Judge Jules

Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 August 2009 09:33 Written by Hayley Ward Wednesday, 08 April 2009 15:31

Father Trance

I got kinda freaked out when I realised Judge Jules had been behind the decks since I was two-years old. What questions can be asked of a dude who has been in the DJ game for 20-something years? Luckily he’s a fascinating guy and even

more luckily, he’s coming down here for Trance Energy!

I was reading your online diary and it looks like you're insanely busy. I imagine it’s been like this for you since 1987, when you started DJing. How do you keep on top of it all?
Just by trying to stay sane and having some structure to my life. I don't obsess over it but the key is organisation in maintaining a busy schedule without everything falling down around you. Last year was perhaps the busiest of schedules I've had to date as I toured 30 countries, with over 175 gigs and upwards of 200 flights. So it was an extremely busy one but I don't know life any other way. However, amongst all the travelling and gigs it is also important for me to find time for my family and give my children the quality time they deserve.

So, Trance Energy is coming down to Australia for the first ever time. I know you've DJd at the Holland event many times - can you tell us a bit about why this famous event is so - famous?
For me it's the level of production. The teams behind Trance Energy somehow manage to raise the standards every year, which I'm sure is no easy feat. This will be the fifth time I've done it (if you include the Dutch events) and it has grown to such an extent that it is truly an international event with a glowing reputation across all borders.

You've said that if you could move anywhere in the world it would be Australia. So you obviously love it down here then - tell us about what you've got in store for us at the Trance Energy festival?
Well I recently released a new artist album (‘Bring The Noise’) and I've been working on a couple of exclusive edits from tracks off the album especially for this event. I have also managed to get my hands on, through a lot of blood, sweat and tears, some extremely hot new material from several well known producers, which will get their first plays on the tour.

Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
After this tour I am going back into the studio to work on some new singles and remixes, which as yet are still unfinished. 2009 also saw me achieve one of my lifelong goals - to launch my own fashion label, which is called Heroes & Villains. Those who have followed my career will probably know that it has been something I've wanted to do for a long while. So it was a very proud moment when we finally launched.

Your bio says that you are also venturing into other projects such as food and fashion - can you tell us anything more about the other things you're involved in besides music?
Well I used to co-own a restaurant called Kasbah in Ibiza but I sold my share back in 2006. Whilst it was a really fun project to be part of, I felt it was too much hassle and I found certain responsibilities that come with owning a restaurant were beginning to creep into other areas of my life. The label, as discussed earlier, is really the only other project outside of my DJing, music and radio show that I'm currently investing a sizeable amount of time into at present

Have you got a favourite DJing outfit?
Being fortunate to perform to an audience each week, I would have to be insane not to wear something from my own Hero & Villains label as some form of promotion don't you think? As for an actual outfit, I'm commonly found in a t-shirt and jeans with some Pro Keds as footwear. I'm a big lover of trainers and whilst I'm not quite in obsessive territory yet, I can be found wearing them pretty much non-stop.

Judge Jules will be joined by Marco V, Sander van Doorn, BT, Brisbane’s own tyDi and many others at Trance Energy at The Met Saturday April 11. For more info take a peek at www.trance-energy.com.au