Souleance Interview

 

The latest in our recent series of interviews brings us the twin talents of Fulgeance and Soulist who produce together as Souleance. Their combined output has elements of hip-hop, breaks and 80′s soul and that can’t be a bad thing. Receiving a lot of love from Giles Peterson over here and a very nice ep released on First Word the future is looking good. Over to the boys.

How long have you been producing together?

F: I met Soulist in a cool short film festival called Off Courts in France, Trouville sur Mer; and we just dj’ed together. The mood was just perfect and we had a lot of fun, so we decided to produce some music together with the idea to avoid creating something intellectual, or conceptual, more something for the crowd; some music you can dance or chill to without being too pop you know? We have been producing together now from 2 years. Soulist brings the funk and soul samples and I searched for some new samples from greek and black american music. We always try to keep that groovy thing.

S : Yeah, we met at Off Courts  It really works as a duo. Fulgeance and I discuss and check out samples and Fulgeance produces the beats and I come up with ideas during the production with my turntables. We really make music for different moods and we feel at ease with that. For example, we just think that we could do an 80′s Funky track and we try to do it…

I caught Fulgeance do a solo show in London earlier this year but caught my first Souleance show in Lithuania last month. Pierre (Fulgeance) mentioned it was the fifth time he had played out there. They seem to really be into their music and for all the right reasons. How does it feel the first time you get such a big reaction somewhere so unexpected? Juicy Lady went down a treat, over the weekend I heard it played out more than anything else.

F: It’s true. Lithuania is one of my favorite countries in Europe, because they always feel, react and love new music and they are always fresh, curious about it. I first played at the  Mondayjazz parties (www.mondayjazz.lt) as Fulgeance, and then at the Satta Outside Festival as Peter Digital Orchestra, and they went crazy when they heard Juicy Lady because all the cool cats from Mondayjazz had already played it a 1000 times at their parties, and yeah, the live show in Satta was incredible, starting in the night and finishing in daylight, amazing moment!! I think I’m a star but just in Lithuania!!

S : For me it was my first time in Lithuania. I knew that Fulgeance made quite an impression last year at Satta… and also when he played for Mondayjazz in Vilnius… I  was really surprised that some guys from the crowd knew some Souleance tracks … They really made it magical for us … Satta Rules what more can I say?

Who are your big influences past and present and who do you think we should be looking out for in the future?
 
F: Me, I’m really into new hip hop-electro, I think you have to watch out for Dorian Concept, Sluggabed, J Bizness, Mono Poly. My influences are all the black music, all the groovy music: Roy Ayers, Ramsey Lewis, Don Blackman, Herbie Hancock…but I really love all styles. I come from a house and funk background and I got really into hip hop 5 years ago. In the style of Souleance, I would advice giving Blackjoy, Kutiman, and Lettuce a listen…there are so many.

S : I am into funk, latin, disco and hip hop electro beats, so for the recent artists…  Hudson Mohawke, Dorian Concept as well,  Kidkanevil, Kelpe,  Mr Oizo and Fulgeance (nice guys by the way). For hip hop and new beats…. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Quantic and his Combo, Barbaro and Kutiman for funk and latin….. My main influences would be black music, some rock bands, disco, jazz, latin etc… Hard to make a list but my main influences are Rashan Roland Kirk, T Connection, War, The Zombies, Ray Barreto, Serge Gainsbourg, François de Roubaix, The Meters, Talking Heads, Prince Paul, Public Enemy but then again too many to make a short list

I really like how the Souleance stuff sounds like two guys bringing their individual influences and ideas to one musical project. How naturally did that come and who gets final say on those tough production decisions?

F: I think Soulist brings more of the samples/ideas than me, but we are always excited because we are free to decide like “let’s make a house track? funk track? 80′s track?”. You know it’s so open minded that we are not stuck in a  style. After that we had to keep the Souleance signature, and I think some  Fulgeance tricks appear sometimes, like the breaks, white silence, clappy things etc, but it’s once again in a simple way. Sometimes we don’t agree, but we just have to eat a good “croque monsieur” together and find a solution.

S: Yes, I agree with Fulgeance… A good Croque Monsiseur makes our music better and our feelings too.

Any plans on bringing the show to London?

F: Aly from First Word Records is working on it right now. Check the myspace soon, I think it’s gonna happen. We already played in London, at The Gilles Peterson Goin’ Downstairs Party, hosted by Dom Servini with Shuya from Kyoto Jazz Massive and the BPM.

S: Yeah, London was great, hoping to come back in late November.. The Frenchies will be back soon

Is there an album in the pipeline?

F: Yeah, I think an album will be out in February on First Word Recordings. But we just finished a 7″ scheduled for October 2009, including the almost famous Re-edit of Chemise “She Can”t Love You” and a new track called “Le Plaisir”

S: Fulgeance said it all … A Kidkanevil remix is on the way also with the 7″ inch release.

Any final words?

F: “Pour le Plaisir !!”

S : “Oualalala!!!!”

Now kick back and listen a mix from the boys here

Posted in Interviews, News