Novastar is a Belgian band, led by singer and pianist Joost Zweegers. The band is popular in Belgium and The Netherlands. Novastar is known for its deep, emotional ballads, and the pure, high voice of Zweegers.

Biography

Novastar was the winner of Humo's Rock Rally in 1996. The self-titled debut album Novastar was not released until four years later, in 2000, but with success. The album was released by Warner Music, reached #1 of the Ultratop Chart in Flanders and Novastar was awarded a platinum record. Singles "Wrong", "The Best Is Yet to Come", "Caramia" and "Lost and Blown Away" received much airplay. Novastar was honored as best album at both the Zamu Music Awards and the TMF Awards.

Joost Zweegers intended to record his second album in the United States, but unhappy with the way he was pushed to produce hits, he returned to Belgium. He started a collaboration with the Belgian musician Ozark Henry and together they wrote the songs for the next Novastar album Another Lonely Soul. The album, which Ozark Henry also produced, was released in 2004.

Although Joost Zweegers described Another Lonely Soul as "more emotional and less suited for the radio" the album was an immediate success. Just as the debut album, the new cd topped the Ultratop album chart and was awarded a platinum record and the TMF Award for best album.

In 2005, Novastar signed with the EMI record label, which released the album Another Lonely Soul (supplemented with the debut album-single "Wrong") in all European countries.

Discography

The albums and their singles:

Novastar (2000) BEL#1 (Platinum), NET#66

*Wrong BEL#43, NET tip4

*The Best Is Yet To Come

*Caramia

*Lost And Blown Away BEL#45,

Another Lonely Soul (2004) BEL#1 (Platinum), NET#36

*Never Back Down BEL#28

*When The Lights Go Down On The Broken Hearted BEL tip16

*Rome

Almost Bangor (2008) BEL#2 (Gold), NET#7

*Mars Needs Woman BEL#13

*Because BEL#14, NET#24

*Waiting So Long NET#21

*Tunnelvision BEL tip21

External links

Official website

References

Category:Belgian rock music groups Category:1966 births Category:Living people

Name	Ferry Corsten
Landscape	yes
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Ferry Corsten
Alias	Ferr, System F, Moonman (more)
Born	December 04, 1973
Origin	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Genre	Trance
Occupation	DJ, Producer, Remixer
Years active	1989–present
Label	Flashover Recordings
Associated acts	Gouryella, Vimana (more)
Url	www.ferrycorsten.com

Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, (born 4 December 1973 in Rotterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry Corsten ranked #7 on DJ Magazine annual Top 100 DJ Poll. In 2010 he dropped down to #9.

Life and career

1989–1999: Early years

Ferry Corsten produced and remixed under many aliases since the release of his first record at the age of sixteen, but he officially started to work as a musician when he was 27 years old. As a teenager he would listen to his father's record player and he would save money to buy his first keyboard by washing cars, and selling mixed tapes to kids in his neighbourhood. He later began to perform live performances with a friend and won his first award "De Grote Prijs van Nederland" at Holland in 1989. He eventually released a record with a couple of friends when he was just sixteen years old and later began releasing self-made productions while he grew up in Rotterdam in the 1990s, producing underground hardcore gabber tracks, later expanding into club-house and trance music. His first single to reach a chart position was "Don't Be Afraid" under the alias Moonman, which was only the start for becoming a composer as well. In 1997 Corsten and his partner Robert Smit established a dance label named Tsunami with the Dutch based dance company Purple Eye Entertainment b.v., this junction made the creation of another label possible; Polar State. Ferry Corsten was studying to become an Electrical Engineer, so he went to the Technical Training School and after that Higher Technical Education.

1999–2004: Rise to fame

In February 1999 Corsten's second solo project, System F, was released on the Tsunami imprint along with the album Out of the Blue, including the same-named melodic tune that became a hit on dance floors all over the world, achieving a top twenty position in the United Kingdom single chart. The follow up single was "Cry", produced together with Robert Smit which reached the UK Top 20.

