Past, Present and Future : Adam Justice

Written by Vince Pettit | Saturday, June 28, 2008 |

theDish recently caught up with Adam Justice, a good friend of the site and an up and coming trance DJ. Alongside DJing, and making podcasts for his Las Vegas fanbase, he is now promoting his own night, Parallel.

Past

Briefly, how and when did you get into the music scene?

For as long as I can remember I’ve always listened to a LOT of music. Whenever I travel anywhere, whenever I have spare time I’m listening to music. I remember as a kid making mix tapes and taking them to school only for them to be ‘borrowed’ by classmates for their lessons - mainly as they were pretty good and no-one else did them. I think I’ve always been someone who has wanted others to hear my choice of music. It’s not your typical DJ beginning story, but looking back, certainly it makes sense now!

I got into Trance during the boom period for trance in the late nineties, I used to listen to Judge Jules’s Friday & Saturday shows on Radio One every week and every time they did a big live event I’d get it recorded and listen to them again and again as the live audience reaction was simply amazing. Sadly those sort of shows are thin on the ground nowadays but thanks to the wonders of the internet most of them are downloadable. It’s always nice to hear how it all started for you.

I didn’t really consider being a DJ until I saw Ferry Corsten play at Judgement Sundays in Ibiza in 2001. His set was simply incredible and the crowd were in a state of pure euphoria that I’d not seen before. Seeing the control he had over people and their mood, I stood on the dancefloor at Eden and decided to buy some decks as soon as I got home. Of which I did, and I’ve never really looked back.

Not so brief after all!

Describe your style in 3 words

Uplifting, energetic, powerful.

How was 2008 been so far?

It’s been excellent so far. I got to play two gigs in Las Vegas in April which was a dream come true. One was at a club adjacent to the MGM Grand there alongside such DJs as Jordan Stevens and gracing the same decks as Sander Van Doorn and Judge Jules. Also for another Vegas night called ‘Sounds Of The Underground‘ - a huge main room coupled with a riotous crowd who were very much ‘ravers’ - cyber, dummies - the works. It felt very much like DJing in the boom years of the late nineties which was an experience. A power cut happened half way through my set as well, which just seemed to tip the atmosphere to the edge. When the lights came on and a huge cheer went up - it was the stuff dreams are made of. You couldn’t have planned it better. Leading from that, I’ve stayed in touch with a lot of people from Vegas, and a few people suggest I do a regular podcast for people out there which I’m currently compiling the first one. All I need now is some UK fans!!

I’ve started my own night in London called Parallel. I run it with my good friend and my tip for Hard House DJ stardom - Luke M. We have two seperate arenas, one for Trance and one for Hard Dance. At the last event we had Ian Betts and Karim headlining with an MDA & Spherical Live PA. Not bad for an opening event! It went very well, had some excellent reviews and feedback and we are already into planning our second event for late Summer.

Who has been your favourite DJs and producers of 2008?

Favourite producers - Steve Allen & Ben Alonzi, hands down. Constantly amazing tunes from them on their Communicate label. I hear they are doing some remixing for Armada as well. Nice guys as well! Steve’s ‘Wish I Was There (When You Left Me)‘ is my tune of the year so far and really is my style defined in a single song. The sky is the limit for Steve & Ben, and they deserve the success they’ll soon be getting.

DJs - The best sets I’ve heard this year are Paul Van Dyk at Gatecrasher Summer Sound System. I expected a typical PVD set, starting off slow and progressive, leading into the bigger room stuff, but he began as if it was the last hour - interlacing remixed classics with some storming new tracks. Christopher Lawrence was also excellent despite his clear arguments with the sound technicians that night!

Steve Allen & Ben Alonzi as well as Jurrane at my night Parallel were amazing and got the crowd absolutely flying! The sort of thing that you are desperate to see at your own event!

Present

What are you up to at the moment?

Beginning my ‘4Vegas‘ podcast is my current big thing as well as planning and delivering another storming Parallel night. I’m currently dipping my toes in the producing world, so learning that and getting out some of my own tunes is my long term ambition for 2008 and onwards. I’ve also been invited over to play in Las Vegas again so I’m aiming to do that at some point again this year. Looking to get more gigs in the UK as well, I certainly think I’m ready to be doing more and more. Also looking to get my own website up and running at some point as well. Lots to be getting on with!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

All sorts. Most of my personal time is spent listening to tunes and if they will work in a set. My sound is pretty much that energetic trance sound so people like Activa, Steve Allen & Ben Alonzi, Sean Tyas and John O’Callaghan is the stuff I put in my mixes so generally what I listen to a lot.

What do you do when you’re not gigging?

I have a 3 year old daughter who takes up a lot of my time. She’s not quite into dance music quite yet but she’s learnt where to put your hands in the air when the music breaks down.

I’ve recently been to the Bahamas where I had some excellent publicity photo shots done in the blazing sunshine to some excellent backdrops. I think that the other hotel guests must have been quite alarmed seeing someone randomly posing around the beach with headphones on.

Future

What do you have planned for the rest of 2008?

Getting Parallel established as a brand is my number one priority, getting established myself as a DJ and getting stuck in to producing would be ideal. Going to try to get to a few more gigs as well as I haven’t been to too many this year.

Who do you think will be the next big thing this year
- DJ

A few months ago, I would have said Sander Van Doorn, but he seems to have made that move into the A-List this year along with the likes of Sean Tyas. I think Simon Patterson is the next one that can make that step up in the trance world. His productions are singular and original and his sets get great reviews every time.

As I’ve mentioned before, Luke M is an amazing Hard House DJ, and has the ability to get me dancing to his music despite the fact that it’s not really my sort of thing - perhaps 2008 is maybe too soon for him to be the next big thing, but the guy as talent in abundance and should be shooting for the stars.

- Producer

Steve Allen & Ben Alonzi. They are making big big waves in the trance scene with Armin, Tyas, Above & Beyond, Tiesto, PVD and the other big names playing their tunes and their label showcasing some of the great producing talent around the globe. The enthusiasm they show during their sets and when talking about their music is immense - the world of trance needs more people like Steve & Ben.

Visit Adams Myspace page here - http://www.myspace.com/djadamjustice

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