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INTERVIEW TALAMASCA (IN NYC THIS WEEKEND)
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Gaialau
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
34
Posts :
183
Posted : Mar 3, 2004 20:55
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meet DJ Lestat a.k.a. Talamasca
By Ari
Appearing for Tsunami this Saturday March 6th at Club Arc (details below)
Talamasca is the creation of one DJ Lestat, an acclaimed trance producer based in Paris, France. DJ Lestat began spinning trance-core records in 1992 and produced his first tracks as Talamasca in 1996. Now a family man and studio wizard on weekdays, he has become a favourite in the worldwide trance party scene during the weekends. Frequent travels have brought him to events in many cities and remote rural gatherings around the globe. In keeping with the good vibes of mutual support among the psytrance artists, he has collaborated on projects with leading producers like Nomad, Oforia, Space Cat and Xerox. Talamasca albums were released on the 3D Vision and Spiral Trax labels, and tracks on scores of compilations easily found in anyone’s collection. And recently, DJ Lestat started up his own label called Mind Control. He is known for treating his audiences with intense signature journeys into melodic psychedelic trance. In anticipation of the Talamasca performance this weekend, here are some insights he has shared with us today.
1. Where are you right now and what’s going on around you?
Ok, let’s begin it... actually I am home, in Paris, and many things are moving around me as you say!!! Some very good things....like a new label...after six years of collaboration with 3d Vision, I finally decided to make my own..... not because we had an argument, like everybody will believe in the beginning, but because Christ of went to live in Ibiza, and we decided that because we had now different tastes, it is better to do or own compilations on our own labels , but we keep collaborating together in the way that if I receive some “night” material , I’ll send it to 3d vision, and if they receive some “cooler ones” he will send to “mind control” which is the name of this new label I am talking about... so everything is fine!!!
2. What has your tour schedule been like? Any memorable events you have played at recently?
My schedule is quite busy... every week end in a different country, sometimes twice a week.....it doesn’t leave you so much time to see your family (I have a wife and a kid....) and to make the music... (which take some time too!!!! specially if I want to play 100% unreleased like it will happen next week in your country... 
Now, to say that one party was much memorable than another, it is quite hard.....every single country is different....I remember when I played in Portland (Oregon) last summer...it was not really crowded but I felt that the people wanted to hear new music, and this gives you “sometimes” more energy that a 10000 people party where everybody is far from you.....
3. Where have you played in the States before, and how do you see the
past/future development of the trance scene in this country from your point of view?
Ohohoh... I love this question because I had this discussion with almost all the promoters with who I spoke in the US...which means in New York , Boston , Dallas , Houston , San Francisco and Portland...my point of view is that in your country, as long as you will not have an American band, respected all over the world in the same level as the “big names” of the scene, there will not be any reason for a major company, or a good distribution company to make a good promotion on it with the medias.... all kind of electronic music are coming form your country except trance...which is also another reason I think....and also the fact that English and American people are used to understand since they are kids the lyrics of the songs at the radio… which is not the case in Europe because we have your songs at the radio (lol...) so, me, when I was kid, anyway I was not understanding a world of what I was listening, like 90% of European people I think... so the lyrics became much less important in the way of listening music... all together, I think it will give another 5 years to the American trance scene to begin to explode....and we speak here about a beginning.. I think now, it is still trying to find a good way to follow...but believe me, all the trance labels and artists are waiting for the USA to wake up!!!
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Gaialau
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
34
Posts :
183
Posted : Mar 3, 2004 20:56
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4. To those who haven’t heard your music yet, how do you describe your sound?
I like it...ehehe....it is very hard for an artist to speak about his own music without any demonstration track....but I would say that I classify myself in the “dance floor music” more than “trance” or “goa trance” , or any trance related name...my goal when I make music is simple...to make the people dance with a smile...there are many ways to do...I prefer the “harmonic” way.... I explain myself...when I was listening heavy metal when I was young, I hated electronic music because I was thinking that it was more noise than music.... I have a classical music experience with some years practicing piano, and I didn’t understand this music.....when I heard trance, near 1992, I realised that it was possible to make real music with electronics, but not only...the infinity of possible sounds convinced me that this was the music for the future...and I promised myself to stay always more “musical” than “noisy”...
