On The Sesh with Will Rees

Hi Will,

Welcome to On The Sesh, please tell us a bit about yourself, who is Will Rees?

I’m from South Wales in the UK! I produce my own music & DJ within the Trance Scene. My music is signed to such labels at Kearnage, Armada, Damaged & Subculture. I’ve played at music events such as Dreamstate, Luminosity Beach, Creamfields, Trance Sanctuary London, Future Sound of Egypt, Gatecrasher etc. 

Where can we listen to your music?

My monthly podcast ‘The Will Rees Podcast, is available on Soundcloud, iTunes podcast & Spotify.
All my originals & remixes can be found on my SoundCloud Page!

Who/What has influenced you musically growing up?

From the earlier days of Trance & House music it was Judge Jules, Boy George, Eddie Halliwell, Carl Cox, Erick Morillo, Big Al, John oo Flemming, Fergie, Sen Fontaine . I’m into a lot of music generally so a lot of influence came from other genres too. 

For many DJs/Producers there is a journey that leads them to where they are, how did you get into music, producing and DJing?

Got into music heavily around 1998/1999. I used to listen to all my brother & brother in laws CD’s and suggestions from them. But it was my brother who got me into Trance. I went to college and studied music technology when I was 18, from there I become a resident DJ at escape in Swansea. Escape was the biggest club in Wales at the time & probably one of the best clubs in the UK in its peak. I started making music around that time and after the club closed its doors, I went on and continued to make music and DJ.

First gigs can be a nerve racking experience, do you remember your first live gig and how did it go?

Haha, it was in Carmarthen In Wales and the guys running the night played hardstyle. They chucked me on first and the only people I was playing too were my brother and his mates. Still I was nervous as hell. 

You recently played a vinyl only set for Wax Format, do you have a favourite format preference Vinyl, CD, Digital and why?

It’s gotta be digital right now. But I learnt mixing on the 1210’s and always enjoy digging them out from time to time. 

How do you go about preparing music for a gig?

Im usually shopping for music on a regular basis & I don’t tend to over prep anymore. The longest part would be is editing tracks to make them fit within my set and the flow.

Lots of geeks on here, so give us an insight into your studio setup?

iMac, Genelec 8040’s, Focusrite interface. Everything else is software based, currently. The best thing I did over the last couple of years was sort out room treatment & calibration software.

Whilst we are on the theme of production, what is your thought process when approaching a new track or remix?

I usually go though the remix stems and see how they can be changed and used in my style. Once I start copping & mangling up samples the ideas start to flow. 

How would you describe the ‘Will Rees’ sound?

Nostalgic Tech Trance

What is your favourite release that you have done to date and why?

Need You / Vitality


Do you prefer to work solo or collaborate?

Collab. It’s just more fun.

Do you have a list of people you would like to collab with, and who are they?

Not a list as such, but people I think who I would work well with. Paul Denton, Sam Jones, The Noble Six & of course John O’ Callaghan.

Can you tell us what else you are cooking up in the studio at the moment?

I’ve just finished another release for Outburst which is out this week.

Buy it here

I have a remix I’m doing but can’t say who for currently, then its more originals. Collab with Paul Denton. Made a few reworks for my sets too. Plenty of stuff.

Do you have an event or venue in the world that is top of your wish list to play?

Theres plenty, I can’t just name one haha.

What is the current track of the moment in your box?

David Forbes – Drift

Are there any artists you think we should look out for?

Billy Gillies.

If you could hand pick a line-up to play on, who would be on it?

Armin, JOC, Kearney, Sam Jones, Fergie, Eddie Halliwell. 

Having been to some of your live performances I know you like to throw in some classics every now and then, any plans on making some of your own remixes? What are your thoughts on the sudden revival of the classics on the scene?

I have made a few classic remixes in the past such as Armin Van Buurens alias Rising Star ‘Clear Blue Moon’. I would like to make another few for sure, but it has to be the right track and not necessarily a ‘Trance Classic’.

If you could collab with anyone that is absolutely not trance related, who would it be?

Jon Hopkins

It is a common practice to label music into trance, techno, house but these days you see a lot of trance DJ’s implement techno tracks into their sets and vice versa. What do you think about this development?

I love it personally. I see no reason why you can’t do it, if its good music that will fit in your set, why not?

Looking into other music genres, what is your guilty pleasure music wise? Who or what music do you like that people do not expect from you?

Not a guilty pleasure but I’m a big fan of downtempo & ambient music. I love discovering new music regardless of the genre though. 

Ok time for a few fun questions…

If you weren’t a DJ, what would your dream job be?

Probably running my own business but not sure in what exactly haha.

You’ve won the lottery, what is the first thing you spend it on?

Plugins & hardware.

Massive thanks for taking the time out and having a natter with Kelly for On The Sesh Will

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