Alexkid (aka Alexis Mauri) is a talented Parisian producer and DJ and one of the stars of Laurent Garnier’s respected label F Communication. While touring the world for the last ten years, he has managed to find time to release 4 EPs, 3 albums and a truckload of 12”s. His 2003 hit “Come With Me” was one of the biggest selling dance music releases of the year, and was remixed by heavyweights like Tiga and Brett Johnson. ITM got the chance to interview the French dynamo before he kicks off his Australian tour.
ITM: How and when did you discover electronic music?
AK: That was I guess back in 1989/1990, but I really got into it around 1992 when raves starting to occur in Paris. I was playing guitar in a college funk/punk band, and our bass player took me to a party. It was just unbelievable, the atmosphere was by then completely crazy. Different kind of people, all ages, raving in this warehouse just outside Paris, I even saw my English teacher there! From then on I started going out and slowly got to know the Parisian electronic scene. I was going almost every Thursday to the parties of Laurent Garnier at the Rex. It was just great, and I can say that in this way he contributed to my musical culture… Clubs can teach you a lot if you’re curious. I got bored of raves when they became mainly trance oriented around 1993/94, as I’m not really found of trance. So I was just clubbing, I bought a computer in 1993 that could allow me to sequence and make arrangements to records demos for my band, but I eventually ended up experimenting with the drum-machines and the sampler for myself.
ITM: Tell us about your musical background?
AK: Oh! There’s so much to it. As I was saying before I play guitar, quite badly now, but it remains my main instrument when it comes to write a song. I’ve listened to so much stuff; punk, bossa nova, drum and bass (I was addicted), hip-hop… and I still do. I’m very curious by nature and I get excited by music when it has an idea to it. That’s why I’ve been trying to blend genres for the past years, but with drum machines, and always trying to avoid clichés. Right now I listen to a lot of rock bands, I even have one myself. I’m completely into minimal and techno, which is my main culture. The only problem right now is that those genres can be very boring, there’s so much stuff, but there’s also crazy and insane tracks with a very sexy feeling to it. You just have to be very picky. These genres “excite” me at the moment because it’s the renewal of electronic music.
ITM: You played in bands early on. What motivated you to start producing your own music?
AK: I was somehow very, very curious of making dance music, having people dance, and breaking the obvious rules and formats. Back then it was something new. It’s true that at some point I was really enjoying electronic and acoustic blends, but at some point it became too much of a recipe, and then I got bored. The only kind of acoustic and electronic blends that I like are stuff like Who Made Who, Lindstrom, DFA, Emperor Machine. It remains funky and completely fucked up in the attitude. But what I like mostly is the more raw electronic [sound]. Quite a few years ago, in the beginning of house music, people like Larry Heard could make you vibrate with just a drum machine and a cheap synth, and I’m trying to go back to that. Simple emotions, groove and energy. A few years after anyone could achieve a good sound just with a laptop, but people stopped experimenting. So personally I get attracted by what’s trying to be different and stands out. That’s what motivates my own productions. I’m dreaming of strange blends that could be the pop of the future. Something that could sound like Goldfrapp on bad drugs. That would be great!
ITM: Do you play a lot of the real instruments (bass, guitar, keys) we can hear on your recordings? Do you think it sets you apart from other producers?
AK: I used to play a lot of the instruments, quite badly, but I would always figure out a way so it would sound cool. It used to set me apart before, but at some point everyone was blending electronics and real instruments. So I got bored of it. I thought that the real challenge for me this time would be to do something without real instruments, nor acoustic sounds. All pure electronics, trying to go far with the sounds… It was a hard process for me as it’s not what I’m used to. But I’m satisfied with the result; it’s a new step for me. I think that what make people stand now are the ideas. If you’re not original, you’re just one among the others.
ITM: Did you start DJing before you were producing or did that come after?
AK: I definitely started producing first. DJing came quite quickly after, but it wasn’t my passion. I liked it, I even was fascinated by it, but it wasn’t any of my ambitions. I did it because I was buying records and because it was fun. Slowly it became more serious. I started traveling all over the place, and well, I still do, which is great. Now I’m completely hooked to it. I really love things, the production and the DJing. I have great memories! Crazy… actually too crazy parties..! But if I really had to choose one, I would choose making music. That’s what I love the most. It’s physical and I can’t escape from it. It’s in me. When I DJ and the party is good it’s like I’m in a “trance”. You know exactly where to go, what record to play. When you completely connect to the crowd, it’s a trip! I love it… But DJing can also sometimes be lonely… Luckily it doesn’t happen very often.
ITM: Do you think DJing has influenced your production style or is it the opposite?
