Markus Schulz unwilling to compromise his dance sound

Schulz was performing here one night when two of his fans met for the first time in the club’s VIP section – and they fell in love instantly.

“Afterward, they wanted to go get married. They asked me to be the best man, and I agreed. So we went looking for a chapel when my gig was over to get them married,” Schulz says.

Unfortunately, they drove to a chapel that was closed. So they chose the next best thing.

“We did a symbolic ceremony in the parking lot of the wedding chapel,” Schulz says.

Schulz is based in Miami but calls Marquee his “home away from home.”

“We (DJs) actually had a debate on which cities were naughtier – Las Vegas or Miami. In my mind: Miami. But Vegas is right up there. I’ve had moments in Vegas,” he says without elaboration.

Schulz, 37, was born in Germany but moved to Florida at a young age. He has terrific taste in music.

Over the decades, he has remixed Poe’s “Hello,” Everything But The Girl’s “Lullaby of Clubland,” Book of Love’s “I Touch Roses” and Telepopmusik’s “Breathe.”

More recently, he has enchanted fans with great original songs such as “Loops & Tings” (with Ferry Corsten), “Caught” featuring Adina Butar, and “Love Rain Down On Me” with Seri.

He also reaches electronic music fans through his “Global DJ Broadcast,” which runs on SiriusXM satellite, 50 radio stations around the world, Spotify and his own site.

He is thrilled with the “America’s Number 1 DJ” award.

“I do this for the love of the music, and the fans connect with me through the music – it’s a special thing.”

His fellow DJs reacted with great support, he says, because Schulz has been DJing for decades, unlike some musicians who learn how to cut songs in the studio, and only then learn to DJ.

“I’ve always been one of those guys that tries to make sure the art of DJing is never lost,” Schulz says. “I was first a DJ, then learned how to produce. I love to do 12-hour sets.”

Another interesting thing about Schulz is that – while some DJs work with pop stars to create crossover pop hits – Schulz hasn’t deeply compromised his dance sound. He didn’t come around to the mainstream. The mainstream came to him.

When I ask him about that no-compromising approach, he knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“I think that comes from the art of DJing,” he says. “All the tracks I’ve ever made, I’ve made them to work in the DJ sets – not to work on the radio, or not to work on MTV.

“The integrity of my live sets has always been very important to me,” he says.

“I’ve always done it for the love of the music. If I wasn’t standing here right now, I’d be DJing in my bedroom, because I love the music.”

Doug Elfman’s column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays. Email him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.