The tunes keep on rolling from the French superstar. Ministry of Sound gets set again
Last year, France’s Shiba San saw great success with his modern club smash ‘Okay’ on the San Fran label DirtyBird. With a background in hip hop and a penchant for ghetto sounds, he has played with the crew and is already headlining clubs and festivals around Europe. Once his new EP Planet Flloor lands later this winter, he is set to really blow up. Catching him right on the rise, London’s pioneering deep tech purveyors Audio Rehab have him booked for a party at the Ministry of Sound London. We caught up with him ahead of the event to find out more…
Words : Rob Chadwick
Hey Shiba welcome to DMCWORLD…how has your year been so far – did you set any resolutions and have you kept them?!!?
“Amazing year so far Rob. I didn’t set any resolutions except from keeping doing the music I love and I feel, as long as the public is behind me.”
What tools do you use to make music – hardware or software?
“I’m using both. Logic X for the production, sometimes Ableton for the loops. I also have a few analog synths, Arp, Bass Station 2, SP1200 and a few hardwares for treatment, compressor, EQ…”
We also heard you’re classically trained in music?
“Yes, I learned the piano as a kid and later I showed a lot more interest harmony and the theory behind it. I also took some Jazz lessons which was fantastic.”
Does your big bouncy music reflect your personality? Is that an aim when producing?
“The thing since I started the Shiba San project is that I’m actually not aiming to anything. I just want to feel what I do. When I start bouncing on my chair, it’s usually how I figure out that I have something.”
What is the most important lesson you have learnt so far in your career?
“You need to work, persevere, not to give up when you’re facing creative difficulties because it always comes back. There are a lot of talented people. The ones who succeed are the ones who never give up. You also need to love what you do. When you’re not 100% sure of yourself, it’s had to convince others.”
What was it like after your first tune became such a big breakout hit? Do you feel pressure afterwards to do the same or something totally different?
“I told to myself “shit, it’s coming too early, lol”. Of course it’s a lot of pressure. Everyone is waiting to see if it was just a lucky break. But I put things into perspective, and tried to keep doing what I love, always trying to keep quality and emotion.”
What is your DJ style, how do you approach things and who has influenced you behind the decks?
“I’ve been influenced by a lot of Hip Hop DJs: Cash Money, Qbert, Craze, DJ Premier. I’m originally a technical Hip Hop DJ. It’s a real passion. I cannot always use it in House music, but it allows me to have fun sometimes.”
Musically, who or what inspires you, what turns you on – are you a sound geek or more about feelings or…?
“I take my inspiration everywhere. From Jazz to Soul, from Minimal House to Techno…I can say I’m a geek because I like to follow the technical evolution and I’m using it. I like gadgets, I’m trying everything. But I’m also into emotion. This is what matters for people and for the public. It’s the only thing you can really share with them.”
What is the best thing to happen to you as part of your career in music so far?
“Shiba San !!! Giving up everything, locking myself into the sudio for 2 years and coming back brand new, doing 200% what I like.”
You play Audio Rehab soon – they have a famous deep tech sound – what is that to you? Do you think you make such sounds?
“I think if they asked me to come play for them, they must think I fit. I will play my usual sound. I’ve played twice at Ministry. First time in the small room, second one in the main room with S-Man. It was incredible, I’m really proud to play there. I’ve heard of it all my life.”
I understand you have had a smoke and a chill with Snoop – how was that and who did that happen?
“Hahaha, nobody saw me smoking, I stopped the video before. It was a private party in LA for the launch of his band of socks. I was with Amine Edge & Dance, we went all together. It was really cool to end up there together. I’m a big fan of Snoop, he’s one of the biggest rappers ever. But I’d rather make a track with him! Haha…”
Is dope a big influence on your sound or your style?
“Haha, not at all. I don’t smoke. My only influence is music. I feel it enough when I’m sober, I don’t need any external help.”
What other projects will you work on this year?
“I have several releases on Dirtybird. One track on their 10 years anniversary compilation and one EP at the end of February. I also made some remixes including one for Bontan and Sonny Fodera. I love Sonny, we’ve played a few times together. And Dirybird is influencing me a lot. It’s really like a family, they’re giving me advices, they’re extraordinary people with a great taste for music. Otherwise I just keep producing more and more tracks, and I think I’ll launch my own label to release the tracks I’m not signing on the labels I like. If you want to hear the new stuff, you’ll have to listen to the set I’ll record at MOS. I’ll be playing all my latest productions.”
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