Illusionize interviewed ahead of Truth Big Weekend
Illusionize is hot property right now. The Brazilian DJ/Producer is known for playing extended sets which move between genres seamlessly. In 2016 he played close to 200 shows including mega event such as Tomorrowland Brazil, Ultra and Lollapalooza.
He will be headlining the Truth Big Weekend tomorrow evening (24th June) alongside some of Joburg’s finest for a genre bending weekend of bass, house and techno.
We got to know him a bit better…
It’s a huge opportunity to be able to do all this, which I want to seize to the maximum and give something good back to the world.”
Tell us a bit about yourself… Where are you from, how did you discover electronic music and when did you decide to make it your career?
Illusionize: Born and raised in Goiania, capital of Goias state. Half of my childhood I lived in the countryside, before going back to Goiânia where I lived ’till my twenties.
At 13 years of age I got in touch with electronic music and at 15 I started to DJ. By 16 I played my first gig and at that time my artist name was Pedro Mendes. From then till now, my love for being a DJ grew each day more.
In the beginning I couldn’t buy a computer, so I kept downloading music from a LAN (local are network) house. At 18, after a lot of effort, I bought my first computer which I learnt to produce on.
It was on this computer that my first hit was born; Bass. This was when I started to produce and play under the name Illusionize.
What have been some of your personal highlights of 2017 and what do you have going on for the rest of the year and beyond?
Illusionize: There have been a few, but Lollapalooza was one, my brand new record label, Electric Zoo MainStage and not to mention Rock in Rio that’s about to come.
Who are your favourite producers and why?
Illusionize: A few; when I started to DJ I used to follow Tujamo a lot, he was a big reference producer for me.
Nowadays I look up to Kyle Watson, Billy Kenny, Flume among others.
What I like the most with these artists are their originality and personality.
Why do you make music?
Illusionize: Because it makes me happy – it’s the front door to what I love, which is to DJ, so it’s a bonus in the end. You make music and play it.
Double happiness LOL.
Brazil’s music scene seems very vibrant. Tell us about the scene there…
Brazilian scene gets bigger all the time; lots of good producers are appearing every day.
2 years ago you wouldn’t see what you see today and this makes me really happy.
I’m proud of what I see. I believe that with this growth, soon we’ll have loads of Brazilian DJs representing our country worldwide.
You have a very busy diary. What are the pros and cons of life on the road? How has your life and work changed since you’ve started gigging internationally?
Illusionize: Thanks to God. Well, the upside is that each day you meet new people, new places, open your mind, learn a lot from what is life.
It’s a huge opportunity to be able to do all this, which I want to seize to the maximum and give something good back to the world.
Something beyond music.
Do you listen to other types of music besides house?
Hardly ha-ha
What have you heard about South Africa?
I heard a lot and at the same time very little.
I want to be able to see with my own eyes the beauty of your country.
Message for the fans?
Illusionize: Well, I hope you can all meet me real soon.
I’ll keep doing what I do with love and I want to be able to share this love with all my fans.
May this be the first of many tours in South Africa
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