Alan Braxe has had an amazing career, on only his second release he had a world wide hit on
his hands with studio partner Thomas Bangalter (one half of dance icons Daft Punk). From then
things just got better with his own label, a thriving remix and production career and an international
DJ career, Alan Braxe is loving life.
You had enormous success on your second release ‘Music Sounds Better With You’,
what opportunities opened up for you because of that track?
“Music sounds better with you” Was a big success but as you said it was
just my second release. I was really new in the business at this time and my
main goal was to keep on learning how to produce music. I also took the
decision to start my own label Vulture thinking that such a label would be
the best platform to release the music I like.
How has your early music experience with instruments like the cello and
clarinet effected your music writing today?
I have been learning Cello For 10 years when I was a kid and stopped at
the age of 15 when I discovered US Hip hop, RnB, and UK New wave. However
you never forget such a long training on an instrument. Good point with Cello
is that it helps you to understand the role of the bass line in music. So
it’s quite useful for Club music as well. Cello Is also known as the
instrument which is the most similar to the human voice so maybe my
obsession for Vocal texture is coming from my Cello practice.
It took you a long time to move into DJing, how has your experience as a DJ
at festivals and clubs changed the way you compose?
Well Producing and DJing are two completely different worlds. I am not sure
that DJing affects the way I do music. When I am the studio the only
important thing is to find a sincere and emotional Idea. Sometime the idea
do not fit the Club format. For example the last remix I did is for the Band
Pacific. Their Album is released on Vulture. My remix is a 65BPM so not
really club friendly but I like the vibe in it which is more important than
respect the club formats.
You have remixed some quite varied artists in your career, what inspires you
to want to work with someone?
The 1st thing is to love the original song and specially the vocal line.
Most of the time I rebuild an instrument and just keep the vocals from the
original. So If I don’t like the vocals I am kind of lost. On Big project
like Britney Spears, Beyonce, Kylie,.. It’s also interesting to see how the
original song and vocal parts are build, listening to the parts. I am also a
fan of these artist so It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to work
for them.
Your label Vulture Music has eleven artists signed, what qualities excite
you and inspire you to sign someone and what stands out for you musically?
The advantage of such an indie label is that there is no pressure and
the label is free to release any kind of music without compromise. However
since 10 years I believe there is a musical imprint on Vulture and I am
looking for artist and songs which match with the label’s sound. I just
discovered a Band From Melbourne calling Kids at Midnight and they will
release their 1st single on Vulture early 2011. Single will be made up of
Two great songs “NO no Yeah yeah” and let you “slide”.These songs really fit
the label’s sound and I am really happy to release such music.
Kids At Midnight
Your label has released so many great tracks, how important is it for you to
develop and nurture quality artists and quality releases?
I am really proud of releasing the second album of the Swedish band
Pacific. It’s a real challenge for Vulture to work on an album because till
now there was only singles released. This album is a great piece of music in
term of composition it’s really coherent a bit like albums from the 70′s and
80′s. Also it totally match with other artist’s release on the label like
visitor, Lifelike. There is always something common in all release on
Vulture a feeling which is a mix of melancholy and energy. I try to nurture
this feeling release after release.
With so many areas requiring your attention, DJing, producing, remixing and
running a label, how do you stay focused and manage your creativity?
It’s not easy, I am not able to do it all together at the same time. For now
I mainly focus on Vulture and a new project I am working on with my cousin
DJ Falcon. Thus I don’t DJ that much these days. But once we have a good
amount of tracks recorded with Falcon I will start to DJ a bit more.
You have had great success as a producer and through your own label with
artists such as Lifelike, Fred Falke and Kris Menace, is there the same level
of excitement when a track becomes successful as when you first began?
Yes It’ always really exiting when a track is being well received by the
people. The other great feeling is when you find an Idea in the studio.
Suddenly there is something good on your mixer everything is going fast..
Ideas .. Choices of sounds etc.. I believe it’s the best feeling.
Catch Alan Braxe on New Year’s Day with Junior Jack and Kid Crème
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Music Sounds Better With You
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