Congratulations on completing your new album! In retrospect, did you find it difficult to follow up the success of your top 10 single, 'Love generation'?
You know, at the beginning of last year, when I made this track, I was really surprised by this kind of sound and I thought to myself, this is exactly the kind of stuff I want to hear on my next album. I wasn't sure if the DJs were going to like it though because it was not the same kind of track I usually make. So I played the track in Miami at the Winter Music Conference, and the reception was amazing - 15 DJs came up to me to ask what kind of sound it was. After that, I decided that if I was going to do this album, I had to be able to find a new sound, something new and up front. As 'Love generation' had been very successful, I was obliged to do an album in this kind of vein – with the acoustic guitar, a good feeling, the right vocalist and the right atmosphere for the whole album.
On your new single, 'World hold on', you've got Steve Edwards singing the vocals. What made you choose him for the job?
I needed someone with a crystalline kind of voice, and I was thinking about Steve because I was just finishing a remix for Axwell. They did a track with him called 'Watch the sunrise' and it was just the kind of voice I needed. So I made him come to Paris and we made 'World hold on', and at the end I put some whistling on there once again, just to do a nice following to 'Love generation'.
What did you want to achieve with the rest of the album?
Something fresh and something different. The '80s sound is back, electro is everywhere, and to be an artist you sometimes have to be a little different. It's good for me to have a real artist album to show to the people that I'm able to do not only club hits, but also a full album with vocals and melodies. I tried to experiment with different genres like blues, country and different types of black sounds – it's really important to me.
Why did you decide to call the album 'Western dream'?
Because after making 'Love generation' and using the acoustic guitar and all these things, I was dreaming of being a cowboy. That's why I shot my album cover in Bondi Beach in Sydney in my cowboy hat and jeans. When you are a DJ it's boring for people to see you behind turntables or in a club, so it was good to be different and I like to have fun with my image. The other reason was because when I was 18 or 19 my dream was to be where I am now. I started doing this 12 years ago. 'The beat goes on', 'Gym & tonic', all those were big tunes, but 'Love generation' sold over one million copies worldwide and I think 'World hold on' is also going to be very big - so I achieved something. So 'Western dream' because now I know that dreams can come true.
A lot of French musicians have been doing really well in the UK over the last few years – why do you think that is?
I think we are very commercial because we don't have any roots – we borrow a lot from music of every country. We are Latin, we like catchy beats and we try to make a different sound. In the UK you have R'n'B, soul, jazz, which arrived at the same time as it did in the US, so you have a lot of black music in your roots. We don't have this kind of thing, we like black music but maybe we make it catchier.
It only seems to have been the dance music types that have done well over here, why do you think there are no French rock and pop acts making it big in the UK?
I think you are the best at that. You have the best bands in the world and I think it would be a big mistake to do something that is like the UK sound. I think for me I would never do this kind of rock, unless maybe if Franz Ferdinand asked me to do a remix – I like that kind of band a lot.
What other kinds of music are big in France then, apart from house music?
You know in France it's really strange. 'World hold on' can be number two in the charts while Crazy Frog can be number one. I think you need to be catchy but you can't be too vulgar because it's the kids who are buying your records. The market is strange because we don't have the underground market like you, so the genre is just more commercial. R'n'B is strong on the radio but at the same time in the sales it's really poor. The classic French singers are really big – they can sell millions of albums.
What are your plans now you've finished the album?
It took me one year to make the album, maybe two to create the sound, so I'm going to fight hard to promote the album, because I think there are four or five tracks that are good for clubs and radio. I'll be doing remixes of all the tracks, doing a lot of gigs and a lot of press around the world. I think it's a real artist album and it shows people and the big artists what I can do. It is my dream to work with a big artist one day.
What else has been going on in your life lately – anything exciting?
I can't ask for more – I have the cherry on the cake. 12 years ago it was my dream to start my own label and I did that. After that I wanted to earn my living through music, through my passion, and now I do that. Today I have more music and more money than I could ever have expected. I have success with two big, big singles. I think 2006 will be my year – I can't ask for more. I am full of good energy, my DJ-ing is going really well, I'm already getting requests to play for New Year's Eve 2008 - I can't expect more, so I'm really happy.
I see you've bought a new car – is that for attracting the ladies?
You know when you are young – you have a lot of dreams. My dream was to be a pro-tennis player but I couldn't do it because by the time I was 14 years old, I was not good enough. At 16 years old I discovered hip hop, which took me in my veins, in my blood, and so music became my dream. I said to myself, one day when I make it, I want to buy the car of my dreams, and now I've bought a Ferrari. I didn't want a lot of things, I just had two things I wanted to do, buy myself a small home and a nice car. I'm not into this kind of bling-bling thing – I'm just like a kid fulfilling my dreams.
Do you have a lady in your life at the moment?
Yeah of course.
And how long have you been seeing her for?
Ah! Too long…
So you're not on the market for any one else?
Oh you know, we are always on the market – you're never happy with what you have - even if you live in your dream home! Everybody always says, 'Oh, I would love to live in Paris', and I say to them, 'There is nothing to do in Paris'. Yes it's very romantic, but for clubbing and for music – forget it. So you're never happy. So of course I'm really happy in every part of my life, but you never know!
Are you quite a romantic person?
Not at all. I'm a very sexy person, I like sexy experiences but I think it's boring to be romantic.
