With releases and features on world renown labels and compilations including Yoshitoshi, Shinichi, Bedrock, Tiesto’s “In Search of Sunrise 4”, Paul Oakenfold’s Creamfields, Dave Seaman’s “Renaissance Masters”, Deep Dish’s “George Is On”, Sharam’s “Global Underground 29: Dubai” and Armin Van Buuren’s ASOT amongst may others, Sultan continues to evolve and set musical trends in the dance scene today...

We spoke exactly a year ago, when you were also here in Hungary. Did you manage to buy a house?

Not yet haha

Since then, big things have been happening to you. You started your own show Connected Live. How was the first year of your show? Who played in the programme so far? Would you tell me some examples? 

Connected Live's has been an incredible experience.  One year in and we've had amazing guests including Dubfire, Desyn Masiello, Max Graham, Matthew Dekay, TommyBoy and many more.  We've had a great  response and have since expanded and syndicated the show to several internet and fm stations.  Our anniversay was actually in March and we had Sharam from Deep Dish as special guest.  This year the line up is really solid and I am so happy with the way its been going.  We launched the anniversary with Sharam followed by Nic Fanciulli in April, Danny Howells for May, Sander Kleinenberg in June and Mark Knight in July.  The show has allowed me to reach more fans and opened up a new avenue to inform people and fans of all my upcoming releases and all the latest news and updates.  Now I can't imagine ever not having my own radio show

What are your plans with the show? 

Already having started strong, I hope to be able to build the show more this year with more special guests and primarily a wider fan base. It is now a monthly two hour show. With time I would like to make it a weekly show and defininitely hope to be working more with FM stations worldwide so as to reach a bigger audience and of course to launch the show on satellite radio. This year I've started showcasing new productions from me and other artists as well as upcoming releases on my label Harem.  As I get more experience working on the show, I hope to settle on a format that pleases everyone.  We're getting there haha 

Your own publisher (record label) began working at the beginning of this year. Did you choose the name Harem for your publisher because of your own name, is this some kind of a play on words?  

Essentially, the aim of starting the record label was to have it somehow relate to me so people could make the connection.  Of course, in history most Sultan's had their Harem and so it made total sense to name the label Harem and fortunately the connection was clear between the label name and Sultan. With Harem the marketing possibilities are endless and needless to say whenever ladies are involved, there is a party! 

Who are in your Harem now?

Hmmm which kind of Harem haha. The label itslef is owned by Ned Shepard and Myself.  Annie Beauregard, who also owns and runs Make-Noize PR who takes care of all my PR, is label manager. And finally Maher Daniel alongside Ned and myself are A&R for the label. 

The third EP of your publisher (record label) just came out (today). Tomorrow Never Dies. Why did it get its title from a James Bond movie? 

To be honest, throughout all our releases we've had a subtle reference to James Bond.  And we never meant it that way it just happened that way, coincidence if you may.  Our first release, EYE SPY, has reference to James Bond and so does our second release, ONE DAY. That coupled with the lady in the Harem Logo got us thinking about the third release and the name Tomorrow Never Dies came about.

5 remixes where made for this song. This is pretty much. Why foes it have so much? How did you choose the remixers? 

Initially, we didn't plan on having so many remixes.  We first hit up Dana and Peder as well as Pako & Frederik who I have been a huge fan of recently. Pako and Frederik sent me two mixes and both were great so we decided to release both.   At the same time, Cesar Romero, an amazing DJ and producer based in Cancun and Montreal, sent me a few of his latest productions and we thought it would be great to support each other so we sent him the song to see if he would be interested to remix it.  He was and he churned out a great remix!  The same occurred with Bruce Aisher AKA Gutterstylz.  We've always been fans of his since back in the day and he just happened to send us an email saying he was available for remixes so we decided to get him on board as well for a different twist on the track.  

You've spent a few days in Hungary again because you've had an appearance in the DTD. Did you play the new tracks for the audience?  

For sure!  The pleasure of having a label and releasing often has been a great addition to my djing. Every month I have new originals and remixes to play out and see how the crowds react to them.  

How did you feel at the party?   

I actually played two parties, Bacardi B live and DTD.  Both parties were lots of fun and it felt great being back in Hungary after a year.

It's not a secret that you stayed for a few days here. Why? Would you tell us? 

The main reason for staying was that I had shows the following week in Tunisia.  So rather than flying back home and back to Tunisia I decided to stay and it gave me a chance to hang out with with my good friends Tommyboy, Mannel and Add2Basket.  I always feel like home in Hungary and its always a pleasure spending a couple days there.

If I'm not mistaken you're friends with Tommyboy so your relationship isn't only about work? 

Tommy and I have built a great relationship over the years.  Yes, we do work together but we've also become really close as friends.  I always look forward to spending time with him and his family.  I love his two kids and love playing soccer and table soccer with them.  They call me Uncle Sultan haha

What future plans do you have together with Tommyboy? 

At the moment, both Tommy and Mannel have done remixes for our upcoming release on Harem, Julie Dennis - Fever which is out early May.  Every time I go to hungary we start new projects and/or put down new ideas to work on again while I am there.  We have an upcoming release together, Tommyboy & Sultan feat. Zara - Come Together which will be released on Stereo Productions. 

Let's talk about your guitar for a bit! Did you bring it with yourself now? Have you any plan with it in Your productions?

I love my guitar haha.  I do bring it along with me at times, especially when I play for Nadia Ali's Live Shows.

I've done a lot of guitar work on Nadia Ali's fothcoming album.  Other than that, Ned and I have a few projects we have worked on that incorporate the guitar.  I find its good to take a break from the guitar for a bit then come back and let it reinspire me.  Its about that time again haha

What's the next step? When and what are we going to hear about (from) you next time? 

Its always about the next step.  And there are so many steps coming up on the production, djing, label and radio fronts.

The month of May is full of new releases.  More than we imagined but its definitely really exciting.  Aside from Harem, Ned and I have releases together on Yoshitoshi, Our cover of Olivia Newton John's Let's Get Physical featuring Zara on vocals which just got released on itunes and Beatport. On Shinichi we have our WMC hit, Jeopardy feat Kuba Oms out end of May. Our original ”Did We” will also be coming out this month on Paul Van Dyk's label Vandit Digital.  Our remix of Nadia Ali's first single, Crash and Burn will also be release in June.

On the Harem front we have Harem 004 and 005 Julie Dennis - Fever Volume 1 and Volume 2 out this month with a remix and dub from Ned and myself, remixes from Wize, Tommyboy, Mannel and many more.  June will also see the release of Ned Shepard's first solo track and its definitely going to be a huge release for both Ned and Harem.

As I mentioned before, Connected Live has upcoming guests Danny Howells, Sander Kleinenberg and Mark knight in the next three months.  More special guests will be annouced soon.

As for Djing, this year has been really exciting and inspiring.  I've played in so many new places and markets and have taken a huge love for South America. This summer several more dates in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and of course, Ibiza.  

Every year we build more and for sure you will be hearing a lot more from Sultan and Harem!

Thanks.