A long-term Defected favourite and one of the key players in the Defected In The House Ibiza residency this summer, Noir is currently all set to release a new edition of Deep Down & Defected. The album combines delicious selections from Dennis Ferrer, Blaze, Guti and Dantiez Saunderson, remixes by Noir (of Pitto and Nick Curly among others) and six brand spanking new Noir productions – all of it acknowledges an artistic swing back towards full-on club mode. It’s an evolution we're keen to discuss…
How did the Deep Down project come to pass?
With the previous compilations I’ve done for Defected I’ve always had an idea. But this time, I was struggling. In the end, I put it [the project] to bed for a couple of weeks and started playing around on my CDJs as if I was in a club. I was going at it and suddenly I realised that I didn’t need to have an idea for the album; I just needed to go with the flow. In the end I picked around 50 records from the Defected catalogue, played around with them and went from there. It just happened. Like my DJing the album varies throughout and doesn’t consciously stick to one sound or another. It’s a ride.
The album includes a few new productions from you and they’re very ‘club’....
After my artist album this spring I felt like there was a vacuum inside of me. The album was complicated. It had a song structure. It was 4-4 and electronic but for listening to in the car. Afterwards, I was thinking a lot about the club and that I hadn’t made any club records for a while. I missed that.
Aside from your productions, what are your favourite compilation moments?
I’m proud of my Pitto remix. ‘You’ was one of my favourite tracks two years ago...very summery and organic. I replayed the melody with an electronic synth feel and it ended up as something really different for me. Really good. I also like the remix I did for Osunlade’s ‘Pride’ [with Nadirah Shakoor]. It’s not on the final mix but I like the vibe. It’s a rolling techno groove with the original vocal over the top. It’s become a secret weapon in my DJ sets.
Was it difficult switching back to a more dancefloor-orientated style?
It came naturally. The track ‘Better Place’ was the first thing I did after my own album. It felt like a Defected track but it wasn’t fully finished. Simon [Dunmore] said to me one day ‘now that you’ve explored your own album, you can do something for the club’ and so ‘Better Place’ was a good starting point. I think Simon prefers my club productions! Of course, the new tracks aren’t simple club tracks. Unconsciously, perhaps, there are extra layers on top of these new productions. They’re a little more detailed...they’re filthier. I felt more comfortable with my club sound this time round. I think having made the Noir album has matured me again, because it prompted me to challenge myself and go beyond my comfort zone.
How have these artistic changes affected Noir Music?
The label is named after me which says everything...it follows me. When I launched it I wanted to sign the stuff that I would be happy playing myself so it’s a clear reflection of where I am. When, after my own album, I felt the urge to make club records again, I also felt the urge to sign club music. I wanted to sign more EPs...less songs as I had before. But this is fine. Our scene is always changing and moving. All DJs change their taste a little every single month, and if you step back and look at any DJ over a period of time you’ll see fairly significant patterns of change. The record labels play their part here.
For the same reason as Deep Down you must have enjoyed playing Amnesia recently?
I played the opening party for Defected In The House at Amnesia [part of Together, 9 June], which was packed. It was all cool. It was my first time at Amnesia which I thought was highly impressive as a venue. It was a really good night and I’m looking forward to going back soon.
You’ve actually been on the road quite a bit since releasing the Noir album haven’t you?
I’ve been super busy touring for the past six weeks. I’ve only been home for four days during that period, just to wash my clothes before heading back out! You build stamina for this. The sleep deprivation can hurt and that was the case at Sonar last year. I was really, really tired but I knew this and ensured I had a couple of days to rest up around it.
Does such relentless touring hinder studio creativity? Discuss....
Having been on the road recently I’m now longing for the studio as I have so many ideas to play with. Where my studio is based I have quietness to sit down and let the ideas flow. I never get writers’ block. I’m alone from the first beat to the absolute final result. It’s all Noir. If there’s any problem it’s the fact I have so many ideas all the time; sometimes they’re eating me alive! The touring is fine.
What’s next for Noir?
I’m producing a lot of track-y stuff. It’s a great mix of contemporary house and timeless house with that classic, solid groove. A couple of the tracks have melodic elements like harps which I think is the experience of my debut album interfering, but the focus is still club. Two EPs are pretty much ready to go. Also, for the first time in a long time I’m producing collaborations. I decided recently to reach out to friends who could help me add stuff to my sound.
Like whom?
I’ve been working with Third Son on an EP which should be finished in the next two weeks. I’ve also been working with Hot Since 82 on some bouncy stuff. I’d finished some specific music but the ideas weren’t quite 100% right and so I asked these guys – and others – to help me develop them further and add their input. The music goes back and forth but it’s different to when I’ve worked with singers. There, the artists are working to my plan and I have 100% control. Here, it’s a proper collaboration...proper back and forth.
What’s happening with Dark Stars showcase concept? – there was talk last year of ‘live’ meets ‘DJ’ shows....
I’ve certainly dropped the idea of doing live stuff from the Noir album. The album is for listening to rather than dancing and the club didn’t feel like the right environment in which to perform it. I’d need to consider having a concert set-up to do it right. I am, however, talking to Native Instruments about live-DJ combinations. I’ve been playing with their new S8 controller and forthcoming Stems system [launching this summer, Stems files split tracks by bass, drums, melody and vocal, allowing ever more creative ‘live’ DJ mixing] to see what is possible. My solo album is going to be released in the Stems format too, which is exciting.
But Dark Stars?
We’re getting there. The line-ups aren’t sorted yet but will be revealed soon. We’re aiming for a launch of the concept at ADE this autumn. The goal is the same. Dark Stars will be a series of showcases building up artists on the Noir Music imprint on the road. I really can’t wait to launch this now.
Words: Ben Lovett
Deep Down & Defected Volume 8 – Noir is out 12 July on Defected Records - order from iTunes. An album sampler is out now
Noir returns to Amnesia Ibiza for Defected In The House on 04 August and 08 September. Full line-ups and tickets here
