This post is also available in: Nederlands (Dutch)
Every DJ experiences their debut differently. In the series MY FIRST GIG, I interview DJs about their first-ever performance. This week in MY FIRST GIG Dutch Tino Koppen, a.k.a. DJ Vox, whom I met as a sound engineer at my favorite festivals, Wooferland and The Promised Land. About his first gig, he says: “To get there, I had to enlist my dad as a driver.”
“I started spinning records in a youth center when I was just twelve years old. We’re talking about 1982, so I played disco, pop, and hip-hop. I was also creating mix tapes for radio shows. That even got me featured a few times on the show of the legendary BVD (Band Van Doorstarters).”
Instantly hooked
“A year later, in 1983, I discovered the precursors of house music: Chicago house, Detroit techno, and acid house, along with their offshoots like techno and trance. I was instantly hooked on this music, with its deep basslines and melodic waves that reverberated through the mostly illegal parties of that era. Luckily, my sister worked at a record store at the time and could get me lots of imported vinyl – often label-free records from around the globe. Those records are still part of my collection and have become true collector’s items.”
The old guard
“I’m part of the old guard of DJs. I attended—if you still remember them—the BeatClub parties, Luna parties, Universal Dance events, and the infamous ‘under-the-A10’ raves. Of course, I also played weekly at the legendary Multigroove alongside other veterans like Dano, Buzz Fuzz, Gizmo, and Pavo. I can proudly say that we were pioneers of the Dutch house scene.”
A squatted villa
“My first gig at a house party was in a squatted villa in Bloemendaal, back in 1984. I was fourteen at the time. I had already been playing records at the Broederhuis, a youth club in Haarlem, but this villa party was my first real experience in the house music world. That night, I played Chicago house, acid, and new beat. I think there were about 200 people at the party. I was the only DJ that night, so I was incredibly nervous. Thankfully, everything went smoothly.”
Just noise
“After that first time, I played at many more parties, most of them illegal. To get there, I had to rely on my dad as my driver since I didn’t have a license yet. Poor guy – he hated the music and thought it was just noise. By the late ’80s, things had escalated. Sometimes, I’d play sets that lasted an entire weekend – six to ten hours with three or four SL turntables. That was nothing out of the ordinary back then. Sorry, Tiësto, but we were doing marathon sets long before you!” (laughs)
House Against Hate
“Thanks to my extensive network in the scene, I often played abroad as well – in Germany, Austria, Spain – you name it. In 1989, I reconnected with an old childhood friend, Philip van Heijningen. We started chatting and realized he was producing house music. Together, we dove into it, and by 1992, our first track was pressed on vinyl. It was a collaboration with some of the other aforementioned DJs, resulting in an album called House Against Hate. Many more albums and compilations followed. Under aliases like Odyssee and Tin Hil, we performed across the globe. Our track ‘Pure Flow’ even made it into the Dance Top 10 in Australia, and Carl Cox remastered our track ‘Odyland.’ We also worked with Lenny Dee (Industrial Strength).”
Addiction
“We kept producing and performing until 1997, after which we felt we’d earned a long break. We still produce music today, but more for fun. It’s still fantastic to do, and we’ll definitely press some new tracks on vinyl because producing is an addiction that never really goes away.”
Healthy nerves
“These days, I’m busy with festivals like Ground Zero, Mysteryland, E-Fect Outdoor, Hellbound, and Hellraiser. I’ve also organized eight house parties (Troll) in Haarlem. Even now that I’m ‘getting on,’ I still get a thrill from DJing. It’s amazing to give people a great night and see the crowd lose themselves in the music. I still feel a healthy bit of tension before I drop the first needle on the record, though I’m much more relaxed now than I used to be.”
“It’s great to see that house music is timeless. Almost all the old-school house tracks I play at events are experienced as brand new by today’s generation of house fans. I turned fifty this month, and I hope I can keep DJing, producing, and bringing joy to people for many more years. My one piece of advice to upcoming DJs and producers? Figure it all out for yourself. When you do, you’ll develop your own style and naturally find your way in the DJ world.”
This interview with DJ Vox was originally published in April 2020 on This Is Our House.
Who is DJ Vox?
DJ Vox started spinning records at the age of 12. He gained recognition for his radio mix tapes, which even landed him on the show of the legendary BVD. When he discovered the early house sounds of Chicago, Detroit techno, and acid house, he was instantly captivated. With the help of his sister, who worked at a record store, he acquired rare vinyl imports.
Vox was a regular at BeatClub, Luna, and Universal Dance parties, as well as illegal raves and the legendary Multigroove events. Over the years, he has played internationally and been active as a producer since 1989.
Today, Vox is primarily known as a sound engineer at festivals like Ground Zero, Mysteryland, Hellbound, Hellraiser, Wooferland, and The Promised Land.
More DJ Vox?
More First Gigs? Check all of them here!
