First there were Heineken and Edam, then came Sander van Doorn. The Dutch musical genius may not be as mature as his predecessors but he’s certainly made as much of an impact in his comparatively short career, not only in The Netherlands but also across the world.

Having made his debut in the world renowned DJ Mag Top 100 at 32 in 2006, before climbing to No.10 in 2009's poll, the fast rise of Sander van Doorn is a testament to his raw talent and dedication. In just eight years he’s clocked up more dance floor destroyers, sell out gigs and awards than most artists do in a lifetime… and his journey is still in its infancy.

From the start Sander (and his alter egos; Sam Sharp, Purple Haze, Filterfunk & Sandler) has produced a variety of sounds at a level that only most producers can dream of, combining elements of trance, electro, techno and house constantly blowing away his fans and comrades, keeping everyone guessing what he’s going to come up with next.

Read more of Sander van Doorn's bio on his website or Wikipedia Without further delay, ClubDistrict presents UNMIXED with Sander van Doorn!

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CD: Sander, you are from the Netherlands. I asked fellow Dutchman Fedde Le Grand this same question and I want to get your take on it: It seems like the Netherlands is a natural breeding ground for the world’s top music producers, such as Tiesto, Ferry Corsten and Armin Van Buuren. You are also from the Netherlands and rising quickly towards being number 1 in the world. What’s in the water?

SVD: I guess its accessible for people. It's on the radio, we have festivals. I think it's just managed to embed itself in Dutch dance culture

CD: What was the defining point in your career when you knew you graduated into the global scene?

SVD: When 'Riff' was released I think it became a really global thing. In a way it's become my signature tune.

CD: You released tracks under various monikers; Sam Sharp, Purple Haze, Filterfunk, Sandler, van Doorn. Were these alter egos used to define yourself under various genres or was it just a career evolution?

SVD: Each of those alter egos has a different sound, so yes it was to assert the different sides of my production styles.

CD: In 2009, every one of your releases charted number 1 on Beatport; this means you have a lot of support from other Top 10 artists. Which artist surprised you the most by playing one of you tracks in their set?

SVD: Well, I have heard that people like Mark Knight, Carl Cox & Roger Sanchez have played some of my tunes - John Digweed played 'Riff' when it was first around which is pretty heavy for his style of DJing. I make tracks which can sometimes straddle other genres which I think is a good thing!

CD: You climbed to number 10 in the DJ polls last year, what would a number 1 position in the polls for 2010 mean for you?

SVD: It would be unbelievable. Once you're in the top 10 it gets harder and harder to climb. Look at someone like Deadmau5 who has absolutely smashed it over the last couple of years and reached number 6. I honestly thought he would have been higher. Of course I'm aiming for number 1, but even if I were to climb at all this year, I'd be very happy.

CD: When producing, you draw from multiple genres such as trance, electro, house and techno; is there a creative advantage to producing this way versus being a purist?

SVD: I think it can only be a good thing. Music would never evolve if all you did was re-hash tracks that already exist. The creative advantage is that because I enjoy all kinds of dance music, which to a certain degree, is reflected in my sets, I have more ideas in the studio and the whole production process stays fresh for me.

CD: The love for your supporting fans is apparent in how much you give back to them. What are some ways you support your fans?

SVD: We have run several competitions over the past year, including flying a couple of guys out to Ibiza for a holiday and VIP entry into clubs, a helicopter ride and entry to Creamfields, accompanying me on a private plane between two gigs in Scotland and Ireland, plus lots of little competitions as simple as getting on a guestlist to club nights I'm playing at.

CD: Coming into 2010 armed with an arsenal of achievements earned in 2009, what was one notable achievement that set 2010 in motion for you?

SVD: I'd say getting a holiday is a notable achievement in my line of work!! I took most of January off to keep me fresh for 2010, but I also spent more time in the studio while I wasn't gigging, so I'm getting excited about the music I'm slowly producing for my album.

CD: Speaking of 2010, what can fans expect in the way of tours, releases, and competitions?

SVD: Release wise my new single 'Daisy' is out on February 22nd. I am doing a global 'Dusk Till Doorn' tour around August time. We regularly run guestlist competitions for nights I'm playing at so keep a look out for those. Nothing is planned for any big competitions at the moment, but as Ibiza and the festival season kick in I'm sure something will pop up ;)

CD: Now moving into its fourth year and syndicated globally, how’s the radio show “Identity” going and where can fans tune in?

SVD: Identity is going strong! It goes out in 20 different countries across the globe, (I don't think there's enough room to mention them all here!) Everyone can get it from iTunes if it doesn't come out on a station near you; then you can listen to it on your ipod wherever you are ;)

CD: For new DJs, producers and remixers, are there specific steps to being the next Sander van Doorn? Is it a natural progression or simply being at the right place at the right time?

SVD: I'd say to start with, don't try and be another Sander van Doorn! You've got to have that natural progression, as you said, to get your music to a good place. There is definitely an element of luck involved in getting anywhere in the music industry but if you keep knocking on the right doors, eventually they have to open. I don't think it's always made out to be that obvious how hard people work to get where they are and stay where they are.

Thank You Sander van Doorn for joining the ClubDistrict family !
We look foward to seeing you on tour and in the nightclubs. - ClubDistrict -
Interview by ClubDistrict - Thank you Sara Cooper PR

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