You will find in this category each week, an interview or a biograhpy of a Dj or artist which is breaking the news. All styles are on the “menu” of this category: minimal, house, electro, techno or even trance in some cases.
The topic will be supplemented by other Djs following the latest electronic music news.
His real name is Arnaud. He is DJ, producer, remixer, live performer since 2000 and was born in Lyon. Knowns as Da Fresh, this man has quickly combined his passion for music with an immoderate love for machinery. After a few tests in rock bands, influenced particularly by The Cure, Anne Clark and Depeche Mode, the young man finally succumbed to the French Touch movement in the 90’s. Fascinated by the album "Homework" produced Daft Punk or the excellent "Pansoul" from Motorbass, he is known as Da Fresh and made his debut with a first album in 2002. Today, we are truly honored to offer you an exclusive interview with this French producer. It followed other interviews with French producers like Muttonheads, Lifelike, Rodriguez Jr. or Paul Nazca. First, I wanted to thank Arnaud who answered our questions.
“Hello Arnaud,
A few days ago you released a remix of "Sex Pistols" produced by Egostereo an Italian duo that we will interview shortly and that has recently hit the chart with the excellent track "Gaijin", released on the label Parquet Recordings, headed by my friend Normen aka Solee. Could you please tell us in a few words how did you two came into contact?
> I was looking for new artists on my label Freshin Records, and as I loved "Gaijin", I contacted them. There was a great feeling between us, so I decided to work for them with this remix and then they'll do a remix for a forthcoming EP on Freshin.
What will be your next release? I saw there are a lot, so could you give us one or two, that you particularly like?
> One that keeps my heart beating is my next track on my own label Freshin. It will be called "Turn Da Music Up", and there will be a remix of Ahmet Sendil. I already played this track a lot during my latest shows and the effect on the dance floor is really terrible. I can’t wait to release it. It will be during May if everything goes well.
If you look at your year 2010, what can you say about it? What is your vision? In particular, there have been releases on the label headed by Umek: 1605, a man we interviewed a few weeks ago.
> In fact for a long time I'm asked myself about my sound. In 2010 I stopped thinking if a track was good or not, if it suited me or not ... I just enjoyed the studio sessions. So I released a lot more tracks than usual. And then I signed a first EP on Definitive Records "Right On Time" which worked really well on Beatport. Following this, I was contacted by 1605 to signed an EP with them. I signed "Once Again" a few days later, and the track became # 03 in the Beatport techno chart for several weeks. And inevitably, there were a lot of requests from other labels for tracks and remixes. Today I am fortunate to work with some of the best current labels (1605, Toolroom, Definitive, Funk Farm ...).
2010 is over. For 2011, what can we expect from you? New tracks of course? A compilation perhaps? An album?
> Always new tracks, new remixes, and especially I will work in order to develop my imprint Freshin. No album project for this year.
After we gave this little introduction about your music to our readers, we wanted to get back to your origins. Could you please tell us in a few words, how did you become an iconic producer of the electronic music scene in France?
> I always made music at home for fun, I started when I was young, working on music theory and playing guitar. Then after several attempts in bands, or duo with singer, looking my own way... I finally decided to produce alone. The French Touch wave greatly inspired me in my early days: Motorbass, Daft Punk, Super Discount, and then I discovered the whole universe of techno with Laurent Garnier, Green Velvet... I immediately knew it was what I wanted to do. So I worked and worked again, and sent some demos to labels and music companies for several years, until signing my first EP on Weaked Records in 2000.
If this is not a secret where does your name come from?
> I was looking for an international name that everyone can understand, simple and effective. When I chose this nickname in 1999, I was producing disco house songs, and I thought to "The Fresh". Then I turned into "Da Fresh", because of the song "Da Funk" by Daft Punk.
At the beginning of your career, did your family understand what you wanted to do? And now are they proud of what you achieved along the years?
> Yes they are proud, and yes they have always understood what I wanted to do. I always work on artistic things, after my baccalaureat, I studied plastic arts. I then left it to get into the business music. But before it works, and before I make a living of, I worked on a lot of little jobs for 2 or 3 years.
You launched years ago a music series that I’m really found of: the Da Fresh Bootleg Machine, notably with "Age of Love" and "Such a Shame" that is simply massive. Two classics of my discography. What about this project?
> I still make bootlegs and occasionally I upload them for free on my SoundCloud account. But the series Da Fresh Bootleg Machine is over. There were 5, only on vinyl, and there will be no more. "Age Of Love" is not part of this series elsewhere. I did it much later, and it's a cover and not a bootleg.
I discovered your music in 2002, with your song "Fuckin Track" that I have on a vinyl. I also think that it was your first hit. Is there a particular story behind it?
> Yes this was my first hit, and my career of DJ began thanks to it. Initially, this track was not on my album "Supa Feeling". I worked on it for a big label (I will not say which one), but they refused to release it. So I added it to my album tracklisting. And the track worked great... It wasn’t really planned at all!
I don’t know if I'm right, but I have the impression that you played a lot in Eastern Europe. You played in Russia, Kiev and Prague. Do you like particularly this scene that remained still very underground and open to electronic music of all kinds? Personally I think of Poland for instance.
> Yes I often play in Russia, Ukraine, and Czech Republic ... But even though I love mixing there, it’s not a choice, I go where the clubs and festivals asked me! Anyway, I always had great nights in Eastern Europe, the public is always very open and responsive.
Besides music, what are your hobbies?
> Music takes all my time ... And I love it!
Before we conclude the interview, are there something you want to add?
> Thank you for the interview!
Da Fresh, to conclude this interview, we have a few more questions for you. Sometimes one word is enough!
The track you advise us to listen to in your discography?
> Tattoo.
An artist you would like to work with one day?
> Anne Clark.
3 words to define your music?
> Energy, emotion and efficiency.
MP3 or vinyl for your mixes?
> CD.
A nice place to go out in Lyon (restaurant or bar)?
> Anywhere as long as you are with your firends!
The software you use to produce?
> Ableton Live.
A privilege, that your status of DJ gives you access to?
> Make people dance!
Have you ever used your aura of DJ to go out with a girl? Did it work?
> I have the same girlfriend for 7 years and I met her at a party where I was playing.
Your favorite track right now?
> Depeche Mode - Enjoy the silence (Lewis Lastella rmx)
A few words about the site I manage and where the interview will be published: Actualites Electroniques?
> Excellent website about electronic music of all kinds, great content and a clean and neat interface. I like it a lot.
Da Fresh, thank you very much for the time you devoted to Actualites Electroniques and especially for this interview. We look forward to your next productions and I hope to see you soon for a party in France. I never had the chance to. See you soon!
> Thank you!”
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