By our guest interviewer.
Parisian by birth. DJ, producer, and innovator Franck Roger’s career stretches way back to the 90s, and he’s been bumping about the scene via his uniquely soulful, deep house flavours ever since. With a slew of brilliant releases under his belt on home label Real Tone Records, and countless remixes for other luminaries, Franck Roger has also been dedicated to finding new talent and nurturing the growth of artists he feels a real connection with. Franck says he’s inspired by local hero DJ Deep, and by US pioneers Kerri Chandler and Jovonn.
We talk to the brilliant and enigmatic DJ / producer about the new track, ‘Enchanted’, the remixes, his studio, and the advice he would give a young Franck Rogers, knowing what he knows now.
Thanks for talking to us at Magazine Sixty. Where are you and how are you spending the day?
I’m home actually spending days and nights in the studio 🙂
I’ve seen pictures online of you moving house. Where have you settled these days?
I moved out of Paris to be on the West Coast, in the countryside near the sea, where life seems a lot more enjoyable.
Have you finished building your studio in your present home and what is the last machine you added to it?
Yes, the studio is kinda finished. I have everything I need for the music I do; I think. The last buy was a pedal from Strymon called El capstan 2 for delays etc.
You are forever on the move. How busy have you been the last few years, what projects have you been working on?
Being busy is an everyday work. When you work on your own, run your labels, your productions, and all of your career by yourself it takes time and passion and that’s why.
I’ve been busy making my own releases and producing other artists when I get a good feeling about them.
You have put out a lot of great records. Do you feel pressure to continue to improve upon what you do each time?
Yes of course. The longer you are in the game the harder it is to stay because new generations come every year and trends change, so yes, it’s a good pressure, and it’s an honor to be able to release and sell my music after twenty-five years of producing.
How do you challenge yourself musically?
When it’s late and I’m tired and I think nothing will come …. that’s when a new track finally comes. No pain no gain. Pushing your boundaries and your spirit always helps.
How long has Real Tone the label been around?
Real Tone has been here since 2005 and has been a major turn in my life to create it and I don’t regret it in any way.
I guess there is much to say about the benefits of releasing music on your own label, right?
The benefit is not the only thing. Control is the word let’s say that. I control my music, touch every cent of it, and I’m glad it doesn’t go to any big major system that doesn’t care about it. So yes, it is great to have your own label and control in all ways, as well as artistically.
You are about to release an album. When can we hope to see it?
For now, the album is done. I’m still waiting for a good time to put it out. I wanna press it also in a double vinyl box set so it takes a bit of time to organize how I will market it etc. But it’s in a very good place.
What can you tell us about the track – Enchanted? How did it all come together?
That track was highly influenced by Sade’s production as I’m a big fan of this era and its sounds. I wanted to do a down-tempo Balearic but soulful production at the same time. Kinda exotic if you prefer. My good friend DJ Aakmael introduced me to her. She’s a very talented singer called Shawn Chappelle. I sent them the full instrumental, then sometime later and it was worth the wait as she delivered a fantastic song and writing. We have a new one for the album that you will discover soon.
Is this track going to be on your forthcoming album?
The original slow version will be on my album and to me that is the best. This one has got the Sade vibe.
How did Vibe Me to The Moon get hold of the track?
I think they heard the song which came out on Real Tone as I did a soulful version and they wanted to license it to give it another life with the remixes.
Did you have any input on the choice of remixers?
They asked me who I could see on it, and we exchanged some names, and they wanted Demarkus who has been a part of the label too. He made a great mix. Fred is a very old friend like Spinna, so it was amazing to have those three guys retouching this song.
Have you got a favourite?
For now, Fred Everything is the one I play the most. A fantastic job Fred has done on it.
As a prolific remixer, how much do you enjoy taking someone else’s track and reworking it?
Yes, remixing is a very good exercise, and it pushes you where you might not go, so yes, this is something that I really like to do when the track or song has enough decent material to work. This is not the case every time.
You have a long and illustrious career. What are you most proud of in your career?
I’m proud that life gave me the chance to travel the whole world many times and get to know so many passionate people. That’s the magic of it for me.
Do you think what it takes to be a successful artist has changed or do you feel the fundamentals remain the same?
Oh yeah, it definitely has changed the whole game! These days it’s all about the numbers, who you are, and what you wanna show.
Being humble in this business is what makes you stay relevant.
What has been one of the biggest challenges in putting out music and DJing over the years?
Making music is an everyday challenge, to be honest. You gotta stay on point no matter what. People talk, socials etc, and everything is under control, not like in the good old days when mistakes were fun. So, staying alive in that jungle is the challenge, not just making music.
What advice would you give a young Franck 20 years ago about your life in music?
You gotta do what you gotta do to the max.
When you are not making great music in the studio, what might we find you doing?
Taking a huge walk with my dogs in the forest or by the sea. This looks very simple but the older we get the more we are attracted to nature. This clears and cleans my mind from the music and the studio. I can then be back with a head full of inspiration.
Buy Franck Roger feat Shawn Chappelle – Enchanted (Remixes) at Traxsource
Vibe Me To The Moon website
Vibe Me To The Moon on Instagram
Franck Roger on Facebook
Franck Roger on Soundcloud
Shawn Chappelle on Facebook
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