Electronic dance music (EDM) DJ and producer Las Vegas-based TIM CLARK sits down with USA Wire about his path from passion to succeed as a DJ.
TIM CLARK is a man unaccustomed to hearing the words, “You can’t do that.” For the last 20 years, he’s been DJ’ing and producing his own electronic dance music since before the genre was even called ‘EDM.’ He ignored nay-sayers who told him, “You can’t do that,” when, for several years, he veered off his music path onto a different career path by forming and building an immensely successful business, Tradebloc, Inc. With a merciless work ethic and tireless sense of innovation, CLARK eventually grew his company into a family of companies in the fields of finance, technology, and travel, reinventing those industries as he went. The Tradebloc, Inc. group of companies is currently valued at approximately $50 million. As of the beginning of 2023, Tradebloc Inc. ranked #425 on Inc. Magazine’s “Top 5,000” companies list, a qualified ranking coveted by many but attained by vanishingly few.
Fast-forward to 2023, and TIM CLARK has handed over the running of Tracebloc’s day-to-day operations to a close-knit team of seasoned professionals. This has allowed CLARK to completely free up his time and devote his considerable energies to his true love and passion: music and DJ’ing. Signed with Warner Music Group for global distribution of his recorded music, CLARK has carefully curated a hit squad of best-in-class music industry veterans and key entertainment industry players. CLARK’s recent nightclub residencies include Las Vegas’ Area15 and the Artisan Ultra Lounge, among other venues in Las Vegas, including “underground” warehouse raves.
CLARK’s music is currently released on the internationally esteemed record label BLACK HOLE RECORDINGS, and it is available globally via all major digital service providers and music retailers. Recent releases include TIM CLARK’s “Can’t Sing,” “Wake Up” featuring Jessica Zenzen, and The Calling E.P. CLARK’s Valentine’s Day 2023 release, “Forgiving Hearts,” was added to more than 30 independent Spotify playlists; the song also entered FM radio rotation on KLUC-FM Radio (Las Vegas) and digital radio rotation on Dash Radio’s Electro City. The official music video for “Forgiving Hearts” received more than 50,000 YouTube streams in the days following its release as the song continues its ascent. “Forgiving Hearts” premiered as the “Track of the Week” by leading global entity Digital Music Pool (DMP), and the song was heard and downloaded an eye-popping number of times by the pool’s membership base of global DJs/producers, radio programmers, mobile DJs, festival and arena DJs, and other tastemakers. CLARK’s releases are supported by a cadre of the global club and radio DJs, including DJ Mag’s “#1” top DJ in the world, DAVID GUETTA, who added CLARK’s release to GUETTA’s official Spotify playlist. CLARK’s own weekly radio show, “Illumin8,” is now broadcast worldwide on Insomniac Radio, Dash Radio, and Radio Eibiza, with additional radio stations routinely being added.
TIM CLARK is set to perform live in front of an A-list audience of music industry VIPs, record executives, and fellow global DJs/producers at the high-profile Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMA) 2023 event, hosted by iHeartRadio (iHeartMedia), held at The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel in Miami during Miami Music Week (MMW) | Ultra Music Festival (Ultrafest) Week | Winter Music Conference (WMC), in March of 2023. CLARK will also be spotted amongst the biggest DJs in the world at DJ MAG’s pool party at The Sagamore Hotel Miami Beach during MMW 2023. The future looks bright for TIM CLARK, a very driven artist devoted to DJ’ing.
Rarely now does TIM CLARK hear the words, “You can’t do that.”
You’re currently a pop and EDM music producer and DJ, but you have an atypical career trajectory. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and how you got to where you are now?
Tim Clark: I love answering this question. Naturally, I’m a suit, a businessman per se. I own one of the top-ranked, fastest-growing companies in America. I recently decided to take a step back from my company and pursue something I have always been passionate about for years: DJing! See, the difference between most people and me is that when they retire, they may take-up golf, skydiving, travel or something else that is pretty slow-paced. I chose DJing. That’s the difference between me and everyone else. I’ve had great success on the business and financial side, first! Now, I’m putting the same effort into my DJ career to be one of the best.
