhelm you when you’re at a big party. When a DJ produces a track with an amazing atmosphere that gives me Goosebumps. Things like that make me happy for the rest of the week haha. After those situations, I very often have inspiration for new tracks! I have been to trance parties, hardcore parties, dubstep parties and many more, but every time I come back to hardstyle in some way or another.
Do you think that it is a demanding genre to work within?
Yeah, a lot of hardstyle tracks are very well produced lately. If you listen, for instance, to a Noisecontrollers track, you hear so much detail. All the little sounds and effects really make a hardstyle track one that sticks out that you always remember. So if you want to be something within the hardstyle scene, your tracks have to be well produced!
What other genres of music are you interested in?
Music is a really important part of my life. There are so many different genres and styles that I like besides hardstyle. When I’m at home or on my way to school, I never listen to hardstyle. Most of the time I listen to Deadmau5, Wolfgang Gartner, Feed Me, Pendulum, The Prodigy, Noisia, Skrillex, Nero, Armin van Buuren (and all the ASOT episodes), Bloody Beetroots (you have to see them live), Gorillaz, Limp Bizkit, Arctic Monkeys (also very good live), Volbeat, Trentemøller and a whole lot more. As you can see, that’s a pretty diverse list of artists and music genres, haha. I really like to search for new artists and new genres that I don’t know of. In the beginning, I used to produce trance as well. I really do enjoy that genre; it’s very cool to produce! If I don’t have inspiration for a hardstyle track, I like to produce other genres such as trance. It can give you cool ideas for a hardstyle track. Another thing I find interesting is to make sounds and music for movies. I haven’t done much of it yet, but I will be spending more time on this! Just listen to creations of Hans Zimmer or Steve Jablonsky for instance, absolutely fantastic work.
Have you done soundtracks for movies in the past then?
No I haven’t actually. But at school we’ve had an assignment to made sounds for a Star Wars trailer. That was such a cool thing to do, and I am really keen to do it more often. I will never in my life (or in my next life) be as good as Hans Zimmer, but I will sure as hell give it a try!
All the best with that, and keep us posted! So how did you get involved with The Magic Show?
Thanks, will do! I got involved with The Magic Show after I made a movie for YouTube of The Vision playing my track ‘Lingering Melody’ at Q-Base. I was getting some pretty good reactions from the track and a couple of days later; Michel contacted me because he liked the track too. He asked me if I would like to become part of the ‘The Magic Show’ family. And of course I said yes!
What do you enjoy most about being a part of it?
Being part of The Magic Show is amazing. At WiSH Outdoor, everybody was there and it really felt as one big family, it was a truly great atmosphere. Such nice people with all the same passion: Beer and Hardstyle! That is day I will never forget, and also because I played at the Dedicated stage.
Lets talk more about that performance, how did it go?
I think it went very good! I’ve had a lot of positive feedback. It was such a great experience to perform for all those people. In the beginning it wasn’t that crowded but the last half hour of the set there where like 2000/3000 people. Since it was my 3rd performance ever, it was even more amazing!
Do you think that The Magic Show is a positive thing for your career, and if so, why?
It is a really good way to promote my music and to show which tracks I like to play! I am where I am right now because of The Magic Show. There are so many listeners from different countries every week, so it’s a very good promotion for me. Especially now that The Magic Show is getting bigger and bigger all the time!
Let’s talk a little more about your career, what would you say have been your biggest achievements so far?
Well, I guess that would be playing at the WiSH Outdoor Dedicated stage. It was so cool, and a little bit weird too. Seeing my name between all those big artists, such as Zany, B-Front & Ran-D. Never thought I would be booked for such a big event so soon in my ‘career’. Also, it’s really great for me when other DJ’s supports my tracks. Crypsis, B-front, have supported me quite often lately, and for that I am very grateful. Very cool to see that these big artists like my tracks too and that they want to spin tracks from a DJ/producer that is still a ‘rookie’.
What would you say has been your biggest challenge since you began your involvement in music and why?
I guess my biggest challenge would be creating different kinds of hardstyle. I don’t really stick to melodic hardstyle nor do I stick to raw hardstyle, although I prefer not to use that term as it is all the same genre for me. I produce my music from the feeling I have at that moment. If the sun is shining and everybody is happy, I may produce a very happy and uplifting track. But when I feel down or something similar, I will like to make a really dark and hard track. I think that’s challenging to do, but also very fun at the same time!
“…THE MAGIC SHOW IS LIKE BEING A PART OF ONE BIG FAMILY…”
Out of general experiences (parties you have visited, people you have met etc.) you have had within Hardstyle, what have been your favourites?
I think the best party, as a visitor, was X-Qlusive Holland in 2009. All those small movies before the DJs, all those nice people that were dressed up in Dutch outfits, and of course the Music. Everything was just perfect! And of course the first time a track of mine was played at a big party, as I mentioned earlier, during the The Visions set at Q-Base 2010.
Yeah, awesome parties! What about the worst?
The worst party I have been to wasn’t actually too long ago; Free Festival. It rained all day and because of that it was so crowded in the hardstyle tent. We didn’t have any space to dance or to get drinks. Everybody was in a bad mood because of that so we decided to leave to the bus 2,5 hours before the end of the party. I hope to forget that day as soon as possible!
Haha, sounds pretty bad! While on the subject of parties, have you got any bookings coming up?
My next gig will be The Qontinent on the 13th of august. I will perform together with Frequencerz. Really cool that I can perform together with one of my personal favorites at the moment! Can’t wait for that. After that I don’t have any more bookings confirmed.
What are you doing to prepare for it? Are you currently working on any solo tracks?
Yes, I just finished 2 new solo tracks called ‘A.B.T.’ and ‘Numb’. Along with that, I’m pretty busy with another solo track which I don’t have a name for yet! This week I will also begin to remake ‘Avyctnes’. It’s an ‘old’ track of mine that really needs to be remade.
What about with other artists, any nice collaborations coming up?
Yes, there are! I’m busy with some collaborations. The one with Zero Sanity is almost finished and I have 3 more planned with big DJs over the next weeks/months. All 3 producers are different styles. I quite like that because I enjoy producing the melodic hardstyle as much as I do the rough hardstyle. So yeah, a lot of cool things coming up!
Looking forward to hearing them! So what can you tell us about your label situation?
Well I can say that there finally is one! My first release will probably be in November this year. More info within a couple of weeks/months, but I unfortunately can’t tell you more. Although I will say it’s pretty big!
What are your general ambitions, both personally and musically for the next year?
My ambition is to become a big DJ/producer. Now that I have a label I hope I get booked at parties more often. I can’t wait to spin my new tracks at more and more events by myself. Now only other DJ’s spin my productions, but that’s really awesome too, don’t get me wrong! Personally, my ambitions are to get my study done within the 4 years. It’s pretty hard sometimes, as I want to produce 24/7 haha! But I hope in the future that’s the thing I can do. Produce tracks the whole week and then play them at the weekend!
That does sound pretty great! Well Juul, it’s been a pleasure speaking to you. Thanks again! Have you got anything else you would like to say to the readers?
Thanks for the great interview. I really enjoyed it! Just be at The Qontinent the 13th of August, see you there!
www.themagicshow.nl