Faz is balancing on the boarders between Dub techno, Detroit, Jazz and Disco. Tight mixing and contagious rhythms spiced with some Funk is what makes this DJ one to keep an eye on. The DJ-mix Sauna Session vol. 1 is a crusade though the deep swamps of Dub and Detroit Techno.
At the Beatfreax headquarter summer is kicking in; sun, beachparties, flipflops, yihaa!!! Starting this week we’ll be previewing the coming festival season with our infamous annual festival guide!
Deze zomer bestaat Electronation alweer 6 jaar! Deze mijlpaal is natuurlijk een reden voor een knallend feestje! Onder de hoede van danceplatform klinch organiseert Electronation deze Birthday Bash in de Melkweg.
Being into club music since its tender age, Shonky graced the decks of a club for the first time in 1998 inspired by djs like Dan Ghenacia, Ivan Smagghe among others as a time when serious parisian clubbers revolved around the Kwality parties at the Batofar.
Who is Shonky, tell us briefly about yourself?
My name is Shonky. I was a bit weird at school – only interested in music and my computer. I studied mathematics and I was not very sociable. After five years studying mathematics, I changed my behavior and started to go out a lot. However I did keep my nickname "Shonky". My real name is "Jacques Dupont" and it is the most common French name, haha.
What was your first experience with electronic music?
My first real experience with electronic music was a couple years ago when I decided to go to a rave party with my friends. It was fucking crazy and since then I started to go out all the time. Another experience that showed me that I want to be a dj and producer was the Batofar's after party with Dan Ghenacia.
You just released your first album "Time Zero" on Freak N Chic. What role does Freak N Chic play in your booming carrier?
This album is the result of the ten last months; some days were complicated, because I didn't let anybody listen before the end of the project. I wanted to create a real story between each track, so people will experience the album as a journey. I made lots of tracks, but I did not put every track on the album. I kept only the ones that I thought could fit together and represent what I really want to express. Freak n chic are my friends from the beginning. They know exactly in which direction I want go. They do a great job!
How would you describe the album?
Groovy, deep and distinctive
Where did you get your inspiration from for making this album?
I'm inspired by a lot of things, from the roots of my musical background (funk, soul, punk) to what I listen everyday in everything, but most important I have been inspired by my gigs all around Europe and abroad, after hours too... in fact the album is all about moving the dance floor.
Recently, you went on a tour through USA and Canada. Did you have a good time? Any juicy stories? (ghe ghe)
I just finished a tour in the USA. I don't have a juicy story, but I do have a funny one. I was supposed to play in a club in Toronto two months ago, but I got stuck in a heavy snow blizzard at Chicago airport for 15 hours. Finally, when I arrived in Toronto, I went immediately to the club but it was closing 15 minutes later. I played a few records before we went to an afterparty in an old house. There were approximately 200 people, all stuck because of the snow blizzard. We were advised not to leave the house and I stayed here for three days with 2 metres of snow around the house. I really had a good time and the people were friendly, kind and ready to party! So this tour was great!
The underground scene in Paris has been growing the last 3 years, but you decided to move to Berlin. What drove you to move?
I moved to Berlin at the end of October 2007. I live in a nice street called Graefestrasse in Kreuzberg. It's close to Kottbusser Tor. I decided to move, because the city lives and breaths for and by electonic music. Another reason is that a lot of my friends live in Berlin. I had to email with them in the past, but now I meet with them in a café around the corner of my street. It's pleasant and more personal. Berlin is also a lot cheaper than Paris and everything is new and interesting. A good thing about Berlin is that you have always good parties with good dj's and amazing sound systems. The crowd is outgoing and they really pay attention to the music. I'm waiting for the summer time to come, because the parties are huge during this time of year.
The digital revolution has closed down a lot of record stores. What is your opinion about the digital revolution?
For me the digital is great.
If you could choose one producer to remix one of your tracks, who would it be, and why?
I just released my album and I choose Mathias Kaden and Paul Ritch to do a remix for the track called Time Zero. These two guys are awesome!
What is your current top 10?
Various Artists – Milshake - Minibar Music
Dyed Soundorom - Son Capulet - Freak n'Chic
Rose & Ulysse – Myosotis - Edit-Select
DOP – Lighthouse - Orac
Seth Troxler - Aphrika
Ramon Vegas - Another Planet - Unknown
Mathias Kaden - Lucidas ep - Freude am tanzen
Sascha Dive – Deep - Drumpoet Community
Gemini - Voice inside my Head (Derrick carter remix) - Classic
Shonky - Time Zero Remixes - Freak n ‘Chic
What are your future plans?
I collaborated with my best friend Dyed Soundorom for Freak n'Chic. This is for Dan Ghenacia'S compilation. At the moment, I also try to concentrate on my album release tour all around the globe. I'm so excited! I also finished a couple remixes and reworks and they should come out soon.
"There were approximately 200 people, all stuck because of the snow blizzard. We were advised not to leave the house and I stayed here for three days with 2 metres of snow around the house."
- Interview done on 06-05-2008 "There were approximately 200 people, all stuck because of the snow blizzard. We were advised not to leave the house and I stayed here for three days with 2 metres of snow around the house."
