Tag Archive for 'interview'

PRÉSENTATION DE JOAKIM

Published
by
patch
on November 11, 2008
in Music
. 6 Comments

Joakim, one of the finest talents to hail from France is finally embarking on an Australian journey (in a matter of days). Classically trained, Joakim has also branched out and expressed love in other fields of music such as US&UK indie rock to jazz. He covers every angle and every part of the musical spectrum and I was lucky enough to get in touch with him…:

WAN: Firstly, how did your musical adventure begin?
JOAKIM: When I was 5 and my parents put me on a piano.

WAN: What artists were you heavily influenced by when you were growing up?
JOAKIM: Between the ages of 5 and 17: Bach, Prokoviev, Beethoven, Ravel. Then between the ages of 17 and 20: Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Pixies. And between 20 and nowadays, there’s been too many artists and records to choose one.

WAN: Your earlier work is basically at the other end of the spectrum. For example, jazz to indie-rock to hip-hop, which is different to your style today. Is this where your true passion lies?
JOAKIM: No, the music I make today is the closest to a definition of my musical self. My first album was more like an “exercice de style”.

WAN: When did you first discover and unleash your electronic inner-child?
JOAKIM: When I heard the first Warp records.

WAN: Can you shed some light on the type of equipment you deal with live and in the studio?
JOAKIM: Analog synths, vintage mixers, preamps & eqs, good AD/DA converters..

WAN: Why did you start up the live band aspect of your performance? This is with the Ectoplasmic Band, correct?
JOAKIM: Yes, actually they changed their name. Now they are THE DISCO. I started the live band because someone asked me if I would play at his festival, which was a really cool festival. So I had to do it..

WAN: We have seen this ‘Joakim & The Disco’ just pop up recently. Please tell us more about you and this so called “Disco”. So it is your next “live” band?
JOAKIM: Yes, but they are the same musicians, with a moustache.

WAN: Your Tigersushi label is one of the freshest independent record labels in France and around the world. How did this all begin?
JOAKIM: It started as a website in 2001/2002, then we wanted to do something in real life, so we decided to put out records and the label started like this in 2002. Making our own label was like a child dream.

WAN: How did you discover Poni Hoax, one of the talented signings on your label?
JOAKIM: They just sent a demo, which ended in our mail box, although it was sent to somebody else we shared our mailbox with. The demo was good, so I went to see them on a rehearsal and on a gig and decided to sign them very quickly.

WAN: Any cool new signings/releases that we can expect to see in the future??
JOAKIM: Yes, we just put out a vinyl with a great South African band called Desmond & The Tutus. We’ll also release a 12″ by a new French artist called DYE and most of all we will release Krikor’s first album ever in 2009 which is really exciting.

WAN: At the moment, what labels/artists are you really enjoying?
JOAKIM: At this moment I keep listening to Metronomy, especially ‘Heartbreaker’.

WAN: You are also known for killer remixes. “My Best Remixes”, a CD compilation of your best ones has just been released. How hard was it to pick your favourite remixes? And what one remix is your true favourite and why?
JOAKIM: It’s not really “my best remixes”, this title was more like a joke. I tried to select the remixes on the compilation so that you could listen to it at home and not only in a club as these remixes were originally done for the dancefloor. My personal favourite always changes; it’s usually the latest remix I’ve done, because I’m not bored with it already.. so today it would be a remix for Discodeine which I just finished.

WAN: Any artists/groups that you would particularly like to work with/remix?
JOAKIM: Grace Jones haha.

WAN: You embark on an Australian tour very soon. What are you looking forward to doing down here in Ausland? Have you been to Australia before?
JOAKIM: It’s my first time. I’ve heard the food is very good in Australia. Food is one of my main motivation in life, so that’s already something I’m looking forward.

WAN: You will be doing DJ sets down here, is that correct? What can we expect to hear?
JOAKIM: Don’t expect anything.

WAN: What is the most bizzare thing you have witnessed at a gig/night out?
JOAKIM: In Japan once, an old lady jumped on the shoulders of a guy and showed her tits to the crowd. I was told later that this lady was quite famous and that she always showed her tits when the party was good.

WAN: What’s planned for the future? Do you have any plans to release another album similar to ‘Monsters and Silly Songs’ in the future?
JOAKIM: Yes, I’m working on it at the moment.

