Sonar 2008: Funk D’Void / Francois Dubois interview

Sonar 2008: Funk D’Void / Francois Dubois interview

21 June, 2008 | 8.45AM

• Section: Music News Topics: Sonar 2008
• Written by: Terry Church

Funk D’Void aka Lars Sandberg relocated from his hometown of Glasgow to Barcelona over 10 years ago and he has witnessed the city’s electronic music scene develop.

But beyond Sonar, “Barcelona still has a long way to go,” says Lars.

Beatportal caught up with Funk D’Void during Sonar 2008 for a quick interview.

Your deep house character Francois Dubois came 2nd in the Beatport Music Awards recently for Best Deep House Artist. You’ve had a lot of success with him.

Yes in the last year Francois Dubois has been very successful.

The music is very different to Funk D’Void’s usual music as it’s more song-based and more melodic.

I mean, my music has always been melodic and never throw away techno, but deep house is a new thing for me.

It’s not like I’m getting older, but my sound is definitely maturing.

Deep house is very in vogue at the moment, but I never planned to do deep house, it just happened.

You’re not finished with Funk D’Void though, are you?

No Funk D’Void is still doing remixes - I’ve just finished one for Nic Fanciulli.

But with Funk D’Void I only aim to release one or two big singles a year as I need to be inspired before I go into the studio; I need to be in a certain state of mind when I produce.

It’s not a job for me, it’s something that comes from much deeper inside.

Barcelona is now your hometown, how did you end up here?

I actually tossed a coin between Barcelona and Paris believe it or not [he laughs].

But I’m glad the coin landed on Barcelona because the city is a beautiful place to live.

After 10 years I’ve really made it my home, although I do still miss Glasgow.

I think everyone should live in a foreign country for a bit, it helps you grow as an individual.

There’s quite a lot of guys in Barcelona trying to make it big over here and people have slowly come around to using Barcelona as a base.

I came here to relax and escape - my family is here now.

But if I was single, I’d probably be in Berlin.

Barcelona still has a long way to go, club wise.

There’s too many restrictions on clubs and soundsystems here.

During Sonar week, people see Barcelona as electronic music central, but it’s not like this the rest of the year.

The licensing laws here are too fucked up.

How do you mean, ‘fucked up’?

Well, for instance, you’re not allowed to have turntables in bars here unless you have a club license.

So we got around it by playing off laptops.

I’ve had club owners doubling their prices on the door at the 11th hour when I’m trying to throw a party - there’s a lot of money to be made in clubs here.

I actually want to open my own club here because I think it could change Barcelona.

There’s so much potential here.

Of course Sonar is good, but it should be more than once a year.

You want to open your own club in Barcelona?

Yeah, it would be great. I actually have a couple of venues in mind, but I can’t say any more as it’s all just ideas.

What’s your movements for the rest of Sonar?

I’m playing a beach festival on Monday, and then I’ve got my monthly Wednesday party at Moog Club which is probably the best club night in Barcelona currently.

I sometimes think it’s a shame that not all the parties in Barcelona can have the same vibe as Moog - it’s only got a capacity of 70.

My residency keeps me happy.

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