Electronic Night Life is pleased to bring you a follow-up interview with Richard Durand after his first boat party in New York presented by Massive Event. Let’s see how the gig went….

How was your boat party in New York?

Richard Durand: It was really amazing! I was well rested before heading off to the gig, and the weather was perfect for a boat party. When I arrived at the dock, there was already a long queue of party people. It was a super atmosphere the whole afternoon and into the evening.

How does performing on a boat differ from a club, in your opinion?

Durand: I always think that special places like a boat are more fun. The whole idea of sailing off with the crowd is very nice. In this case, it was also good to see that trance is alive-and-well in New York.

How has the feedback been, thus far, in regards to the In Search Of Sunrise 8 - South Africa compilation?

Durand: Luckily, it’s been very good. Because trance fans are very loyal to their favorite DJs, I wasn’t expecting such a positive reaction, since I don’t get to play New York as often as I would like. The crowd has been very open to the track selection on the CD. I’m looking forward to the series continuing every year.

How does the forecast look for the following edition to the compilation?

Durand: Because of the success of this release, I’m excited to start working on the next episode! Black Hole Recordings is deciding the details.

What are some of the highlights of your North American tour?

Durand: This past weekend was the first of the North American leg of my tour. The Massive Event boat party was very nice, but to be honest, all the gigs were special in their own way. I was surprised that also so many people came out to see me on a Thursday in Calgary, and on a Sunday in Vancouver.

What is your favorite type of cuisine?

Durand: That is an easy question. I love Asian food! This I can eat all day long.

In your travels, I would imagine that you have experienced some excellent restaurants. Which are your favorites?

Durand: Most of the time, I look for the smaller, less luxurious restaurants. I prefer to try the restaurants where the locals eat. Those are the best!
 
What else did you do while you were in New York, besides performing? Did you have a chance to take in any of the sights and sounds?

Durand: Because of the heavy travel schedule, there was no time for visiting the city this time, unfortunately. But, I have been in NYC a lot of times already, and I love the people and atmosphere. It is a bit like my home town of Amsterdam, very free and open-minded.

What are the upsides and downsides of being famous?

Durand: It is, of course, very nice that people know you at the places where you are performing. But I don’t know if you can call me famous. Luckily, people don’t recognize me in the streets. In general, I don’t think that DJs are that high-profile in terms of other celebrities.
 
How important is communication with your fans, as well as crowd interactions during performances? Can you explain some of the reasons why?

Durand: Contact with your fans and the crowd is very, very important! I think that it is very important that there are people who make the effort to pay to go see your gigs. It’s important, but I also love to get in contact with the crowd. I always take some time to speak to people at the parties.
 
What else do you have planned for the remainder of the year?

Durand: I’m busy producing new tracks and music. I always am! [laughs] We are planning for the release of a new album, but that takes a long time to produce, and the summer months are very busy with outdoor festivals and touring ‘round the globe.

Do you have any other comments for our readers?

Durand: Well, the U.S. and Canada treated me very nicely, this year. I started off last year with only a few small gigs, and this year, I’ve already played a few more great events. I would like to thank my fans for this. Without them, I could not do this.

 - Interview by Zaneta Soroko-Ortiz