His growing popularity in the late 1990s led to cooperation with many famous trance DJs and musicians like DJ Tiësto (Gouryella, Vimana), Vincent de Moor (Veracocha), and Robert Smit (Starparty). The track "Gouryella" by the act Gouryella was released in May, the single entered the UK Singles Top 75 at number fifteen and achieved various hit positions throughout the world. The next single was entitled "Walhalla" which entered the UK single chart at number twenty-seven. In 1999 Ferry was elected as producer of the year at the Ericsson Muzik Award in London. In September 2000 the third Gouryella single entitled "Tenshi" was released. In 2000, Corsten also remixed William Orbit's "Adagio for Strings" as well as "New Year's Day" for U2. His remix of Barber's "Adagio For Strings" was awarded at the Dancestar 2000 awards. The Ministry of Sound dance compilation series entitled Trance Nation became one of the best selling dance compilations in the UK and was awarded the platinum status. In 2000 in his home country Corsten got awarded the Silver Harp award for his numerous outstanding contributions made to Dutch dance music.

In 2001 Ferry Performed and Produced the Dance Valley Anthem, the largest selling theme of Dance Valley and the largest event of The Netherlands (80.000 visitors)

In 2002 Ferry contributed to remix projects of tracks by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. He went on to compose and arrange her heavily trance-based song "Connected," which was released in 2003, along with remixes, as a single in Germany which has sold 4 million copies, making this Ferry's one of the most successful songs.

Ferry Corsten is the electronic dance music artist with the highest amount of dance singles in the UK charts. He has 10 gold singles, between those his 1999 remix of "Madagascar", "Out of the Blue" as his alias System F, both "Gouryella" and "Walhalla" in 2000, "Cry" and the "Dance Valley Theme" in 2001 with "Exhale" which is his latest as System F with Armin van Buuren; and his 2003–2004 singles "Punk" and "Rock Your Body Rock".

In 2003 he launched his first album as Ferry Corsten, Right of Way, in Heineken Musical Hall with 4,500 clubbers at his eight-hour set. The music video of the song was nominated in the TMF Dutch MTV Awards in Netherlands. The album spawned three singles, "Punk" (UK #29), "Rock Your Body, Rock" (UK #11), and "It's Time" (UK #51). "Rock your body Rock" was voted biggest hit by BG Magazine in The Netherlands and reaches the top 10 in the UK.

In 2004, he produced and performed the single "Everything Goes" for the TMF Dutch Awards.

2005–2007: L.E.F.

In 2005, Corsten founded his own record label, titled Flashover Recordings and released his 2nd artist album L.E.F., And he released his concept L.E.F. worldwide. In this year he was number 5 in the DJ MAG Top 100.

Special performances in 2005:

L.E.F. Beirut, Lebanon.

L.E.F. residencies in New York LA.

L.E.F. event in Amsterdam.

South American Music Conference 2005.

Passport Complication Release party in Rotterdam at Rotterdam Beach.

His track "Fire" was nominated in the best trance video category for the 2006 Trance Awards.In the DJ MAG Top 100 he was number 6 this year.

In 2006 Ferry Corsten performed at a concert in El Salvador in September and he did his Road to Voodoo Bus Tour: 20 states, 27 cities in 5 weeks.

The single "Junk" with vocals by Guru (Gangstarr) – top 20 charts Holland was released in 2006.

On 4 July 2007, Corsten debuted his new weekly radio show titled "Corsten's Countdown" which counts down a list of the highest voted trance tracks.

In 2007 Ferry released the single "Beautiful" – top 40 charts in Holland, and the single "The Race" (Brain Box) – top 20 charts in Holland. Also a New mix compilation Passport United States of America is released.

In 2007 was the successful 1st edition of Full on Ferry Concert Ahoy' Stadium Rotterdam (cap:12.000) and he produced the 1st official anthem for Bavaria City Racing in 2007 (F1 demonstration in the center of Rotterdam with more than 500.000 spectators. Official opening of the event by Ferry Corsten and the prime minister of The Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende).

He was dubbed the King of Crossover in an August 2007 interview on UK clubbing website HarderFaster.net, reflecting his recent L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious) style, which some hail as a new direction in dance music. Corsten describes it as "everything from electro house, trance and techno".

2008–2009: Twice In A Blue Moon

Ferry Corsten's third album, Twice In A Blue Moon, which made its debut at the 2nd edition of the Full On Ferry event at Ahoy in Rotterdam, was released on 1 November 2008. The first single from the album, Radio Crash, has been played by Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond and many other DJ's globally. The track has been a huge hit in clubs across the world and gave Ferry a good start in promoting his new album.And he released the single "Into The Dark" ft. Howard Jones (March 2008).

