HeadRush Music Exclusive Interview with Noel Sanger
Many of your interviews from 2002 (when Summerbreeze II was released) referred to your take on progressive as saying that it's "...not necessarily a genre, but an attitude...It's an intangible thing...Taking chances, moving forward, being subtle rather than obvious. This is progressive." How have you continued to progress and moved forward musically, and what styles can your listeners expect from you in 2004?
NS: The reality is that statement was a contextual response to the previous two years where progressive came to be synonymous with this deep, tribally, plodding sound. A thousand identical records a week were coming out. Having been really focused in on a sound called progressive, and all its various permutations, since about 1993, I just couldn't get my head around THIS as the exclusive genre definition of progressive. I think that the tide has turned and now most DJ's are playing a more diverse sound: breaks, melodies, etc. So to actually answer your question, that is the direction I was moving in 2 or 3 years ago and have continued on that way. Basically everything I've always been into, but I am more integrated stylistically than I ever have been before. I don’t play big 140 bpm trance tunes, but you'll hear plenty of the best elements of trance. You'll also hear techy bits, and housey bits, and you'll hear breaks. I have always liked breaks since my first breaks releases nearly ten years ago and today there are more exciting things happening in the (progressive) breaks scene than anywhere else.
What is your relationship with Gravity Music Group?
NS: Gravity is the company founded late last year by former Nettwerk America Dance honcho William Godoy. One of the main functions of Gravity is artist management, and the roster now includes myself, Angel Alanis, and Compufonic/Digital Assassins. Its really exciting to be a part of something like this, from the ground up, and to work with someone as talented and dedicated as William. After 4 years with a massive company (focused on massive artists) like Nettwerk Management, I am loving the whole experience of being with a smaller company.
What kinds of projects are you working on these days?
NS: Busy over my head! I have 8-10 releases set for the next 5 months, including my first single for Electrofly in the UK, a remix of Prince QuickMix that's slated for the new Luke Chable comp, and a couple of vocal tunes for Release Records in Toronto. Finalizing the deal for my next mix CD, which we are fighting the clock to get released in October, pulling together the pieces for an artist album, and working with a live band. For the last year I have been teaching at FullSail here in Orlando, and one of the perks has been nearly unfettered use of the multimillion dollar studio complex to record. So I have my for-fun heavy rock semi-punk political project on which I sing and play guitar, and then a long awaited "serious" project with my wife and collaborator, Dauby. Her project is awesome, just great songs with a lot of guitar and a lot of electronics. And a full band. Dauby's also writing an AMAZING batch of songs for an album project with Medway of Hooj fame. I have no idea where all of this is going but I am more excited about the music than I have been in years. We'll have updates and snips at
http://www.noelsanger.com as they become available if anyone is interested.
What's really doing it for you these days musically? What's the last set/DJ/music that really made you say, "WOW!"? Where is your inspiration coming from?
NS: There's this whole new bunch of DJ's who are totally helping evolve the sound, and a whole new generation of producers, some of whom were like 10 when I put out my first record. The love and energy coming from these cats is awesome! Names... umm... Habersham, Jake Todd, GrayArea, Evan Marcus, Shiloh, Digital Witchcraft, Jon Lisle, Stroud, Sultan, Holmes Ives, Infusion and I'll stop because I could go on for a long time, and I'd still forget somebody who deserves a mention. And those aren't all new guys, and they're not all 21, but they all care about the music and the direction it takes and it shows in what they do. Angel Alanis has an awesome artist album coming out that's going to surprise a lot of people. And, I'll have to say that at WMC this year I was made to remember a couple of times that DJ Three is still one of my very favorite DJ's in the world, after all these years. Unsung hero. He just rocks.
What are the recent international gigs you've played, and how were the crowds? What kinds of music did the people in those cities react to most strongly? How is such a reaction different from your US gigs?
NS: It seems like it's stronger a lot of other places than most places in the United States now. But I think it's coming back around here, too. Last fall I played in Japan and some stuff in South America. On the Tokyo gig, the country got hit by a typhoon. People actually died just 2 hours south of us! And still that night, over 1500 people turned out. Another notable night was playing to over 1000 people at a house party in Lima. It was full on, Cusqueno beer and Red Bull sponsored it, but it was in a very large house. Musically it's always different and any DJ has to have two-way communication with the crowd. But overall the response has been very good everywhere, and my biggest tunes tend to go down well anywhere.
What should we promoters and record labels be doing to turn on more people and wider audiences to the progressive sounds?
NS: Variety, Diversity, Less rules. No more sets that require a headful of something to "get." I think the musical snobbery of the "prog" scene, eschewing certain sounds as "Cheese" has really hurt our standing in the dance world. Not that there isn’t cheese, but at the end of the night it's about dancing and having fun. I like to play music that maybe has some deeper, or spiritual connotations to it, but ultimately, spirituality is just the bouquet, the flowering of ordinary life and nothing celebrates life more completely than un-self-consciously dancing and losing your cares in the music. Its all about celebration and fun and less about chin stroking and trainspotting!
You are an accomplished producer, and also a crowd-moving DJ. If you had to choose between one or the other which would you rather be known as a great DJ or a great producer? Why?
NS: I don't know if I have an answer for that one, because I don't really care. I'm not even sure I really want to known as a "great" anything. Recognition is great, but... I'm just blessed every time one person enjoys what I do, either in the studio or behind the decks. I just try to do what I do, and the outcome is what it is. More important is the question, Am I being fully present in every moment of my life?" "What am I contributing to the world?" "What's my motivation when I write a piece of music?" I'm certainly not trying to be a saint or anything and damn, I know this sounds trite and cheesy: But I just feel SO fortunate to be able to write music that people actually enjoy and care about. I'm a dad of 2 boys and our little girl is on the way in September, even more, I've seen little kids begging in the streets in third-world countries while I rode in a luxury car to my gig to play for the elite rich kids, and I cried inside and the tears never left. So how fortunate am I to support my little ones doing what I love to do? I am far from wealthy and I work very hard to make ends meet, but when I think of this I feel like the richest man alive.
Have you ever been to Ohio? If so, when?
NS: Back in the rave days I played a few parties in Cleveland and Lorain. 98, 99, 2000, I think. "Crystallize II," and both "Music Is The Key" parties for L.I.M.E. These were live P.A.'s with my friend and then-vocalist, Nicole Henry. I'm not sure, but I don't think I have EVER DJ'ed in Ohio!
If you could say one thing to the folks in Cleveland before you get here, what would it be?
NS: Thanks in advance for inviting me to your fine city! It has been a while, and I am looking forward to coming back! See you on the dancefloor!
The last time I saw Noel Sanger was at The Eagles Nest for Music is the Key II in Jan. of '00. He did a live PA with Nicole Henry doing vocals. Thanks Amy & Dave for bringing him back out to the CLE. 
