For our third interview from Amsterdam Dance Event, we’re featuring a repeat offender in the form of Corey James. A lot has changed since the last time we chatted with the Liverpool native in November 2015. Records like “Rule The Nation” and “Let Me See You” with Will K have secured his spot as a name to watch in an industry flooded with young talent. The sky continues to be the limit for Corey James as he looks towards 2017, with plenty of quality tracks to come. We chatted about where he gets inspiration, what band he’d love to work with, living with Will K and much more.

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How has your ADE been so far with shows and such?

So far, it’s been amazing. Obviously, I’m tired. Luckily, last night I didn’t have a show, so I slept for like 12 hours. But the night before I literally slept for one hour before the show. So, yeah. It’s been pretty hectic.

You played Fonk on Wednesday, and what else have you played?

Last night was my night off. The two nights before I played Fonk and Protocol. Two shows in one night. It was amazing, man. Fonk was sold out, with Dannic and even Hardwell turned up to be a special guest. It was crazy, man.

The second show, Protocol, was amazing. I was playing when Nicky [Romero] was playing in the main room so obviously the room wasn’t as full, but it was still amazing; the crowd, the energy.

What went into your Miike Snow remix?

Well, actually, I got asked to remix the track by the label. Yeah, I mean, I had only a short amount of time to do it because I was actually going on vacation. So, I had done the track in about three or four days, and I was really happy with the outcome. Unfortunately, the remix had some disagreement, so we couldn’t get it released as an official release. But, the guys over at the label were kind enough to let us give it out for free.

As you start performing more, and having more production responsibilities, how do you manage your time?

At the moment, obviously, I’m getting a fair amount of shows, but I’m finding it okay to balance studio time with DJing. I think it’s important to manage your social time as well, so I always like to make time to get up and go to the gym, come back, and if I’ve got no plans, I’ll just go straight to the studio and I’ll probably stay there till 8:00 at night or 4:00 in the morning. It all depends on how the studio is going, how the sound is, and if I’m actually enjoying it. If it gets to a point where I can’t get any ideas, got no inspiration, I’ll just call it a day and start over the next day.

How do you find your inspiration when producing?

Normally, I just listen to new tracks. Like every genre, as well. I like to listen to techno, deep house, and even just relaxing stuff to chill out and I find that the majority of the time, that’s where the inspiration to make a new track comes from. But then, of course, I still listen to the likes of Tom Staar, Kryder, Steve Angello, Axwell, you know, and I think that influences a lot of things. But it also depends what mood I’m in that day.

What’s it like to get close to the level of the names mentioned in your last answer?

Well, I mean, for me, … it doesn’t really feel real. It doesn’t feel like I am heading towards that direction, it just feels I’m exactly what I was. I think, in a way, it’s quite important because I still remain hungry for the final goal. I don’t like to see it that way because I can’t see it. I still find it weird when people stop me in the streets, and ask for a photograph because it’s crazy.

DJ Mag ratings: what do you think about that whole process?

I don’t really have anything bad to say or good to say. At the end of the day, I’ve never really paid much attention to it, but I do know it’s obviously important in this industry. But I mean, for me, it doesn’t really affect me. I just keep going.

At what point do you know a track is finished?

To be honest, I normally know when I’m about 50%, 70% through the track what vibe, what artists would like it, and who would play it. I won’t say I cater to that sound, but I’ll always stop and think like it’s a similar vibe to this guy. I’ll take a listen to some of their stuff sometimes it influences the way you finish a drop. But yeah, I’d say by 50% I know which direction I want a track to go and where I want it to end.

Two go-to tips for someone who wants to make it big:

Just literally work hard. If you really want it, it is hard. I would say there’s so many downs compared to ups in this industry. But, the ups always replace the downs. It’s gonna be hard, and it’s gonna be years spent with struggling for money, really pushing to get where you want to. But if you just put your head down and work hard, it can happen. Don’t listen to other people who joke about “oh, he wants to be Martin Garrix, blah blah blah…” Anyone can do it, you just have to put your head down and go for it.

The second one would probably be always try to learn new things. As a producer, as a DJ, as whatever it is, always try to do new things. Watch YouTube videos, get in the studio with other people and watch what they do. When Will [K] moved to my house from Australia, we both learned so much off each other. We picked up so many silly little things each other, and you learn so much off being in the studio with other people so collaboration is one of the most important things, as well.

If you could collaborate with anyone in the EDM industry, and somebody out, who would it be and why?

Somebody in it would probably be Steve Angello, obviously. You can tell he’s got a lot of influence in the music, and stuff, like he’s one of my idols. If I could say, I’d say Swedish House Mafia obviously because they’re the guys who really made me want to do this, so Axwell, Sebastian [Ingrosso] and Steve. But yeah, Steve Angello would be the guy I’d produce with.

Outside the EDM industry, it would probably be Red Hot Chili Peppers.

What’s coming next? What projects are you working on that you can tell us about?

I mean, it’s always hard because record deals. Yeah, I’m working on a lot, really. I’m trying lots of different things, like I released for Marcus Schössow‘s label, and it was very different; slow, relaxing. I mean, I’ve got about four or five tracks like that this year. At the same time, I’ll still be working on the main-room stuff and the festival stuff. I’ve got a lot coming out, and I’m excited to release it, and there’s some really good labels involved in that.

What was it like living with Will K?

Living with Will was good! But, I feel like I’m his mother, or his older brother. I’m always like, “Will, have you got your wallet? Your laptop? Your keys?” Cuz he’s like a legend man, he’s like this kid, and just runs around forgetting everything. He moved to my house for like four to five months, and then got his own place close-by. It’s amazing, the chemistry in the studio is amazing. We just literally bounce off each other and it’s perfect. Like, if I miss something, Will will hear it. If Will misses something, I’ll hear it, so it’s just perfect.

How long will it take him to develop the Liverpool accent?

I think he’s already picking some of it up, to be honest. To be honest, me and my friends are picking his accent up. We’ll say some of the words he says. He’ll be a scouser soon.

Do you see working with Will as a duo kind of thing?

Not so much a duo, I mean, me and Will have got the same management, so we’re close together. Every single track we pool our input, so if Will’s got a track I’ll say to him “you can do this, this and this” and if I’ve got a track, he’ll help me. So its not so much a duo, its just like a team, and like a little mini family that works and just tells me what to do.

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Corey James also just had a huge guestmix on Steve Angello‘s BBC Radio 1 Residency show. Check it out:

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About Thursday Thoughts:

At Dance Rebels, we strive to bring our readers as close to their favorite artists as possible. One of the best ways to make that connection is to discuss a wide range of topics with the biggest names in the dance music scene. If there is an artist that you think we need to talk to, reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter!