Ready for Miami: An Interview with Fedde Le Grand

November 10, 2008 11:09 AM
by Michael Maryanoff

You may not have heard of Fedde Le Grand until his breakthrough hit Puts Your Hands Up for Detroit, but green behind the ears he is not. He’s enjoyed wide recognition in Europe and his home country/DJ Factory Holland for a while, but it wasn’t until Put Your Hands Up that he achieved global dance ubiquity. He’s also caused quite a stir with Let Me Think About it, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard dance charts.

He’s collaborated with such vocalists as Ida Corr and Camille Jones, two singers who have lent their tremendous vocal talents to his already dance floor-friendly tracks. He’s had a lot on his plate lately, with a world tour for his upcoming artist album Output (and luckily for us he’s stopping by Mansion on November 15), but CoolJunkie still got the chance to catch up with Fedde about his upcoming album, his love for Miami, and why European music videos are more brains than beauty.

CoolJunkie: I've heard that Holland is a pretty tough place to break in, how do the States compare?

Fedde Le Grand: I think the States is the market every artist or DJ wants to break. It’s incredibly influential on the rest of the global scene so for me it’s really important that my music translates well over there. I think Holland may be tough to break because we seem to produce so many huge artists – there must be something in the water! America is different because of the sheer size of the country and also there are so many different communities with their own tastes in music, so to come up with something that crosses all those boundaries is definitely a challenge. I think my album will do that, though. Many people will be surprised at the diversity of music on there.

CJ: Have you ever been to Miami outside of conference, what do you think about the scene here?

Fedde Le Grand: I’ve played in Mansion before, it’s definitely one of my favorite clubs in the world. There’s just a heat about Miami that seems to seep into the music scene and onto the dance floor. And of course everybody is gorgeous!(laughs) I love the vibe that you get in Miami, it’s different when you’re at conference because there are so many people from all over the world there. When it’s just ‘normal’ Miami, the flavor is much different. I kind of prefer it to be honest.

CJ: What is your favorite music outside of dance music?

Fedde Le Grand: Well I listen to a lot of different styles of music but I love funk and hip-hop the most! Although I suppose, you could say that those are technically dance music but if you’re asking if I head bang to heavy metal on my days off then the answer is no.

CJ: You've been producing for quite some time. When do you think was your breakthrough moment that you realized that you were an international figure in dance music?

Fedde Le Grand: It would have to be when Put Your Hands Up For Detroit came out. I think that really was the turning moment for me, especially as a producer. Don’t forget, I had been producing and playing for a long time before and especially in Europe it was already making an impact. But as for today, you have to have a big tune to take you to the next level. Whether that’s right or wrong, it’s a fact. So when Put Your Hands Up broke, it made a lot of people aware of me, aware of my name I think is fair to say. Luckily I had the DJ skills to back it up (laughs).

CJ: A lot of people have pegged cities with their own distinct sound, do you think that Holland has its own distinct sound, or is it an aggregate of many different sounds?

Fedde Le Grand: I think Holland is probably most famous for trance music with people like Armin and Tïesto so prominent around the world. But there’s a lot more going on than just trance, at Flamingo Recordings, which is my label along with Funkerman and Raf, we’re bringing out some incredible house sounds, experimenting with new beats and rhythms, not exactly the euphoric trance music everybody seems to associate with the Dutch.

CJ: Your track Let Me Think About It broke Billboard's Top 100, not an easy task for a dance track in the states, why do you think it was so successful?

Fedde Le Grand: It’s just a really good dance track. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Something that people just can’t put down, can’t stop listening to, want to hear on the dance floor when they go out, music that makes them move, brings a club to life. It really is as simple as that.

CJ: American music videos are full of plot and boring crap like that, but your music videos more or less consist of a large quantity of very attractive women dancing. I think that's a much better idea. What’s wrong with this country? Could you please send your music video directors over here?

Fedde Le Grand: (laughs) I’m sure I can recommend a few good ones! Not all our videos are full of semi-naked women writhing about the place, although I can see why everybody loves them. The next video up from Funkerman is SO different from that kind of concept, it really will blow you away. Believe me, you haven’t have seen anything like it before. It’s called Remember and it’s out very early 2009.

CJ: What's the next big track you've got in the works.

Fedde Le Grand: Not so much a track, more like an album! It’s my debut artist album, called Output and it’ll be out in the States late March I think. I am so excited I couldn’t possibly put it into words. It’s very different putting something out that is all your own work compared to a mix compilation. With a mix, it’s more your talent with the tracks, your choice of tune selection, I guess it’s something as a DJ that you do every weekend. With Output, this really is me. This is the music I love, this is months of recording in a studio, working with my favorite artists, tweaking bits until I’m happy with them – and I’m a perfectionist so it took a while! I think a lot of people will be extremely surprised with the content too. It’s not 12 tracks of what many people called the ‘Fedde le Grand sound’. I’ve worked with artists from the world of hip-hop (Will.i.am, Mr. V from NYC), Rub Burch from the Stereo MCs, Luciana who was the vocalist on the Bodyrox track Yeah Yeah Yeah. I hope people like it and I hope it takes a lot of people off guard. All I can do now is sit back and wait.

CJ: You have a lot of tracks with vocalists such as Ida Corr and Camille Jones. How important are they to your tracks?

Fedde Le Grand: They are so great to work with and they’re really integral to the Flamingo Recordings family. Both come and perform at our Flamingo Nights parties that are great showcases for our music but also amazing events. In fact we held one over the Music Conference last year that was one of the best we’ve done. You’ve got to love those Miami crowds.

CJ: What are your plans for the rest of the year and the begging of the next year?

Fedde Le Grand: Well I’m on tour in the States and Canada for November, then it’s off to Australia, then a European and South American tour, also of course Output comes out so make sure you keep an eye out for that! It’s a bit like a whirlwind at times but I absolutely love it. I wouldn’t change my life for all the money in the world.

Click here to hear more from Fedde Le Grand.