This is an interview with Don Rimini, aka Mr Xavier Gassemann, French electronic artist and crowd-ecstaticiser extraordinaire. I wrote about his song 'The Future Is Ours' late last year and around the same time sent him some interview questions. Being a busy man I didn't think I'd get anything BUT the man himself has been kind enough to answer my questions... I am a little late with posting this up, what with all sorts of things hindering the progression of this site, but I am happy to say that in any case: here are some questions answered by Don Rimini.
You perhaps want to cast your mind back to January when reading his questions. I'm just kidding. They're relevant now as ever (except the answers he gave that were time-specific). And I'm so glad he has faith in the UK music scene (big up!) - a man who is led by his sense of fun in all things, not just music, and whose positive attitude is quite evident in what he told me. Now, read up, my friends.
Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?
Don Rimini, Native parisian , producer, DJ, the nice boy from next door, Ron Jeremy’s son, your favorite pizza cooker, someone who could make you pretty and smart. ahaah... I try humbly to produce great songs, make my pals dance madly till the morning light. My brand new EP Fear Of Missing Out has just been released a few weeks ago on a great German label called No Brainer. I am also real proud of the live show that I am now touring with, called 'A Live Odyssey'.
Why did you decide to start creating music?
When I was 14, I started to DJ. It quickly became a passion, then a way of life. Then, I naturally wanted to include my own tracks in the mixes. So I started to produce some. It is the obvious next step for a DJ. Creating is a positive challenge and most of all, for me, it's all about fun and good times. Fun is the main thing that orients my life choices.
How would you describe your sound? What makes you and your style stand out?
Hummm... Basically I make « club music ». My music is made to be danced on, to be listened to loudly, to give joy and happiness. Selfishly, I generally produce the music that I myself want to listen to, or which makes me dance. That could be called House, techno, electro... humm I don't really care about the name, the category. I focus on the quality, the intensity, the energy. From my first EP to the last one, through the remixes, I just want people to disinhibit themselves. I follow only my instinct and my desires.
Is there a perfect time and place for listening to your music?
Ah great question!!! Most of my tracks sound ideal in a club at 2am. Or, at least in the car driving to a party.. ahahahah… I want my new tracks to make the club kids dance with the mighty power of their youthful legs, moving their entire bodies instead of having just their fist pumping the air... ahahah. I want them to feel the music as a pleasure, not as a war chant or ritual.
What inspires you most when writing a song?
The weed! Ahahah.
What is your most memorable musical experience?
I have got so many... humm.
Probably, the live performance premiere at Transmusicales Fest (France). There were 10,000 people in front of me. I was alone on the stage, on top of a great LED structure, driving a kind of futuristic controller/synth that was still under development at that time. It was my first live show ever. I worked 8 months on that show. You can imagine how stressed out I was. All the main promoters, journalists attending the festival were in the crowd... No mistakes allowed. Everybody was expecting something great. So, the show had to run perfectly. And it was definitly magic, incredible. The crowd turned mental, clapping their hands on the beat, singing the lyrics, screaming on the drops while smiling and dancing. A fantastic moment that I'll never forget.
What are your favourite three songs at the moment?
Logo - Give Mo Luv (feat. eLBee BaD)
These 2 guys produce the best techno at this time. A kind of oldschool beat including contemporary FX and arrangements.
A$AP Rocky - Ghetto Symphony (feat. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg)
The dozy flow of A$AP is unique. The melody and the production tricks are simply stunning.
Ta-ku - Higher (Flume Remix)
Flume is kinda UFO. This young and fresh beat maker has his own touch, his own taste. I love that beat, the chopped and chipmunked vocals. He is a true genius. Difly!
Who do you most admire in the music world?
So many people man...
I'm a huge fan of Soul music. I would say Sam Cooke. He's a legend, a great songwriter. I love his voice. He got something spiritual and magical that goes straight to your heart. Lately, I noticed that tons of his songs has been used in movies soundtracks.
In your opinion, what is the future of music?
Hum, hard to say. The good one I hope... I never feel easy by naming music styles... So many things are popping up these times. Things like Trap Music to UK Funky, the return of the Deep House...
I was following some Trap music things, but millions of copycats grow everywhere... it's pretty sad because they copy instead of making something interesting, creating, bringing music elsewhere...
These times, I fell in love with projects like Disclosure, Julio Bashmore or Club Cheval; things that sound very British, very deep in the mood, deep in the basses. I’m thinking that the trend goes into that kind of sound. More sexiness, less violence.
What's the future of your music - what do you hope to do next?
To be honest, I really don't know. As I told you, my only goal is having fun. Producing the music that I want to hear at this moment. It s an absolute selfish way to do. I don't really care. I don't want to follow any trend. It depends of my feelings at that time.
It will probably be Techno, or maybe Acid House, Pop... who knows? I make music with passion, and fun. I always rely on my feelings. I’m currently working on new tracks. Several are pretty Techno orientated, others sound pretty much Pop. Meanwhile, I'm starting some collaborations with other artists. I'm very excited about those collabs. I'm ready for 2013, 2014 and 2015...
What, aside from music, is most important to you?
My bed! Aahah.
This man has some good taste, huh? Flume, Disclosure, A$AP Rocky... Anyway, there have been a few new tracks on his SoundCloud, so check those out. As for the man himself, since he has only made EPs so far, perhaps there will be a full-blown LP in the future. Perhaps not - perhaps it's those short, sharp collections of tracks that keep things fresh. I'll be looking forward to see what happens next. Thank you, Mr. Don Rimini.
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