Focus on France: Don Rimini

Focus on France: Don Rimini

3 September, 2010 | 6.00AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: don rimini, focus on, france

We continue our ongoing feature on French electronic music with an interview with Don Rimini. Despite his frequent releases on the Swiss label Mental Groove—and despite his artist alias, a reference to the seaside resort on the Adriatic Rivera, known for decades for its over-the-top nightclub culture—the Parisian producer is very much a product of the Rex Club, Roulé, and other icons of the French scene.

To coincide with our feature we also have a compilation of French musical delicacies to download for free featuring Cassius, dOP, Martin Solveig and more coming soon.

Which were the most important local clubs, DJs and record labels for you when you were first getting into electronic dance music? What were they like, and how did they influence your own music and career?

Wow… The most important French club for my electronic youth was the Rex Club in Paris. No doubt! It was “the temple of techno and house music” during the ‘90s. The best spot to see the best DJs! All the stars of this time performed there. All my heroes were there! From Dave Clarke to Jeff Mills, Luke Slater to DJ Funk. I came every Friday, like a “resident customer” during many years. Ahaha.

I was literally stuck to the DJ booth window, watching the DJs’ shows… I learned a lot by watching their tricks and by listening to the feelings they spread. Wow, I loved this period. I was so geeky about the electronic music thing… Obviously, some of my favourites DJs were French, some influenced me a lot. Guys like Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk)… He’s a genius!

I remember the Home Town parties at the Rex Club that made me discover the house music culture. These parties were absolutely amazing. The promoters (Antoine Kenobi, Guy Man from Daft Punk and Jess from Jess&Crabbe) brought us all the house music pioneers. Guys like Paul Johnson, Derrick Carter, DJ Deeon, Green Velvet, and Armand Van Helden performed over there. I understood what Chicago house music means since I saw them there. :) It was the big meeting! 

As DJ, Charles Siegling from Technasia influenced me a lot too. He was absolutely awesome. He was able to DJ from techno to electro, passing through booty. He galvanized me every time I saw him. I could never forget Laurent Garnier’s residencies every Thursdays night, at the Rex. He certainly was the DJ who had the greatest influence in my way of DJing. He was the best definition of what a DJ is. Awesome tracks selection, huge technique, while telling a real story with his music during his sets… and everything on vinyl records, obviously. That reminds me, I still have a big collection of F-Com and Fnac Dance Division vinyls at my studio (Eric Morand and Laurent Garnier’s labels). I was totally a fan of these labels. They were totally open-minded. They released artists like Mr. Oizo, Lunatic Asylum, Scan X, St Germain, and Laurent Garnier… house, techno, electronica, whatever… My favourite labels so far, they are clearly one of my main influences, in the way they’ve been pioneers, they explore, they create, and they burst the frontiers.


What is it that sets French or Parisian music apart from other sounds? Do you think that it’s possible to define the sound of France or Paris? Has this changed over time?

Hmm. Difficult to say. Maybe like we are in life: nasty, sensual, intense, loud speakers, ahahaha, with moustache and baguettes! Maybe with a big sense of the compression. Even if they weren’t the originators of electronic music, Daft punk opened many doors for French producers. Busy P and Gildas were in the Daft family. Then they formed Ed Banger and Kitsune, two of the most shining French labels. Cassius as well, Etienne de Crecy… It’s a cultural heritage that you can’t avoid when you are a French electronic music producer. They opened many doors. Thanks a lot to them!

To be honest, I don’t know if we are creators, in the literal way. But it is clear that we have tried to bring our stone to the building: sometimes by copying (maliciously or vulgarly), often by being inspired, but mostly by absorbing international influences. We had the chance to have many very talented artists who came out in a defined timing. That makes an interesting trend.

It’s maybe a question of luck. French vibes moved several times, from funk-disco / filtered house like Cassius, to Justice’ heavy sounds or cut-up tracks as Surkin did, to come back today with a warmer, groovy, sexy music as can be produced by Carte Blanche, Breakbot, or somewhere else with the Sound Pellegrino things. People always need changes, freshness and young blood. I’m always so happy when I listen to interesting new vibes, new ideas. Honestly, I don’t feel that new music trends could be defined as territorial trends. Everything turned worldwide with internet. It’s maybe better like that…

Which artists and labels from your country should people be looking out for, and why?

Too many!!! Today, the most exciting Frenchies could be projects like Carte Blanche (DJ Mehdi & Riton). They are digging into a kind of new Chicago hard house. I really like it. I’m totally down with this return of the ‘90s house and techno with a 2010 flavour. Not just a filtered loop goes on and on, I mean. That’s less linear, less 4x4. More efficient!

Djedjotronic’s latest EP is great! It reminds me of Roulé (Thomas Bangalter’s label). Some tracks are very techno while keeping a house spirit. That’s the shit! I also love the way Breakbot produces: kind of revisited funk. He has a unique huge sound. More than sexy, sensual, ahah… Riot Kid, French Fries, and also Sound Pellegrino’s releases, firstly because they sound great and also because they proposed us a new way, a very interesting alternative of the boring and mental house.

A fresh wind is blowing over France, and it looks so good!!!

Don Rimini Beatport Top 10

Don Rimini on Beatport

• (0) Comments
• (2000) Views