Another new teenage producer rocking our world. ‘Teardrops’ – absolutely massive
Interview : Dan Prince
Dude welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today?
“Hey there ! Firstly, many thanks to you and your team for proposing this interview and supporting my music, it’s a real honor to me. I’m living in Paris, and currently spending most of my time in my studio.”
Well what an incredible year you are having! You are currently getting loads of Buzz Chart love thanks to 2 of your productions…let’s kick off with your remix of Temper Trap’s ‘Sweet Dispotion’. When I told Guy Garret at Buzz HQ I was interviewing you today, he shouted across the office…”tell him that is our favorite remix of 2014!”. Please talk us through your work here…
“Hahaha, seriously I couldn’t imagine to receive so much support on this remix…It means a lot to me to get such feedback on this one…You know, it’s a real challenge to remix such a classic, because of the success of the original, the purity of the voice… and of course, the epic remix of Axwell =!! But I really wanted to bring my ideas on this track. So I tried not to think about these parameters during the production of the remix. I’ve spend most of the time working and re-working the main melody, I didn’t want people to have the impression that it was some sort of bootleg with the vocal and an instrumental in the same tonality. I wanted the vocal and the melody to be like one.”
There is also some massive respect for your ‘Teardrops’ track that comes out next week. Huge support from the likes of Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, W&W and Sick Individuals already…talk us through the sound and history of the track…
“Well, ‘Teardrops’ is one of the rare track I’ve produced very fast. I first played some piano chords, and when it sounded good, I add this kind of strange funky trancy lead and the main melody came along, and in one week the track was done ! I’m very happy cause it’s my first original track that received so much support!!”
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. You are only 19 years old and are already setting the world’s dancefloors alight, at what age did electronic music start to grab your attention?
“At the age of 10 my father helped me discover Trance music through the vinyls of Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyk, that’s also one of the reasons why I’ve got some trancy influence in most of my tracks. I started DJing at age of 15, and one year later I discovered the production side of things. I really liked the idea to be able to create music with only a computer to use tons of different instruments.”
When did a career in music first enter your head?
“At 18. The choice was between studying in a business school or trying to break into the music industry…seriously, I didn’t want to spend my life behind a desk, even if it’s a “safer” lifestyle. I chose to live my passion and smile every day on my way to work…the studio!”
What did your family think of this decision…?
“I’ve never been very good at school and I was spending most of my time playing guitar, piano or producing in my bedroom instead of going to school. So they were a bit ‘prepared’ for that kind of choice. But I have to admit they really surprised me by supporting me and being 100%behind me! It’s really helpful to know your family, and friends also, are here to support you.”
What producers have helped you with advice etc. so far?
“I had the chance to meet the crazy and super talented Tristan Garner approximately at the same time I decided to start a career as a DJ/Producer. This man really took me under his wing at the beginning, I sent him tons of demos by email, he liked the tracks and invited me to come into his studio to show me some skills. Two years later he is my studio neighbour, a true friend and role model ! He always helped me from the beginning, and I just have one thing to say : THANK YOU SO MUCH BRO!”
We saw you out and about in Ibiza a few weeks back, saw you deep in discussion with Otto Knows down at Mambo. How was the White Isle this summer for you, which clubs went right off?
“Ibiza is my annual summer break and this year was the third time I went there. I really like this place, it’s the perfect combo to relax and party. It was really nice to meet Otto Knows, he is very kind and we shared some quality time. Obviously there are the monster clubs like Pacha, Amnesia, Privilege, Space and Ushuaia. I really wanted to go to the Departures party, as I really like Axwell’s stuff, and the preview I’ve heard from his upcoming album with Ingrosso! Their live set was incredible, everything was perfectly mastered. But there’s also tons of other clubs on the island, more underground. It’s cool to experience places with different music you normally don’t listen to. Very inspiring!”
Paris Hilton earning $200,000 for her sets at Amnesia. The world has gone crazy right?
“If I think about it, I’d say that it’s not much about music…Media people like Paris Hilton get attention, I just feel that maybe Amnesia was not the right place. As a music lover, I go there for the music and Amnesia always booked great acts. Shout out to Deadmau5 for his very funny reaction!”
What are the big 5 records in your box this weekend?
“The new Mat Zo remix of ‘Circles’ is maybe one of the best tracks I’ve heard over the past few months. We are far from my progressive house universe, but he definitively brought a big level with this one. The incredible banging remix of the anthem ‘Set It Off’ by Tube and Berger made by my friend Kryder is also on the top of the list. ‘Prelude’ by Michael Calfan is currently topping the beatport charts, and it’s well deserved ! The Chocolate Puma’s remix of ‘Arms Around Me’ by Hard Rock Sofa is really groovy and original. And for the end, Zedd made an incredible work on his remix of ‘Rude’ by MAGIC! mixing disco, pop and his own touch on it.”
What was your favourite moment from your set at Inox Park Paris this summer?
“Without a doubt at the end of the set when I played a bootleg of ‘Who We Are’ (Michael Calfan Remix) with Axwell’s vocal of ‘In My Mind’, all the people were dancing and had their hands in the air…it was a very special feeling!”
Tell us about your studio set up…
“The acoustic has been designed by Jan Morel who made studios for guys like Hardwell and Headhunterz…So the acoustic is really incredible in these studios. I own a pair of Focal Twin6be as monitors and I have to say that I’ve heard tons of studio monitors that are way more expensive than these ones, and I still prefer them!! I got a UAD Apollo twin interface with a few UAD plugin on it, a basic MIDI keyboard, and my guitar, as I like to add some real instruments in my productions. For two months I’ve also started to buy hardware gear, I got a Phoenix Compressor that sounds insanely better than any plugin on the earth, and will also receive in a few days a Millennia NSEQ-2…one of the greatest EQs made over the past 15 years!”
You have had a monumental 2014 with your own releases, remixes and collabs. Let’s skip 12 months forward…what do you want to have achieved this time next year?
“For the moment I’m really proud to release ‘Teardrops’ on Oxygen. In one year, I would like to have spent more time in studio to improve my production skills, and I hope that thanks to my work I’ll get some great gigs and maybe work on some collaborations with artists I admire. I’m also thinking about an album project, I am getting seriously on the case this next year.”
For a musician, what is the best and worst thing about living in Paris?
“Paris is a beautiful and inspiring city, that’s a fact. You can walk in front of all these monuments and get a lot of inspiration from it. There are not many bad things, especially for musicians in Paris…Maybe they could add a serious studio gear dealer? I’m currently forced to test and order my stuff from the UK and import it into France because there are only 3 or 4 specialized shops in Paris, and they don’t have a large catalog.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“For the moment I’m currently working on many personal tracks. I would love to work on collaborations with other artists but at the moment I’m focusing on the essential : studio, studio and studio! Many thanks for this interview DMC, it was a real pleasure ! And also thank you for your continuous support on my tracks, it means a lot to me.”
