More Than Just Mr Cannonball, 10 Questions With Justin Prime

Dutchman Justin Prime might have created THE track of 2012, together with Showtek. Cannonball became hugely popular all over the world and brought as well Showtek as Justin Prime worldfame. Since that moment he’s definitely not the guy so sit back and relax, because big things are coming in the future. Read his thoughts about his sound engineer study, his view on the hardstyle scene and his preferences when it comes to music here!

What would be the best way to introduce yourself to new fans?

Hi guys, I’m Justin Prime and for the one’s who don’t know me yet.. I made that track Cannonball with Showtek which you’ve been jumping on for the last few months hahaha.

Together with Showtek, you produced ‘Cannonball’. However, Showtek received the
most credits for it. Does that bother you?

Well, I’ve noticed that most people give us both the credits for the track..so not at all. Andbesides, their name is on the front of the record so that’s how it goes.

You graduated as sound engineer at the University of Utrecht. Do you think that
helped you in your career? Could you achieve the same without that graduation?

Yes it certainly did. I learned a lot of techniques at school when it comes down to mixing and understanding the different frequency ranges etc. But I didn’t really need to go to school to develop as an ‘musician’. That’s something you can’t learn.. it comes from within. The reason I went to school is to expand my knowledge for sound and mix engineering to improve the ‘sound quality’ of my music. So that’s more like the technical side of the job, not the artistic part. And still though, it can be pretty hard sometimes since there are always new ways of
mixing and mastering. Graduating at school doesn’t means you’re done for the rest of your life. You’ll have to keep up with all the new technical developments every month.

You co-produced the earlier called track ‘Cannonball’ after just being a House dj/producer for one year. How did it feel for you to have such a success after such a short time?

It just feels amazing and I’m enjoying every minute of it! I’m so thankful that I can do this,wake up every morning and go to the studio to make music. That’s the best thing there is! I have been dj’ing for 12 years now, and on a professional level for 6 years. And I have been producing music for 10 years now. From 2006 – 2011 I was a hardstyle dj and producer, and then at the end of 2011 I quit the hardstyle scene because I didn’t really liked the way where the sound was going to anymore.. it was getting too hard, while I myself was more looking for ways to express my musicality, which was no longer possible in that scene.. at least not the way I wanted my music to sound. In 2012 I took a year off and started to ghost produce music for other people, which include some big dj’s and US pop artists.. which is also the year that I made Cannonball by the way. I sent the track to Showtek (which I was already working with for several years now in the hardstyle scene) and that same night they gave me a call. They told me they really liked Cannonball (which was still going by the name “drop it” back then) and asked me to release the track together as a collaboration. I said “Sure, let’s do it!”So we hit the studio together for 2 days, changed some stuff here and there and the track was done.

Cannonball immediately became such a big hit record in the clubs, that I decided to go back on stage starting January 2013. Not long after it became a club hit, it also became a radio hit and we received a golden record for Cannonball which was pretty awesome!

What is the favorite track you produced and why?

Well it’s not released under my own name, but if I would have to pick a Justin Prime track, it would defiantly be Cannonball! Ohh yeah and I’m also kind of proud on my official remix for Rihanna ft. David Guetta. That last break part where I use classical instruments like piano, strings and cello, I’m
really into that stuff haha.

Which producer would you like to collaborate with the most? And what was your
best collaboration you did until now, in your eyes?

I would like to work on an original track together with David Guetta, I always liked his sound and his vision on music. So that would be great!
My best collaboration so far is of course the one I did with Showtek. But.. I just did a new collaboration with Sidney Samson, so watch out for that one too!

You’re playing your tracks all around the world now, what is your favorite place to
play and why?

That’s hard to say, I really enjoy playing everywhere around the world! But ok, I’ll have to pick something… hmm let’s see.. I played at The Arches once in Glasgow.. omg that was such a sick party! HWFG! :-) Because of your latest development, people expect more and more from you.

Is the pressure higher now, when producing a track?
Yes.. it can be pretty hard actually, and especially when you’re kinda new in the scene, and people expect a lot from you because you made a track like Cannonball. I never expected it to become such a big international hit when I started to work on this
track last year. Also next to making music for myself, I still make music for other people too as a ghost
producer now and then.. so that takes even more time, which goes off your own studio
time. And as much as I love doing this and making remixes too, it’s really important to work on your original releases nowadays. So I decided to scrap lot of stuff and work on some more Justin Prime material for you guys.

What do you like more, producing or dj’ing and why?
That’s easy.. Producing. Why? Because I’m a musician, more than I am a dj. I couldn’t survive for a week without making music! But of course I like dj’ing a lot too! It just comes second :-)

What can we expect from you in the future, when it comes to releases or other
special news?

My new track “Poing!” is going to be out soon, which is a collaboration with a new young and talented guy called Joey Dale. Up next is my collab with Sidney Samson. And I also got a bunch of new remixes coming out soon including a remix for Chris Willis. Next to this I’m going to do a tour in Australia and Indonesia in October and November this year. But for official tour dates check out my schedule on Facebook! Thanks for having me Dance Rebels and I hope you guys enjoyed reading this article!