Johan Gielen pres. Airscape - In Search Of Sunrise 20

September 2024 sees the milestone, six-disc/six-DJ ‘In Search Of Sunrise 20’ release. At the rate of one a week, Black Hole will be unveiling the decktitions selected for this epic mixing task! We’ll be talking to them about all aspects of their ‘ISOS 20’ approach and what the series has meant to them over the course of their careers thus far.

Last week Solarstone became the first, and seven days on we’re delighted to unveil Johan Gielen presents Airscape as the next. Johan’s had a rich history with the series, not least when his beautiful (there really is no other word!) ‘Balearic Reflection’ became the opening track on Markus Schulz’s ‘ISOS 16’ mix in 2020. We get under the hood of Airscape’s mix with Johan right here …
What was the first ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ album you heard or bought, Johan?
“I have them all, but to highlight a one, ‘Latin America’ (Vol. 4) was a wonderful one for me. So many great tracks which reflect that purest of pure ISOS feels.”

Tougher once perhaps, but looking back across their tracklists, what is your favourite track that’s been compiled onto an ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ album?
“I’m split between two! The DJ Tiesto mix of Paul Oakenfold’s Southern Sun and ‘Gravity’ by P.O.S. These are tracks I still play in my sets today and I don’t think I could pick between them if my life depended on it!”

The music of In Search Of Sunrise’ is perhaps renowned for having both a ‘sound’ and a ‘feel’. How would you encapsulate that in three words or phrases?
“Balearic journey; ultimate summer feeling; memories.”

Feeling that! Now is there a track on your mix that summarises that best?
“There’s a few, but to highlight one, I’d say the opening track ‘Beach Pearl’ (Robert’s Theme). This track says it all.”

Releases in the series have often been associated with places on the planet.

Which country, city or place particularly comes to Johan Gielen’s mind when thinking ‘In Search Of Sunrise’?
“Ibiza, Okinawa, and the Maldives. The sunrises there are mind-blowing.”

How did you approach the flow of your disc’s mix?
“I tried to create a true journey with the mix. I built it with some dreamy, drifting songs which develop into the more modern sounds, in combination with that ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ feeling.”

How long did it take you to complete, start to finish?
“Once I heard from the Black Hole boss Arny that I had to opportunity to be involved with this 20th edition, I started to searching for tracks immediately. Overall though, start through finish, I’d say it was about five months.’

There looks to be lots of exclusives, premieres and purpose-built tracks on your Airscape mix. Would you like to talk us through them?
“Besides the new tracks and remixes of my own productions, that I produced with my talented producer Arkayne, I did a beautiful collab with Pierre Pienaar. The rest of the tracks I tried to give some space to younger, newer talents, along with the people who I’ve known over the longer time, who I knew could also provide some outstanding music.”

Yourself aside perhaps, was there one ISOS-oriented artist that you were particularly keen to have on your disc?
“Not really! All people involved did an amazing job on there. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank a few by name, specifically Airwave, Daniel Wanrooy, Kyau & Albert, Rafael Osmo, John Grand, David Broaders and Woody van Eyden. You guys really made this disc! And everybody at Black Hole Recordings, of course - thank you all!”

Is there one artist, producer or singer that you think encapsulates ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ – the series, more than any other?
“Difficult question to answer, I think everyone who has ever been involved in this compilation series deserves the same credit as far as I’m concerned. ‘In Search Of Sunrise’ was, and remains to this day, unique.”

What’s the best Sunrise you’ve ever found !?
“Easy one! Restaurante’ la Torre, Ibiza.”