Look at him. Just... just look at him. (Click for full size)
First, let me say it is an honor to even be speaking to you right now.
I've been a fan of yours for years and your music - along with other
tracks from Ed Banger Records - truly got me listening to dance music
(other than Daft Punk) and consequently led to the start of my blog. So
thank you.
Well, pleasure is mine, thank you too.
Cuteness aside, let's start with some background info. Tell us about
yourself, including the origin of that name.
My name is Mehdi Faveris-Essadi. I'm a DJ and producer from Paris,
France. I've been working on various Hip-Hop and Electronic Music
projects since 1995. A while ago, when I was a fresh and new
beat-maker for french Rap bands, friend of mine wrote 'Produced by DJ
Mehdi' in the credits of a song I did, and it just sticked. I am also
one of the original artists from the Ed Banger Records label for which
I released one LP (Lucky Boy 2006), three EP's (I am Somebody 06,
Lucky Girl/Signatune 07 and Pocket Piano 08), and a remix compilation
called 'Red Black and Blue' (2009). I love art, food and sex.
What got you involved in that electro/dance music scene? Who are your
inspirations?
Meeting people got me into this. Glib'R from Versatile was the first
DJ to play some Chicago and Detroit classic tunes for me, around
1993/1994. He was running programs at this radio station named NOVA
here in Paris, and they were playing Hip-Hop, Electro and World Music
all the time, all mixed, which was quite unusual at the time.
Pioneering. Then I met the guys from La Funk Mob and Motorbass in
1996, on the production of MC Solaar's third album. Those guys opened
a whole new world for me with their instrumental EP's. Later, they
became very popular as CASSIUS. Last but not least, I met Busy P and
the Daft Punk crew in 97, right after the release of 'Homework'. P and
I became good friends, and when he left Daft to set up his management
company called HEADBANGERS in 2001, I immediately jumped-in. All these
people were, and still are, my main inspirations when it comes to
evolving and growing in the music field without losing my
particularities and background culture.
What was your first track? And under what name did you create that track?
I can't remember the first thing I ever composed. I used to experiment
a lot with my parents stereo equipment as a kid and I 've been
composing or sampling music since 1990 (I was 13 years old). The first
thing I 'recorded' was a rap demo with my cousins. I used to rap, too.
In 1994, my band IDEAL J participated in the soundtrack music to a
french movie called "RAI". The movie was a flop, but they still
released a CD of the music. That was the first music I ever got
published.
As a solo artist, I used to print instrumental EP's on my own label
called ESPIONNAGE, in 1998, under the names CAMBRIDGE CIRCUS, ESPION
or ESPIONNAGE SOUND SYSTEM. That was before Ed Banger, but Busy P and
Feadz were already in the team.
If you could sum up your music in 4 words or less, what would you say?
If Kraftwerk were African.
How is life working with the Ed Rec crew? Is this the life you expected as
a child?
Life is good, thanks. It's all about making music and having fun.
Exactly what I hoped it to be as a teenager.
What are some other talents you have? And when/how did you discover these?
I'm an amazing jamaican Dancehall dancer, along with Gaspard from
Justice. We practice all the time. We won contests and stuff. I also
cook. If I could open a place where you could eat a Mehdi dish, and
dagger to the latest dub-plate, now that would be my ultimate goal.
What equipment do you use?
Bongos, mainly. And a cowbell, sometimes.
What is your favorite aspect of being a musician?
I really like that Platinum frequent flyer miles card that I got from
Air France. It gives me that 'upper-class' feeling that I always
strived for. I still get the 'arab-looking-suspicious' search at
security though, but I also kinda like it. I keep it real, if you may.
What is your favorite song right now?
Right now, 'Man Of The Year' by DRAKE.
From the fans...
Hey guys, to quote Mariah Carey: "I love my fans".
What is your next big project with Ed Banger?
Working on a new haircut right now. Trust me, it ain't easy.
Where do you think electro is headed?
To the East brother, to the East.
Favorite VST Plugin?
Spankwire, hands down. Note: That's porn. lol. --Prez
Thanks so much DJ Mehdi, I look forward to hearing back from you soon,
Prez
Thank you Prez, my pleasure---
Mehdi.
Rock your blogging DJ's
http://djmehdi.coolcats.fr/
I've never laughed so hard. Touche Mehdi... touche. Well, we couldn't milk any secrets out of him, but hey, I made en effort! It was an honor, it really was, to just talk to him. Makes me feel so accomplished. *tear*
Alright, now some party favors. Here's DJ Mehdi's spin on Busy P's To Protect and Entertain. It's good, it's some of the best Hip Hop I've ever heard, actually. I frequently blast this stuff (along with the rest of Pedrophilia - EP when I'm driving.
And... a nice mp3 players chock full of Mehdi's new "Red Black & Blue," courtesy of his manager.
Enjoy, I know I did. Prez PS - Can I let out a scream of excitement now? Yes? AAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
14 comments:
wow, well done guys! enjoyed the interview :D
Hope you enjoy the new interview layout. I hope it's a bit cleaner and easier to read than previous interviews.
This is so epic, I dont even care it pushed my post off the homepage!
way to kiss mehdi's ass prez haha :)
I'm only human
Wow.
That is all.
envy... pure ENVY!!! xD just kiddin' ... and the picture is godlike xD
totally irritated at taking my interview dream but very epic post
Wow nice job guys...Ive been an avid reader of the blog since it was just prez man has this site grown! I think this is a huuuge milestone! Congrats guys!
DJ MEHDI???
It's like I was a curse on this blog or something.
At least it lifted...
incroyable. bien fait prez
Way to play it cool, haha.
Good going though.
GREAT STUFF! KEEP IT UP!
I really enjoyed this post, especially the “examples in this post” portion which made it really easy for me to SEE what you were talking about without even having to leave the article. Thanks
and looking forward to get more of buy musical instrumnets
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