Boom! Le Grand is back with a brand new album and huge show at The Ziggo Dome
An incredible start to 2016 for one of the world’s finest producers. A brand new album ‘Something Real’ hitting the shelves in February plus the next installment in Fedde’s immense GRAND parties, this time taking over the 17,000 capacity Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam in March! Dan Prince checks in to get the real deal with another DMCWORLD world exclusive…
Fedde a huge welcome back to DMC towers – let’s kick off with Christmas and New Year…where were you at, any great/naff gifts, where did you play and what was your midnight tune?
Thank you for having me back! So I played in Montreal, Canada at a cool place called New City Gas. There aren’t many better nights as a DJ to play than New Years Eve so it was definitely one I was really looking forward to. The crowd didn’t disappoint either, everyone was so up for the party and brought the New Year in with style. I didn’t get any particular gifts but having 4,000 people dancing to your music is not a bad substitute!
So a new year begins with everyone fresh with ideas and enthusiasm as we look forward to another 365 days of dance music and dancefloors. You have hit the ground running with two announcements, the first being the news that your GRAND event will be stepping up a gear this year and taking over the 15,000 capacity Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on March 12th. Last year’s series saw the Royal Theatre Carré playing host to a wonderful theatrical masterpiece incorporating live vocalists, moving stages, indoor fireworks, acrobats and an exquisite musical backdrop. What can you tell us about this year’s show?
Well following the success of GRAND last year I thought to myself “I gotta do this again!”. So around June last year we started to plan for the next one that will, like you say, be shown at the Ziggo Dome. It’s obviously a massive venue so I’m making sure the show lives up to the space which means making things even bigger and ‘grander’ than before. Without giving too much away, expect tracks from my new album as well as a whole new cast of performers and acts. It’s really gonna blow people away. https://youtu.be/uZ6P_THvWRU Grab your ticket here: http://wegogrand.com/tickets/
Let’s take a moment to reflect on last year’s pioneering GRAND. Firstly, what were you happy and not happy about the series?
Wow yeah to be honest I haven’t had a huge amount of time to reflect on it because I’ve been so busy with non-stop touring, but there is so much to be pleased with. Like you say it truly was pioneering and I think that’s one of things that makes me the proudest. I couldn’t thank everyone enough for making it possible, from the performers and crew to RTL Live Entertainment and my fans. It was a huge undertaking and everyone nailed it. There wasn’t anything I was unhappy with really. Obviously with these new things there will always be teething problems but by the first show things went pretty smoothly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfJlwQ4f4E0
Why did you make the decision to move it to one event and up the capacity?
I think by having just one show it makes the whole spectacle more special. Having lots of smaller shows was great but you’re obviously limited in what you can do because of the space. Now we have the Ziggo Dome there isn’t much we can’t do ☺
What was your proudest moment of the whole spectacle?
I think it was when the curtain was falling for the final time on the last night and I just had such an overwhelming feeling of pride and awe. It was a very special moment in my career.
What inspired you to launch GRAND? Were you fan of the circus/theatre/musical as a child growing up?
I’ve always been a fan of the theatre and the performing arts, probably because I come from quite a creative family. I’ve always wanted to offer more than just a normal DJ set and really put up a truly unique experience for my fans. GRAND is absolutely that. Show-wise it’s pretty much anything you wouldn’t expect from a dance event, I mean, who thought ballet dancers would be an amazing fit!! We try to think as much out of the box as possible while working on all possible show ideas and then kind of start translating things back on how to work in a Dance show.
Did any of your family come to the events, were there any emotional moments?
Yes for sure!! I mean it was a very special moment for me to realize a project that I had been working on for so long, but to have it take placed in the Dutch Royal Theatre where – obviously – no DJ had ever played before in their 128 years of existence. It was overwhelming and amazing to be able to share that with my family and friends.
Which brings us to special announcement No. 2 in the form of the new album ‘Something Real’ coming out in February with new single ‘Keep On Believing’ out last Friday. Let’s kick off with the new release – a really uplifting tune…please talk us through it…
So this was originally just an instrumental called ‘Don’t Give Up’. I always loved the instrumental because it felt so uplifting, and whenever I played it out it always gave the crowd so much new energy even at the end of the night. I thought it would be pretty cool if we could work some lyrics into it and so we got a vocalist on board and the rest was history! https://feddelegrand.lnk.to/KeepOnBelieving
What can you tell us about the rest of the long player, collabs, musical direction etc. etc.
It’s all a very well kept secret at the moment and so I’m trying to keep it that way! You can expect my recent releases ‘The Noise (Yeah Baby)’, ‘Feel Good’, and ‘Keep On Believing’ on the record as well as ‘Cinematic’ which is still really special to me. Lots of other new original tracks and collaborations, one of which will be out in a few weeks prior to the album.
Is there any meaning behind the album title? Many will think you are having a dig at your fellow producers and their ahem, ghost music…?
No it’s really all about me I’m afraid. I tried to be as open-minded as possible throughout working on this album, I wanted to challenge myself and not let my creativity be limited in any way. I went through the whole spectrum of my musical interest without pigeonholing and I’m extremely satisfied with the result, it represents a little bit of me from all different angles.
Shit question but there you go – favourite track on the album…
They’re all my babies, so I can’t have favourites ☺ Really. I can’t. The album is just so broad and I love that.
A really sad day for the world of music and fashion with the news of David Bowie passing away yesterday. Were you a fan of the man and his music?
Very sad news. Music has truly lost one of its greatest icons. Artists from all genre’s owe a great deal to him because he had such an overwhelming influence on all styles of music. The fact that artists from Diplo to Madonna and from Mick Jagger to Kanye West have been writing tributes tells you about how far reaching and timeless his music was. A true visionary in every respect.
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend?
1 Nom De Strip – Mescal Kid’s Magic
2 Fedde Le Grand and Holl & Rush – Feel Good
3 Format:B – Chunky (Club Mix)
4 RoulnDoors ft. Mr. V – How We Do It
5 The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face – (Fedde Le Grand bootleg)
So a new year and a diary full of exciting dates. Throw some at us you are really excited about…
GRAND of course, the final release of my album and lots more touring; including Ultra Miami and Ultra South Africa which will be highlights most definitely.
An up and coming producer to watch out for in 2016…
Zilverstep is a new talent I’ve got my eye on. But I first and foremost have to mention Merk & Kremont, Cobra Effect and Holl & Rush, all very talented producers who I’ve worked with on tracks on my album!
What is the next studio project you are getting your teeth stuck into?
The focus is going to be on GRAND for the next couple of months so studio time is going to take a bit of a back seat I’m afraid. There’s just so much to organize and so I’m putting most of my time in that. Plus a little bit of time to enjoy all the new music now finally coming out is very welcomed too!
And finally, what is your hope for the sound of the dancefloor in 2016…?
I think I hope the same thing as most DJs and that’s for dance music to continue to proper and grow as a genre. 2015 was such a good year for music with some huge releases from the likes of Diplo, Nicky Romero, and of course me! So if we get more the same this year then ill be happy ☺
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