Dutch superstar Quintino became a household name in 2011 when he teamed up with Sandro Silva and created “Epic,” released on Musical Freedom Records. The single was the most played track that summer topping DMC’s Buzzchart and entering the top five of the Beatport Top 100. Since then Quintino has remixed everyone from Pitbull to Lady Gaga to Example and worked with the biggest names in EDM such as Tiësto, Blasterjaxx, and Alvaro. Check out our interview where we spoke about Quintino’s rise to the top and what he has in store for 2014!
How did you get started DJing and producing?
I started off DJing in Holland in the small city I’m from. It was maybe 8 years ago when I played after Laidback Luke for the first time. He stayed for the whole set and watched me and we kept in contact. He was impressed with me and said he really liked the way I was DJing. He helped me with music production and got me started.
So Luke kind of trained you like he did with Afrojack?
Yeah, he helped me. From day one he said I could join him at some gigs to see what he was doing and to see different audiences. That was really cool.
You’re always on tour. What are your favorite places to play and why?
That’s a really hard question! Sometimes I like to go to Asia because I’m only there like once a year so it’s really cool.
Where in Asia do you like to go?
I did a show with Swedish House Mafia in Manila and I was also in Jakarta, Hong Kong, Bali, and a few other places. I like Europe because I’m from Europe and there are a lot of cool places there. America is all new for me. I’m travelling here for two years now and the parties are insane. The people are crazy. I really like it. Especially Las Vegas, it’s something new for me. I also played all the EDCs last year. It was really cool!
That’s right you have a residency at the Hakkasan in Vegas.
Yeah, the Hakkasan is really nice . The club is insane, really busy, and it’s really new. They just put it out this year. I’m really happy to be part of the team.
What’s been the wildest thing that’s ever happened at a gig?
Wildest thing…well the nicest thing was when I was supposed to play on the Jacked stage at EDC Vegas two years ago. They changed it up and I don’t know what happened but it wasn’t the Jacked stage anymore. They put me and two other artists in the food court. It was really crazy but I was like whatever I’m here so I’m still gonna play. It was empty all day and I had to play at 10pm. At 9:30 there were just a few people eating on the side and at like 10 there were 4,000 people going wild! It was crazy! They came in with signs with Quintino and my tracks on there. It was really cool that they came for me. They made me really happy.
It’s all about the fans.
Yeah, for sure. I didn’t expect it to be busy but it was so crazy and it made me so happy.
I’ve heard you talk about this bleep sound from the old school days in Holland. What exactly are you talking about?
Well we started off like six years ago with house music in Holland. It was all bleepy and when it was brought to America the people were all loving it. We had been doing it for two or three years and we wanted to change it up but the people all really liked it. But now they’re all coming on the same level.
“Epic” was such a game-changer for you and Sandro Silva. Do you ever feel obligated to make an “Epic” part 2?
Yeah, sometimes I would think about it but I really liked the track and I wanna make new stuff now and break new boundaries. I did it with “Epic” with Sandro and maybe we can do it again.
Do you have any upcoming collabs you can tell me about?
I have a lot of new tracks because I was working on my solo project for a long time. I’ve been working on my solo releases. Maybe there will be an EP. I signed one to Spinnin’ and another to Musical Freedom. I’m doing a remix for Laidback Luke for his latest track with Martin Solveig “Blow.” I’m working on that right now and I’m really working hard on my solo releases. I have a few ready but if you make more you can pick out the best ones. I’m just gonna take my time now and make a lot of tracks then I can bring out my solo stuff.
I know you are crazy busy all the time but what do you like to do when you are not making music?
I like to chill and hang out with friends but I’m never at home. It’s hard to say because I’m always working. I’m on tour for more than 75% of the year.
How do you stay healthy on the road?
I eat healthy in the mornings. Sometimes you can cheat just a little bit. I like touring. It’s part of the life and you get used to it. You just travel a lot and have fun. The parties are insane. For example, now I’m doing America then I’m doing Europe and then America again for New Year’s Eve. After that I’m doing South America then Asia.
What would you be doing if you weren’t making music?
That’s hard to say because I really don’t know. I just always knew I wanted to make music. I never thought of anything else. It worked out so that’s a good thing!
What’s coming up next for you?
The track that nobody knows about is with Far East Movement. I made a house track and they did a really cool job on it but that’s really on another note. I just wanna make solo tracks. I’ve been working really hard the last few months. After all the collabs I was like OK I wanna work on some solo stuff now.
You need it for your credibility as well I think.
Yeah, and they were all different sounds because you are working together in the studio. One is more electro and one is more with melodies but now I can do more of my own stuff. Things should start getting released in January.
Sounds great! Thanks for the chat!
Thanks!
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