Radioclit are performing in Athens this Friday (December 10th @ Swing, free entrance) and this is a party not be missed, as these guys are the creme de la creme: they play a unique blend of dance music with african rhythms and the whole of Europe and some other countries seem to appeciate this, so maybe you should to. We asked, they answered.
Did you expect the success for "The Very Best"? How much did it help you with your later work?
We did expect it because we thought it was very weird that there was so little pop stars coming from Africa since the days of Bob Marley or Fela Kuti. And Three years after the Very Best album came out there is still very little new artists emerging from those areas. Times are changing but pretty slowly.
"The Sound of Club Secousse": why do you feel that the party people of cities like New York Stockholm Athens Angola Ivory Coast Congo
Dance music from africa is most of the time very joyful, energetic, warm and groovy, there's not a single dance music lover who could remain totally unsensitive to it.
Why do you think that in a multi-cultural era, mainstream music is becoming all the more segregated and is not embrassing all the cultures and sounds of people that live together in the big capitals?
I think it's happening slowly and surely, check shakira and the waka waka hit song which is an old afro folk hook from Africa . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEkq70uMEq0
How do you work with an african song you want to "produce"? Do you do all the work with software or do you work with live instruments?
When i work with african artist there are no set rules. But these days im more and more into a very organic conception of music especially when it comes to dance music. I love playing guitar on my tunes, and use a real human tempo rather than recording all the instruments to a computer click. Im exploring afro disco these days, as a dj and music producer.
How do the various rhythmes of africa work with the 4/4 rhythm that dominates house music (and basically all of western popular music)?
To be honest i dont really think of music in technical terms, i dont know how to read notes, i like to keep a very instinctive approach. So my only rule is 'does it work or not'.
How does the african crowd get your music? Can you give me the vibe of a show of yours in Africa ?
Ii only played Africa once, it was for the Lake of Stars festival in Malawi and we had an amazing time, i think there are very few djs who try and bring all those different vibes together these days: the old school days of soukous and high life, the new club sounds, west africa and south africa... Maybe being an outsider to it all gives us a bit more freedom to break rules and bring more styles together. we're playing africa again soon, there are plans to organise a big Secousse party in Cairo Africa .
How different is a european from an african show of Radioclit?
I don't think it makes sense to talk on those terms. I've already played for a majority of african people in some clubs of Paris and ive opened for african bands like Konono N1 or Staff Benda Bilili in Europe for a crowd entirely made of white people... and at most Secousse parties, it's very hard to put people on those 2 categories, black or white, it feels people are more and more mixed up and from complex ethnic backgrounds... We're trying to think of people as individuals rather than members of a 'race' otherwise we would go mad with the Secousse team. We come from all over the world.
You've been all over Europe , Africa and all over the world. Name the best cities to find music and the best cities to party.
These days i am really into northern african music and everytime I go to Marocco i find a lot of mindblowing stuffs. My favorite cities to party are Tanger and Tel Aviv, but im hearing some good things about Istambul.
As 2010 is coming to an end, which albums, tracks or artists marked this year for you?
The Konono n1 album was really incredible i think, also Janka Nabay is really one of our heroes with his bubu music. I love the Rye Rye single 'sunshine' with M.I.A, it's been another big year for jamaican artist Busy Signal, there's this Uk track called 'Boomslang' that we play a lot at Secousse, also that guarachero sound from Mexico is getting more and more plays, like that erik rincon 16 years old kid.... I could go on and on and on...
What are your plans for 2011? Any new EPs on the way?
More Secousse compilation, a Secousse record label, Secousse parties all over the world, and Secousse music and visual productions... its time for next level action.
Are you as eclectic with food, as you are with music? Name some of the best african dishes that you have tasted?
I'm not that fond of african food to be honest, but im getting more into it. Secousse is launching a bar in Paris in mid january and we're about to taste a bunch of african cook's recipies later today so ask me tomorrow... so far im more an asian food lover.
What are you expecting from your trip and show in Athens
Well, my booker Laetitia told me it's a very good little party im playing so im excited! she knows her stuff when it comes to partying.
Do you know that there are lots of rhythms and sounds in traditional greek music. Maybe Greek music would become your next project?
I'm defo super excited to hear some!! what u call it??
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