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Interviews |  29 Feb 2012 19:06 |  By swapanjari

David Guetta: 'I get little nervous whenever I play for the first time in front of new audience'

Hailed as world’s No.1 DJ, French house music producer David Guetta is currently trending in India with his much awaited three-city tour for the second edition of Eristoff Invasion 2012 festival.

The Grammy award winning producer who is nearly worshipped at dance music festivals across the world has kept his promise to lend one of its kind concerts in India by installing ‘Grand Festival set,’ which he used during international gigs.

Guetta is on-par of his career with recently released single ‘Titanium’ that ranked at number one position of UK Top 40 Music Charts. The club smash hit is the fifth single from the producer’s collaborative album ‘Nothing but the Beat’ which featured mainstream pop artistes like Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Akon, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida.

In a quick chat with Radioandmusic.com’s Swagata Panjari, Guetta reveals his plans stored for forthcoming tour and divulges the secret of his success.

You’ve come a long way since your first production in 2001 and now you’re world’s no.1 DJ...

I'm very lucky. I started DJing in clubs at very young age and I've always wanted to be part of dance music. My roots are firmly in dance music, so for me to do what I'm doing now is a dream come true.

How did you start your journey?

I have always been obsessed by music. When I was 12, there was ‘pirate radio’ – it was the beginning of FM radio in France. There was no ‘directors of programs’, it was just DJs playing what they liked and I got quite attracted to it. I wanted to be able to mix like those guys, so I started to train every day after school. When I was 18, I discovered house music. It was the very beginning and I was one of the first DJs in France to play this kind of music. I went to London and saw Danny Rampling centre stage at Shoom which changed my life.

Shed some light on house music?

House music was born in gay clubs, so it was not only revolutionary for the music, but socially it also opened people’s minds. The music speaks about accepting each other and when the straight community accepted house music, all of a sudden, it was seeing music in a very different way. We started to have community of young people that were meeting to go to raves and clubs, as this music wasn’t being played on radio back then. It was like a secret code. You could almost compare the community that was interested in pirate radio to what the internet is today.

Who has been your inspiration over the years?

I have always loved music and artistes like Kings of Leon and Coldplay have influenced me a lot. Also people who are passionate about their work enthuses me, I look up to young talents like Nicky Romero, Afrojack, Skrillex and Avicii. Generally, my music is inspired from the clubs, and people’s reaction to a beat and their rhythm while dancing.

What finally allured you to undertake India tour?

For a long time I have been planning to visit India, but it was just not possible with my recording and touring commitments. It feels great to know that my records have reached Indian shores before me. I’m really looking forward to perform live on my first visit and expound my music and festival set in front of my new audience.

what do you have in store for Indian audiences? Give us a quick preview.

Eventually I get little nervous whenever I play for the first time in front of new audience. I will play my hits, which will be further mixed with the added underground beats that I love as a DJ. During my live performance I comprehend my audience and it’s my mission to make them go crazy. So what I play will indirectly depend on the connection we make together.

Musicians from the west are generally fascinated by the Indian melody. Have you heard much of Indian music?

To be honest, I haven’t heard much of Indian music yet, but I’m hoping to listen to it in India.

What differentiates your aesthetic to other DJs?

Music isn’t just my passion, it’s who I am. My mission has always been to create a bigger platform for electronic music and I am proud of being one of the producers to represent it. My personal goal for EDM was to make it as big and respected as hip-hop or rock and we have come a long way in the last few years.

As someone who has been a DJ and producer during different phases of dance music, is there anything from your journey that you are nostalgic for?

One feat that I will never forget was the Brazil carnival where I played in front of two million people! The energy emitted from audiences was incredible. I love that intimacy and connection.  I like to play at stadiums, but equally I also like to balance the big shows with intimate club gigs where I can play more new sounds.

Which are your further ventures?

I'm working on many projects right now. In summer I will play at Ibiza every week. I like to make music while travel so I am constantly touring.

 

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