WAN: And finally, Joakim, what’s your most lovable piece of clothing and why?
JOAKIM: It has to be my new Tigersushi Furs FTS001 t-shirt. And you can probably guess why.

For of you that are from Melbourne, you can catch Joakim at La Di Da, 21st Nov 10 pm (577 Little Bourke St Melb CBD). $20/15 on guest list. Supports are: Chestwig, Luke McD, A.D.D. and many many more.

For the rest of you Australians, here are the other dates:

Nov 14 Future Classic presents Joakim, Civic Hotel, Sydney
Nov 15 Joakim, Bar Soma, Brisbane
Nov 21 Joakim, La Di Da, Melbourne
Nov 22 Joakim, Ocean Beach Hotel, Perth
Nov 23 Joakim, Sugar, Adelaide

MP3: Joakim - Lonely Hearts (Loving Hands Remix)
MP3: Joakim - Teenage Kiss
MP3: Joakim - I Wish You Were Gone
MP3: Joakim - Drumtrax
MP3: DJ Mehdi - Pocket Piano (Joakim ‘Berger’ Remix)
MP3: Tiga - Pleasure from the Bass (Joakim Remix)
MP3: Late of the Pier - The Bears Are Coming (Joakim Dub)
MP3: Alter Ego - Why Not?! (Joakim Remix)
MP3: Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Joakim Remix)
MP3: Max Berlin - Elle et Moi (Joakim Remix)
MP3: Joakim & the Disco - A New Career in a New Town [David Bowie cover]

And finally my favourite Joakim remix (also signed on Tigersushi); this is pure bliss.
MP3: Principles of Geometry Starring Sébastien Tellier - A Mountain for President (Joakim Remix)

Falken’s Eye

Published
by
patch
on June 21, 2008
in Music
. 6 Comments

By popular demand, I’ve re-uploaded the Fred Falke Triple J interview+mix that went on the airwaves 29th of March earlier this year. As a bonus, I’ve also put up the Third Class Radio (final show) that was on the 4th of April, also earlier this year. It’s relevant because not only does it have a guest appearance from Knightlife but also the man himself, Fred Falke. I highly recommend you guys listen to this bad boy; not only is it more hilarious but theres also alot more talking from Falkie on this one compared to the JJJ interview.

MP3: Fred Falke Triple J Radio 29-03-2008

MP3: Third Class Radio Feat. Fred Falke & Knightlife 04-04-2008


MP3: Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Automatic


MP3: Alan Braxe - Haze

French Friday: Fred Falke

Published
by
patch
on April 4, 2008
in French Friday
. 5 Comments

Here at Waves we are proud to present a new (and our first) column for your favourite day of the week, Friday, titled “French Friday”, containing, well you know.. all things from the land of cheese, wine and berets!

First up on the plate is well known French producer Fred Falke. Fred started his career as a bass player around 1995 and it was his discovery of Sugar Hill Records that made him want to combine music instruments and sequencers. As a result, he went out and bought his first drum machine, synthesizer and a four-track tape recorder, creating the foundations of his first home studio. Since his first release on Vulture “Intro”, Fred dedicates himself to production work and remixes for the likes of Goldfrapp, Kelis and Jamiroquai. We were lucky enough to get into contact with him just before he embarks on his Australian tour…

WAVES: Which producers/artists do you look to for inspiration?
F.FALKE: Daft Punk, Snoop Dog, Neptunes, Lupe Fiasco, The Who.

WAVES: Who have made a huge impact on the way you view music?
F.FALKE: Daft Punk, Dennis Wilson, Chic, Paul Williams.

WAVES: You were part of the music-project ‘Defender’ with Alan Braxe and Savage, bringing out a 12” on Vulture Music back in 2005. How did this project come about?
F.FALKE: When I started to work on Bliss I asked my close friend Savage to play the guitar on the track. Then the three of us decided to do another track much more rock influenced and that is how ‘Defender’ came about.

WAVES: Does your solo work differ much from the type of music you were producing with Alan Braxe?
F.FALKE: It doesn’t differ that much from our old projects. Although I have my own different influences that I release through my music.

WAVES: Do you think you’ll work with Alan Braxe again in the future?
F.FALKE: No we have gone in separate directions. I have found other people that I have shared the same ideas with and have began our new productions in which I am very excited about.

