MC STRETCH

Written By Gene Convery

When I found out last week that I was going to get the chance to speak to the legendary Mc Stretch a month before Tomorrowland I was blown away. He has hosted some of the biggest stages on the planet including Stereosonic, Future, ADE, Freshtival and of course Tomorrowland. During our chat, we covered his early days of being given the nickname Stretch by an Aussie mate who essentially heard it somewhere so started calling him Stretch.

The first thing you pick up on when talking to Martin (Stretch) is how easy to talk to he is, he was not guarded or arrogant, he is humble and at peace. Almost like he is comfortable in his own skin and about who he is. One thing that jumps out right away about the man who is all about peace and love is that he practices what he preaches.

“WE ARE ALL ONE, WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVE”

He completely embodies his own words, which is not only refreshing but downright impressive. He speaks about his achievements with candour, almost like he is talking about someone else or a past life. When talking about his transition from DJing to Mcing (which he still does not see himself as) he recounted a story of being at a festival in 2002 when a little known trance Dj (Tiesto) came up to me and that's when it really took off. That's when I swapped from more of a DJ to MC, however, I am still a DJ.” He dropped this quote on me when we spoke about his transition from DJ to MC

“WE EACH HAVE TWO LIVES. THE SECOND BEGINS WHEN WE REALIZE WE HAVE ONLY ONE”

He has an outlook on MCing that I have not seen or heard before. If you ask most MC’s what their job is you will get generally the same response, Hype, Crowd Control and Artist Support. Stretch does not view it that way, he sees himself as an extension of the Artist themselves in his words “The 5th Deck”. He attributes this to his own time as a DJ and as a fan of the industry, he is in.

Full disclosure, I did record this interview, however, my recording equipment did not like the platform we were talking on. I have sent it to a sound engineer so fingers crossed you get the full version soon.

Until then I hope you enjoy that chat I had with the voice of Tomorrowland as much as I did.

STRETCH STEPS BEHIND THE DECKS.

You seem to be stepping up your DJ game are we going to start seeing more from DJ Stretch? Are you the surprise act on Sunday at Tomorrowland?

Hahaha I wish, I have been a DJ and Artist for over 30 years, I still play and I do a few house parties and gigs here and there for friends but I do more with my voice now then I do behind the decks, however, it is where I started and I will always be a DJ.

How did you become an MC?

I started off as a DJ as I said and slowly moved into “MC” over time. It was more helping the DJs at Gigs, Raves and warehouse show all in the 90s. Even when I had been doing it for a few years I did not see my self as an MC. Not until I was asked to host at Amnesia in Ibiza where I was the first MC/Host ever in the early 2000s did I start looking at my self as an “MC”. However, things did not really take off until i met then a little known Trance DJ (Tesito) at Lowlands Festival in 2002 that's when things really took off.

For those that don't know what your job as an MC really is can you give us a rundown of your duties or is just all popping bottles and hanging with DJs?

Well, I am a DJ myself I don't see myself as an MC, I see my self as an extension of the DJ “Thier 5th deck” on top of my job on stage I do everything for the front of the house, at Tomorrowland I am even the host of the Artist area who plays on the mainstage. As I am lucky enough to have been around the industry for so long it adds a familiar face for a lot of the Artist when they come to the main stage, It settles the newcomers. As the night goes on my time on the stage itself gets less and less and the timing of everything needs to be spot on. It is all a well-oiled machine.

What is your role when things start to go wrong? Like in 2017 when Prydz got held up and Afrojack had to fill in?

To start with that things hardly ever go wrong. One time that springs to mind were when Armin's wife (Erika) gave birth to there baby boy. He said over and over again that he was not going to Tomorrowland that year. However, Erika said that he could and should go so he jumped on a plane and made it to Tomorrowland for a closing set where he announced the birth to the crowd. I tell you when we got the call he was coming everything kicked into high gear and the Tomorrowland machine went to work.

We all know that the festival has grown in size and numbers but how have you seen it change?

It's crazy, This is my 13th year hosting the main stage and it has become a global movement a phenomenon of peace love and unity. We have become the world's biggest and best EDM “I hate using that term” Festival. There are people from 170 nations in attendance. That's why I always laugh when the artist calls out to the crowd to put there flags up. You are looking out over this sea of countries thinking “where the fuck is that flag from” hahaha. One of the biggest changes has been the music, since the likes of Guetta, Afrojack and other early front runners of the Dutch sound that has become iconic at tomorrowland the aggressive drums and the big synths that is something that has defiantly changed.

Now you just hosted the main stage at Tomorrowland winter, how was that?

Tomorrowland faced a lot of challenges, wind, snow and the cold. The team that got together to get that job done was amazing and they pulled it off. At one point there was a foot of snow on the main stage and I HATE the cold and snow hahaha

You said in 2012 that, that year was your favourite year. Has that changed?

Man, every year just keeps getting better and better and this year will be no different. It's going to be HUGE!! In fact, I spoke to the head of production and design of Tomorrowland at ADE who told me that “It's going to be SICK” and he is a man not easily impressed.

Djs have tech specs on their writers, singers have special mics. What do you have?

My good friend Sied Van Riel told me to put a bottle of champagne on my writer so I did but not knowing much about champagne I just put on a bottle of Moet. Every time I would take a sip and end up giving it to the crew. Until Alan Geen (RIP) told me about pink Dom Perignon, that stuff is amazing so that's my little bit of being a baller hahhaaha I always add on Pink Dom.

QUESTIONS FROM FANS

What sort of adrenaline rush do you feel when you are in front of thousands of people?

While it is “work” I love what I do and I am lucky enough to get paid for it. Every time I step on stay to get goosebumps but at the same time, it is my favourite place to be.

What’s your opinion of live acts such as ASAP Rocky?

I think music is music and we should have less hate and more love for anyone that plays at tomorrowland. Everyone needs to just keep their egos in check, we are all one. For example when I meet Idris Elba, then the guys could and should have a massive ego but the guy is a GOD DAMN LEGEND. No ego, so humble and in my option the next James Bond.

Has he ever been star struck from a DJ?

Every time one steps beside me, it does not matter if it is Green Velvet or Steve Angello. You have to remember I am a DJ and a Fan of these guys as well. While I might be “famous” in my own right I don't look at myself that way so I am constantly taken aback.

How many DJ's actually mix live or have pre-recorded sets?

They all play live, I don't know where this whole thing came from them not playing live. No one goes up there to not play live. Yes, some will come with a certain list of tracks they want to play but they all play live. If anything most will come with too many tracks to play as they want to play to the crowd.

As a proud bald man do you think balding men should just shave all their hair off or hang onto every last strand? (Asking for a friend)

Shave it off, but you have to keep it less than a 1 and let the beard dictate the length of the head.

Lastly, where can people find you in the summer and what where can they find you online? I just came off Freshtival which should be on all the Aussie lists of TO DO festivals. Next is, of course, Tomorrowland and I have Summer Dayz in Malta which takes me to the end of August. I also have some interest in some gigs down your way in our winter.

You will find Stretch on all his socials below.

He is far more outspoken on his Twitter, his words haha

MC STRETCH: About

MC STRETCH: Video