Label spotlight: Safari Electronique

Label spotlight: Safari Electronique

6 August, 2008 | 3.33AM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music News: arnaud le texier, delete, johnny d, safari electronique, soleil

In the jungle of labels that makes up dance music it can be easy to get lost.

Safari Electronique is one label fast developing a reputation for dependable quality and futuristic excellence.

Home to arists and remixers like Anthony Collins, Delete and label partner Arnaud Le Texier, it scored a major coup earlier in the Summer with its ‘Soleil’ EP by Johnny D which features deep house music’s hottest new Eritrean reworking a classic vocal.

Complete with club smashing remixes from Delete and D’Julz, it’s already one of the year’s finest tracks and one of many great releases in the label’s repertoire of music.

To find out more about the label we spoke to head honcho and Safari DJ in demand, Arnaud Le Texier.

What’s your background in dance music?

I was born in Rennes in the region of Bretagne in France but I also lived in Paris for 11 years before moving to London.

I discovered a passion for music when I was very young, around nine years old. 

My parents and I were spending Christmas and New Year’s Eve at my aunt‘s house. She loved music and clubbing.

I was the only child surrounded by adults, so I escaped from their conversations by listening to the music that my uncle was recording live from a club owned by his friend.

The year after that Christmas I got my first turntable – the most beautiful gift I could ever receive!

I started making compilations on tape that I resold to my friends to buy my records.

My musical background was influenced by my uncle who had a huge funk culture full of records by Herbie Hancock, Alice Coltrane and The Delfonics.

I discovered house/techno, in the summer of 1989 through the track‘Your Love’ by Frankie Knuckles.

How did the label start?

I met my partner in the Safari Electronique James Warren in Paris in 1997 when I used to be a resident for the club ‘Queen.’

We met again in 1999 when I was in Miami for a gig and during a dinner after lots of talking we decided to launch two labels: Atcha Recordings and Kailash.

In 2004 I didn’t release anything. I kept all the production of the year to launch a new label.

After listening to all the production I realized that the style was not just one but lots of different styles.

One morning I woke up and went in my studio looking for inspiration for the name of my new toy so I asked myself, “What’s the first thing I do when I wake up?”

Every day I switch on my computer and check my emails with Apple’s Safari internet browser.

Then I thought about all styles I was going to put on this label and the name Safari Electronique sounded like the perfect choice.

Tell us something unique about the label?

The logo of Safari is a tree from Africa called the Baobab and it has the characteristic to be able to regenerate.

It’s like the electronic music that always regenerates the style and keeps it alive.

Tell us a highlight of Safari so far?

One night I was at Fabric for a Perlon party with Zip and Ricardo Villalobos and they played four tracks from Safari Electronique.

I was in the DJ booth with Judy, Fabric’s artistic manager and she asked me with a big smile: “Is it a Perlon night or a Safari Electronique night?”

And a lowlight?

When we launched Safari the first four releases sold out but we lost all the money because the distributor went bankrupt.

It wasn’t the nicest of starts and there were about 30 other labels in the same situation.

Who are the label’s most famous fans?

We receive support from various DJs: Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Cassy, Shinedoe, Zip, Craig Richards, Terry Francis, Raresh, Rhadoo, Luca Bacchetti, Alex Neri and many more.

What have you got planned for the future?

We have plans for new tracks or remixes from Ralph Sliwinski, Sonotheque, Shonky, Andre Crom, Luciano Esse & Toni D, Cesar Merveille, Polder, Tolga Fidan and more.

What’s your top five favourite tracks on the label and why?

Sorry in advance for the ones I don’t select because I like all of our releases!

Arnaud Le Texier & Yossi Amoyal ‘Samstag EP’

So many DJs played ‘He’s Alive’ for a long time.

I had one of the best reviews for one track on this EP that said:
“’Mindton Water’ the shamanic side of this track is not dance floor at all but it would shed the tears of a robot.”

We put a lot of emotions in this track so when someone can feel them, for me it’s more satisfaction than the number of records sold.

Various Artists sampler 3 ‘Safari 015’

This features me versus the Italoboyz, Delete aka Sergio Munoz, Mark Henning and Mike Wall.

I think it is the best various artists releases ever on Safari Electronique.

This EP is just complete, all the tracks fit together.

Safari 022: Various Artists Sampler 6

This one features Andomat 3000 & Jan, Miss Fitz & Shaun Reeves, Cesar Merveille and Chevel.

It’s a bit different and more housey with two electronica tracks that make the EP stronger.

Johnny D ‘Soleil EP’

On this he uses a well known vocal but makes a difference with an amazing track with a lot of soul.

It has a beautiful bass line and violins. 

The remixes are just unbelievable too.

Safari 027 ‘Lost In Styles EP’

I like this last EP from Anthony Collins and am really happy to work with him.

He made a mini album for Safari Electronique before his future album on Freak ’n’ Chic in October.

I like the title of the EP because there is a lot more style in electronic music right now.

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