In 2008 Ferry Corsten is the first DJ ever to be named Ambassador of Freedom by Dutch Liberation Day Comity.

2009–present: Twice In A Blue Moon (Remix Edition) and Once Upon A Night Vol. 1 & 2

Ferry's album, Twice In A Blue Moon, consists of remixes of the previous album (Twice In A Blue Moon). It includes remixes by Rafael Frost, Lange, Ummet Ozcan, Markus Schulz and many more. The countries he visited during Twice In A Blue Moon: The Experience have included; Australia, the United States, Romania, Brazil, and Lebanon with debut show on May 29 in Mallaca, Malaysia.

This year also was the third edition Full on Ferry – The Masquerade in association with UDC on October 17, 2009, at Ahoy' Rotterdam.

In 2009 Ferry Corsten released two singles: "We Belong" from the album Twice in A Blue Moon (Date of release: May 25, 2009) and "Made of Love" from the album Twice In A Blue Moon – top 40 Ducht charts / Radio 538 Dance Smash / No.2 in UK Club Charts (Date of release: Valentine's Day 2009). And he released his DVD; Ferry Corsten – Backstage Corsten reveals his concept Once Upon a Night, a mix compilation that immediately hit number 1 on iTunes in the US right after its release, and the supporting world tour.

Ferry's interactive radioshow Corsten's Countdown is available in more than 30 countries.

The DJ application Cue Play DJ set up a promotional partnership around Corsten's countdown 150st edition. Cue Play DJ is a mobile digital DJ application for the iPhone, with tracks from the Flashover label.

In 2010 Ferry Corsten has mixed the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and the album FC System F – Champions came out in February.

Ferry released Once Upon A Night in 2010. The album came out on March 30 and he started his tour: Once Upon A Night: The Experience.

After the release of Vol.1 Ferry released Once Upon A Night Vol.2 on October 1 and his world tour started on September 17.

Pseudonyms

Aliases

A Jolly Good Fellow, Albion, Bypass, Cyber F, Eon, Exiter, Ferr, Firmly Underground, Free Inside, Kinky Toys, Lunalife, Moonman, Pulp Victim, Pulse, Raya Shaku, Riptide, Sidewalk, Sidewinder, Skywalker, System F, Tellurians, The NutterCiaran Donegan

Collaborations

''Discodroids (with Peter Nijborn) Gouryella (with Tiësto), Veracocha (with Vincent de Moor), Vimana (with Tiësto), FB (with Benny Benassi) System F 2010 w/ Tiesto

Discography

Studio albums

;As Ferr

1996: Looking Forward

;As System F

2001: ''Out of the Blue

2003: Together

;As Ferry Corsten

2003: Right of Way

2006: L.E.F.

2008: Twice in a Blue Moon

Tours

Play Station Tour (2003)

Right of Way World Album tour (2004)

Heineken Tour (2004)

Passport Compilation World Tour (2005)

LEF World Album Tour (2006)

Tour (2007)

Tour (2008)

Twice In A Blue Moon World Tour (2009)

Once Upon A Night World Tour (2010)

