[INTERVIEW] Tim Green Talks Organic House, Working With All Day I Drea

When it comes to creating a transformative experience on the dance floor, Tim Green's infectious style of house is unmatched. Brilliantly blending otherworldly soundscapes with high-energy party anthems, the 20-year dance music vet takes fans on a liberating journey each time he hits the decks.

Serving as a critical component to the legendary Lee Burridge's All Day I Dream Label, Tim Green remained busy traveling the world showcasing the beautiful sounds of organic house. During his travels, iEDM caught up with the London producer to discuss his immense touring schedule, working with All Day I Dream (ADID), and more.

Read iEDM's exclusive interview with Tim Green Below.

iEDM: Since the 2011 Brooklyn rooftop days, All Day I Dream has officially gone global! How does it feel to be a part of the ADID team playing parties all around the world?

Tim Green: It's incredible, to be honest. I've never felt happier. With the music, I get to play for the people who attend the ADID shows, it just feels really natural to me and a perfect fit for my music. The whole ADID people are like a family, honestly. And, the people who support our label and parties are genuinely part of this family. I've known Lee for a long time now and was attending the early ADID parties also. So, it's incredible to have seen the full journey up until now.

iEDM: Speaking of New York, you just came off a massive show in Brooklyn! What was it like playing at the new and improved Brooklyn Mirage?

Tim Green: Well, it's always amazing playing there. I can't quite remember how many times I've played there now. I'm guessing maybe 4 or 5? But honestly, this was really another level. Definitely my most memorable and enjoyable time. It just felt like a perfect day of music, from start to finish. Plus, having Billy keep the club open an extra hour for me and Lee to play B2B really put the cherry on top hehe.

iEDM: With a ton more ADID events to come this summer, what can fans expect once you take the stage?

Tim Green: Well, what I always try to do in my sets is go through a journey. Not just have a whole set of dreamy music only or a whole set of dancefloor tunes. I think you can accommodate a whole range this way in a set played anywhere, at any time. As long as you play the set in an order that works. On top of this, I've got a lot of new songs that are unreleased and are ever-evolving. As I'm testing them out regularly and making changes here and them, but I'm extremely happy with them all so far. I think they are some of my best songs yet. Then when I'm finally happy with them, most likely, they will be released on ADID. If Lee likes them, of course, haha. Which he usually does! So yes, expect a lot of unreleased but future music that will be released on ADID in the future.

Tim Green · Duel

iEDM: Does your approach to your performances in the states differ from shows you play in Europe or places like Dubai?

Tim Green: I don't think so, to be honest. I have a level of stubbornness when playing. I like to play what I would want to hear on the dancefloor. It's always (in my mind) the best music I have available to play, which I choose to play. So essentially, I feel it should be this music the audience would most like to hear!

iEDM: You have such an intensive schedule. How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay focused throughout all the traveling?

Tim Green: Summers are tough, as it's the busiest time and schedule. Plus, as a (relatively) new father, my free time has basically shrunk to nothing, haha. So, it's tough to find time to stay healthy. But, I still regularly work out (swimming mostly), plus I'm quite lucky that I eat really healthy by choice. I always cook at home organic food and plant-based. I'm not a fan too much of foods that are processed and bad for you. But through all this, having so little time actually is a blessing in disguise. Especially, after becoming a Father, I just had to really focus and manage my spare/free studio time exceptionally well. When I need to get something done, I literally don't have any time to do it leisurely. I've learned to get any task done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

iEDM: You've been DJing and producing for over 20 years now, so you've witnessed the rise of electronic music firsthand. How do you feel about the current state of dance music and the success of organic house in particular?

Tim Green: I think it got so much better in some ways. In other ways, it's become worse. I like how many genres, subgenres, scenes, etc., there are now, all essentially co-existing really well together. We don't seem to have the sharp rise and fall of new or trendy genres anymore. Everything can exist and thrive on its own without feeling in the shadow of another genre. For example, but equally, I wish people were less narrow-minded or less dependent on one style of dance music so much so that they curse any other genre that isn't their favorite. I just think there is good and bad music in all different genres. People should explore and follow many different styles.

iEDM: What is it about organic house that draws you in and makes you say, "this is the sound I want to create and put out to the world"?

Tim Green: Well, obviously, this term is only a recent 'tag' that's given an umbrella to our sound. To most of us producers, we just write the music we feel most strongly about, which happens to sound the way it does. I, personally, just draw upon my musical influences of the past (outside of electronic music) to create what I do nowadays. I also gravitated toward this sound due to the other artists in our scene. As friends and peers of mine, I'm still constantly gravitating toward them and their sound. I get really inspired and influenced by them all. It's like a really healthy competition. Also, for me, this sound is where I feel I can be myself the most, creating with as much freedom as possible. I've felt restricted in the past with other genres.

iEDM: Your sound is so magnetic and takes listeners on a journey. Do you feel like your sets and events like ADID can be just as therapeutic as they are a party?

Tim Green: That's always my goal, I think. But I think it's not always possible. Mostly due to so many factors involved need to be right to make this happen. Right music selection from myself, the right crowd, right atmosphere, etc. are all really big things. Especially, I think the crowd for example, sometimes you play parties, and the crowd just wants to get down and party. They're not interested in a journey or something on a more deeper level, which is totally okay, and obviously, that's the crowd's prerogative. Mostly, of course, a crowd is a complete varied mixture of people. You literally can't please everybody in a crowd. Every person is wanting or even expecting something that makes them happy. But it might not make the person next to them happy. That person may want or expect something completely different from the music or the night as a whole. It's why I love ADID so much because people know what to expect from the party. So they usually shouldn't be too many surprises for them.

iEDM: Not only are you a world-class DJ and producer, but you're a family man. How has being a father impacted your music career?

Tim Green: In the best way possible. I have never been happier, honestly. My daughter is the center of my life and my best creation. I never knew before how much love you could feel for someone. And like I said earlier, the lack of time now really gives me even more focus when creating music.

iEDM: You just released yet another beautiful track with your friend Izhevski in "Icicle." What's the secret behind your chemistry together?

Tim Green: The first thing is we're great friends. Like Lee Burridge and Sebastien Leger, Izhevski is somebody in our scene I knew for a long time. Even before I was part of ADID, Izhevski was in contact and sending me music from himself and Gorje Hewek. It was a big influence on me hearing their music and has definitely shaped how I write music today. Working with somebody like this is just an honor to me.

Tim Green · Icicle

iEDM: After this incredible run of summer shows, what's next for Tim Green?

Tim Green: Well, the next release for me is my mini album, or double EP (I think we are clarifying it as that). It's six tracks I've written specifically for ADID. Three of them, a lot of people know, as myself and Lee have been playing them heavily for the last year or so. These three are called "Tears", "Lune", and "We've Been Here Before". The other three songs are mostly unheard, and very much me still experimenting further. They have their own stories and journeys within themselves, but they also bookend the mini album and shape the whole six-track release to create a bigger story and arc. Whilst the three tracks ("Tears," "Lune," and "We've Been Here Before") are aimed solely at the dance floor. The other three are more of a balance between dance floor and home listening. They might be too indulgent for the dance floor, but I guess it depends on how brave the DJ is! The release will be out this year on ADID in October!

Photos Courtesy of Tim Green