A monthly residency at Passion and regular sets at Slinky, Gatecrasher, God’s Kitchen and Cream. Guy Ornadel is not just an accomplished DJ. In his own words, he helps “make some very important careers keep on growing.”  His early efforts include setting up DMC’s New York office. Through Balance Management, he works with luminaries such as Sasha, Josh Wink and Sander Kleinenberg. 

As an international DJ, he is one who is well-travelled. The early days of his career saw him DJing in the underground scene from Orlando to New York. Since making the transatlantic move back to the UK, his career has brought him on several world tours. Uruguay, Budapest, Hong Kong, Israel, Turkey, Crete and Singapore to name some of his destinations. June will see him touring Australia and New Zealand with Gatecrasher.

Amidst his busy schedule, he has also found time to produce a handful of mix compilations, the latest being Slinky’s ‘Superclubs DJs Vol 1’. If you can’t get enough of his mixes then keep your fingers crossed, time permitting, Guy will be starting work on another for the Black Hole label.

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e-mergermuzik: Who is Guy Ornadel in your opinion?

Guy Ornadel: Someone who loves, lives, breathes and works in music

 

e-mergermuzik: What drove you to leave DMC in New York back in 1997 and return to the UK?

Guy Ornadel: After three years living in NY you get to the point where you have to decide whether you're going to live there permanently or live in the UK. I decided to live in the UK and I'm very happy about how things turned out.

 

e-mergermuzik: Any major differences between working in the States and back in the UK? How would you compare the progressive dance scenes of both countries?

Guy Ornadel: The US market is much more long term than the UK. They work projects for six months to a year to break them. In the UK if after three weeks it doesn't blow up it's considered done and dusted.  The progressive scene has been running at the same pace in a way. Orlando has been into it since 1990 , it's just the rest of America that's been catching up. 

 

e-mergermuzik: Whenever the name ‘Guy Ornadel’ is mentioned, uplifting progressive or full-on trance comes to mind. Do you feel you are being pigeon-holed?

Guy Ornadel: I hate being pigeon holed. I love uplifting progressive or full-on trance and would be proud to be known as playing that. If I had the whole night I'd also start with US house. I believe the night should be like a curve and that involves all sorts of genres...

 

e-mergermuzik: Why trance? What attracted to you the sound as oppose to say, drum n bass or techno?

Guy Ornadel: If there's one thing I like more than other genres it would be the emotive feelings the music gives you. The melodies, the energy, the hands in the air feeling.

 

e-mergermuzik: Tell us, you have worked with the likes of Sasha, Steve Lawler, Charlie May, Sander Kleinenberg, Morales, Josh Wink and Louie Vega, to mention a few. We know these are all serious and good artistes and DJs, but who do you MOST enjoy working with?

Guy Ornadel: Sasha . I don't know if it's one of the reasons he's one of the biggest names in the world but he's really an incredibly nice guy. We've never argued and he just has this manner about him that inspires you. His music does the same.  It's a real pleasure working with him.

 

e-mergermuzik:  How is the progress involving your next mix CD for DJ Tiesto's label 'Black Hole' coming along? Any idea when we will get a listen of it?

Guy Ornadel: I'm still talking to them about doing this. There's just not enough hours in the day right now! Hopefully it'll get done later in the year!

 

e-mergermuzik:      Your lastest release, ' Slinky presents Superclub DJs Vol 1' has been described as ' one of the most exciting and innovative albums to be released for 2001'. Any comments on that?

Guy Ornadel: This sounds like something from THEIR press release!  I certainly put a lot of effort into it and I think bits of it are really special. I don't know - what do you think??!

 (Click here for our say on the album)

e-mergermuzik: There is talk of Slinky pinning you down to a UK residency, care to tell us more?

Guy Ornadel: Right now I'm a monthly resident for Passion. I play at Cream, GodsKitchen, and Slinky pretty much once a month as well. A proper residency should be every week so I don't know when I'll be able to do that.

 

e-mergermuzik: You were down in Singapore for Gatecrasher @ Zouk late last year, what do you think of the local dance scene?

Guy Ornadel: I was blown away. People were really clued up and  I had a great time. Anyone that was there will remember.....

 

e-mergermuzik:  Prior to your set at Zouk, audio checks as well as what looked like an equipment set-up was being carried out. Is there a particular equipment set up/combination you prefer? Have you made special requests before?

Guy Ornadel: This couldn't have been for me. Give me two decks, a mixer and a good monitor and I'm fine!

 

e-mergermuzik: We have had local DJs like Aldrin spinning across the world e.g. in Ibiza. Do you think Singaporean jocks will be able to make it in the global arena?

Guy Ornadel: It must be hard for DJs to break internationally outside of the UK and America. It's nothing to do with how good they are but it's the UK mags like Ministry, Mixmag etc that promoters around the world look to book DJs from. MEDIA!   Having a big record is probably the way to get noticed.  Timo Mass, Tiesto, Mauro Picotto, Sander Kleinenberg etc etc all broke like this.

 

e-mergermuzik: How would you describe your dream gig? Have you experienced anything close to that yet?

Guy Ornadel: Creamfields last year was pretty amazing. I flew there in a helicopter sponsored by Smirnoff. The tent had 8,000 people going crazy. It was quite a buzz.

 

e-mergermuzik:  Considering you travel round the world a lot, what is the most difficult or worst experience about it?

Guy Ornadel: Lack of sleep and airlines losing record boxes

 

e-mergermuzik: DJ Magazine's 'World Best DJ' charts in December 2000 saw you coming in comfortably at No. 50. Thats a great feat! What do you think?

Guy Ornadel: I honestly don't get too wrapped up in those sorts of things...they can really affect your head!  Good and bad!

 

e-mergermuzik:      Considering your exploits as a DJ and running a mangement company, have you ever thought of going into production? Would we get the chance to see you putting out a release of your own?

Guy Ornadel: If there were 48 hours in a day then maybe. Right now I'm  enjoying DJing so much and  trying to make some very important careers keep on growing.  It would have to very good if I did do something though!

 

e-mergermuzik: If ever, progressive music were to die out, you would...... 

Guy Ornadel: Play something else.

 

e-mergermuzik: Care to share with us your plans for the rest of 2001?

Guy Ornadel: Keep having fun.

 

e-mergermuzik: Your all time top ten list?

Guy Ornadel: Come over to one of the after parties and you'll find out.

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e-mergermuzik extends its thanks to Guy Ornadel for making this interview possible and wishes him all the best.