The latest in an impressive run of releases, Dennis Ferrer’s new record ‘Mind Ur Step’ saw the renowned producer team up with Chicago’s Janelle Kroll with exquisite results. Currently topping the Traxsource Top 100 and sitting at No.4 in Beatport’s Deep House chart and ahead of Dennis' appearance at Booom! Ibiza this Saturday, here we caught up with both Dennis and Janelle for a refreshingly frank conversation about success, failure and of course the record itself.
Dennis, is it true that 'Mind Ur Step' was inspired by the common safety announcement at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport? Or is there more to this phrase than meets the eye… what is this song really about?
In all honesty it was inspired by all the traveling that I’ve done throughout my career and hearing that damn “mind your step” public message every time I'm in Schiphol Airport! Traveling and being in music business takes its toll on any kind of family or relationship life. It takes a very special person to deal with "our" eccentricities. So this record is a reminder to anyone who travels whether physically or mentally in and out of a relationship to please mind your step. Your partner doesn't deserve to be trodden on whenever you feel like it. It knocked out two birds with one stone in my mind and life story.
Dennis, everybody is raving about the bassline on this record. It sounds outrageous, what gear did you use to make it?
I've made my stance lately with vigour... its analogue hardware. I'm not going to go into the debate of Plugins vs. Hardware. But in my honest opinion I believe there is a huge difference. I tried to use plugins for the bassline but it just didn't feel right, it didn't feel like it had the proper "weight" so to speak. I turned on my Roland SH-2 w/midi and made the bass sound....and voila! An instant smile came across my face. This was after I had made the bass drone sound used in the verses with a Sequential Circuits Pro-One. It was so much fun to use these vintage and historical pieces. Emulations do them a disservice in all honesty.
Janelle, how does one get to make a record with Dennis Ferrer, do you guys go 'way back'?
I don’t know how Dennis typically finds vocalists, but we met in March of 2012 through a friend of a friend of a friend who goes way back with him. She sent Dennis music I had been making at the time, and he followed up pretty much straight away saying he wanted to collaborate. Almost a year later, when I was in the process of relocating to NYC, we had perfect timing because Dennis had a pocket of time between his shows/travels to enter the studio. Between March and January 2013, I followed up with Dennis from time to time and just stayed busy with my project in Chicago. When you meet someone who digs your talent and vice versa, you have to exercise patience and keep things moving. I’m often stumped by the way in which some collaborations perfectly fall into place and others fall away. This was one of those magical opportunities that I couldn’t have planned in a million years.
Dennis, you once called 'Mind Ur Step' a “weird record”. Why?
It's not the generic "drums in your face" or "flat line" record that seems to be the popular theme nowadays in the genre I’m in. I've always enjoyed surprising the listener in some way. The same way a good DJ surprises his listeners and everyone goes nuts. I've never made records just to make them. They are extensions of my inner self and mind. As such, I’m not too normal so my records are apples that don't fall far from the tree. [laughs]
Janelle, was Dennis fun to work with? Give us the full story…
Dennis was a total party to work with and made me feel completely at home from the start. When I showed up I had absolutely no idea what we were jumping into; I was just ready to WORK. I’m sure you guys know this about Dennis, but he's a one-man band in that he completely crushes production and songwriting all on his own. However, for the particular idea he played for me, he was open to my contributions to the writing process, which added an extra bit of exciting pressure to the session. From there the chemistry was great as the song was written and recorded in one day. When we cut the vox, I felt like I had barely even sung the tune by the time Dennis said he had everything he needed. D certainly knows how to keep the vibe in the booth fresh!!
Dennis, you are somewhat notorious for never working with the same singer twice, except for the late KT Brooks (How Do I Let Go and more). Would you work with Janelle again?
Hmmmmm [laughs]. Yeah there's a method to my madness, I make songs to fit singers; they are beautiful instruments that command respect. In my mind you don't put a violin where a sax is called for. So that's my philosophy. When I have a song that needs that particular instrument then I’ll make the call. Otherwise I just keep on creating and trying to do different things all the time. I hope this makes sense!
