The Netherland’s DJ Ferry Corsten may have gone through one too many name switches since he first started out at the age of 17, but his youthful spirit is still intact. From his early days washing cars and selling mixtapes to buy his own keyboard, to his current life of trotting around the world on minimal sleep to play music, the 41-year-old has been on a long journey. Talking to tabloid! ahead of his March 26 set at Eden Beach Club in Dubai, he tells us about his biggest regrets and success over the decades.
First things first, for someone who has never seen a Ferry Corsten set before, what can people expect at #EDENBLACK in Dubai?
You can expect an energetic trance set with [attitude]!
How, and why, would you say your style has changed over the decades?
As a music producer and an artist, I like to have free range in terms of creativity. I like various genres of music in general so rather than only sticking to one style all the time I like to combine different elements from different genres into one sound.
What were some of the rookie mistakes you made when you were first starting out?
I should have stayed with the name Ferry Corsten from the beginning and not done so many aliases.
When you were younger, you switched names and aliases quite a bit. Why was that?
During that time I wasn’t travelling as much and DJing so most of my time was spent in the studio. I was producing too many records for one label to be able to release under one name so I started using various aliases to allow my records to be signed and brought out more often.
What has been your favourite alias/name to go by?
I guess the top three for me would be System F, Gouryella, and of course Ferry Corsten… because that is my own name.
When you’re playing to a massive crowd and look up to see 10,000+ people, what thoughts are going through your head?
That I’m super lucky to be able to have this as a job. I really can’t imagine doing anything else.
Looking back on your career now, what’s one moment you would like to relive?
I think the signing of my first record to a label. It was such an amazing feeling to see a labour of love being understood, signed to be released, paid for, and then appreciated by people who listened and went out and bought it.
What’s one piece of advice you’ve been given in your lifetime that has stuck with you, and who gave it to you?
Work hard and pat yourself in the shoulder every once in a while. A good friend Michiel told me that once.
What’s your biggest pet peeve as a DJ?
That people think this is only glamour and not work. Trust me I hate my 1-2 hour sleeps.
What are the three favourite tracks on your set right now?
Dimension, Origami, New World Punx, Memories, Ferry Corsten ft. Haris, Back to Paradise (Flashover Mix).
Event timings: 9pm-3am. Entry is free for ladies, Dh200 for gents and Dh350 for VIP. For ticket reservations and table bookings, contact 04-2771477, 055-2771477 or reservations@edenbeachclub.com.
