Superstar alert! One of the producer’s of 2012 explains his massive French Rules…
Sebastien Drums is without doubt one of the hottest producers on the planet right now. Brought up listening to really bloody great house music, learning his DJing trade alongside the likes of Axwell and Vega and making huge records with Avicii in a matter of hours after a day on the beach. DMC speaks to a clubland hero who is about to have a major year.
Words: Dan Prince
Welcome Sebastien to DMCWORLD. Wow. What a career already! You fell in love with dance music early, 11 years old to be precise! How on earth were you into the likes of Daft Punk and Cassius at such a young age?
“Hi Dan. I discovered this kind of music with a friend of mine and soon became a passion. I was in love with the French touch…Daft Punk, Cassius, Phunky Data – I found this music so funky and so groovy.”
You claim it was people like Bob Sinclar and Antoine Clamaran that made you want to start DJing in the first place…
“Well, it was around this time that Bob Sinclar released his first album ‘Paradise’ and for me, this was the best album he ever produced. Antoine Clamaran was for me the best DJ at this period as at that time, he was the same as Swedish House Mafia are today. Antoine was a really good technician and he was creating a lot of things when he was playing…he played 3 tracks at the same time, used accapellas and a lot of effects. I was watching him continuously during his DJ sets to see how he was doing all of these things. Some really good memories!”
What did your parents think of your choice of career, did they think it would last?
“I was very lucky that my parents trusted me. They knew that music was more than a hobby for me, it was my passion. I started playing football when I was 6 years old and I had to make a choice: try to become a professional football player and stop making music, or try to be in the music industry. I realize today that it was a good idea.”
Tell us about the whole Fun Radio adventure…
“This was a good adventure! I participated in some Fun Radio DJ Championships when I was 14 years old and I beat 500 DJs. After this, Fun Radio asked me to be the resident DJ of their show ‘Club Station’ on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 in the evening with over 1 million followers. That was really amazing for me.”
What are the big tunes you are currently spinning?
Swedish House Mafia ‘Antidote’
Chris Lake ‘Build Up’
My remix for the new David Guetta single ‘Turn Me On’
Sebastien Drums ‘French Rules’ (Muzzaik remix)
Steve Aoki ‘Ladi Didi’ (Tommy Trash remix)
Starkiller feat. Nadia Ali ‘Keep It Coming’
Doray, Cost & Luke ‘Trilogy’
Martin Ten Velden ‘I Wish You Would (Whelan Di Scala Remix)
You started DJing in playboy playground St Tropez – what are your memories from there?
“This was my first residency when I was 17 years old. The club was one of the best in the Cote d’Azur. It was a challenge for me because the ex resident DJ was really famous there, so I really had to do a really good job. I played there for 2 years and I’ll never forget that time.”
2006-2008 saw you as resident at Palas where you played alongside the likes of Axwell, Steve Angello and Little Louie Vega – who really blew you away on the decks with their skills?
“Little Louie Vega was really crazy with his musical choice and technical skills. With his groove and his attitude behind the DJ booth it was so easy for him to find a good vibe with the crowd. Wow!”
During your time at Palas, you collaborated with Rolf Dyman on many remixes which saw the likes of Morillo, Sanchez and Laidback Luke hammering them. What was the main thing you learnt abort producing during that period?
“The first thing was to find the way you want to go and try to produce exactly what you are thinking about. At the begining it wasn’t easy, but with a lot of work and learning the technical side of things it got better and better.”
Not many people know this, but outside of music, Sebastien Drums is really good at…
“As I mentioned earlier…FOOTBALL!! I’m a big fan of football and I play for the club team in my city.”
After setting up your own label Work Machine that signed stars such as Afrojack and Thomas Gold, you burst onto the world stage in 2009 with tracks like ‘Funky Beep’ which blew up at Miami WMC where you met a certain Avicii. The following year your Cassius remake of ‘My Feelings For You’ that you both created was number one all over the world. How did you meet?