Ok, quick-fire time. The last time I went out to a club on my day off…
Dennis: To Output in late June/July to see The Martinez Brothers. I miss them, they're off having a great career so I rarely get to see them anymore. This was a chance to stop by and just say hi as I rarely go out.
Janelle: Public Assembly to hear Twilite Tone at the I Love Vinyl party and Le Bain at The Standard Hotel for Men at Work.
The last movie I saw…
Dennis: Last night I watched Beat Street, an old school breakin' b-boy movie. Don't ask, I was reliving my childhood...ok? [laughs]
Janelle: The last “new” movies I saw were The East and before that Francis Ha (phenomenal), but technically the most recent movie was an outdoor screening of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.
The last book I read was...
Dennis: ‘Contagious’ by Jonah Berger. It's about trends and why things catch on. I’m giving other artists a hint here...buy the book.
Janelle: ‘No One Belongs Here More Than You’ by Miranda July.
The last real vacation I took..
Dennis: Every day of my life is a vacation. I feel blessed for that. I'll let you know when I take a "real" vacation.
Janelle: It feels like it’s been forever since I took a straight up vacation. Fortunately work and travel have a tightly wound relationship in this business. I’d love to set up travel plans to the UK to show support for ‘Mind Ur Step’ sometime soon.
Major or minor?
Dennis: Major for sing-alongs, minor for ‘sausage’ records.....figure it out. That's just me though.
Janelle: Minor key.
If I were a sound, i would sound like…
Dennis: The prettiest string ensemble you've ever heard, the one that moves you to tears. Because I want to write that, I want to write the most moving thing that anyone's heard, that lasts forever. Although we all have an expiration date I can feel and believe that I will be around long after my physical form has left.
Janelle: Motorcycle boots on pavement or a reverb chamber that has an input of sound.
My greatest three achievements are…
Dennis:
1. I learned to temper my ego and embrace humility; not easy in a business of fellatio professionals.
2. I learned there is no greater joy than to help others, whether monetarily (you can't take it with you) or emotionally (really hard to do). We get so caught up in what we want and the ways to get it that we forget and sometimes run over people to achieve the goal. Others that don't have the means to achieve their dream could always use a little help. It takes a village to raise a child. People have forgotten this and I figured it out late. Better late than never though.
3. I've been able to live my dream, the ability to make money off of doing something you love. I like to complain about it all the time [laughs] but that's just me. Everyone needs something to bitch about every now and then.
Janelle: My three greatest achievements include ‘Mind Ur Step’ (truly), representing Chicago talent on the American television network The CW, and playing a song on ukelele in front of an audience for the very first time a couple months ago.
My biggest three failures are…
Dennis:
1. Parenthood. Most artists are narcissists by nature but unfortunately this sometimes interferes with real life. It hurts the people you love. Some artists can handle it, some can't and some really don't care. I fell somewhere in between all of those. I'm not proud and I'm not happy. It's a stiff price to pay. I suppose we can't have it all. I'm still trying to sort this out and hopefully one day I'll figure it out.
2. Musical education: All you producers, please go take theory classes and playing lessons while you're young and your brain can still retain the information. One of my biggest regrets ever! I'm learning now and it's like the fog has been lifted off my brain. Trust, you'll need it later in life.
3. The ability to recognize and admit that I'm not happy in a situation and speak out and/or cut sh*t short. I just learned how to do this later on in life. If I would've done this for the first half of my life I wouldn't have all the issues I have now! [laughs]
Janelle: Failures... I’ve put in plenty of time on work that has never been and should never be released, but that’s also an important part of the creative process. Don’t ever censor your creativity, but be deliberate in what you choose to represent you.
Last question for the both of you: tell us one thing about yourself that has never made it to your official bio and/or press kit…
Dennis: I'm actually not as mean as all my press pictures suggest; I’m a softy, and everyone who knows me will say it. Ugh...there goes the street cred! [laughs]
Janelle: My future achievements! [laughs]
Dennis plays Booom! Ibiza Saturday 3rd August alongside Tensnake, Osunlade and Simon Dunmore - click for full line-up info
Dennis Ferrer feat. Janelle Kroll is out now – buy from Beatport
