Hardly a newcomer to the scene, having been at the forefront of French dance music since the 90s, Chris Lefriant is now moving beyond the confines of club land into the larger music universe. With the release of his brand new album ‘Western Dream’ imminent, and having already topped the charts with the hit single ‘Love Generation’ and now following up with the dancefloor bomb ‘World Hold On’, ITM caught up with the the most mysterious man in house music.
AJ: What effect has teaming up with Alain Wisniak had on your career?
He’s somebody I met after I did the project Cerrone. I had the opportunity to meet him and it was successful. He originally came to me with the acapella for The Beat Goes On. It was the beginning of something! He was also in the studio for ‘Love Generation’. He wasn’t working on the composition with me but at the last minute, he came up with the last seven notes of “Be The Love Generation”. He’s a lucky guy for me!
AJ: How did ‘Love Generation’ come about?
It was the feeling of the moment! I did a playback of the backing vocals and the whistling. Gary Pine came along and I asked him to do something on children. The team came together in the studio. It was an accident. A very lovely accident!
AJ: With Gary Pine (lead singer of The Wailers) providing the soaring vocals on Love Generation, who will be featuring abd collaborating on your new album ‘Western Dream’?
I did four tracks with Gary Pine and two tracks with Steve Edwards, who I met through Axwell after doing a remix of ‘Watch The Sunrise’. I xo-produced ‘For You’ with Martin Solveig and worked with Ron Carroll on the remix of ‘Love Generation’. It was a fusion of new sounds – country, funky rock!
AJ: What style of album is it going to be?
It’s just a very positive vibration on the album. Very emotional with ‘Love Generation’. The love of children is present.
AJ: Will any of your remixes be featured on the album?
I did remixes for ‘Love Generation’ and the new single ‘World Hold On’. I don’t know what will be the next one but I would like it to be remixed by one of the DJs that I like.
AJ: Are there going to be any 12” LP releases of vinyl of the album?
The vinyl is mostly for the DJs but I’d like to release a double 12” with a lot of remixes of tracks from the album.
AJ: Do you expect it to appeal to as wide an audience as ‘Love Generation’?
I don’t really expect anything. I just want to play this kind of vibe during the summer. I want it to appeal to all the DJs around the world, as they are the first audience for me. If I have success with them, I know it will be big.
AJ: Why did you choose Australia for the setting of the new album cover shoot?
It was the only place in the world where I could find spirituality, good feeling, and good light. I was there for New Years Eve and it was a good opportunity for me to shoot in Bondi. It’s the kind of vibe I wanted to produce!
AJ: Can you also give us the low down on the follow up single to ‘Love Generation’ - ‘World Hold On’?
I really don’t have any inspiration on any of the tracks. It was hard to keep the same feeling as ‘Love Generation’. I was introduced to the beats by Mikel Dotterman. He brought me the four chords of keyboard. I found them emotionally amazing! I tried to do a melody with a singer and add additional whistling to it just to keep the flow on from ‘Love Generation’. Just the vibe of the moment. Every track is just the vibe of the moment!
AJ: Did you have any input into the ‘Love Generation’ and ‘World Hold On’ video clips?
I found ideas for both videos and I’ve worked with the same director since the beginning. He started with the video and is now to making short movies. He is a great director!
AJ: Why is the globe featured so predominately in each of the video clips?
It’s a vibe! We are not the ‘Love Generation’... that will be our children. We will take care of our children. It’s hope for the future. We are the parents and are responsible. So we must educate the children in the right way. It’s a spiritual thing!
AJ: What direction do you think your music will take?
I don’t know… Give me some ideas. I’m constantly looking for ideas. It was good to go this way because electro and white music is mainly strong in the clubs at the moment. It was good for me to go in another direction!
AJ: What are your immediate plans for the future?
I don’t think about that! I’m just doing the music. When I’m working on the album, I try to think of the concept. With this album, I tried to keep the hippie vibe going… Next time I might do something like hard rock! No, I’m joking… (laughs).
Bob Sinclar’s brand new album ‘Western Dream’ is in stores now through (Hussle/EMI), and will be followed by the release of his second single, ‘World Hold On’, on the 20th May.
