There are certain songs that you remember where you were when you first heard them and then there are others that are linked to numerous moments and they become a major part of the soundtrack of our lives!
Sandstorm is that song for us. We remember hearing it when it first came out when we were in college, we have heard it at fashion, sports, and tech trade shows, many a night at Limelight (back when it was a club here in NY), we heard this song and even other top DJ's play and have remixed this song. When you think of songs in EDM, Toni-Ville Henrik Virtanen aka as Darude is pivotal in anthems that get us moving. With this iconic song being out for 25 years with over half a billion Spotify streams, we wanted to talk with Darude about the impact of this song, how it was created, and what it means to him.
Currently, Darude is on the STORM 25 Tour where he plays this song along with other tracks that we can vibe to. We also talk with him about how he got into this industry, his creative process, and upcoming projects.
ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the song that you heard that made you fall in love with dance music?
DARUDE: So around 1982, I was maybe seven or eight years old, my cousin played me Oxygène the album by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre. I think it was the piece Oxygène Pt.4 especially which really got me hooked onto electronic sounds. It’s maybe not what we’d consider straight-up “dance music” like you hear today but it was almost certainly a precursor for genres like Trance with the beautiful melodies and careful use of synths and phasers to create that ambient, uplifting sound.
Faithless and Scooter were also early loves of mine, but really growing up I listened to a whole melting pot of sounds from Punk to 80s Hair Metal, which still influences my music today.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ?
D: I never set out to be a DJ as such, I was a producer and live artist and I still consider myself a producer first. Then, when Sandstorm blew up, I started to get these incredible booking requests and had to pick up the art of DJing pretty quickly as although the live sets are great, travelling with all of the gear needed is not as practical.
AM: How do you define the Darude sound?
D: I’m not one for strict genre labels, I’d say my sound is energetic, emotive, electronic dance music created with the dancefloor in mind. Ask me again in a few years, even months, it might differ slightly, but that’s the beauty of being an artist, you’re always honing and evolving your craft.
AM: What is your creative process when you're making music and where do you start?
D: Inspiration for a full track or even just the melody can strike anywhere really. My approach hasn’t really changed too much over the years, I still love tinkering. Sometimes I start from the drums, I start from drum-works that are energetic and make me want to move, but really, I just love just playing with different sounds, adding a delay, adding a reverb and if I hear something in it, I just see where I can take it next.
My purpose-built studio at home in Finland is aptly called Serendipity Studio because it’s where happy accidents often happen. Ideas just crash into one another and it’s in my skillset to recognise those ideas that I see potential in developing into, hopefully, a hit record or a solid dancefloor number.
AM: I was in college when I first heard Sandstorm. How did this song come about and what do you think it is about it that it continues to be a song that draws people in?
D: It’s the million-dollar question! What’s so interesting about Sandstorm is not only does it resonate with so many people, but it goes way beyond just dance music fans.
A lot of sports teams, from college football to ice hockey, listen to Sandstorm to get hyped for a big match. It’s huge in the gaming world too, and then it’s got this whole other life as an online meme.
When it came to actually producing Sandstorm, the first thing people often think about is the lead sound, the “dududu” if you will, and that I’d already started working on in around 1997.
So, the Sandstorm riff stayed on my hard drive for a couple years, then in summer of ’99 I just happened to open the file again. I liked the melody, and at the time I was using Cubase VST 24 which had a plugin called Quadrafuzz and once I distorted the sound with it, it became what now is known as the Sandstorm lead.
After that, it only took a day or so for me to build the chords around the main melody, then a few sessions maybe over a week to develop it into a full track. It got played by a few local DJs in Finnish clubs, then JS16, Jaakko Salovaara, now a close friend, took me under his wing and that time had just launched his own record company, 16 Inch Records. He asked if I wanted to be his first artist, we refined Sandstorm in his studio with his better gear and knowledge into the final version you hear now.
It was then time to put it out into the world, and the rest as they say is history.
AM: Did you think that Sandstorm would have the staying power that it has had for 25 years, with over half a billion Spotify streams and a number of DJs from Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Hardwell, David Guetta, and more who enjoy playing this song?
D: I never could have predicted the insane global phenomenon that Sandstorm would become. To be honest, if someone told me at the time “hey this track is going to reach millions of people, launch your music career, feature in the USB of the world’s biggest DJs, and still be huge in twenty-five years” I think the pressure would have been too much and it never would have made it out of my head, let alone the studio.
That’s the beauty of that track I suppose it came about so organically. Another thing to remember is at the time of Sandstorm being released, the internet was still relatively new and social media didn’t exist so the concept of something going “viral” on that scale wasn’t even a passing thought in my mind. I was just hyped if my buddies down my local club were into it.
AM: Why did you want to launch a record label?
D: I launched my record label Vibing Out for a few reasons. One, I wanted a platform to release my own music where I had full creative freedom and could keep full rights and control as much as I can.
Secondly, and my biggest motivator behind the label, is to help platform other producers and artists who I see great potential in. We all remember that first foot-up into the industry and if this label can provide that to others, then it’s a success in my eyes.
