The French maestro taking America by storm
Hey Norman, good to speak to you again. You are off on tour in two days to America for a month – you must be living in you studio at the moment trying to get everything done?
“You could say that Dan. The last six months have been incredible since ‘Breakaway’, ‘Trilogy’ and now ‘Leo’. The phone has been going mad with people wanting me to do remixes and I’m excited about my mix of Kaskade and Skrillex’s ‘Lick It’ coming out.”
So the big tour – you’re in San Diego this weekend at the excellent Voyeur club. Why do you think it look so long for America to crack it?
“I don’t think there is one reason, I think the time is just right. I feel America has been too much into it’s hip hop and R&B for too long and perhaps just thought dance music was just one big noise. But you go into any bar or club now and what used to pop music is now dance music.”
Who goes with you on tour with you when you are away for such a long time?
“This time my girlfriend is coming with me and my tour manager will be there, and I have various people meeting us along the way – especially in Miami!”
Where do you enjoy playing the most in America?
“Before there was only a few cities that had a scene. New York and Miami obviously and there was a small thing going on in Los Angeles. But now wow there are so many cities. San Diego is going to be great this weekend, Denver, Washington and Chicago all have huge crowds. And then we have Las Vegas which is just incredible. I have just signed a new one year contract with XS which means I will be playing there once a month.”
Are you finding that you are spinning the same records in each territory in the US?
“Pretty much. Miami is the big difference as I have to play more commercial down there. New York, Washington and Denver are more into the housier side of things than trance which means I can play a bit harder. I am still trying to adjust to all of these different crowds!”
What is your current top 10 you are spinning?
1.Norman Doray – Leo (Spinnin Rec)
2.Ivan Cough, Feenixpal – In My Mind – Axwell remix (Axtone Records)
3.Qulinez – Troll (Size Records)
4.Laidback Luke, Arno Cost, Norman Doray – Trilogy – Swanky Tunes remix (Mixmash Records)
5.Madeon – Icarus (Popcultr)
6.John Dalback – Life (Big Beat Rec)
7.Daddy’s Groove – Power To The People (Test Pressing Records)
8.Swedish House Mafia – Greyhound (EMI UK)
9.Jason Herd, D.O.D – Destroy (Vicious)
10.Sebastien Drums feat Mitch Crown – Fly Again (Spinnin)
So tell us about ‘Leo’ – everyone is all over it…
“It has been so crazy. I made this track about three years ago and it didn’t really anywhere, then about six months ago I started to hear so many major artists bringing out tracks with the same feel – a big lead with a great melody. So I thought to myself, hold on – these tunes are just like ‘Leo’! Let’s make this more fresh for 2012, keep the vibe but just bring it more up to date. I’m really happy with the reaction it’s had.”
What are your other Buzz tracks for WMC 2012?
“I am always thinking of Miami week as soon as I finish the last one. Testing them, tweaking them. I’m going to be playing a new vocal version of ‘Leo’ which will hopefully go off. Also a new track with Nervo, the track’s done and I’m just sorting out some remixes…”
As thousands of next generation clubbers descend on the big events, do you feel the spirit of house music is being lost to a crowd looking for that instant anthem hit?
“Yes it’s strange feeling. On one hand it’s great that we are getting all of these new people listening to what we are playing, but on the other a lot of them aren’t really that bothered about being educated on their music. A lot of it goes straight over their heads, it’s either the underground or really commercial. I’m getting angry even talking about it Dan to be honest.”
Have you had to change your musical direction in the last year?
“I don’t think I am changing really. When my remix of ‘Breakaway’ came out in November, maybe people thought I was heading in the commercial way. But I actually think Leo is more commercial. It’s a matter or perspective really. To some, the commercial sound has started EDM in a lot of places.”
Meetings as well as partying in Miami – surely that is going to leave you shattered for the rest of the tour – how do you cope?
“I have a lot of meetings planned this year as well as the gigs, but it’s not a complicated for me to manage. It’s all fun, you have all of your friends there for a week but you just have to be professional. Get some sleep, take care of yourself, play great sets, it’s all cool.”
Are there any DJs out there you are going to avoid as you know it will end in carnage?
“Ha ha! There are so many. The people from last year who I was with will know who they are. ‘Hey, Norman let’s go out for one drink’. And you end up drinking many more than just ‘one drink’!”
Is Miami week still the most important on the calendar?
“I’m not sure it’s as important as it once was. It pretty much started everything off around in America. Everyone said last year that the numbers would be a lot lower than the year before, but the city was rammed. They are saying the same this year and that industry numbers would be lower, but at the end of the day, Miami is still a dream destination and it’s going to really well attended. I mean, can you see the conference week lasting this long if it had been based somewhere like Stockholm?”
What are your thoughts on IMS?
“It’s great that this bunch of people have started something like this which is similar to how Miami and New York once was. Everywhere has a starting point and it has begun really well.”
You are living in Barcelona now? Why did you choose there?
“I wouldn’t call it living here to be honest Dan, I am only here a few days a month at the moment. But I chose it because I needed a good quality of life with sunshine and a major international airport. It fitted the bill!”
Outside of the US – where have you enjoyed playing these last few months?
“I gave just done a big tour in Brazil which was fantastic, the Carnival was going on whilst I was there so you can imagine what the atmosphere was like. I am over at the Ministry of Sound in London a lot these days and that club always goes off, and I have also just played over in Japan – a country that is really coming good and the clubbers are really getting into their music.”
What DJs did you look up to when you were starting out?
“Well because I was French, no what am I talking about – I still am French! Anyway, I of course loved what Daft Punk were doing. I would spend so many hours listening to their music hoping to one day become a DJ, I never really thought I could emulate their production as thy are absolute genius’s, but they were the main reason I wanted to get involved in this industry. I also love Erick Morillo, the way he spins and whips the crowd into a frenzy is brilliant as well.”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
“Firstly I wanted to be an astronaut, then a pro-surfer and finally I became a DJ. Cool heh? Lol.”
What did your family think of your career choice?
“They told me few years ago to finish my studies and then they won’t bother me anymore. So I did and now I can say they are happy for me.”
What one thing would you change about yourself?
“I would have loved to have trained to be a real musician, to be able to play the piano, the guitar or drums would have been great. It is so frustrating.”
It’s your birthday, which three DJs do ask to play for you?
“Morillo and Sinclar to play a disco set and Eric Prydz for the late set.”
What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers reading this?
“Take your time guys. There’s no rush and don’t chase success.”
The tour dates:
March 16 – Voyeur Night Club – San Diego, CA
March 17 – Beyond Wonderland – San Bernardino, CA
March 20 – Amnesia w/ Erick Morillo – Miami, FL
March 21 – Wall – Miami Beach, FL
March 24 – The Mild – Chicago, IL
March 24 – Pool at Shelborne – Miami Beach, FL
March 29 – Lima – Washington, DC
March 30 – Surrender – Las Vegas, NV
March 31 – Cobra Club – Toronto, Canada
April 03 – Greystone Manor – Hollywood, CA
April 06 – Arkadia – Miami beach, FL
Video teaser for Norman’s gigs in Miami this year – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLaE9ndQJM
‘Leo’ video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PrJ54geI4c
