Tell us a little bit more about Fektive records, how did it all start?
Fektive doesn’t exist that long, but it’s a merge of 3 companies and of more than 30 years of experience in the music scene. Now Fektive has become a label group with 9 active labels. We release something every week and sometimes even more.

Fektive Records is an independent dance label focussing on releasing dance music made by new, existing and distinctive dance talent. Besides the individual releases we do several albums and cd compilations like Unfold (John 00 Fleming, Christopher Lawrence & Marco V in the making) plus compilations for several ground breaking clubs and concepts all over the world!

We strongly believe in the future of dance and new inspirering talent from all over the world. Fektive Records has a vision that supersedes the bounderies of genre and a desire to release beautiful music regardless of tradition. Thinking creative, acting distinctively and producing music to fill the floors!

What is required to become a Fektive artist? What do you look for in a track before you decide to release it?
We look further then only the music. Surely a track has to be of high quality, but besides this we need to have a certain connection with the artist. We don’t just sign a track and whack it on the internet. We carefully build the profile of the artist and make a well structured plan how to push the artist.

We work different then most labels since we work mostly with artists that are signed exclusively to the label. Therefore we can invest more in them, since they are connected to the label. Well Fektive if more like a family. We know all the artists personally and they are one by one devoted hard working guys!

Armin van Buuren is going to play at Skol Beats Festival this year, how does it feel to be compared to him by DJ MAG in the UK?
It’s really great to be compared to Armin, because it gives me the feeling that I am doing the right thing. On the other side, Armin has reached the Superstar status and I have a long way to go, so I can’t disappoint the people and I will work my ass off to do whatever it takes to give the best I have.
On the other hand, I try not to get sidetracked too much. There’s a lot of very good dj’s out there and I want to deliver the best music and dj sets as I possibly can. Surely it gives me great satisfaction that people are comparing me to dj’s like Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto or other high profile dj’s, but I’m San and my style is different than theirs. For me it’s crucial to stay focused and to strive to surprise the people with quality sets with new and exclusive music.

Do you know Armin? How did you guys meet?
I know Armin for a long time, since I bought my records from him in the record shop he used to work in Holland. We have been in contact ever since and I play with him frequently. We both do our own thing, but his music is more trancy then mine.
Armin has always been a supporter of the music I make. And actually he will do another remix from one of my tracks: Solid Sessions – Janeiro. He already did a remix in the past, but now he will do another one and release it on his label: Armada Music.

Your new tracks are signed to numerous labels like EMI/Positiva and Sony/BMG to name but a few. What’s your biggest success to this date?
My biggest success till this date is still Solid Sessions – Janeiro. It had an Armin van Buuren as well as a James Holden remix and the original version made it into the top 10 in 11 countries. The video was actually recorded in Rio de Janeiro and you can see it on my site: www.djsan.com in the video section.

But as for now my new single ‘San – Nothing Remains the Same’ is doing very well and hopefully might even come close to the success of ‘Janeiro’. It has been signed to EMI as well as Ministry of Sound and the video just won the award for ‘Best Dance Video’ in Canada. The instrumental version was already in the top 5 from Beatport.com for 3 weeks and is regularly broadcasted on MTV in Europe.

What is the best gig you ever played at?
It’s hard to pick one, since there are so many good parties to choose from, but I would say the Fast Forward Dance Parade in Holland. It’s the Loveparade (Germany) from Holland and last year 300.000 people attended the event. I played the main stage primetime together with Carl Cox for about 30.000 people.

What have you been listening lately at home? What’s on your iPod’s playlist?
To be honest it’s hard to keep track of all the music out there. It’s even hard for me to listen and to keep track of all the music we get as promo on the label (we get an average of 15 demos a day). I do try to listen to everything and this is mostly what’s on my iPod.

Besides this I am co-responsible for all the output on the 9 labels we do, so imagine… we plan 4-5 releases ahead, therefore including remixes every month there’s almost 100 tracks from the label alone to listen to.
At home I listen mostly to the promo’s I get from the other labels around the world.

List your top 10 tracks:
1. Lucardo Parena – What’s Wrong
2. Scandall – Aromatic
3. Wendel Kos – Naked (Undressed mix)
4. Republikka – Sunshine (Visionaire remix)
5. Daniel Wanrooy - Jetset
6. San – Can’t go to sleep
7. Ruby – Cabrio (Rooftop Down mix)
8. Aimar – Confusion (Martin Roth remix)
9. San – Insane (Artento Divini remix)
10. Sebastian Moore - Spring

What are your releases in the near future? Anything coming out soon?
Well my new single: SAN – Nothing Remains the Same has just been released. (It’s also featured on the CD). It was already in the Beatport chart in the top 5 for 3 weeks and is getting plays from many dj’s such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dijk, etc. The video has been received very well and is played by MTV regularly. The video has just won the award for Best Dance Video in Toronto, Canada.

After this single I will do 2 more underground releases, so no vocals. SAN – Can’t go to sleep is just released and is now in the top 10 of Beatport (trance), it’s a progressive - trance track and after I will release a track called Insane. Both tracks are getting great response from amongst others Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Eddie Halliwel, Judge Jules, Above & Beyond, Paul Van Dijk and more.

Just out now is the remix that I did for Ferry Corsten – Carte Blanche. It was received very well and will be featured on quite a few compilations. But something to be really excited about, is the re-release of Solid Sessions – Janeiro. This track of mine has been amazingly successful in the past and now will be re-released in October with a Armin Van Buuren and a Dash Berlin remix. So quite a few things to keep track of ;-).

What are your impressions of Brazil? What do you like best?
I really love playing in Brazil. This is the 4th time I do a tour now in Brazil and the thing I love the most is that the people are really excited when they hear a good dj and truly show their appreciation. I don’t want to be the dj that complains about the dance scene in their own country, but unfortunately the people in Holland became really spoiled when it comes to the line ups and they don’t leave their houses anymore for a dj they don’t know.

I can remember clearly that I played on XXXperience in Buzios and at that time not a lot of people knew me or my music. The first half an hour I had to work hard, but then they screamed and danced there asses off. I will never forget this. The Brazilian crowd is for sure one of my favorite crowds to play for. I hope to meet you all soon at one of the events I will play or maybe next year at Skol Beats; I would be honored!