#RvC Ask: Sneijder

On 22 July 2016, we were so lucky to sat down with Sneijder before his performance at Colosseum Club. He talked about his new track with The Noble Six and his label, Afterdark. Check out the interview below!

Congratulation for your newest track, “Far From You”. Can you tell us the idea behind the track?
The story behind the track was last year I’ve done my debut artist album, Everything Changes. I’ve picked few producers, who I really like to work. I’ve decided to work with few guys, like Nick Callaghan, obviously wonderful vocalists, and Andrew Alexandrov of The Noble Six. I love Andrew’s track. Always been supporting him from very early on, I’ve played his tracks. I think, me and his sound are very similar. We have, like, the energy in the tracks, but also really nice melody and the uplifting sound. So, we made a track called “Question Mark” for the album last year and it was really successful. I played the track in every set last year. We decided we have to do a follow up because it was so successful.

I started my own label few months back, called Afterdark. I’ve decided with Andrew that we want to do a follow up of “Question Mark” for Afterdark. Then “Far From You” was born. It’s turns out really well. I think it’s even better than “Question Mark”. It has really good melody, also. It’s been doing really well. Armin Van Buuren’s has been supporting it so far. Fady of Aly & Fila tweeted me, it’s one of his favorite track at the moment. Yeah everybody has been supporting it, so I’m really happy with the response so far.

We put it in our loop playlist now!
Yes! It’s one of those track, I think at the moment, where the sound in Trance scene has gone. A lot of people are playing Psy-Trance and stuff. I love my melodic trance. I like to go back to basic, where melody is the focal point. A really strong melody is the key for me in the track. If you listen back to all my productions since I started five years ago, melody is always the strongest thing, because that’s what I work on for the most part of the track “Far From You”. So yeah, the track turns out really well and we’re both really happy and excited with the release. (We had this interview on Friday 22 July 2016, where the track released on Monday 25 July 2016)

How long it took to working with the track?
Really quickly, actually. Andrew is really good with the melody and he work with it. Then I’ve done some addition to the melody, and then I produce the track. So, basically he sent me the files of the melody and I’ve done some additions to complement the melody. We’ve done the track in 3 days and then it took me a couple of days to fine tune it. Probably a week in total to finish the track.

What makes it stand out or unique from your previous track?
We tried to go with the similar vibe from “Question Mark”, that was very successful to both of us. We want to just go down and see and wrote something with strong melody, but the key for the track had to be a true reflection. A true bond for both our sound. It had to be like, you can hear The Noble Six’ influence in the track, and you can hear Sneijder’s influence. That’s very important when you work in a collaboration. For me, if it’s too much like one of the artist, it doesn’t really work. It’s interesting to work with people, think of their ideas and your ideas. Find the middle ground of it and join it together. I wouldn’t say “Far From You” stronger than “Question Mark”. I’ve said that both tracks are on par, musically. The reaction for “Far From You”, so far, is better than “Question Mark”. I go by the reaction from the fans. As a DJ, I’m playing the track as the “road test“ for me, how’s the reaction will going to be. 

Having your own label, what’s the challenge for you?
The challenge of the new label, it’s a tough one because it’s always something I really want to do, to set up my own label. So I can have complete control of the time to release my music, what I will put into my music, how to have a belief in my own sound. That is the key for me. It’s fun and fresh music in the middle of, I think, lots of label out there at the moment. Lots of people signed and release music. Trying to find a good artist, sort of nurture artist. There’s a guy from Spain released one of the track called “Palma”. His name is Mike Sanders. He’s really good talent and I’ve been speaking to Mike for, maybe a year now. He sent me some stuffs and I really like his music. So it’s exciting for me to find new talent and I think he will have a bright future ahead. His production is really solid and he knows how to write a good melody. His stuffs always work in the club. Fady played it on Ultra Music Festival in Miami. He debuted the track there and got really good response. It’s keeping on top with the fresh music and find new artist, like I said before. However, I want the first year of my label to be mainly my own releases. So I have lots of new stuff coming up, more tacky and uplifting stuffs, which is will be coming out of the label in the next six months. I also have some remixes from my album. I can’t say the artist, yet. I want to keep it exclusive for a while before the release. Soon there will be news of it from really good artist. It’s an exciting project for me to give other artist a chance. Make them really believe in their sound, and give them platform to release some stuff, as well. I was given that opportunity, like from John O’Callaghan. He gave me the opportunity to release music and he help me along with my career. So I think it’s very important for me to give back to people.​

How you keep your mood when you’re producing?
That’s a tough one. When I’m in a studio, I sit down with completely open mind, writing the music. I never goes with “Okay I know what I’m going to make!”. Instead, I always go with a complete open book. My tracks always have the Sneijder’s sound, no matter what I do. I have my own sound, just the way I do things. When I can’t get things to work in the studio, I just switched everything off. I go for a walk with my daughter or I do some stuffs with my family. I think it’s important to have that balance in your life. Whenever I come back from tour, I take day-offs and spend some time with my family. I just keep my mind fresh and my whole wellbeing. I train in a gym, keep myself active. When you’re on tour a lot and away from home, from someone you love, I think you have to have that balance in your life. We can’t lock ourselves in the studio too much and neglect those people. Having a good healthy balance in your personal life it’s important, and that’s change your music. I think if you’re happy at home, you will make good music.

What is your craziest gig ever?
I know it sounds cliché but it’s always Argentina. I think if you ask any DJ, they will tell you the same thing. The crowd in Argentina just unparalleled to anywhere in the world. They just so passionate about the music, but they also really open-minded. They really react to every tune. As far as genre are concerns, they don’t really care. If it’s good, then it’s a good music and they will like it. Argentina is the place for me. Argentinian crowd is the best crowd for me in the world.


That was our interview with Sneijder. Short but we can have a glimpse of how he works to create beautiful tune. Make sure to keep yourself update with Sneijder through these channel:
Website: sneijder.net
​Twitter: @SneijderMusic
Facebook: Sneijder
Soundcloud: Sneijder