"Put Your Hands Up for Detroit" is the tech jam that exploded out of nowhere, and Dutchman Fedde La Grand has been touring solidly since its release. By no means a one-hit wonder, the follow-up track "The Creeps" was a major top 10 hit all over Europe. Add in some remixes of major club records by Erick E and Mr. V, as well as a remix of pop superstar Robbie Williams, it looks like Fedde is going to be around for a while. Working on his debut artist album while on tour, could Fedde be the hardest working DJ/Producer right now?
DJ Ron Slomowicz: It looks like you have a busy schedule, how do you
keep up with so many gigs?
Fedde Le Grand: Well, I try to live as healthily as possible, but
it's not always possible because at the moment I'm a little bit sick.
I have to get my vitamins, eat well and sleep - then I'll be fine.
RS: Parts of your busy schedule have involved a few trips to the
US. How do you like touring in the US?
Fedde Le Grand: I like it very much. To be honest, I was a bit
surprised because the house scene is a lot smaller compared to Europe,
but the people who are actually into house music are really, really,
really into it. Every club I went to, there was like a real big
surprise for me with the crowds being enthusiastic and brilliant. I
really love it!
RS: In addition to the tour, you're also doing a lot of
production, what are you in the studio working on right now?
Fedde Le Grand: I'm working on my album, so I'm doing a lot of
tracks with vocalists so it's a lot of eMailing back and forth.
First, I mail them a basic track and they start to write vocals. I
work with it, make a basic arrangement, and send it back again. Then
they'll do some more vocals and after a few times going back and
forth, you finally have the total track. I'm working on three or four
tracks at the moment because a lot of time it requires waiting to get
the vocals back. The album is my priority project at the moment.
RS: Who are some of the vocalists that you're working with?
Fedde Le Grand: I'm doing a track with Luciana who did the vocals
for Bodyrox (Yeah Yeah and Planet). I'm working again with Ida Corr
who I did the last song with. Camille Jones and I are doing a
follow-up for "The Creeps." I am also doing a track with Mr. V.
There's a few unknown people in there as well – two Dutch guys, one of
the Garricks, and a new Dutch girl as well. Some are slightly known
in the house scene and some aren't known at all.
RS: With Ida Corr, you did a single for Live Earth called
"Mirror 070707." What was the inspiration for that?
Fedde Le Grand: A long time ago, I did a track which I wasn't really
happy about but still quite charmed by certain ingredients of it. I
worked on it again and shipped the parts to Ida and she came up with
the lyrics - to take a good look at yourself genuinely, in both a
public and private way.
