2010 has been another truly phenomenal year for Dutch artist Fedde le Grand. With a glittering career that includes worldwide number ones, packed arenas, throbbing dance floors, A-list collaborations, a raft of international awards and a debut artist album last year ‘Output’ that hit over 60 countries worldwide, it’s been a year that has cemented his reputation as one of the most forward-thinking, in-demand, creative forces in global music. Today we got an exclusive interview with the man who has just released a massive remix of Everything But The Girl’s classical anthem “Missing”. It follows notably the one of M.A.N.D.Y., Troy Pierce and Butch. First of all, I would like to thank Fedde who answered our questions.

 “Hello Fedde,

You’ve just released some days ago the remix of a classical house track from Everything But the Girl “Missing”, released originally in 1995. Why did you choose this specific track to be remixed?
> For me this is just one of the most classic dance tracks of all time. It was such a beautiful tune, but like a lot of songs that I like, there’s not always a remix of it that fits in with the style that I DJ when I’m playing out. So I will normally take a track that I like, and make my own personal remix of it so I can drop it in my sets. What seems to happen a lot is that people hear it, or they video me when I’m playing it out, and all of a sudden everybody wants to know where they can get the track. Of course, I’ve just made it for myself, not to release, but with so many people asking me about the track and if I was going to release it, that when we agreed with the OMT [One more tune] label to do it, it made everybody very happy J

2010 will be over in a few days. For 2011, what we expect from you? New tracks? A compilation maybe?
> Definitely more tracks. I’ve just had a new studio which I can’t wait to get into. It’s totally state of the art, I will be like a kid in a sweet shop! So I’m going to take some time early in 2011 to start creating new tracks – I have a lot of ideas in my head so I’m just itching to put them down in the studio. As for a compilation or album, we’ll just have to wait and see how much work I get done when I start producing J

After we gave this little introduction about your music news to our readers, we wanted to get back to your origins. Indeed, could you please tell us in a few words, how did you become a DJ and producer?
> I started off DJing in school actually, and also not house, but hip-hop. But gradually I began to listen, and to play house music more and more. For me the groove of house just fitted better into making a whole set that flowed, so house was what I became known for. As far as producing goes, when I just started producing I just made a bit of everything and never felt it was good enough, well, never good enough to release. But my first release was just before 2000 I think. I did some small Dutch labels and some tracks.

At the beginning, did your family understand what you did for a living? And now are they proud of what you achieved along the years?
> I guess like anything it started off as a hobby and it’s a pretty constructive thing for a teenager to be doing, rather than hanging around and getting into trouble, my mom has always been very supportive and she drove me to my gigs when I didn’t have my driving license. Then gradually it started to turn into a career, got my license, with me making money from gigs, and now my step-father is actually my manager and my sister helps out in the office so it’s definitely a family affair J

Could you please explain us in a few words from where your nickname comes from?

> I’d love to but it’s actually my real name.

You are notably known for your hit “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit” released in 2006, that has been notably No:1 in UK, Spain, Russia, Finland and Bulgaria. Do you think the people will always see you through this production even if you’ve done other massive tracks like “Let Me Think About It” or “The Creeps”? Is it not too difficult to change the mentality, or do you think it is positive?
> Of course I don’t mind people mentioning Put Your Hands Up For Detroit because it was the track that brought me to the attention of a lot of people around the world. But I think that people now see me as more than just a one-track-producer.

I know you are working also under the alias FLG. How do you choose to produce a track under one of your alias? Are more you free to produce under FLG than under Fedde Le Grand project?
> It’s not that I’m more ‘free’ but the tracks that I produce as F.L.G. are more underground and stripped down than the music I produce as Fedde le Grand, which tends to be more vocal and uplifting. It’s just easier for me and people who follow my music, to be able to know straight away that if a track comes out as F.L.G. it’s one sound, and as Fedde le Grand, another sound.

Concerning your career as a producer and DJ, you also manage your own label: Flamingo Recordings. How do you do to manage all these tasks?
> I work with some amazing people who help me with all aspects of what goes into ‘making’ Fedde le Grand. Like I said my step-dad and my sister are right behind me, I have a great agent and record label team, press team, promoters that we work with all around the world – everyone helps things run smoothly. Without them, I’d probably have a heart attack trying to make everything happen all at the same time! J

Moreover Fedde, what do you know about the French electronic music scene? Are there some artists that you personally know or especially love their music?
> I’m very good friends with Martin Solveig, he’s an amazing producer and I love the stuff he’s coming out with at the moment, it’s a fantastic crossover between electronic and pop and of course the video is just great! The French dance music scene has always had its own special flavor I think and so influential – you’ve got guys like Martin, Popof, Daft Punk, Justice, Bob Sinclair, David Guetta – and they’re still making a huge impact on world dance music.

Besides music, what are your hobbies?
> I love keeping fit, I find that it really helps centre me and keep me ‘in the zone’ – and also hanging out with friends, watching DVDs and playing computer games – it’s nice to chill out and unwind after a hectic time on the road.

 

Fedde Le Grand, to conclude this interview, we have a few more questions to better know you. Sometimes one word is enough!

The song you advice us to listen in your discography?
> Let me be real – Wild and Raw and Let me think about it

An artist you would like to work with, one day?
> I’d love to get in the studio with someone like Missy Elliott or Justin Timberlake. I have a secret list of people I’d like to work with but of course I can’t tell you all of them as it wouldn’t be a secret anymore ;) But hopefully I’ll get to cross them all off by the time I’m finished.

3 words to define your music?
> House,  Beats, crossover,

Are you using vinyl or mp3 for your mix?
> CDs.

One word about France?
> Magnifique! 

The software you use to produce?
> Logic

One privilege, being DJ, gives you access to?
> The best parties J

Did you use your aura of being a DJ to go out with a girl? Did it work?
> I didn’t, no, I have a great girl and she likes me for who I am, not just because I’m a DJ.

Your favorite track these days?
> If it’s one of my own, everything but the girl missing and if it’s someone else’s I would say Groove Armada - Look into my eyes sister (Audiojack Remix)

Some words about the website I managed: Actualités Electroniques?
> I just had a look at it and it’s great! You’ve got some really cool interviews on there, it’s good to see a site that’s got a great crossover between established talent and upcoming guys – keep it up!

Fedde, thank you very much for the time you devoted to Actualités Electroniques and particularly for this interview. We will wait for sure for your next productions. We hope to see you in France soon maybe for a mixed session. See ya!”

Dj Aroy

MORE INFO ABOUT FEDDE LE GRAND
Fedde Le Grand @ Juno Download : buy tracks
www.feddelegrand.com
www.facebook.com/feddelegrand
www.twitter.com/djfeddelegrand
www.myspace.com/djfeddelegrand
www.youtube.com/feddelegrand