AURAL INTERCOURSE

Thursday, April 10, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Aural Intercourse: To the beat of peace

By Mike Prevatt

It is the norm for a high-profile DJ to use eye-catching images projected on huge screens to enhance the visual element of his show. Typically, said DJ will project trippy, bright and psychedelic digital imagery, reflecting the hippie-like rave explosion of the '90s known for its creed "peace, love, unity and respect," or "PLUR," for short.

That sort of aesthetic association is still prevalent in clubs and raves the world 'round, despite the (slowly) changing nature of the electronic music scene. But a few artists have built and expounded upon that now-timely theme, one being artist/DJ Paul van Dyk (who plays Ra on April 16; see below).

During his Feb. 23 gig at the Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the 10-year veteran substituted the hyperspeed fractal videos for scenes from his 2002 gigs--footage found on the DVD portion of his recently released retrospective, Global--cast upon several screens throughout the cavernous venue. Most images were focused on the elation his fans exhibit once he drops the needle, including the Love Parade, Berlin's annual, citywide mega-rave that often attracts around a million people just looking for good vibes and bangin' beats. But the one that elicited the biggest response was a simple text message that read, "Make love not war."

While such a sentiment would be treated with red-blooded hostility at, say, a country music concert, it was met with whoops and cheers by a segment of the pop music listenership that has been extolling the virtues of peace and love since its inception. Not only did van Dyk know he could safely wear his heart on his sleeve among electronic music fans, he felt it was his duty to do so, and has done so ever since the beginning of the year, when the U.S. attack on Iraq became imminent.

"This is when I first felt I had to take on the responsibility I had, that some people wanted to listen to what I had to say or know about my opinions," says van Dyk, via telephone from Berlin. "Or, to make people aware of what's going on in the world. Just one person thinking, `Why is Paul wearing a peace T-shirt?' and getting behind the idea of what is going on...that is very important."

It is an awkward time to be touring the country as an entertainer, as some performers have mentioned in the past two weeks, but for van Dyk, it is even more surreal. He is German, and his native country has been very vocal in its opposition to the war, much to the equally vocal chagrin of some Americans. From his unique, jetsetting perspective, van Dyk sees the decaying American dream, which, ironically, is very much alive in his homeland.

"As Germans, we are very, very grateful toward America because they gave us democracy after World War II," he says. "These days it seems...the American government is completely undemocratic. It looks like any logic has been left out, in terms of making decisions in what's right and what's wrong. In Germany, we live much more of the American way of life than is possible in the States right now. It's kind of strange."

Regarding wartime performance, the creator of uplifting songs such as "For an Angel," "Together We Will Conquer" and "We Are Alive" feels an even greater sense of purpose: He is offering his statement through the legacy of his work and the culture it scores, whether it offers escape or a reality check.

"As an artist, you have a talent to do something in some sort of art form, and try to bring [something] across--and that doesn't have to be necessarily entertaining," says van Dyk. "I totally believe it is about giving people a good time. But you still have to be aware of what is going on around you. And this is something rather serious. The statement against this war, what we do is communicate through an art form to very open-minded fans. And whether you like it or not, we're actually part of a very big peace movement, in that moment."

The build-up to and initiation of war has already influenced songs he has been working on for an album of original material, due in September. And it was the running theme at last month's Winter Music Conference, electronic music and club/rave culture's answer to Austin, Texas' influential South By Southwest music festival. But the lasting impressions this year weren't from some DJ or new novelty subgenre.

"There were a lot of clear statements from the most of the artists [who were] very outspoken against the war and for humanity," says van Dyk. "It was a majority of people who are in this business and enjoy electronic music. The whole vibe of electronic music, the whole idea behind it, is very peaceful, open-minded and cosmopolitan. People are much more aware of their responsibility. This is something I took with me, and that was a much more impressive thing."

Paul van Dyk plays Ra (at the Luxor) April 16. Doors open at 11 p.m. Tickets: $20 presale, $30 at the door. Info: 262-4949.