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Interview: Louis La Roche

posted by Justin at 6:04 pm.

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I came across Louis’ remix of Absolute Ego Riot by The Phantom’s Revenge over the summer and liked it so much, I tracked down Louis’ own Myspace. Louis La Roche delivers ridiculously-solid dance songs. It’s always pretty awesome when a young dude makes some great music. His sampling is nuts. Last month he posted a 10 minute mix on his Myspace and its been on repeat ever since. The opening track in that mix blows my mind (you gotta download it below). Definitely keep your eye on Louis and if you have not heard his EP, do so now! Also stay tuned because he has a debut album coming out soon. The first taste from it, “Be Brave” is on his Myspace and linked below. I contacted Louis last week and he agreed to do an interview.

Louis La Roche Myspace
Download The Peach EP @ Zshare
Highly Recommended: The Phantoms Revenge - Absolute Ego Riot (Louis La Roche Remix)
Louis La Roche - Be Brave
August Mix @ Zshare

Thanks for doing this interview, Louis.
No problem, it’s my pleasure.

What first got you into music? Play any instruments?
Music got me into music. I don’t play any instruments, but i do understand chords and keys. As long as you understand that and have good ideas in your head, you can’t go wrong.

When did you start exploring making your own music?
When i was 14/15. Messing about with 4-tracks then moving onto Garageband.

Apart from electronic and house music, what are your favorite rock bands?
Rock bands? Radiohead, Midlake, The White Stripes

Do any other genres influence your work?
Every genre there is, i’m a big fan of bands like Holy Fuck, LCD Soundsystem, Hercules And Love Affair, but at the same time i like people like The Kings Of Convenience, Air and Caribou.

Your song structure is great, would you say its just a result of listening to a lot of music?
I guess so, but also because with dance music often songs are 6 minutes long or whatever, for DJ’s to mix in and out of. Thats all good but its not great to listen to, i get bored easy. So my songs are more like radio edits, short, simple and to the point. Most DJ’s now days use CDJ’s or Laptops anyway, so they can loop the intro and outros to mix into.

Which artists are your greatest influence?
Every French House artist, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, DJ Shadow, Mylo, Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, AFX.

What are you currently listening to?
Plej, i love them! If you haven’t heard of them go check them out. Imagine if Daft Punk went Lounge, thats Plej. There 2nd album ‘Home Is Where Your Heart Was’ has just came out, its a really good album. Im still really loving Untrue by Burial, every track is a masterpiece.

Why is French house so awesome?
Haha, I don’t know you tell me! Theres the new generation of FH artists coming through that i love. Jean Moustache, Thony Ritz, Xinobi and Moulinex. The way i see it is that FH isn’t what it used to be. Its a crossover of French House, Electro and Disco. Call it what you like, but i’m proud to say i’m apart of it.

You do a terrific job of sampling, especially of Michael Jackson in ‘Love’, how do you choose your samples?
It all depends on how i approach a track. Sometimes I’m digging through records and something in the song jumps out at me, i sample it and sometimes it takes days, sometimes it takes months before its finished. But then other times i have no idea what to sample, so i don’t go looking for it, i let it come to me. For example, when i made Love, i was listening to Off The Wall and heard Michael call out ‘Cry’, and was like ‘Thats It!’.

Your remix of Absolute Ego Riot continues to blow my mind, what process did you go through to make the rework?
As much as i love The Phantoms Revenge, he uses to much sidechain and cuts up his samples to much for my liking. I heard A.E.R and thought it was a great idea but completely lost the ‘dance factor’. It was undancable. Its cut up all over the place and the beat comes in and out and people on the dancefloor would get put off. So i asked Phantom for the parts and looked at it completely different. I wanted to make something catchy, groovey and most of all something to get you dancing. I made what would be a verse and chorus and it wasn’t until i finished the song that i listened to the original Candi Staton song.

What software and equipment do you prefer when making music/remixing?
FL Studio, most people look down on it. I agree it did used to lack behind the other D.A.W.S but now its a powerful tool that can do anything Logic, Cubase and Reason can do. As for hardware, i use a Roland 909, Zoom RFX-2000 for filters and reverb, an M-audio Oxygen 2 Midi Keyboard for playing stuff in, a distortion pedal and Kaoss Pad. Everything else is in the software.

And when can we get our hands on ‘I Delete Myself’, your debut album?

Soon Soon, we’re going through the clearance of samples at the moment. I takes some time. Overall, I’m very happy the way the album turned out. Its more than just big bangers and french house sounding loops. Theres a couple of quiet, laidback songs, some 80’s electro influenced songs, as well as some Disco French Touch. I wanted to make a proper album. In other words, not just something to listen to in the club. Its an album to play in your car, on your ipod, in your bedroom as well. So hopefully theres something for everyone on there.

Can’t wait. Thanks for taking the time for this interview.

Justin Cudmore: cudmore2@gmail.com