One grew up in the French Alps, the other on the West Side of Paris. Both are talented musicians and together they make up famed French outfit Cassius. As Hubert Blanc-Francart is no longer touring, it is up to Philippe Zdar, the engineering half, to drive the Cassius carriage into a club near you, which, along with other clued-in DJs, is to Australia this December.

Cassius became famous overtime; cracking onto the UK scene with small-time hit “Bouge De La”, in the 90’s. They were known as La Funk Mob then, originally playing around with trip-hop grooves. It wasn’t until they took ecstasy at a rave that they decided to make house music. “We dropped ecstasy in a rave and couldn’t believe it, so we really wanted to be DJs who formed a band to be taken as DJs,” Philippe says.  

Under the guise Motorbass, Philippe and Hubert began making house music with Etienne de Crecy, and step by step Cassius was born. Along with Air and Dimitri from Paris, the boys from Cassius are part of the groundbreaking tsunami of quality French music infiltrating the world’s clubs and airwaves. “But the most responsible are without a doubt Daft Punk,” Philippe insists. Who he also says are a great inspiration to himself and Hubert.

The popular melodies of Daft Punk are apparent in many Cassius tunes, with Philippe saying their sound is indeed pop music. “I think with Cassius’ last album we already ventured into the realm of song or pop music, perhaps more general music. And we still do. I personally see all that music as one with no distinction,” he says. They are currently in the studio zipping up the new Cassius album, while Philippe has finished a solo one in the last six months. He plans to tour with a band in the future, saying he really ventured out musically on this album singing on every track.

Philippe’s upcoming solo performance will still emanate the Cassius scent, however, as Philippe jokes, perhaps a little less noisy. “Basically as I’m the only dj it is gonna be the same, except without the horrible scrappy noise on top and without my dear balled brother.”  Cassius returns to Sydney’s shores quite often, playing to grateful Aussie fans, and upon asking why, Philippe simply says this is where some of their best tour souvenirs are from. Plus… “Open people, cool gigs, fantastic food. A new la la land…”

Considering Cassius play most of their gigs away from home, you would think Philippe would feel a little more confidently about “away” gigs, but he doesn’t. “I play 99 per cent of the time outside of France where everybody looks bored or don’t come and where I’m not invited anyway. The good party’s? I don’t even know they exist,” he says. (French humour perhaps?) But on a more serious note, Philippe explains what inspires his music: “A good fellow of mine always says, ‘nothing musical is a stranger to me’. All the real artists or people who do it for the same reason, all the risky ones, the good ones, this is inspiring because it’s really life.”

And life for Philippe revolves around Cassius, making music, and visiting his home in the Alps annually to ski, not snowboard, which he insists he won’t ever do. “I’d rather ski than fall on my ass to learn.”

Philippe Zdar of Cassius will be touring Australia this New Years, don’t miss your chance to see the French house-master!

Fri Dec 31st, Sydney – Kink NYE (BUY TICKETS)
Sat Jan 1st, Melbourne – Summadayze (ITM SOLD OUT)
Sat Jan 1st, Perth – Sunshine People (BUY TICKETS)
Fri Jan 7th, Gold Coast – Quest