Stockholm’s Jeremy Olander has been hailed by many as one of the leading talents who has successfully re-defined today’s progressive style. To some of the newer converts to dance music, ‘progressive’ brings to mind the more commercial, big room EDM styles, but to those initiated in the realms of emotive, layered tech, Olander is the essence of modern progressive.

His growing presence in the scene has led him to be a key influencer for the next generation of Swedish talents. A man who is proud of his origins, Olander inserts his Scandinavian touch to all of his tracks, and it has indeed done him great justice.

Olander is no stranger to the top tier Beatport rankings. He’s had numerous charted releases and a few top ten tunes across huge labels like Drumcode, Toolroom and Pryda and now he continues to do so with his own imprint, Vivrant. 2016 was a big year for the label. It kick-started last year with a slew of top Beatport releases and celebrated those success with a label tour across five continents. Incidentally, Olander also scored himself a nomination for Beatport's Progressive Artist of the Year but of course, it’s not the accolades he chases - it’s simply the music.

We spoke to Jeremy Olander on why it’s important to be a mentor, the next best thing to come out from Sweden and why he feels he should be working out more.

2016 was big for you, and now you’ve begun 2017 with a new residency and riding high on the release of the Caravelle EP. Do you feel that an artist should always strive to top the previous year?



For me that has definitely been the case. Last year was by far my best and it really felt good to get confirmation that the work I had been putting out was taking me forward. As far as aiming to top previous years, I think goals in general are in important in life. They give you direction. I think you can top your previous years in different ways. It doesn’t have to be that you play 30% more shows than the year before, it can also be that you lock yourself away in studio, don’t play at all and finish an album.



The demand for an artist to constantly churn out new tunes has increased over the years, do you feel this pressure? Do you set a limit of how many productions you should hit in a year?



I’m not focusing on making hits at all. When we select music to release on Vivrant, it is based on what works for me in the clubs, what feels fresh at that particular point in time and if the sound represents me well. I’m lucky in the sense that I tend to be efficient when I’m not on the road and focus on making music. I have a lot of music just laying around. It might not all be up to par as far as being worthy of a release but it can be touched up.



What can we expect from Vivrant this year? What are some of the key releases coming out in spring?

The response has been so much better than I could’ve ever imagine so we’re just focusing on more of what we’ve been doing. It’ll be a lot of music from me, more new interesting other artists that we look to make a part of the family and a lot more showcases.



We had our biggest one yet in Stockholm last October with Henry Saiz, Finnebasse and Charlie Don’t Surf and sold out a 1,200 capacity warehouse just outside of the city. One of my best shows ever and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.



What have you learned after more than a year of running your own label?



That I love being in control creatively and have a say on how things should look, sound and feel. It’s very liberating.



We’re approaching March already, have you got your summer all planned out?



I just came back from Argentina, which kicked off the first phase of my spring and summer tour. I’m going to UAE, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China and Hong Kong and it is going to be so amazing.



We just announced the second phase too, which is mostly shows in the Americas. In total I think I have about 25 shows all the way until early June. There will be a few more added as we go along and my summer plans will be announced a further down the line.





What would you like to do differently this summer?



I’d like to play a bit more shows in South America and Europe. A few open-airs would be nice.

Do you see yourself becoming a mentor for upcoming artists? Do you have anyone you’d like to nurture now?



Definitely! That’s one of the things I really wanted to do with Vivrant. To pay it forward the best way I can. The culture of doing that, giving others a helping hand, is something unique to our scene and something I really love.



Who in your opinion is the next big thing to come out of Sweden?



DJ Seinfeld.



What is the most valuable advice you’ve received during the start of your career?



To always make music for yourself and stay away from trends and what you think will sell.



Complete this sentence: Jeremy Olander should…



…start going to the gym, start jogging or something. I feel I have to so I can cope better with time zones and travelling.

Check out his New Year's Eve set recorded at Sound Bar, Chicago below to get you in that dancing mood.