AK: DJing has influenced my production, definitely! My music has become more and more floor orientated because of parties. I remember I used to do tracks with almost unmixable beginnings. DJs would struggle to play the track! Now I’m trying to do tracks that can be played, but that have an edge to it… You have to think of the floor, but in an original way.
ITM: Your albums are an eclectic mix of styles. Do you feel like you have to stick to a certain genre of music when you’re playing a set?
AK: Well, it all depends on my state of mind and of the crowd. If I see that the people are open minded, I go more crazy behind the decks trying to surprise them. I always carry quite a few different styles with me, as I love house and electro, and techno, acid… So I sometimes jump from one to another, playing sometimes a rock track in the middle. I like going back to basics too, so sometimes towards the end of my sets I play techno classics, or house classics… There’s no rules actually, as long as I have people dancing.
ITM: What’s the track your most proud of making and why?
AK: Lately it’s Caracol and Decibelly, because they’re quite experimental and super effective. A lot of DJs don’t even dare to play them, but when they do it works great, and then they keep on playing them. I like music not to be too obvious. One of the masters in the sounds-like-it’s-strange-music-but-I-rock-the-dancefloor-with-my-tracks is James Holden.
ITM: Compared to most electronic acts your sound crosses many genres and styles. Do you think it hurts you or helps you to not follow a genre or style?
AK: I think it helps. Of course I didn’t break as big as I could have sticking to a genre, but I’m traveling like crazy, and it’s been years I’ve been doing this. In opposition to some people that you hear of for 3 years, and then they’re out. It’s 9 years now that I’ve been signed to F-Communications. Wow, I’m getting old! I’ve always been doing what I like. And I like this music because there’s an evolution to it. Sticking to something would be the beginning of the end. I think I just like to play music that I like, without being into a trend, even though somehow I am right now with techno and minimal. It’s huge over here in Europe. I just need to play good music. That’s what guys like Laurent Garnier and Luciano do… Play good stuff whatever it is, as long as it’s electronic and rocks the crowd.
ITM: Did the success of your album ‘Mint’ change your life in anyway?
AK: Well, of course it helps, people know more about your music, and they follow what you’re doing and that’s always good. I can’t say it changed my life, as I’m still doing the same thing. Making music, traveling, DJing… As long as I’m living off my passion I’m a happy person. But I don’t want to succeed by any means. If people like my music, it’s great! I’m not going to change my music for people to like it. If I do a pop track and people like it, well it’s great, if they don’t, too bad. If I do a club track and it works, I’m happy!
ITM: How did the ad for Jennifer Lopez’s perfume come about, and how did you find the process?
AK: It went through my publisher… That was a very complicated process, but in the end I was happy with the result. But god! Making music on purpose for advertising is definitely not for me! Everyone wanted to change a little something just to feel like they have the power to say and do something. [It was a] nightmare! Especially when they don’t have a clue of what they’re saying.
ITM: What are your views on the French music and club scene at the moment?
AK: Some French music is really good. There’s a very good scene. Somehow there’s a new scene building up and getting super trendy, like Justice, Institubes, etc. But it’s not really my cup of tea. Even though there are some tracks and artists I like from the label Institubes. But none of Justice actually. They seem to be very cool guys, but it’s just not my stuff. Too distorted for me. I’ve been through Daft Punk already back in ‘95, I don’t see the point of it now. But that’s because I’m a little bit older. If I was 16, maybe I’d like Justice.
ITM: Has there ever been an artist your record company asked you to remix but you refused?
AK: From F-Com? None. Requests for remixes usually don’t come through them. I’ve refused remixes for quite a few reasons. Time mainly, not inspired sometimes, and I don’t like to say yes to something if it’s just to add a beat to it. I’ve also refused because I though the original should remain untouched.
ITM: What’s the best and worst gig you’ve ever done and why?
AK: Best, wow, there’s quite a few… In Berlin, in Paris, In Brazil… In Bogota! The worst, I remember one lost in the middle of nowhere in Austria… I played records that for sure always get people dancing, and they were standing there staring at me, expecting something… I don’t know what. It was like a real nightmare… Everything was wrong! Luckily that is happening less and less. But you can’t escape from the bad gig… It happens when you least expect it.
ITM: Thanks for the interview Alexis… Mucho respeto amigo!
AK: De nada, Siento haberla entregado con retraso! Pero no tenia nada de tiempo antes. Un abrazo.
Alexkid tours Australia over the next few weeks, be sure to check him out!
Fri Oct 27 – Adelaide @ Electric Circus
Sat Oct 28 – Brisbane @ Empire
Fri Nov 3 – Perth @ Ambar
Sat Nov 4 – Sydney @ KINK
Mon Nov 6 – Melbourne @ Honkytonks
