One of the greatest dance records of all time returns. The cat is back
Interview by Dan Prince
Francis young man. Been a while, welcome back to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you right now?
Hey Dan! Great to talk, it certainly has been a while. Please call me Felix…even my Mum does now. I’m in my home studio in LA right now.
In your Los Angeles sunshine, what was the first piece of music you heard this morning after rolling out of bed?
It was my six year old singing ‘I’m in love with the coco’…out of the mouth of babes ha ha…
Before we get into the music, gotta ask…where the fuck have you been dude?
Well…I had a few really big hits as you may recall but I got disillusioned with the record Industry. Decon weren’t backing up my decisions so I went all ‘I’m a true artist’ and spent a good number of years making really underground house and techno under the name ‘The Partycrashers’. I was also producing other Artists such as Nicolette (Massive Attack) and got deeply into my Soul boy roots. To be honest with you, I was lucky enough to be living comfortably and had the luxury to choose to do what I wanted. I got hitched and started having kids and with that a new sense of responsibility kicked in. We decided to move to LA in 2012 and coming here the whole scene has inspired me to take my sound full circle back to the true ‘FELIX’ sound. It seems to have given me a fresh set of ears and I’m loving the music I’m making.
Well here we go again! Monday sees the re-release of one of the biggest dance anthems of all time in ‘Don’t You Want Me’, swinging our way this time on Armada. Five Mixes, let’s kick off with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike’s rework, two of the biggest producers in the world right now…you must have been happy to see these guys on board?
Yeah! – we are over the moon as you can imagine. DVLM are on top of their game right now and that was a great mix to secure. All the hard work and patience waiting for them to find time was worth it. We signed the Armada deal last Summer and it’s been a slow process in gathering the elements we wanted but I’m confident we have a package that’s got something for everyone. I got my mate Martin Atjazz on board because he always turns in a class product and he didn’t disappoint. We also have something pumping and driving from the Brodanse boys who are definitely stars in the making. Before any of the mixes though the re-recording of the Classic was an intense process that took a lot of care to get the elements right. I’m really happy with my own Turbo mix too as I think it gives a good representation of my current sound. DYWM is such a hard track to touch because people have this special place in their heart for it that they almost want you to leave alone, but I think the feedback so far has shown that they are well up for the fresh mixes!!
The video has been creating much mirth in the UK, some great caricatures from the EDM world…who was behind the video and how much input did you have?
That was all my team’s ideas and input. We scripted the whole thing and handed over to a talented artist Jonny Lawrence who started work on it a while back. When we showed Armada what we had in mind they loved it. We wanted something upbeat and cheeky where you can find little hidden references. It’s turned out great.
Word on the street bro is that you are back with a stack of new material. Please tell us more…
Yes indeed. I have a whole new Album ready, which I have spent the last 2 years writing. It’s Electro House / Nu House / Disco influenced. I hate talking genres as I’m really not into pigeon holing or support any of the back lash on who’s team are you on. I’m into one type of music and that’s good music! I won’t go off on one but this genre slag fest is really not my bag. My music crosses so many styles, It’s pumping, hi octane club music. In terms of the release date .. we are currently in talks with some labels but not quite committed to a date yet. Really confident it will be well worth the wait! Stay tuned and watch this space!
You are living in Los Angeles these days, a long way from Chelmsford. LA is now the dance capital of the world, would you ever have believed it?
No way! I never would have thought I would move to LA or even the US. It’s mind blowing when you think about it. I have been so lucky with my music career and all the privileges it has given me. The energy here is great, so positive and ‘can do’. It’s great bumping into people from the UK too as there are quite a lot of us here now, especially from the Music Industry.
What is your take on how dance music (in whatever form) has finally cracked America, so many people came, tried and er, went home. EDM will surely open up people’s horizons to other music right in the States?
It’s still on the rise here. Dance Music is becoming more and more accepted as ‘proper music’ – as it rightly should be. There are kids coming to it from all different backgrounds and you see a real mixture of people in the clubs. In LA we have a large Latino community who have always loved dance music but it’s true even through the middle of the country. Some of the music might seem a little naive to people who have been around longer but I don’t see it that way. I see the energy and passion that the kids are putting into the scene from the ground up and I think it will keep developing and maturing. There is room for all different styles. It’s a golden time to be in Dance Music.
‘Don’t You Want Me’ has been used and abused by the likes of David Guetta, Madonna, The Office, Meck, Tango and obviously Crazy Frog. Have you been happy with your track’s passage in music time…?
I feel very lucky to be covered and copied so much. It’s a real compliment. I mean – MADONNA – wow! But, my favourite is of course Crazy Frog ahem.
I heard Fatboy Slim spinning this version at Snow Bombing in Austria last week, one of my old Mixmag pals is behind it…
https://soundcloud.com/axetasy
I love it!! Great idea! I need to get this version in my live set. I have heard a couple of piano covers (Maxence Cyrin being the most well known) but this is the first Rock. A lot of fun!!
Where has been the strangest place you have heard the tune?
All the time in shopping centers. I go all red and feel like people are looking at me. Of course they don’t know who the hell I am ha ha
3 bucket list adventures you wanna do in your lifetime?
You know I have never thought about that question till now. Err…I would love to go to Italy and visit some of the studios where they used to make all the Italo Disco of the 70’s / 80’s.
Learn to sail with my boys
Take my wife back to Elounda Greece where we spent our honeymoon
The last great DJ you saw?
In Miami at WMC at the Cajual vs Relief night. Doorly on the decks was phenomenal.
10 tracks from the 90s that would make up a Felix Mix tape…
Wow. Too many to mention. It would be eclectic but these are ones that stick out in my memory:
Jaydee – Plastic Dreams
Cajmere – Brighter Days
Stardust – Music Sounds Better
Phuture – Inside Out
Dave Clarke – Red 1
C & C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat
Snap – The Power
X press 2 – Music Xpress
Gat Decor – Passion
and of cours …Felix – Don’t You Want Me
The last great live gig you went to…
Prince doing a special intimate show in a back lot at a TV show in Hollywood. No words…
And finally the lyrics for ‘Don’t You Want Me’…
As you know, it’s a sample from the great Jomanda record of the same name. That was in the days when I couldn’t afford session singers. I wish I had got it re-sung though, that one sample has cost me a packet over the years.
Thank you dude. Appreciate your time.
You are more than welcome Dan. Keep doing what you do – you are a true legend and inspiration! Just wanted to say that I performed on stage at the DMC Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in 1992. I won ‘House Record of the Year’. That was one of the proudest nights of my life – THANK YOU!