Recognitions

Awards

1989 De Grote Prijs van Nederland

1999 Producer of the Year (Ericsson Muzik Awards) London

1999 Trance Nation 1 – Platinum Sales Award

1999 Trance Nation 2 – Gold Sales Award

1999 Gold Sales Award (Art of Trance – Madagascar (Ferry Corsten Remix))

1999 Trance Nation 3 – Gold Sales Award

1999 Gold Sales Award (System F – Out the of Blue)

1999 Trance Nation 4 – Gold Sales Award

1999 Gold Sales Award (Gouryella – Gouryella)

2000 Dance Star UK Best Remix (William Orbit – Barber's Adagio for Strings)

2000 Gold Sales Award (Gouryella – Walhalla)

2000 Gold Sales Award (Ferry Corsten – Cry)

2000 Gold Sales Award (Veracocha – Carte Blanche)

2000 Dancestar Award: Best Producer of the Year

2000 Silver Harp Award for Outstanding Contributions To Dutch Music

2001 Gold Sales Award (System F – Dance Valley Theme)

2001 Trance Nation 2001 – Silver Sales Award

2001 Gold Sales Award (System F Feat. Armin van Buuren – Exhale)

2002 Gold Sales Award (Ferry Corsten – Punk)

2003 BG Magazine Dance Awards: Award Biggest Hit (Rock Your Body Rock)

2005 Best Trance DJ Ibiza

2006 L.E.F. Best selling dance album on I Tunes (U.S. within 2 weeks after its release)

2007 Best Trance DJ Ibiza

2007 SLAM!FM DJ of the Year

Nominations

2004 IDMA Best International DJ

2004 IDMA Best Compilation (Ferry Corsten: Mixed Live)

2004 IDMA Best Producer

2004 TMF Dutch Awards Best National DJ

2004 TMF Dutch Awards Best Video (Rock Your Body Rock)

2005 IDMA 20TH Annual International Dance Music Awards

2005 IDMA Best Dance Video (Punk)

2005 IDMA Best Producer

2005 IDMA Best Remixer

2006 IDMA Best Ortofon European DJ

2007 IDMA Best Ortofon European DJ

2008 Ibiza DJ Awards Best Trance Awards

2008 IDMA Best Ortofon European DJ

2008 IDMA Best Ortofon Global DJ

2009 IDMA Best European DJ

2009 IDMA Best Global DJ

2009 IDMA Best Producer

2010 IDMA Best European DJ

2010 IDMA Best Radio Show with Corsten's Countdown

2010 Ibiza DJ Awards Best DJ Trance

Selected Remixes

Apoptygma Berzerk – Kathy's Song

Armand Van Helden – Witch Doktor (Free Inside Remix)

Art of Trance – Madagascar

Ayumi Hamasaki – A Song for XX

Ayumi Hamasaki – Kanariya

Ayumi Hamasaki – WHATEVER

Bobina – Invisible Touch (Ferry Corsten's Touch)

BT – Suddenly (Ferry Corsten's Fix)

Corderoy – Sweetest Dreams (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Cosmic Gate – The Truth (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Duran Duran – Reach Up For The Sunrise (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Elles de Graaf – Show You My World

Embrace – Embrace

Every Little Thing – For The Moment

Faithless feat. Boy George – Why Go (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Faithless feat. Dido – Feelin Good (Ferry Corsten Fix)

Gatecrasher Sheffield – mix compilation (Mixed by Ferry Corsten)

Girl Next Door – Jōnetsu no Daishō

Kai Tracid – Conscious (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Kamaya Painters – Endless Wave (Albion Remix)

The Killers – Human

Klubbheads – Klubbhopping (A Jolly Good)

Laidback Luke feat. Johanthan Mendelson – Till Tonight (Ferry Corsten)

Marco Borsato – De Bestemming (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Markus Schulz – Do You Dream (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Matt Darey presents Mash Up – Liberation (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Mind One – Hurt Of Intention (Ferry Corsten Fix)

Moby – In My Heart

Moby – Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad

Nelly Furtado – Do It (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Novastar – Because The Remix

Oceanlab – Clear Blue Water

Public Enemy – Bring the Noise

Rafaël Frost – Red

Ramin Djawadi – Prison Break Theme (Ferry Corsten Breakout Remix)

Rank 1 – Awakening (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Shiny Toy Guns – Le Disko (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Solarstone-Late Summer Fields(Ferry Corsten Remix)

Tiësto – Kaleidoscope (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Tony Walker – Field of Joy

U2 – New Year's Day

William Orbit – Barber's Adagio for Strings

William Orbit – Ravel's Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte (Ferry Corsten Remix)

William Orbit feat. Ferry Corsten – Clavier (Ferry Fix)

Yoji Biomehanika – Theme From Bangin' Globe (System F Remix)

See also

Flashover Recordings

Gouryella

Veracocha

References

External links

Official Site

Artist Site at Ultra Records

Clubplanet Interviews Ferry Corsten

TranceSound interview, October 2010

TranceSound interview, April 2010

TranceSound interview, July 2007

Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Club DJs Category:Dutch dance musicians Category:Dutch DJs Category:Dutch electronic musicians Category:Dutch record producers Category:Dutch trance musicians Category:Electronic music radio shows Category:Eurodance musicians Category:People from Rotterdam Category:Remixers Category:Ultra Records artists