On September 24, the world’s foremost trance & electronic producer and DJ, Tiësto (Tijs Michiel Verwest), kicked off a 175-date World Tour with three stellar nights at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The tour seeks to promote the October 20 release of his fourth studio album, Kaleidoscope. On the new album, Tiësto collaborates with such acts as Sigur Rós, Nelly Furtado, Calvin Harris, and Tegan & Sara. The first single released in July, “I Will Be Here,” has already been a hit in Europe and recently penetrated the iTunes Top 10 Dance Chart. This comes after a long string of successes, including a Grammy award for his album Elements of Life, numerous endorsement deals, the start of his label Musical Freedom, and five European #1s. Tiësto is one of the most sought-after producers, having remixed tracks by such epic headliners as Madonna, Britney Spears, Sarah McLachlan, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Paul Oakenfold, Moby, Tarkan, Kanye West, The Killers, and Maroon 5. Tiësto is not one to sit around, and the new album marks fresh developments in his musicianship and certainly solidifies his global popularity. We hunted Tiësto down during his New York visit to get the lowdown on his fast-paced globetrotting, in and out of the hottest nightlife venues around the world.

How do you look to expand your fanbase in the US, where electronic/trance seems to be underappreciated? I wouldn't say that electronic music is underappreciated. I feel that the scene is thriving. In the studio, I'm constantly pushing the boundaries, and it's something that's played a major part in gaining new fans. I bring the same approach to performing live, and I always try to create an experience that's unique and unforgettable.

Tell us about your upcoming studio projects. My major project coming up is my artist album, Kaleidoscope. I collaborated with a lot of great artists such as Sigur Rós (one of my favorite artists of all time), Kele from Bloc Party, Nelly Furtado, and Calvin Harris. I've also recently done remixes for Editors, Bloc Party, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and I've just done tracks with Dizzee Rascal, who is a sick rapper out of the UK, and Three Six Mafia with Sean Kingston and FloRida. It's exciting to see the urban music scene turning to dance music for inspiration.

How has the dance music genre developed and changed over the years? Dance music has come a long way from a very underground movement to something that has a much more mainstream appeal. Over the years, many new forms of electronic music have developed.

What are some of your musical inspirations and interests these days? Musically, I have so many different inspirations lately its hard to choose. I've been listening to a lot of indie rock, electro, techno, and house. Artists like Sigur Ros, Cut Copy, MGMT, Santigold, and Crookers have been making some amazing music recently. I have such little spare time between shows and studio work, it usually consists of listening to new music and preparing for upcoming performances.

What can we expect from this tour? Along with the music, I've created some of the most amazing production to date, so it’s going to be something special. This tour is based much more on the video content, and we've been playing around with the visual concepts of Kaleidoscope, which is great for inspiration.

How do you balance a demanding tour schedule and a personal life? My schedule keeps me moving around the world constantly, so it’s very difficult to have a personal life. I do have very good friends who I keep up with, and my family is very important to me.

What are some of the most memorable sets or events in your performance history? There have been so many amazing shows. The opening ceremonies at the Olympics in Athens was an unbelievable experience, and most recently would be the show at Victoria Park in London, where I played in front of 25,000 people at my own show.

Assuming you’ll have some free time, what is your favorite thing to do while in New York? Performing is my favorite thing to do in New York. The fans here are always amazing and bring a great energy and vibe to all the shows. I also love going for meals at places like Tomoe in SoHo for the sushi and Il Buco for Italian.

How do you plan to relax while on tour in New York? Usually after a gig, I party a little bit, then go back to the hotel and go to sleep. During the day, I usually do a bit of shopping at Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada. I also like checking out music while I'm here. Next week I'm going to Music Hall of Williamsburg to see some bands. I also try to stay fit whenever I'm on the road, so a bit of exercise everyday is important.

What are some of your favorite places to perform at around the world? One of my favorite places in the world is Ibiza. The island has an amazing vibe and I spend a lot of time there in the summer with my residency at Privilege. I also love London. Electronic music is a major part of the culture there.

After almost 200 gigs, you must be ready for a little respite. Where's your ideal place for vacation? I like a lot of places, mainly with some beach and sun. If I had to pick one, I'd have to say Thailand.

Photo: Luiz Silveira