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.
Scarlett Etienne is one of the hottest properties on the music scene right now – name-checked by the likes of Sasha (who named her “Breakthrough DJ of 2008” in the Top 100 issue of DJMag), signed up to represent Pioneer Pro DJ, and dressed by fashion heavyweight Matthew Williamson, she’s equally at home in the dance press as she is in Vogue. "We're painting our faces and dressing in thoughts from the skies.....from Paradise." - David Bowie.... Hi, she is Scarlett, she is Rock Star. She writes songs, produces music, plays instruments, DJ all around the world and sings and dances around and stuff.... Today, we have the chance to offer you an exclusive interview with this American producer. It follows notably the interviews of other famous American producers like John Tejada, Pleasurekraft and Troy Pierce. First, I wanted to thank Scarlett who answered our questions.
"Hello Scarlett,
Some days ago you played at Sky Club in Sardinia. What a coincidence, indeed, we interviewed some days ago the best Sardinian producer and DJ, Dusty Kid! How was the party? Was it the first time you played there? You’ve toured so much!
> It was just amazing, I really love Sardegna. It's paradise. The gig at Sky Club was great. It's funny because I didn't realise that I have actually already played in that club a few years ago until after my set. I think that's a sign that I've been working too much.
You released one year ago “Serious”. Anything coming up as personal release soon?
> Since then I've release a few things on Starlett Records, also I have a new EP coming out on Starlett Records called "Naked Eye / Wiki Sqeaks" with remixes by Michelle Owen, Roby Howler, and Gain on Top. I've also got a new 'technolectropop EP coming soon called "Sea of LCD", accompanied by another visual art piece I shot and directed with Disciple Productions. This EP is under my technopop project of Scarlett and the Pixels with remixes by myself. As well as writing, writing, writing and looking for interesting collaborations.
If you look back to the beginning of 2011, what can you say about it? What is your vision of the couple past months? Busy right? I have seen that you had a lot of lives…
> To be honest, this past year has been the year that I've had the most fun. I took a couple months off of gigs and traveling to spend in the studio, and also for the specific purpose of going out to parties to hear DJs I like play in London. When you're traveling all the time, you don't get the opportunity to go out and see DJs you like, to dance and soak it all in. So that's what I did! It was a smart move. But now I'm back on the road and playing in places like Sunwaves Festival in Romania, and countries like Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, etc. The fun continues.
After you give us these info about your music news we would like to go back to your musical roots. Could you briefly tell us how did you become DJ and producer? I know you played a lot of instruments like piano and guitar.
> I still play piano and guitar and am continuing classical piano lessons. I was producing before I discovered electronic music as I was in bands and had songwriting projects in my teens, I learned how to produce on a Tascam 4-track recorder, using effects from Guitar Pedals. No computers! So it's no surprise that I ended up DJing and Producing, I suppose it was always meant to be. I began playing records because when I was living in NYC, I used to go see Danny Tenaglia play at Twilo and Vinyl, and was greatly consumed and inspired by his music.
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?
> My mother doesn’t really get my music, but she is my fan on Facebook. She’s an army nurse and brags about me to all of her wounded soldiers. They say hello sometimes on FB/Twitter. It’s very sweet.
Some weeks ago, during a Watergate gig you introduced for the first time an electric guitar in your live show? Do you still play guitar in your personal life? How many guitars do you have?
> I played one of my new songs called SPARK, and incorporated my Gibson Les Paul with Native Instruments Guitar Rig into my set. I was so gutted that Watergate has a no-photography policy and they wouldn't let us film the performance, but I have to respect the wishes of Watergate. I have seven guitars, none of which I play as often as I should! I go through phases and alternate between piano and guitar, and I'm currently in a 'piano' phase where Rachmaninoff, Bach and Chopin take up a lot of my practice time. I do however use Guitar Rig in my productions on a regular basis.
Since the beginning of 2011 you began to work with Pioneer Pro DJ after they took your innovative ideas on board to develop the CDJ-2000 for the digital DJ. Could you please give us more info about this project and what are your ideas?
> I was in a very intense focus group about three years ago with all the head honchos from Pioneer Japan. We spent the whole day in a room with various pieces of equipment and diagrams and all that, speaking about what we would like to change about the CDJ1000s. It was cool to see some of these ideas become a reality, such as the USB stick + Rekordbox function. Pioneer has some very NEW, exciting tricks up their sleeve to be revealed before the end of the year.
Moreover, you are also working closely with Native Instruments to incorporate their cutting-edge software, including Guitar Rig, into your live sets? What about it?
> It's something that I was testing out at Watergate in Berlin, and it's something that I think about when writing music and developing my live show. It got a great response, and I can't wait to take it to the next level with new songs. More to be revealed in the release of new album material towards the end of the year.
Are there 2 or 3 artists coming from the American scene you would like to talk about today to promote their works or from England, as you currently live there?
> I'm so out of touch with America as I haven't been for ages. I'm a London girl now. The DJs that I go to hear around London are all my close friends. Joe and Will Ask?, Alex Warren, John Green, Lemmy Ashton. They're all my mates and you can often find us all together at places like The Nest and Vikings.
The interview will be published on a website mainly read by French people. So, 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 completely obsessed with the music that's going on in Paris at the moment. I like the Kitsune record label, they put out consistently good music from nu-disco to indie to electro to techno. My favorite producer of the moment is Gesaffelstein. His productions somewhat renewed and restored my love for techno music at a time when I wasn't feeling inspired by electronic music and was focusing more on pop music and songwriting. As for other French artists, I also like loads of Darabi's music, and think Rebotini's 'Personal Dictator' video is the best one of the year! I love arcade video games!
Besides music, what are your hobbies?
> Surfing, Eating, Bikram Yoga.
Scarlett, before we conclude this interview we have a few more questions. Sometimes one word is enough!
The track you advice us to listen to in your discography?
> Wiki Squeaks.
An artist you would like to work with one day?
> I wouldn't want to jinx it, but you can probably guess.
3 words to define your music?
> Sex, sex, sex.
One word about France?
> Sensuality.
Are you using vinyl or mp3 for your mix?
> Native Instruments Traktor Scratch.
One privilege, being DJ, gives you access to?
> Controlling the bodies of other people in volume.
Your favorite track these days?
> Andrew Weatherall Remix of Toddla T - Watch me Dance…"Ooohhh We all Lost Controooooool". Amazing.
Some words about the website I manage: Actualités Electroniques?
> Very classy website, and it's a pleasure to contribute to it.
Scarlett, thank you very, very much for the time you devoted to Actualités Electroniques and particularly for this full and exclusive interview. We will wait for sure for your next gigs and especially when you’ll come to France. A bientôt!”
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