Formula E racing tends to get quiet due to the electronic cars, but EJ makes sure that there is never a dull or silent moment. The soundtrack for the race that increases the intensity and the mood is tailored specifically by this one of a kind DJ. Lately not only has he been setting the pace for cars, but also the pace festivals and clubs he has been invited too. EJ’s trance and house mixes will lift your mood and make your heart race right along with the cars.
Recently we had the chance to interview EJ. Although he kept his identity a secret, he let us in on all the other details of his DJ persona. Check out our exclusive interview with EJ below!
RR – You are mixing music as the race is happening, do you find you have a lot of pressure to keep up with the race?
EJ – So just to explain or break down what we do. I basically DJ at different intervals throughout the day, mostly when the racing is going on live. That might end up being when the practice is going on in the morning, the qualifying round near lunch time, and then the actual main race itself. We try to build the mood with the music throughout the day. Practice will be more down-tempo progressive house because it is early in the morning, and you don’t want to play anything to heavy while the cars are on the track just practicing. You just have to set the scene where the music is in the background so the commentators can easily commentate over.
EJ – Also in the DJ booth I have TVs screens that are linked to the live feed that is being broadcast around the world so I know what is being shown to those twenty million people. From this I can gage what’s happening and decide from there what needs to be playing. So practice is down-tempo, qualifying ups the tempo more. When we actually get to the race I take over the music just before we go live on TV at 4:00 PM wherever we are in the world. We have a special bit of music that we written and actually have programmed into Ableton that I control on an Ableton push unit, allowing me to manipulate exactly what is happening on the screen.
EJ- When that big E flashes up to signal that we are about to go live to the world, we up the tempo with that music. The music slowly progresses as the TV camera goes down the track and introduces the drivers. Next when the cars are moving into position we have another piece of music that we cut to that we can also manipulate on Push that becomes this rumble that slowly increases in volume. We really strive to turn it up around the track which heightens the anticipation, and as soon as all the lights go out there is a big boom, the cars are racing and I move into the one hour DJ mix of me playing live. Basically from there it’s a case of looking at what is happening on the TV screen and managing to bring tracks in and out to represent what is actually being shown. Let’s say a safety car comes out the race slows down we might pitch the music down or loop in a break, and when the safety car goes in you loop out of that break go back to the beats which represents the racing.
RR – You explained that so well. So throughout the race are the drivers able to hear the music or is it just the fans an the people watching it on TV?
EJ – It is just mainly the fans around the track, but there is still the small chance that the drivers hear me. With the cars being electric they do not make any sound which is exactly the reason why we wanted to introduce music into Formula E in the first place. While the cars are whizzing around the track I am sure if they go past speakers that are positioned toward the grandstands they will sort of get these moments where they can hear it, but I am pretty certain at the same time though they are very concentrated on what they are in the race.
RR – In the states I know that Formula E is not as big of a commodity as it is in other countries. With that being said how do you make yourself versatile enough to be known in countries that do not know about Formula E or EJ.
EJ – So before I started working with Formula E, I worked with the Ministry of Sound for a number of years DJing and working with the brand. Formula E approached me and wanted someone to come on board to head the music division: write the music and develop as a DJ with the actual championship. The first step was getting the music right for Formula E. The next step which I have actually been developing over the last couple of years is building myself as a DJ outside of Formula E as EJ. I have played for Ultra Music Festival in Croatia which was amazing where we got a lot of traction, and I had a couple of dates in Ibiza at Eden Night Club which I am following up with again this Ibiza season. The main thing though is working in the studio and getting music out there and getting it signed by labels.
EJ- I have had a few releases out on 3E, Formula E’s publishing company, but their has been no support from a major label which will take it to the next level. So with that being said I just recently signed four tracks over to Armada with the first one premiering on the 12th of May which is a remix of “The theme” by Jurgen Vries, and then a follow up the following week with “Don’t Take It Away” which is my first full single release. Then we will have another track out in June then July. The goal is for monthly releases all on Armada, and I am working really well with the guys there so will hopefully pick up some real traction.
RR – It really sounds like you have a whole lot happening this year.
EJ – I really have been trying to work on the music side of stuff just developing the sound, and and am really are happy with the place where we are. The whole loud noisy EDM thing for me now is pretty done… I think that everybody’s opinion is that it is not what kids really want to hear anymore, but they still want the energy, more feeling, and more euphoricness to what they are listening to. Even though you still have this moment where the music has sort of dropped down in tempo, and you have this 105 BMP house which is great, but if you are in a festival environment you still want that energy. The stuff that I am producing is a mix between progressive house, trance, and tech house it really throws everything into the mix that I have loved for many years. It is a cool place to be, and I am looking forward to the releases when they come out.
RR – You really are the first DJ of your kind that is sound tracking sporting events. Have you seen anybody else trying to follow in your footsteps or have anybody ask you for any kind of advice on how you are innovating this area that hasn’t been touched yet?
EJ – I wouldn’t say I have been asked advice, but I have seen things pop-up especially with racing championships. There are a few new electronic race championships coming out over the next year or so, and something that they are heavily concentrating on when you look at their promo material is where they want DJs to come and write music for them and also perform at the races. I know that Race Of Champions did that last year and they also add to their broadcast music to the replays and they have gotten DJs to write the theme music. We have definitely set a precedent if you like with what we have been doing and as you said I am pretty sure we were the first to kind of spearhead that. It is an interesting place to be really nice to know that other people want to follow in your footsteps.
RR – You noted earlier that you were in your third season with Formula E. How are you trying to grow as an artist and grow with the racing while still staying relevant?
EJ – To grow as an artist is just making sure I grow and develop the brand within Formula E, and really focus on the customer experience. We really have to tweak it and develop it make sure the music that we write for the broad cast is always on trend and changes so it does not get to boring. I work with different engioneeers and producers and recently we have written another 8-10 tracks that are going to be inserted into the Formula E broadcast so that just keeps it nice and fresh, and we are also looking at other entertainment aspects that we can put into Formula E.
EJ – For example a big opening party/ceremony that really positions brand, and lets the cities we are racing in know that Formula E has arrived. Also me as an artist will be heavily involved in the opening ceremony as well playing along side top headline commercial acts possibly even a secondary stage for more dance music orientated acts. The two roles I have: EJ the artist and also the music ambassador for the actual championship and I am so fortunate to work across both really focus on developing both in tandem.
RR – So for our last question. You have EJ as a music persona. Are you working on anything else other than EJ at this time?
EJ – Continuing on the EJ project is top priority at the moment. We have all of this music coming out, and I really just want to focus solely on getting that right. Taking the two brands Formula E and EJ to work really well together so we can bring a whole new fan base to Formula E through EJ. As an artist I am focused on developing with Armada I also have these separate gigs happening, and hopefully with the music being released that will then grow into more events globally.
EJ – We might open up the possibility to go into event cities be able to play in night clubs or festivals before Formula E arrives. Hopefully this will build the younger fan base and drive the focus toward what Formula E is really about the sustainability aspect, electric cars, and educate the kids on the future of racing and transport. I hope the music can influence this.
Connect with EJ:
https://www.facebook.com/formulaej/
https://twitter.com/FormulaEJ?lang=en
http://www.ejmusic.com/#main
https://www.instagram.com/formulaej/?hl=en
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