Interview: Julien Jabre’s ‘Vicious Circle’

Interview: Julien Jabre’s ‘Vicious Circle’

13 May, 2009 | 2.13PM

• Written by: Kirsty Kane
• Filed under: Music News: john dahlback

Defected are back, doing what they’re best at: sun-soaked vocal house music that’s just right for terraces in Ibiza and its beach bars. French producer Julien Jabre is the funk protagonist behind ‘Vicious Circle’, which is currently riding high with the John Dahlback Club Mix clocking in at No.6 in the Beatport Top 10 House Chart.

Beatportal met Julien Jabre to find out more about the track that is on its way to becoming a summer anthem.

Why the name ‘Vicious Circle’?

The instrumental track is based on a repetitive and obsessive bassline that inspired the theme of the song. Sometimes it’s very difficult to avoid someone you’re really attracted to, even though you know it will be dangerous and painful, you can’t help falling into the spiral. And once you’re there it’s hard to get out.

Sounds pretty painful, is that your impression of relationships?

I tried to express the different moments that you can go through with this kind of relationship. I used sounds and harmonies to travel through that rocky journey.

The bass is the addiction, the strings and the chords offer some kind of hope and the arpeggios represent the loss of self-control.

And what do the vocals offer?

Adeama Cooper did the vocals, and she’s a great singer that I met in London. We wrote ‘Vicious Circle’ and a couple of other songs together.

Although she has a very powerful and soulful voice it was interesting to get her sweet and soft tone. I guess that contradiction is evident in the song.

There’s also some contract between the melodic vocal and the more underground, repetitive beats of the track.

I love simple minimal grooves but I always need some harmonies to give me the thrill. The song starts with a basic bassline and simple vocals, then it builds up to more lyrics, music and effects, everything evolving together.

What comes first when you start making a track?

It’s different each time. It could be a beat, a bassline, some chords or even just a drone texture. It’s all about the mood I’m in.

I hear a rumour that you are making film sountracks at the moment - is that true?

My friend Michael Tordjman and I have been working on several movies for French TV channels over the last few years. It’s a totally different way of making music as you don’t start from a blank page.

It’s amazing how only one different chord, harmony, or texture can change the atmosphere or the meaning of a scene. It also gives me the opportunity to produce many genres of music.

Which piece of equipment is absolutely essential for your sound?

I m just crazy about external old and new synths. Working with Logic studio is great and even though I mix my tracks in the computer now I still need those tweakable knobs.

Some synths are really stunning like the Minikorg 700 from the 70s or David Smith’s recent Ployevolver. 

Another new projects we should be aware about?

I’m working on two new tracks to be released soon on Defected as well as a compilation for the In The House master series alongside DJ Gregory. I’m also starting an electronic remix album of dub classics choosen from a great collection of songs by King Tubby, Joe Gibbs, Prince Jammy and more.

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