We’ve seen and heard the official music video for your current single, “Forgiving Hearts,” featuring Robin Vane. What was the inspiration and message behind the video? The song?
Tim Clark: The inspiration for “Forgiving Hearts” comes from previous experiences I’ve been through. I’ve been through a lot, ranging from life experiences concerning family, friends, marriage, divorce, life, finances, and more. My life experience is the only reason I was able to write [a song] of this magnitude. The message is that life goes on. You have to forgive to keep your life moving forward. Don’t live in the past. That’s why in the official music video, I show a glimpse of my family, beautiful scenery and actions of love. I also would like to give a special thank you to Robin Vane, who put his heart and soul into singing this song.
Without getting overly technical, can you explain what went into the studio process of creating this song? What’s your writing process like? When did the vocalist come into play? What contribution, in terms of composition or writing, did the vocalist make to the song?
Tim Clark: The writing process of this was something that honestly came from the heart. I wrote the song and decided the keys from listening to previous top songs in the world. I knew what I wanted this song to sound like before it was even sung! After that, I sent it over to Chris Craker at Karma Studios in Thailand. He showed the lyrics to Robin Vane, who loved the lyrics and made a few small lyric adjustments. We then recorded the track. From there, we made what the world knows now as “Forgiving Hearts.” I love this song, and from some of the comments from listeners, it resonates with them, too.
Tell us about other key songs from your repertoire that you’d like to mention (previously released). What songs, albums, E.P. do you have on the horizon to be released next?
Tim Clark: The repertoire of my songs falls into the “future-rave” sub-genre. It is the perfect mix of trance and house music. If you go back and look at my last EP, The Calling, it is a perfect example of this. It will begin to drown you with the words and then come back and make you not want to stop dancing.
It’s spring, which means it’s time for “spring-break” for college students, the outdoor concert and festival season for music and entertainers of all genres, and hopefully a busy all-around travel season as the economy shakes-off the winter blues. What live events or projects have you got in-store for the season as we head into summer?
Tim Clark: As of the time of this interview, I have coming-out just after Miami Music Week (MMW) and Ultra Music Festival (UMF) week, I have a new single dropping titled, “Oasis.” It is perfect for the festival scene and it is by far going to catch a wave since we are heading out of the cold weather. Summertime, I plan on releasing more music and playing at festivals and other venues. To date, I’m also scheduled to appear at the EDM Awards (EDMA) hosted by iHeartRadio, at the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel in Miami during Miami Music Week (MMW). I’m super excited to be able to play all my original productions in front of a VIP audience of the top EDM industry professionals and fellow global DJs/producers! Additionally, I’m also scheduled to do a massive amount of radio interviews in Miami during MMW with the most influential radio stations and programs for electronic dance music in the U.S. Of course, it’s not going to be all-work-and-no-fun, so I’ll also be attending DJ MAG’s party at the Sagamore Hotel in the earlier part of the week before all my radio and press obligations kick-off. The EDM industry is unbelievably competitive and it requires an immense amount of work and stamina to make it.
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What’s next for Tim Clark after Miami Music Week?
Tim Clark: The next endeavor on my agenda after Miami is in May at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas, where I will be DJing at the festival. I’ll also be doing another photoshoot in Vegas the week of EDC, with a top portrait photographer who’s shot big music artists, including, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah, and many professional models for fashion editorials. I’m also constantly seeking quality new music for my weekly radio show, “Illumin8 Radio,” which airs on Insomniac Radio, Dash Radio, Radio Eibiza and other radio stations weekly. It’s a never-ending cycle! Overall, I’ll continue to work beside the wonderful Emily Tan, my manager and publicist, get more festival bookings, release new music every month, and go where the music takes me.
Official: https://timclarklive.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timclarklive/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tradeblocceo/
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