“I met Avicii in Miami. He was DJing and I introduced myself and he said something like…”oh really cool to meet you. Check out my CDs, I’ve got your Laidback Luke remix and Brown Sugar remix too.” We talked and felt that there was a good chemistry between us and after 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 drinks we decided to make a track together ’cause we felt it was a good combo. During the summer, he came to my house for a holiday and one day we went to the beach and listened to a CD that I had burnt all the classic vinyl that I liked. We were listenning to Cassius’s ‘My Feelings For You’ and I said, “man we have to do something with this sample – freshen it up and put it into a track with a modern sound.” We left the beach and had produced the track that night in 4 hours.”
Cool story! Why do you think both of your styles combine so well together in the studio?
“I think when you make music with somebody, you need to have a good feeling together. Two ideas are better than one, working back and forth etc etc. Making music with someone is not only a business, you have to share your passion.”
Are there any future Avicii collabs in the pipeline?
“We made about 7 or 8 together such as ‘My Feelings For You’, ‘Snus’, ‘Even’ and ‘Tweet It’. Maybe we’ll hook up in the future again but nothing is close right now. Avicii is really busy everywhere right now!”
You work very closely with Stealth Records, one of the most ground breaking labels in the world. How important is Stealth to your work?
“Roger Sanchez is a pioneer in the house music scene and I’m very proud to have one of my records on his label. It´s really good to know that people like him appreciate my stuff. The good thing is also that the track seems to becoming pretty big.”
It’s really been tearing up dancefloors everywhere these last few weeks, talk us through this Stealth smash…
“Exactly! I’m really happy that the ‘French Rules’ track is storming the Beatport charts. Today it’s at No. 4 – that´s really cool. The Muzzaik Remix is amazing too, I was thinking that Muzzaik could made a bomb with those kind of elements: vocal and bass. They delivered a monster!”
How would you describe your music style?
“Something really energetic, with a lot of groove and for sure a lot of DRUMS.”
Who is the coolest person on your mobile phone?
“My best friend Rob Adans, he is like a brother to me and my partner in crime. We also produce great music together!!!”
What advice can you give to the thousands of aspiring DJs and producers who want to follow you in your footsteps?
“Work is the best way to grow up. Of course you need to get a chance one day but be patient – that´s really important.”
What is the best club in the world you have played at?
“It´s not easy to say which one is the best but I love the Ministry Of Sound in London. The atmosphere is so special there. The crowd wants to have a lot of sound in their face and are crazy!”
2011 saw you travel all over the world DJing. Where stood out for you, which clubs and countries were the craziest?
“Australia was a really good tour, Canada was huge too, a place called Cobra in Toronto is incredible. It’s a small place but the energy is crazy there.”
February 2012 promises to be a monster of a month for you. What can we expect release wise…?
“I´ve got another single called ‘Fly Again’ with the amazing vocalist Mitch Crown. I´m really happy with this new single which has already gained support from David Guetta, Norman Doray, Thomas Gold, David Tort to name but a few. It has two really good remixes from Whelan di Scala and Rob Adans and is coming out on Spinnin Records.”
What producers from around the world do you rate at the moment?
“Dirty South, Arty, Muzzaik, Whekan di Scala and Nicky Romero.”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Stardust ‘Music Sounds Better With You’.”
The best thing my parents taught me is…
“Respect.”
What club / event are you most looking forward to in 2012?
“Ministry Of Sound in London plus dates in Seoul and Indonesia. I will have to check my calendar, but I have got some good ones coming up and hopefully I’ll be able to do the United States tour soon!”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Whilst having sex? Sinead O’ Connor ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – I’m a lover hahaaha !”
So we come back to yours after the club. What is the non house music, Sebastien Drums Back To Mine 10 you spin us to chill/groove on…
“Stuff from the likes of Adele, Coldplay, Billy Ocean, Example, Jamiroquai, Earth Wind And Fire, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Funk Music Brand and Jay Z.”
What is the most expensive thing you have spent your money on?
“My car! A BMW X6.”
And finally – what has the rest of 2012 got in store for us studio wise (your upcoming productions)?
“My new single ‘Fly Again’ on Spinnin Records, a remix for the next Norman Doray single, a collab with Rob Adans called ‘Resonorg’ which is already signed to Spinnin Records, another one with the UK guys Whelan di Scala, two more solo projects and more stuff on Stealth Records!!”
