WORLD´s ELECTRONIC MUSIC LEAGUE IN INTERVIEW:

Iman Gerowgan: Hello Roger, how are you these days?

Roger Sanchez: I´m doing very well right now. I´m on tour in Italy!

Iman Gerowgan: You´re doing music since you were 13 years old – numbers of shows worldwide and much experience on your back. Are you still nervous before a show? ...and do you have kind of „rituals“ before entering the Dj stage?

Roger Sanchez:I´m not really nervous before a show generally but occasionally. I probably get a little bit nervous but not really. Rituals? I think I just check the vibe in the room, check the sound, look to the crowd before i go onto stage. If i'm going on after someone or if I´m starting off the night completely by myself, I just kind of listen to the music, open my mind and just let it flow.

Iman Gerowgan: One of your fans posted recently on your facebook page:

„I may have to block your posts, because I'm so jealous of your rock star lifestyle“ Tell us about your lifestyle. Can you enjoy all the countries, places, hotels, festivals, the hottest clubs and events you´re visiting, or is it more or less already job routine for you?

Roger Sanchez:I think my life is great in the sense that I love doing what i do in terms of performing and playing for people. And I´m very fortunate that I´m at a position where I can definitly be comfortable doing it. But at the same time i think you will realise how much there is involved in doing travelling, lack of sleep.. For me the hardest part is definitly the seperation from my family. Now that's no way a complaint, because I love this and this is what I choose. I just think people sometimes glamourise living the lifestyle of a DJ whithout understanding the responsibility of it. So lets just say, I enjoy the life that i lead in the sense what i do but I´m also very responsible with it.

Iman Gerowgan: How do you feel about the tag of "Rock Star“ or „Superstar Dj" thats given to you?

Roger Sanchez: I mean, I understand the position that we hold in the - you know puplic and in the music industry. Sometimes i smile about it but at the same time I also have respect and understand the fact that we do draw alot of people to our shows. And the fact is that we do produce records and we have an impact. And thats - you know - also responsibility.

Iman Gerowgan: What in your life gives you the most inspiration and motivation to work as hard as you do, day by day?

Roger Sanchez: You know, I thank God that i was given this talent to be able to do this. And the fact is, my family, my wife, my kids give me tons of inspiration for doing what I do. But also the real love of the fans, of house music and music in general. They come out and support and that gives me the love for it all. And whenever I see a crowd that i play for and i see them react, then – you know, or I get tweets from fans or i get messages on the facebooks, say how gratefull they are that my music has touched them, - thats very inspirational.

Iman Gerowgan: This years Miami Music Week was a big one for you again with four shows in four nights.What have been your highlights? Can you tell us more about the „Release Yourself Parties?

Roger Sanchez: Well this years Miami Music Weeks was a big one! I had my release event at Mansion, we had a private party at the Setai which was very sexy. I also did the Ultra Music Festival. That was a big one too, because I definitely was playing to a younger crowd that I don't normaly get the chance to play to. And then on the Saturday night we had the Stealth Event with me, Fedde Le Grand (Fedde and I had a great time rocking it), Prok & Fitch, Todd Terry and my man Chris Moody, it was definitly alot of fun for me. And just the response I got from the Flashing Lights visuals: this was definitly one of my highlights.

Iman Gerowgan: Where do you see the differences of the dance/electronic scene in the USA compared to Europe?

Roger Sanchez: Right now in the USA dance music is almost like it's something new, even now, where it's been there for quit a while. So this is new energy and the young crowds are really getting into it. It is happening for quit a while now in Europe. I think its just fresh and new for Americans and its great to see them getting into it.

Iman Gerowgan: On which projects / collaborations are you working on at the moment ? What can we expact from you in the near future?

Roger Sanchez:Right now I´m working on my artist album. My new single with Mobin Master & MC Flipside called Worldwide is going to be released on the 7th June. My Release Yourself '11 compilation released end of June / early July with 22 Exclusives! Plus I´m collaborating with artists like Danny Jones from the Band McFly on a side project that he is doing , which is this dance oriented project which is really really cool. Been working with Sam Obernik, Terry Mc Donald, I´ve got something up to 50Cent.. I´ve done something for Afrika Bambaataa, Sydney Samson. I'm collaborating with loads and loads of people that I´m looking forward to working with in the future. 

Roger Sanchez feat. MC Flipside & Mobin Master - Worldwide (teaser)

Iman Gerowgan: Do you have non-productive moments in the studio? Writers-block? What are you doing in such moments?

Roger Sanchez:Any time that I´m in the studio, you never know what's gonna happen. There have been days when it just comes out so fast and then days when I´m just sitting there and nothing comes up but the kick drum. So all depens how it is.

Iman Gerowgan: Do tragedies, such as crime, war..the recent earthquakes affect you in your productivity?

Roger Sanchez:I think that tragedies effect you on a more personal and emotional level. So I feel the pain, when I see horrible things happen and my heart goes out to people that have had suffered for whatever reason. Sometimes it actually inspires me to write something. You know - and sometimes its more a cause to reflect and also be thankful for all the positive blessings that i do have in my life and see how delicate this life is.

Iman Gerowgan: What is currently happening on your own label Stealth? Which releases do you have lined up in the next time?

Roger Sanchez:Right now I´m in the process of working on the next Release Yourself 11 compilation. My next single is called Worldwide which is about to drop, releases by Chris Moody and loads of others . So lots is coming up as well as Stealth parties we got lined up in the summer time.

Iman Gerowgan: How will you spend your summer? Which events are you looking forward to?

Roger Sanchez:This year I'm touring a lot more. I decided to kinda really focus on my Release Yourself events. This year i´m doing it at Space Ibiza, primarely in August. But also in Greece at Cavo Paradiso in Mykonos, Ministry of Sound in the UK and doing more Festivals this year. So it´s gonna be pretty hectic.

Iman Gerowgan: Thank you for the Interview and taking the timeout of your busy shedult for us. We wish you all the best!