Norwegian trance and progressive producer-DJ Ørjan Nilsen is a popular name in the global trance community. Known for his energetic sets and inability to stand still behind the decks, Ørjan proudly states that he’s addicted to the profession.
“I’ve been doing this since 2005. The thing is that once you start, you can’t stop. It’s an addiction. My initial plan was to become a pilot but that didn’t work out. This had always been my dream but it was so far-fetched that I didn’t dare to dream about it. What gave me the push was when the biggest label Armada Music signed a track of mine. After that, I couldn’t turn back,” recalls Ørjan.
Speaking about the music scene back home, he says, “Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is really huge in Europe. Norway is known for a lot of metal but we’re also seen as one of the pioneers of dance music. So we do have a pretty good scene.”
According to Ørjan, the best part about his job is the love he receives from fans. “The biggest perk is meeting all the fans. They’re the people who go on Twitter and Facebook and tell you that you’re good. The fame is not good when I’m really tired and people want to meet. But most of the time, I love it because my fans are really nice,” he shares.
Does he enjoy the live experience better than working in the studio? “That’s impossible to answer because I love them both. You can’t have one without the other,” replies Ørjan.
While the genre of electronica has undergone major changes to the extent of now being called EDM, Ørjan sees this as a good thing. “I think it’s a good thing because now, you get the fusion of the two worlds. You get the bangs and beats but also the melodies. I think you can do a perfect fusion with both,” notes the producer.
Being in Bangalore for the first time to play at Sunburn Festival, he was elated at the response he got. “I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about India, especially about Sunburn from people who’ve played the festival before. So I realised that it was going to be fun. But I didn’t think it would be this much fun!” he smiles.