WAVES: Kris Menace, another well known producer in the French scene, has teamed up with you in the past with the release ‘Fairlight’ back in 2006. In addition, you also have had two releases on his label “Work It Baby”. Please describe your relationship with Kris and also how did you and Kris come together?
F.FALKE: Kris asked me to remix his track ‘Missile Test’ a few years ago and since then we have gone from a business relationship to a strong friendship.

WAVES: Your latest EP ‘Music for My Friends‘ re-visits those catchy house melodies that made you the house-hold name that you are today while introducing new influences and sounds. What was the creative process that went into these new tracks and the making of the EP?
F.FALKE: Kris at first asked me to prepare a release through ‘Work It Baby’. This started as me showing him ‘Last Wave’ and him being very excited. I then found inspiration for ‘Sanctuary’ which made the b-side to the release. I felt that it was right for me to release the old way and prepared a four track ep. Kris was excited about the idea and I began to create ‘808 at the Beach’ and ‘Love Theme’.

WAVES: Have you found yourself using the same equipment now then what you were using when you first began producing music?
F.FALKE: No my whole set up has completely changed. When I started my production I did not have any computers. I was always using my hardware samplers (roland s760 and ensoniq asr10) and sequencers (emu sp1200 and akai mpc60). I used to have a lot of vintage synthesisers, keyboards and drum machines but I decided to minimise my setup because less is more. Now I’m using a Mac with Ableton live, apogee interface, studio electronics synth but I still keep my sp1200 and asr10 for their specific classic sound.

WAVES: How do Europeans, in your opinion, view Australian music?
F.FALKE: The Europeans like Australian music and production but especially the electro productions by artists like Cut Copy, Ladyhawke etc.
WAVES: Has today’s Australian music made a large impact in Europe?
F.FALKE: I think it is starting.

WAVES: Do you think this cross-pollination of genres is going to phase out?
F.FALKE: The mix between the genres is what makes music move on. I think it is here to stay.
WAVES: Any comments on the vast amounts of dance bands out there?
F.FALKE: It’s great!

WAVES: Do you think house music is making a comeback amongst today’s generation of dance music and how is it different from the house music ten years back?
F.FALKE: To me it has never gone away. Maybe it has not been in the spotlight but has still been home to many.

WAVES: What are your views on the way new tracks and music are sourced today by DJ’s and fans? i.e. Blog sites and digital downloads.
F.FALKE: I think it’s great because people can react very quickly to new tracks and tracks begin to gain expose to vast amounts of music lovers.

WAVES: Just adding to that, any comments on the changing landscape of the music industry? i.e. how it’s easier to get music across but harder to actually sell.
F.FALKE: Nowadays its very challenging to reach an audience. It’s great because it pushes the artist to be creative. If the listeners see your creativity they are willing to buy your music.

WAVES: When I first read that you remixed a Whitest Boy Alive track, I jumped for joy. How on earth did this come about?
F.FALKE: Whitest Boy Alive asked me for remix and since I am a fan of Erlend’s voice I was more than happy to do it.

WAVES: Any new productions coming up in the near future? Remixes or a new album?
F.FALKE: I have just finished a remix for Ladyhawke amounts other artists and I have a new track coming out soon on Eyeindustries. I am also working on my album.

WAVES: Lastly, any closing words you wish to say for the readers out there?
F.FALKE: Thank you for supporting my music and I really enjoy receiving great comments on myspace. It’s very encouraging.

WAVES: Thank you once again Fred. All the best for the Australian tour and the future!

If you missed the Triple J interview + mix last Saturday night well don’t fret; its right here at your fingertips to be heard. Also, tune into Third Class radio tonight at 10pm for more Falke action.

MP3: Fred Falke - Fred Falke Mix Up on Triple J 29-03-2008 [zshare]


MP3: Fred Falke - Sanctuary


MP3: Fred Falke - Omega Man


MP3: Menace & Adam - Missile Test (Fred Falke Remix)


MP3: Bodyrox Feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (Fred Falke Vocal Mix)

Yes you heard correctly, Falke is touring the land of Oz so make sure you don’t miss out on one of his great shows around the country. Here are the Australian tour dates:
05 Apr 2008 Tick Tock with DROP THE LIME (USA) - Perth
10 Apr 2008 Family - Brisbane
11 Apr 2008 Roxanne - Melbourne
13 Apr 2008 Sounds on Sunday - Sydney

For more information, visit jsquared².