The name Vibing Out actually stems from my weekly live-stream show on Twitch which I’ve been hosting for a few years now. It’s the buzzword of the moment but we really have created a nice little community on there and I wanted that same togetherness spirit to carry on into the label.
Plus, I’m not here for following trends. Good music is good music. So, as long as your track is something we can all “vibe out” to on the dancefloor then I’m all ears.
AM: You have toured all over the world and have played at phenomenal festivals and currently you are on the STORM 25 World Tour! What was the vision behind doing this tour?
D: The tour was originally planned for the twentieth anniversary, however, as with most tours scheduled around 2020, this didn’t happen for obvious reasons.
So, for the twenty-fifth anniversary we had to go big. The tour itself it really is about bringing people together, it’s my thanks to everyone who has partied with me and listened to my music over the last two and a half decades.
It’s about not just celebrating Sandstorm, but the whole Before The Storm album and years of Darude which have followed. I’ve released five studio albums in total now, so it’s been really fun digging through my catalogue and reworking some tracks into exclusive brand new STORM 25 remixes you’ll only hear on this tour.
I’m also going back to my roots in a way as for select shows I’m performing live sets, reimagining my tracks in real time. A lot of work has gone into these with additional synths, controllers and extra visual production too. Custom visuals, lasers, it’s a full spectacle and hopefully a great night for everyone who comes along.
AM: One of your dates will be here in NYC at Webster Hall! What can we expect from this show?
D: I am so excited to return to New York and Webster Hall specifically. In the early 00’s I played the exact venue a couple of times, and it always was a really unforgettable show that just captured the hype around Sandstorm and the first album at that time, so it’s a personal full circle moment to come back and perform almost twenty-five years later. I know I'll have some long-time friends and industry associates coming as well, it’ll be a night to remember!
AM: On Aug 31st, you will be on the Finnish leg of this tour and there will be a Sandstorm Run - tell us about this 6K event!
D: Yes! I’m super stoked for the Sandstorm run. The music video for Sandstorm is loved by fans almost as much as the track itself so we wanted to do something fun to honour this.
With the Finnish STORM 25 show coming up too, we had the idea to create a route around the city which passes by iconic landmarks from the video. The cathedral steps are probably the most famous of them all.
It’s all about having fun though, so if you’re not a hardcore runner don’t be put off, you can walk the route too. There are going to be photo stops along the way, I’ll be waving you all across the finish line to the tune of Sandstorm and I want to see everyone in their best Y2K outfits! Which is all the trend now I hear!
So far, the reception has been amazing. We’ve had people signing up from as far away as the US and Mexico which is crazy to me. Who knows, maybe this will be the first of many Sandstorm runs to come…
AM: We read that last month, on multiple Finnish radio stations Sandstorm was played at the same time! What does it mean to you about the impact that this song has had?
D: I mean, it’s a feeling that is just impossible to put into words. It still blows my mind to this day how far and wide that track resonates. It’s so cool seeing the younger generations dig it too.
Especially, when I see amazing moments like the Finnish radio stations, schools and public stations dropping Sandstorm in unison, I’m in awe of the real superpower Sandstorm has in bringing people together. That humbles me every time.
AM: Since you're in the thick of touring, how do you take care of yourself on the road? Are there any activities/sports you follow to keep up your physical and mental health?
D: I’ve been touring for twenty-five years now so I am used to it in a way, and how I tour today definitely looks a lot different to the early days. I’ve done the heavy partying (plenty of it!) so these days it’s important to me to get a good night’s sleep to keep up the stamina and maybe an energy bar or soda if needed.
As for my downtime, I’m super into skateboarding. It’s a hobby I started as a kid, and I picked it up again later in life. So, whenever I’m on tour I always pack my board and check out the local skateparks in whatever city I’m in if I’ve got a couple of hours to myself.
Physically, skating helps to loosen up any stiff backs from a long-haul flight that’s for sure! It’s invigorating for the brain too, I love the drive of working at a new skill, a new trick or move, and seeing my progression. Of course, there are a few bumps and bruises along the way but that’s part of the thrill.
AM: Beyond this tour, are there any upcoming tracks that we should keep an eye out for?
D: Definitely! Between shows, I’m straight into the studio. Right now, I can’t give too much away. Not to be that guy, but what I can say, is that big things are coming for sure!
AM: What do you want your legacy to be known as you have won multiple awards, participated in great partnerships, and more!
D: As nice as they are, for me, it’s never been about the whole awards and accolades thing.
What makes me feel most proud is when I get a DM from a follower saying how one of my songs made them feel a certain way, or soundtracked a particular moment in their life.
Similarly, when people come to my shows and leave with life-long memories. It’s always awesome to bump into fans and they still recall parties from maybe ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago, how they felt, the music they heard, and new friends they made on the dancefloor. That’s what it’s all about.
IG @darude
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Front/Back Cover Nana Simelius | PG 16 - 27 + PG 30 for 9PLAYLIST Rachel Gold | PG 28 + 29 Tomas Fotoo |
Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag and see EVOLUTION OF SANDSTORM | Darude in mag.