5. About the music you produce, how would you describe your creative process in writing the tracks?
There are two ways for me.....or I begin by anything, like kick and baseline, and then I just add sequences, loops and effects, until I will have enough to build the track... or I know before beginning the track what I want (like in my Zodiac album concept) and then the process is more governed by the idea I have of the track I want to make.... I think you can compare it to the painter in front of his empty canvass..... There are no rules......
6. What sort of equipment goes into making your live performances? Do you have a preference to DJ vs. Live PA?
You have to understand first that I am working exclusively audio in my own studio… I am using the pulsar audio card and software, with cubase sx , and of course a lot of plug-ins...so it is not really possible to do a 100% real live when I play in parties, because you can not rent a pulsar, and I will not move my studio every weekends.....so I found another way....some sequences of every tracks I play are configured with my master keyboard (the Nordlead) and then, I can affect any button of the Nordlead to any VST button, simply, I can move the equalisation of a sequence with the button of the cut off on the Nordlead.... you are following me? But the fact that my live acts are most of the time 100% unreleased, (except if I promote a new album...of course...) are compensating it....
Now , between live and dj , I don t’know... it is different...for big parties, I think live is better because you “show” your new music to the people, everybody knows it is yours, which normally is suppose to make you proud, and it is better promotion... But for more private parties, or not so crowded, or in little clubs, I think dj is much better, because you can change your set depending on the mood of the people.... the live is fixed in the computer, if people don’t like it, you cannot change... dj you can....so you see, it depends on the party....
7. How has your third album, “Zodiac” been received world-wide and what led you to make this “concept” album?
It was a good response in the world...As expected....the idea of this album was coming from a very simple fact.... I wanted to find a kind of excuse to make some different tracks.... at the beginning I wanted to do the planets, but then I thought that the 12 signs will be more “personal” to anyone, and it was more a challenge, because everybody knows the meaning of each sign, even if like me you don’t believe at all in astrology....
8. Imagine your ultimate dream performance… where and what kind of party would it be?
What a question!!!! It would be I think something like Jean Michel Jarre.... I mean something BIG with millions of people in a very historic place and of course: “FREE”!!!!!!!!!!! But I would not say this is my ultimate dream because it is possible.... so what would I do after?? ehehe...
9. What’s the “must hear” track/album of the moment for you right now?
You mean one of my tracks which are the most played or what I am listening the most??? Let’s answer both..... for my track, for sure the most played this year was Aries, form Zodiac, the one with the guitar.... now, about what I am listening, it is more ambient music.... I spend enough time in the studio all day long, + the week ends in parties all around, always with this “boom-boom” story to not listen this home.... so we are speaking here about Shpongle of course, and all the music of this kind....
10. Finally, anything to say to the heads you’re about to rock in NYC?
Yes......excuse my bad English and keep dancing!!!!!
March 6th - Talamasca TSUNAMI
Saturday, March 6th New York at club ARC Exclusive Extended DJ Sets
TALAMASCA (3D-Vision, France)Cedric is one of the most sought after full-on trance DJ and live artists in the international trance scene. He tirelessly travels the glove, bringing audiences to a roaring frenzy, regardless of race, status or believes.
For the first time in America:
JEREMY (TSUNAMI, Israel) Jeremy has become one of a few top international full-on trance DJs. Starting with the regular TSUNAMI parties in Israel, then taking part in all major Festivals, and now he will show us for the first time his magic and energy. JEREMY will be introducing a few tracks from his upcoming mix album, featuring some of his, and as well other leadings trance artists work, unreleased work.
INFLUX (Transmit Music, Brazil) Live Set and Dj Set.
Separete Trancedental Room More Surprise DJs
CLUB ARC 6 Hubert St. off Hudson St, 3 blocks below Canal (trains A,C,E to Canal, 1/9 to Franklin) Hours 11pm till late
Admission $25 in advance (plus store commission) $30 @ the door 18+ Event
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