Danton Eeprom: France’s minimal side

Danton Eeprom: France’s minimal side

13 September, 2007 | 2.22PM

• Section: Music News
• Written by: Gérome Darmendrail

Minimal may be one of the leading sounds in French clubs, but it’s clearly not as popular as in Germany and England.

Maybe that’s why Danton Eeprom is more attractive to these countries, despite the fact that he lives in the shiny, lazy city of Marseille in Southern France.

As is the case with most French Touch artists, Eeprom was first discovered outside of his home country.

Now, even French aficionados consider him as one of the most compelling upcoming producers.

Laurent Garnier, Jennifer Cardini and Chloé love his dark, groovy tracks. As do England’s Damian Lazarus and Germany’s Ewan Pearson.

We heard that you plan to leave Marseille. Why?

Yeah, I’m moving to London next week.

I was born in Marseille. I love this city, but it’s time to change - to see something different.

I’ve got many friends in London, and my label, Fondation Records, is already half-based there.

The guy who works with me on Fondation is English, which is one of the reasons I chose London.

Another one is I’ve got good connections with local DJs, such as Damian Lazarus and Radio Slave.

They like my music, and my sound is now becoming more influenced by them.

You were into the German sound for a long time. In fact, your first EP was signed to a Berlin label.

Exactly, on Electrobot in 2005.

That was when I released my first EP under the name Danton Eeprom.

Before that, I was playing in a rock band, called Dust Art.

We were into psyche sound, stuff like the Flaming Lips.

We recorded an album, but we failed to get signed because problems developed - you know, rock band classic issues: ego, money… Then we split.

But I’m still collaborating with Dust Art’s drummer.

He makes my videos, and sometimes, he plays drums on my productions.

Did you listen to electronic music back then?

Yes, I was into breakcore!

I even did two nervous breakcore EPs under the alias of IK+.

But I’m pretty sure you’ll never find them!

When the band split, I decided to start again, to focus on my electronic productions.

But by then, I was fed up with breakcore and I wanted something quieter.

So I recorded a demo - electro style - and then I flied to the Popkomm conference in Berlin, which was more accessible than French Midem.

That’s how I met the guys from Electrobot.

And that’s how you discovered the German scene?

Immediately, Electrobot’s boss asked me to play at a party, because he knew I played live.

Just three months later, I was performing at Maria, which is a big Berlin club, alongside Alexander Robotnick and DJ Naughty.

Crazy!

That was only my third or fourth live set!

I was completely stressed.

I remember the audience being surprised when I took the microphone.

Since then, I’ve been booked at more Berlin clubs.

Berlin has progressively influenced my sound, getting more dancefloor and minimal.

How would you describe your sound?

I don’t know, maybe rough funk?!

My sound is dark and cold, but there’s always a groove - a funk influence.

That’s why I like Mathew Jonson and the way he mixes cold digital music with a groove.

We heard that as a child, you were fascinated by video game music.

Definitely, that was my first contact with electronic music.

That was the first time I realized it was possible to make music without instruments.

What sort of material do you use when you produce tracks?

Mostly hardware.

I also use analog and digital synthesizers, and usually some plugs-in.

I mix everything with Pro Tools.

And when you play live?

Ableton Live on my laptop.

I also have a synthesizer, a MIDI controller, a beatbox and a microphone.

Sometimes I bring my electric guitar.

Usually, my show is about one hour - but I can play longer.

In Spain, for example, I’m used to playing for more than two hours; Spanish people always want more!

I also DJ a little, but it’s more for fun.

Do you have any projects coming up?

First of all, I’m working hard on my debut album, which I hope to finish by next spring.

I also did a remix for Dntel that will be released on October 1st on Moshi Moshi.

And I’ve got three new EPs coming up: ‘Confessions’ on InFiné, ‘All Can I Say’ on Freak n’Chic, with a Shonky remix on it, and another one on Tsuba, which should be available at the end of the year with a Jamie Jones remix.

You work with so many different labels…

Yeah, I know!

The first reason is because I sent out a lot of demos back in 2005.

I received positive feedback, and I just can’t say no!

But it’s a good way to make connections and has pushed my career forward.

I started two years ago, and I have already produced more than ten EPs.

Cool, no?

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