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Junkie XL - I call the shots now. That's totally new to me.

At this year's Lowlands Festival long time big beat pride of Holland and current mega hit holder with the Elvis Presley remix A Little Less Conversation Junkie XL (or JXL in the UK and USA) was one of the hottest dance acts. Eagerly awaiting the set which would include tracks from the forthcoming and postponed album Radio JXL A Broadcast from Computer Hell Cabin, Kindamuzik hopped into a backstage golf cart and had a driving chat with the main man himself: Tom Holkenborg.

Tekst: Sven Schlijper

Publicatiedatum: 05 oktober 2002

With the immense success of the #1 remix, finally getting to the chart topping position, how do you feel about the early works, like the pre-Junkie XL act Weekend at Waikiki or the collaboration with the band and Rudeboy (of Urban Dance Squad fame) on the first two Junkie XL records?
"It still fills me with a lot of pride, but you know, with the #1 in the pocket, a lot of people tend to take your work much more seriously. The biggest advantage must be that you get things you really want and need as an artist more easily. With a band, a record and the gigs, but without the success in terms of a hit single, it's always a battle to keep doing the things you really want to. Or need to do, like paying your rent every month."

Do you get better musical deals or career opportunities now?
"Well, the Elvis remix deal sucked, basically. Now the plot has changed and I call the shots. That's totally new to me."

"No, I don't look at it that way. Now I can do whatever I really enjoy doing musically, work with people I've always dreamed of teaming up with: you see… the remix created these opportunities, there lies the main profit."

The Radio JXL record has been postponed, but can you fill us in a little bit on what to expect?
"As always with the Junkie XL albums, this one too will be a crossover record; electronica with acoustic instruments and vocals, to create dance tracks with a pop song structure."

And what to expect from the new JXL live shows?
"Basically it's just me all by myself. I will showcase some new tracks and the gig here at Lowlands will carry a huge show element I will not elaborate upon so I won't spoil the surprise effect."

Underworld, Chemical Brothers, you mentioned these acts to be artist whose records you want to love straightaway. In this line up you also include Scottish post rock ensemble Mogwai.
"Yeah, Mogwai! It's just a fantastic band, plain and simple. They're so superb in their own style. Just, well, fabulous. It's fantastic ambience music, atmospheric, lovely and powerful dynamics, the whole lot. Amazing band!"

And the other bands from the post rock era like Godspeed! You Black Emperor, are they something special for you too?
"Mogwai certainly is a league of its own as far as I am concerned. But there are more great acts out there worth to checking out. Basically with these acts I just want to love the record instead of wait and see if it's any good, I am biased from the first listen on. But that only goes for a few very special bands."

What's your take on the future of music, the rise of Internet and MP3's, etc.?
"Things will get difficult but many artists will be creative and deal with the situation accordingly, just like the record labels. There has to be a different form of distribution for music. And I do have some ideas on this matter, but it's hard to get things done. Maybe a sort of fee or tax on the ownership of a computer would work, or an easy way to calculate downloads, linked to payment of like a euro cent per song, just to make sure you pay for the acquired content, pay-per-listen system or pay-per-download, but not with ridiculous pricing, all fair."

Will there be a JXL DVD coming out any time soon?
"With DVD it's like this: there a enormous numbers of really crappy music DVDs out there; just putting a live show on a disc… I want to do something huge, way better. And I am thinking of a concept and there will be a DVD down the line, but I want to invest proper time and effort in this project. I think there's a lot of adventure in this field as I have yet to see the first 'good' DVD. I will explore all option this new disc offers, so nothing is set yet. Not at all."

And then Tom was off. Mr. JXL had to talk to his pyrotechnics about the show later that day. What a smoking set that would be! Full of high-fuelled dance tracks and literally truckloads of flames and fireworks. Between the well-known introduction tracks and the closing song from Junkie XL's debut record, the new tracks proved to be rocking as ever. It's a long wait till February 2003, so let's hope the remixes JXL will release in the meantime will soothe the wait. But a stunner Radio JXL will certainly be. Tom - JXL - Holkenborg, finally on his throne as the King of sophisticated Dutch dance!

http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/junkie-xl/junkie-xl-i-call-the-shots-now-that-s-totally-new-to-me/1926/
Meer Junkie XL op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/junkie-xl