DJ Zany
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| Raoul Van Grinsven | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | DJ Zany |
| Origin |  Veldhoven, Netherlands |
| Genre(s) | Hardstyle |
| Years active | 1993 - Present |
| Label(s) | Fusion Records |
DJ Zany (or just Zany; real name: Raoul van Grinsven) is known as a veteran disc jockey, with over ten years of experience at the producing and performing in the dance scene. He lives in Veldhoven, near Eindhoven and is currently a fulltime DJ/producer, after having worked on the side for ten years in a record shop. He started his career in the hardcore world, working between times with techno and trance, and has had many hits in the top 10, under various aliases. For the last few years, he has been concentrating on hardstyle. The former member of Shadowlands Terrorists has been producing for the Fusion label for many years, under a variety of pseudonyms. "The ambience of the hardstyle scene is great, with enthusiastic and varied audiences. Hardstyle is a broad movement which I get a lot out of. However, I'm not afraid of incorporating techno, hardtrance and oldschool into my sets. The audience appreciates it if a DJ plays a variety of styles, rather than just hammering away in the same tone."
The former chef was infected with the dance bug by his elder brother and started work at the beginning of the 90's in the Eindhoven record shop Freaky Records. During that time, Raoul was regularly found in local clubs like Carte Blanche and Carmen, and at big Shadowlands parties. As a member of the Shadowlands team, he performed abroad with the Shadowlands Terrorists, as well as under his own name. In the meantime, DJ Zany has played in countries such as Italy , Switzerland , Spain , Crete , Germany , Belgium , America , England , Curacao and France . The musically broad-focused DJ Zany decided to concentrate his energies on the emerging hardstyle, putting his activities as a hardcore DJ/producer on the back burner. Highlights include well-known parties such as Defqon 1, Qlimax, Qlubtempo, X-qlusive, Inqontrol, Decibel, Hardbass and Sensation Black. Hardcore's popularity was lessening around that time and hardstyle was an interesting new movement. "It was a challenge for me to get involved in it straight away" says DJ Zany.
Innovation and progress are two key words in Zany's career. Already on his first steps towards producing under the name of Shadowlands Terrorists he tried to develop a distinctive sound. From 2001, Raoul made a series of EP's and remixes for the Fusion label, under various pseudonyms, plus a mix album 'New Generation Bass'. On stage, Donkey Rollers consists of three people, while the music is produced by Zany and Michel Pollen. "The Netherlands has always put its stamp on the international dance scene and we must keep up this role of trendsetter. So producers and DJ's must always try to achieve progress and avoid repeating themselves. Only then can movements and scenes develop."
Zany's music career in 2005 can be best described as an insane and breathtaking ride on a fast rollercoaster. He ended up at an amazing third place at the prestigious Dutch Dance Awards, which made him the most popular hardstyle-dj in the world. Zany finished the well received compilation 'Decibel' named after the big outdoor festival in nearby Rotterdam. Under the name Donkey Rollers he started a fresh project, and with this last mentioned act he played a superb show at the DefQon festival. Zany did successful remixes for both Dana and Showtek as well and continued working on the Southstylers project alongside with Showtek. "Earlier this year I finished the mix compilations Blutonium Hardstyle Vol. 8' and Qlimax Belgium '. I'm also very proud that I'll play at Sensation Black and think that 2006 will be just a hectic as last year."
