So many of your latest tracks have been reaching the top of the dance charts worldwide, what do you think is the secret of your success and were you expecting it?
With the singles, it was a matter of timing because my sound, which is kind of disco, was getting very popular around the time we released the first single in the UK, and a lot of countries in Europe are looking at the UK. So, it was a big hit there on the pop charts and it kind of spread. I don't know what happened in the US. I was very pleasantly surprised that it was played on the radio, which is unusual.
Yes, this music is a lot more mainstream in Europe. So, how do you feel then about how the US audience received your music.
It was great. I had had a bit of a success here before but it was more on the remix of Robyn S. "Show Me Love", stuff like that, so it felt great that a new track finally sort of took over after Robyn S.
Lots of people have been listening to your songs but I don't know that many people know who is the DJ behind them. Tell us a bit more about yourself. You've been in the scene for many years...
I started as a DJ and a producer too (in the mid 80s). I did a lot of production work and after Robyn S. (1993) I sort of concentrated more on remixes only. I was really busy with that and I did not tour or play as much as I did before as a DJ. Then about 1998 I started a label in NY called Stoney Boy. I started to tour again, play clubs and I guess it took me a good five years to do the circuit all over Europe. And then I got an offer to do this album. I had been waiting to do my artist project. A lot of people wanted me to do a commercial album with all kinds of music on it, but I did not feel it was the right thing. So when Hed Kandi asked me, I asked them what they expected and they said to do my own thing, threw me a bit of money and left me to my own devices for about a year. And then I did the album. I did not really try to make hits or anything, I just did my thing basically. And it was huge, which was completely unexpected.
The BBC reviews claim that your sound has become more mainstream, particularly with the Hed Kandi release. Do you think this is the case?
Well, I've never really been an underground guy, whatever that is. The funny thing in the UK is that when a record is on promo a lot of big DJs play it but as soon as it's released all of a sudden they don't play it anymore and they are on to the next thing.
So this commercial tag that you get means that a record has become popular, too many people like it, and it's not a cool thing anymore. It is a little bit of a problem actually in the UK. I noticed that records live longer in America. It takes months and months to build a record here, but in the UK it takes about two weeks, it goes into the charts and then disappears immediately.
Going back to your work, one of the things you do is use a lot of vocals...
I am a big fan of songs. It helps to give a human element to music, but it does not have to be. When I play, I play a lot less vocals than a lot of people expect, but when I produce I think it is important to have a song in there.
So basically your CDs are different from your live sets.
With the album, I figured I can't do a club album. It's not going to work when you listen at home or in your car. So I decided to do a whole CD of just songs; there are no tracks on there. So, I decided to do a well-crafted collection of songs and on the singles we would remix the tracks more for club use.
Where do you usually get the inspiration for your songs?
Well, these days it's mainly from playing out. Of course, I play my own stuff but I play a lot of other people's records as well, and seeing what works, what makes people get happy I get a lot of inspiration. |
I don't believe in Swedes writing English lyrics, they never make sense. So I always use English or American writers. I never have an inspiration or a theme for a song, or anything like that. I do have some heroes from the past like Quincy Jones and Jam & Louise, and stuff like that, which you can hear. I always have a bit of a retro retro element, very warm sounds, a bit soulful. But it's mainly from playing that I get my inspiration.
In so many of these songs, you work with some fantastic singers, Ultra Nate, Therese. How do these collaborations come about?
Well, the thing was I did not know how to start, so the first thing I did was to contact people that I worked with over the years. When I had half the album finished it was a lot easier to get more singers. It's a lot of people that I had been working with before and people I really like. And, with Therese, I remixed one of her tracks from her album and I really liked her voice so we did "Put'em High" and then later "Take Me Away".
"Put Em High" is a great track, which takes me to your upcoming album. So what can we expect? Will it be along the same lines or are you going in a different direction?
Well, this one really worked so I won't fix it. But the first album was a collection of tracks, almost like a compilation, it did not really have a theme. This time, I will probably do more tracks and pick a selection that fits together, so it will be more of an album, but definitely along the same lines.
So, when do you expect that it will be done?
I think there will be a single in late Spring and then probably another one, and the album. The earliest would be next Fall, or it might be 2007 as well, depending...
So any other projects you are working on?
Well, I run this label Stoney Boy. I moved it from the US to Europe because it made more sense since there's a bigger market in Europe. I have a lot of releases on there. I will do a mix album early next year and I will also do a DJ mix for iTunes worldwide. It is definitely the future so I want to be on there early.
Wow, that is great! And you are also working with Armada...
Yes, they market my label. We noticed that almost 95% of sales were in Europe and American imports are very expensive for European record stores so it kind of made sense to move it within the EU, to avoid extra costs.
So, do you see this music finally becoming more mainstream in the US?
I really hope so and I admire all of you guys working for dance music. There's a lot of people working hard, trying to make it successful. I think eventually it has to. It's great music both for clubs and radio and I can't understand why it wouldn't be played more.
Yes, I agree. You usually play in New York and San Francisco... I don't think you've played in DC before?
No, I haven't but people are telling me about this Club Glow. So I am going to try to get a gig there, I've never been to Washington.
So, be on the lookout... sometime in the Spring. We have been talking to that club and something is happening although I can't say a date.
Ok, that sounds good. So which are your favorite places?
There was a club in New York that closed, called Centrofly. I loved that club. I played there once and it was one of my best gigs ever. It was really, really cool. In San Francisco, it's Ruby Skye, that's my favorite, definitely...
So how come you are not playing in NY this time?
I don't know! We talked to Cielo a little bit, I am sure something is going to happen there too.
We'll look out for that too then! Thank you very much for your time.
Yes, and I see you in Washington when I come over. Good luck on the quest for dance in America!
Interview by Jeanine Delay :: December 2, 2005 |
