Back in Australia for a nation-wide tour with Stereosonic this December, Sied van Riel will be bringing some magic with him.
Hoping to be fit and ready to play, his preparation tune-wise has seen him working a lot on his album, doing "the normal thing, rather than going out. It's all part of it, work, maybe go out to dinner, sleep. When you're home you're in your comfort zone.". Whilst not totally restricted to the studio, he still admits to "going out hearing different styles, like Dutch Folk but that doesn't really work for me," he laughs. Locally there isn't a lot of opportunities to go out on the town, "there's Rotterdam," laughing "but you end up hearing cheese, all the residents are kids. It seems they've only just started playing, one minute it's hip hop, then cheesie Dutch dance music. It's cool when you're drunk."
When last in Australia, Sied's home team was battling in the Semi's for the World Cup. "During my set, Papa Smurf came up saying 'you've won!!'". Sied, so excited and without thinking, said he "threw my headphones and scarf into the audience. I'm a fanatic when the Dutch play." With his last tour beyond hectic, "I had 3 hours in Adelaide before the final," he said going to his hotel for a sleep and the phone alarm ready to go off before the Grand Final. "I passed out and woke up 5 minutes after it. Australia was the hardest tour I've done, even with a week off." That week, was sadly spent nursing a painful molar, "I didn't sleep. I was in Brisbane, Perth then Adelaide in 24 hours, partying and the molar", but thankfully, "its all fixed now." Laughing, "I was praying to God to get it over with!"
This time down under will (hopefully) be a little less painful, with Sied confessing "I will be with a crew this time, the manager can hold my hand," he laughs, "he can get me a hot towel." His manager for some time, Dimitri de Wit, "will get whatever done, he'll sort it out. I need that, I'm too relaxed." Taking a moment to give him some worthy praise, "he's the one with the plan, a really good guy, he will look after me!" Remembering his first encounter watching Dimitri work, when an issue with the monitors could have meant a sets not being played to perfection. Sied was left really impressed with his now manager, stating "just gets things done, that's how it should be, when someone makes a mistake – fix it and move on, everything with be ok. He's the perfect guy for me. I'm in the scene to play, I like people to be relaxed. I don't like to say to the promoter 'can you sort this out' and it not happen," admitting, "I don't want to get the promoters pissed off, the manager is there to look after things to sure it's all done properly." The difference is that even "if you know you can mix, but then not in a comfortable environment I can't do what I want to do, we have these signs," he said "like if I'm showing something to the crowd, it's actually code for the manager to come and talk to me." Like if looking into the crowd, "I don't know when people are sticking fingers in their ears if it's too loud or they don't like the music," he just needs someone to cut the bullshit and talk to him straight, it's those little things that make all the difference.
Remembering the last time in Australia, Sied lives by the simple rule of enjoying yourself. "I was having a good time." and so happy about the soccer victory, "I was being interviewed after the set and would only say 'My name is Holland'. After a while she gave up," but it is this that makes it all the more worthwhile. "Enjoy yourself," he said "there are younger guys who are great producers, you need them, but they don't really know how to behave yet. I had that thing a few years ago, I was hanging out with people that I was looking up to thinking, 'What do I say?'," finding its best to just "talk about every day stuff." Sadly, some "can only talk about their own accomplishments, talking about things they shouldn't," suggesting "just hang out and have some fun and a good and normal conversation, not bull shit. I can understand that when you start to DJ you get to see how most DJ's live, its pretty impressive but its not something you show off, at the end of the day, it's work." Even as a fun loving DJ, Sied's still a bit of a shit stirrer, admitting "if I don't like someone, I'll show it, out them on the spot," joking "I could tell stories, but I won't mention names, what happens stays there." On the odd occasion, "I'll get arrogant, it can be fun," he laughs, "have fun but not at the cost of someone else, unless they ask for it. If I'm in a bad mood, I'll start bragging but hope for someone to put me in my place. When you look at the whole establishment, I'm only new."
With his first time on the Steroesonic line-up, Sied had no idea what to expect. "I've heard about the events, I'm looking forward to it. Aly and Fila and I will go out and make sure we all have a great time." Already looking at the bags to start packing, he can't wait for the new adventures in Australia.
Sied asks only one thing: "just give me anything but the flu."
STEREOSONIC 2010 NATIONAL TOUR DATES:
Saturday 27th Nov – SYDNEY – Sydney Showgrounds – Main Arena and Surrounds 12pm-11pm (Gates open 11:45am)
Sunday 28th Nov – PERTH* - Claremont Showground 12pm-10pm (Gates open 11:30am)
Saturday 4th Dec – ADELAIDE - Bonython Park 12pm-10pm (Gates open 11:45am)
Saturday 4th Dec – MELBOURNE - Melbourne Showgrounds 12pm-10pm (Gates open 11:45am)
Sunday 5th Dec – BRISBANE – RNA Showgrounds 12pm-10pm (Gates open 11:45am)
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