Responsible for one of the most talked-about records of recent memory, FCL (aka San Soda and Red D) probably didn’t realise that their vinyl-only, 150 copy-limited, It’s You would get everyone quite as excited as it did. But whether you call it a cover, a DJ-tool, an accapella or simply another weapon in FCL’s growing arsenal, the fact remains that It’s You is a superb, unifying house record, one which looks certain to further make its mark as 2013 progresses.
If you didn’t know FCL before, their mix for our In Their House series is the perfect way to better acquaint yourself with them. In addition, we caught up with Red D to get the final word on It’s You, signing it to Defected and what else the FCL have in the pipeline…
Thanks for talking to us – how are you doing today?
All going swell; enjoying the usual e-mail/phone/music/studio/what-to-eat-today shenanigans.
First up, for those who haven’t read your blog post, why did you decide to sign It’s You to Defected
Well, the WPH blog can be considered as the full explanation. In the end if we were looking at it from all possible angles, from demand to opportunity to simple gut-feeling, there was simply no reason to not sign it to Defected. It’s another thing we haven’t done before and should provide another challenge and more possibilities to get the music we love out there, both our own stuff as well as the wealth of music out there old and new that we want to play and promote. And if you don’t believe that, we can always say it’s just for the money!
How did the record originally come about? Have you been surprised by people’s reaction to it?
It started almost ten years ago to be honest, when the original It’s You by ESP – a Chicago favourite of many a house lover – was part of the 6 tracks I started playing with Lady Linn, a Belgian jazz singer. The project is me DJing with Linn doing live vocals of existing tracks, mash-ups, improv, etc. The more I played it with her, the more I thought about doing a remake, because while the original is perfect I do feel Linn is a better singer.
Flash forward 8 years later and we were in the studio recording vocals for Used To Be, which was the FCL follow-up to our Vocals For Everyone E.P., and on the spot I asked Linn to do some vocals for a possible ‘It’s You’ remake. One day later we had singer Gustaph in de studio (by now part of Hercules & Love Affair after a mutual gig) and we asked him to do some ad-libs and harmonies. When he was gone we just listened to the vocals they did and on the spot decided we could make a cool DJ-tool just with the vocals and some percussive elements, but with no beat, because the vocals were so strong. Un-DJ-like, but after playing with Lady Linn regularly it’s just plain and simple that a powerful voice alone can make a whole room go mad. Very much gospel-like now that I think about it!
A couple weeks later we played at Panorama Bar and San Soda dropped what we had in mind from minute one as our tool, and the place went kinda mad. So on the spot I decided it would be cool to do 150 copies of this, to hand out to our DJ friends and to be sold only via our website and Ghent’s Music Mania record shop, kinda our official home and a shop for which I help out as a house buyer. It took another while before we had a playable version, but when we did and we started playing it, the potential of this one soon became obvious. But we stuck to the 150 copies idea, and the rest, as they say.
A few people were surprised by the fact that it was only the beatless accapella version that was made and released… was it originally made as purely a DJ tool?
Yeah, for once and for all, there is no other version of this one from us. We intended to make a full remake, but after a while it became pointless and it would have been too much copying what is essentially a perfect record. This version is really our own rendition. Some people will prefer this one, some won’t, but they are two different records by now in our opinion. But of course all credit goes to the original artists; this is just a different take on it.
Moving on the In Their House mix – how and where was it recorded?
At home, one take, with two turntables and an old-skool Rodec mixer. No edits, no fanciness, just playing records, very much like we do when we play in a club. There’s never too much thinking going on, usually just the first record gets picked and then we’re off.
Are there any particular tracks on there you’d like to highlight?
Well, the cliché dictates I should say they are all special. My WPH-mind however says I should say the Ante Perry track, because that has just been released as part of our vinyl only coloured series. But from inspirational end I’d say the Phat Trax one, produced by Nick Holder, who will always be in the top 3 of our mutually favourite old-skool producers.
What else are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on some stuff of my own (hasn’t happened a lot in the past), and trying to get a project on WPH paying tribute to Belgian new beat on the rails. San Soda should be working on his contribution to that! Otherwise there is some new FCL stuff coming, but we’re kinda slow and don’t like to release too much, so we’ll see.
Anything else you’d like to tell us about…?
Yes, all London and UK heads should head to Oscillate Wildly at Corsica Studios on Friday 8th February, we’ve got a loooong FCL set planned there.
It’s You is out now (digitally) on Defected Records – listen & buy here
Tracklist:
Simon Hinter – Take Care (Aki Latvamäki Remix) [Phil]
Roland Tings – Polo Sport [100% Silk]
Dead Rose Music Company – Tonight [Let’s Play House]
Phat Trax – The Enemy [DNH]
Schatrax – Restless Nights [Schatrax]
Ante Perry – Tief Dekoletiert [We Play House Recordings / Lany Recordings]
Ian Pooley – Compurhythm (Dixon’s 4/4 Treatment)
Locked Groove – Nighttime At The Garage [Hotflush]
Bobby Browser – No Appointments [100% Silk]
Klangmodule – Konsonanz (FCL Remix) [Morse Records]
Metrobox – Live The Dream [We Play House Recordings]
Silent Servant / Function – Violencia [Sandwell District]
