Xtream Youth

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Xtream Youth goes overseas for the first time, to meet ‘The Bomb’! Hera Salinas (DJ, author, composer) – a name standing for danced through nights, pulsing beats, hot rhythms and ecstatic parties.Here we give you an exclusive interview with this hot flame who has made it to position herself as a turntable artist in great demand like no other DJ through her unmistakable music style, her charm, her strength and her powerful personality.

Could you give us a short introduction about yourself?
I'm DJ Hera Salinas, based in Austria (central Europe) and I play progressive, electro and club house. My tours have taken me so far through all Europe, across Asia and Africa. Besides that I'm busy with my music productions.

People call you as? Any Catchy name ?
Usually people call me Hera or Helen which is my real name. However, I've heard some people call me "the bomb" which is of course very flattering.

How did you enter the this DJ'ing industry? and where has this journey taken you to?
I remember when I travelled to Ibiza for the first time and experienced the music, the clubs, the people and the spirit there. After I came back home again, I said to myself "I want to make people happy with music too" so I bought the equipment and was teaching myself how to DJ while listening to well mixed DJ sets of the biggest DJs that time. So, the journey has started in my living room and has taken me to 3 continents over the past 6 years and made me realize my dream of making people happy with music. And that's the most important thing.

When you’re out doing your thing, is it all live or are there any pre-planned sets?
Of course I always play live but I do indeed have a prepared playlist in my head. Sometimes I stick to it, sometimes I include other songs as well. A playlist in my head helps to set the level high to create real good art behind the dj-booth. My fans appreciate that too, I think.

Do you produce your own music too?
Yes, my co-producers and I always try to come around the corner with some real good stuff. My latest single "Games We Play" was a hit worldwide, ranked #10 in the worldwide dance radio charts, the music video is broadcasted on MTV in some countries and the song was even downloaded by Paul van Dyk for his sets and radio shows. The next single has just been finalised, it's called "Make Me Feel" and will come out soon. It even contains my own vocals, so I'm very excited about the global feedback.

What was the most happening event you’ve played at/put on?
Uff, that's a difficult question. There were many great events but one I really think back to sometimes was Christmas 2010 when I rocked India's number 1 club HYPE in Delhi. The club was 150 % packed (50 % over the official limit) and the crowd jumped and screamed to my sounds, the screaming was sometimes even louder than the music. It was totally crazy.

Out of all the tunes you play or have heard people play, which do you think “never fails”?
Some "oldies" in a new outfit are always great, there are really some hot new remixes of dance "oldies" which are just fantastic. But I could not say that I have one specific favourite song to play.

Any advice for upcoming DJ’s , Advices to the new comers & to the people who are gonna join the industry ??
The best advice and the biggest success guarantee is very simple: Stay the way you are, never let others change you and be authentic. Learn from the best, always be polite and friendly to people and put your soul into your music. Don't DJ because it's cool, DJ because for the music and THEN you're cool!

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened at an event/party?
That would probably be the Fete Blanche in Austria where I played back-to-back with Howard Donald from Take That. We both did not drink alcohol and there was so much alcohol behind the dj booth that it was hard to find something anti-alcoholic. I became more and more thirsty and finally Howard managed to get us lemon juice which was really sour. So we drank lemon juice and made funny faces towards each other. It was really funny.

What is the secret behind your success?
The secret is that I'm authentic. I put a lot of efforts in finding the best music around and don't just play what people send me or what's in the charts. Over the years I developed my own music style and present unique DJ sets. So I think the secret of success is being authentic, honest, straight, unique and very eager to be the best.

Who is your role model ? & are you imitating someone?
I had role models in the past, like Junior Jack & Kid Creme, Roger Sanchez, Erick Morillo. I don't have role models any more or want to imitate someone. Hera Salinas is and remains Hera Salinas. However, I love the sounds of Afrojack, Wolfgang Gartner, John Dahlbäck and Deadmau5 and they inspire me a lot.

Are you happy with whatever you've achieved so far in life?
Yes, I'm very happy about that even the price is very high as there is not much time for a private life any more. But I feel very blessed with having so wonderful fans, I think that's the biggest love relationship I ever had: my fans and me.

What do you have to say to your fans?
I truly love them from the bottom of my heart. I thank them so much for making my latest single "Games We Play" such a huge hit and I want to invite them to visit my website for latest news as my next single "Make Me Feel" is to come out soon. So fresh Hera Salinas material will be available!

Become a fan on facebook : Click here and also take a look at the official website www.hera-salinas.com
Watch the official music video for "Games We Play": Click here
Thank you very much for the interview!
Cheers,
Helen

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