Check the interview with The Partysquad on the occasion of the release of Hollertronix 10 to see what's up with the Dutch DJ duo. They also did a digital chart you can check it here

In the Netherlands you are quite popular, also with the kids, would you say that you are the Jonas Brothers of the Netherlands, or who would you compare yourself to in the US?

It's kinda strange, also for ourselves. You can't really compare us to anybody. We're a DJ and an MC but we think because of the releases (with guest vocalists), film scores and music videos we've done, a lot of kids in The Netherlands started seeing us as I guess as something like popstars or whatnot. We've been dj-ing for years but after the release of our first video, people that didn't know us yet, came out to clubs where we dj-ed at and were wondering when we would start performing on stage. Really it broadened our fanbase, as next to the club following we already had, people across the board now understand our concept also. Our thing is not performing on stage like a rapper/singer pop duo; you can find us in the DJ booth playing hot tunes. In our set we also play our own songs of course. To spice things up even more we might have a surprise star vocalist showing up though :-)

Can you tell us who you're working with now, what projects you have upcoming and where you're going?

We were invited to play at the Mad Decent (WMC) party in Miami this year and we really liked the crowd that came out and the whole vibe. Since we tend to bring an indefineable mix between hiphop, house and caribbean styles we don't particularly fit on a wholebread house line-up or a hiphop purist party only. We liked the fact that there was no real pressure to be or represent a certain music style. We try to keep an out of the box approach towards music and the styles we represent in our sets, we absolutely loved the open-minded reception we got from the crowd in Miami. So our mission right now -besides going abroad in general- is to make sure we play for these broad minded crowds all the time :-)!

Also, we recently did a song with LMFAO and we doing more of these international collaborations is definitely where it is at for us. Getting our style mixed with others and creating something new - e next level musical mash up! i was in Japan last month and the clubs were crazy; i want to play there!

How did you link up with Diplo for the Hollertronix series? and what's your thoughts on Hollertronix in general - are you guys familiar with it?

Diplo saw some old footage of us playing in a Dutch club and was amazed that we pulled it off (4 yrs ago) to keep the crowd hype while playing a set going from crunk to house to reggae and whatnot. After we stayed in touch, he started playing some of our stuff and asked us to do a EP on Mad Decent. Even though we haven't been familiar (shame shame) with Hollertronix from day one, after checking out the earlier releases from the series, we understood what a great honor it was to get the opportunity to do the final one of this legendary project.

Your song "Pull Up" is influenced by Surinamese "bubbling" music, could you tell us about little bit about the connection between Amsterdam and the Caribbean music?

Amsterdam -and Holland in general- is very multi-cultural; we got people from Morocco, Indonesia, the entire Caribbean and so also a lot of people with Surinamese roots. Ever since back in the day, kids in the clubs here were used to dancing to a broad mix of styles because of this. Even though the specific genre bubblin' is kinda perceived as not very cool for a lot of dj's over here, we don't have any problems with it; we're proud of our mixture here and the drive of that style works on every dance floor and you'll find the patterns of this music in the biggest (Dutch) house tunes today. Often they just replace the original drum sounds and use another kit; so you still have the energy and some people think one can 'get away' with it more this way. A lot of big tunes are coming from Dutch producers right now and we think it has a lot to do with this mixture of regular house and the influence of Caribbean patterns that a lot of us use.

I heard that some of the songs on your new Mad Decent release are actually quite old. With the current music trends nowadays changing so rapidly, why is it that these songs still sound so fresh?

This also has to do with the fact that I explained earlier I guess; that whole style that a lot of Dutch producers have, works in the clubs! We've been playing this for some time but it wasn't till recently that this sound traveled abroad. So a lot of people from overseas started asking for it now and it's new and fresh for the rest of the world we suppose. Besides that; a good tune has to be playable anytime; also years later right?

In America if a house DJ switched to hip-hop set for a bit of their set they would more than lose the half of their audience on the dance floor? Why is it in Amsterdam that there is such a natural mix of house and hiphop at the clubs. Do you think its the influence from the media or djs or what?

A lot of dance dj's over here originally started as a hiphop dj (like us) and naturally evolved to dj's that (also) play house music. The same goes for the crowds over here; people that loved (and most of them still do) hiphop, started dancing and loving house- and crossover music also. The future of music in the clubs (hopefully) will be music that gets you up [period]. Whether it's house or hiphop; what some may call eclectic. It's happening right now.

Also, that's why you got more and more artists do crossover; it wasn't till recently that in the U.S., artists like Lil Jon, BEP, Pitbull but also regular R&B singers like Neyo or Kelly Rowland jumped on 128 bpm beats. Another thing; we think it's important that you do research to the roots of music. Dutch people like doing this. Ask someone of this generation about NWA or Leaders Of The New School and there's a big chance that they can tell you Busta was in the last one.

Do you have any life or death situation stories from touring? Maybe a near plane crash or Stage collapsing?

We went to Ibiza for the first time in august 2008. We were rolling on cloud nine because everything went well and we started making plans to make international moves also. Flew out to the island with Roger Sanchez -whom we had played with in Holland- in his private plane, went to Pacha's closing party and had a blast. We thought we were doing it all but when we drove back to our house in the mountains, the car with Jerry in it, fell of a cliff.

I have to say; all clichés come popping up when something like this happens. All of them are true though; you have to enjoy every day because you never know if or when something happens and nobody is untouchable. Things like this also tend to happen with the lousiest timing...

What is country in the world do you think has the best food?

Indonesia & Lebanon (our roots). Further we like the food from most countries where Dutch people have their roots; Surinamese, Antilles, Moroccan; we love good food!

You guys live in Amsterdam which is known for having legal weed, how much does marijuana have an influence in the music that you make? Or is it more a party drug?

For us personally, it doesn't do much. Its more of a thing where you want to do something when it's NOT allowed; we grew up with people smoking. Also, it's more something that gets you relaxed; we more outgoing types so hook us up with a drink and we're straight! Funny story; a lot of US artists come over and when we show them around town they all want to go to our coffee shops (after we visited the red light district); they think they are used to everything and especially heavyweight rappers that are known for their love of weed. They smoke our stuff and experience that it's much stronger. I won't give you any names but well known rappers have ended up passing out right before their show..
Let me warn you right now; we got some heavy stuff!

You guys have been djing together for over ten years now and have won a ton a awards, what are you planning next?

After Jerry's accident it's really quite simple; do things that we like, have fun and enjoy life. Hopefully play in a lot of countries and share our passion for a good time.

check out The Partysquad's release on ttl digital

check out The Partysquad's release on vinyl

check out The Partysquad's chart on ttl digital