Zadig prepared for Melt 6 with Virginia [Interview]

Zadig ready to join Ostgut-Ton’s Virginia and Melt residents…

Melt Music are delighted to have continued their link with Ostgut-Ton by calling upon the skills of the talented Virginia… Yet they are just as delighted to announce an exclusive debut London performance from Zadig. Always on the lookout for up and coming tech-house talent, Melt’s 6th event will be graced with just that when Zadig sets down for his first gig in London.

A big fixture of the Paris scene already, and with dates supporting the likes of techno uber-lord Jeff Mills, the French Re Form label Boss can’t wait to showcase his skills in the UK capital for the first time. Zadig will most likely be introducing the audience to some of his own productions on KH recordings and Technasia, which have been known to spin the decks at the hands of Kenny Larkin.

What drove you to set up your own label, construct-reform? It must really add a new dimension to your experiences of the music industry? What are some of the positives and negatives involved?
For a long time I thought of launching my own label but I did not feel experienced enough to make it.
Indeed, I think that a good label manager who also produces has a real added value. After some releases on different labels such as Syncrophone and Sino, I had a real intuition, it was just the moment! I did not intellectualise the project, that was pure “action”. I was lucky to benefit from several sources of support, in particular from John Sill and Didier Allyne from Syncrophone, who take care of the vinyl part. Charles Siegling from Technasia also, he gave me a lot of advice and takes care of the digital part via Technorient.
This new activity of publishing brings me a lot and gives responsibilities to me; when you decide to sign other artists, you have to do everything to make every project something particular, which satisfies them completely.
The financial returns are almost non-existent so it is necessary to get creative. Construct Re-form is more like crafts and it has family spirit. I cannot speak of the industry but my biggest enjoyment is to notice that the artists rely on me, are happy with the result and are proposing other projects: it is very gratifying. It is a victory for me if I was able to contribute even modestly to their artistic career. I am proud of this trust which they have in me.

Can you describe some of the highlights of your career to date?
I have been a DJ since 1993 but at 40 years old I am a “new comer”. It is difficult to choose a particular experience. Each was very important in the construction of what I am today, even the worst! My most beautiful success is the sum of all these experiences which allowed me to remain honest and honorable and to be proud of all my choices.

At Melt they strive for a sense of intimacy at their parties. What makes a great club night for you, personally?
When people are there to share something singular with you, the party can be brilliant!! When they do not know who you are, when they feel that something special will happen, when the positive tension becomes tangible and when time goes by too fast; at this moment the event takes another dimension. I like intimate events, to be close to people, to have the impression to know them, give them the maximum of energy and emotion to offer them a trip that they will take at home!!
That is what I expect from every party.

Ahead of your gig at Melt 6 on 14 July, what can clubbers expect from your set on the night? What music is having an influence on you at the moment?
I make my music sincerely, I always give 150% before and during gigs. I always try to think and to modify my live performances according to places where I play, I make that in an intuitive way because I never know what is going to happen but globally things are going always well. I work a lot to offer them authentic music, as varied as possible and even if I am considered as a Techno producer, there are many different influences in my live and my DJ set. It is difficult to determine what influences me, Jazz changes my vision of music production. On the electronic side, Tangerine Dream was my first electronic experience when I was a child, all the Techno producers of the 90′s, and nowdays artists like Floating Points, Morphosis are my main inspiration.

What DJs and Producers are currently making a name for themselves in France right now? Franck Roger was a big hit at Melt 4 – are you a fan?
The emergent scene is very rich at the moment. I believe in the artists I signed on Construct Re-Form for sure, Antigone, Voiski and Birth of Frequency, also Polar Inertia, Professor Inc, S3A, John Jatszebski, Marcellus which are very talented and promising.
Concerning Frank Roger, I do not know his universe, mine is more Techno, I know him a little and he is a cool guy I think.

You’ve supported artists such as Jeff Mills at 106 Rouen. What was it like supporting such a big name?
To be frank, we were not able to exchange anything, I haven’t met him. Jeff Mills is always an inspiration for me and I hope to have the quarter of his career.

Nightclubs such as Rex club have a iconic reputation here in London, can you tell us some more about the club scene in Paris?
I am not native of Paris and I do not live there any more for two years. I go there every week, the parisian club scene gets better and better. New promoters are emerging, new parties, Sonotown, Concrete for example, We have Technorama who proposes Techno events of very good quality at the Rex club. The residents of the Rex are rather active and form a good quality line up, the Bass Culture party of D’julz, the Get Underground of Phil Weeks and Didier Allyne, which became one of my favorite parties.

Imagine that we’ve got one day and night to spend in your hometown of Paris. What must we do before we get the Eurostar home?
To start, one of numerous exhibitions in a museum of Paris, the Orsay museum for example which is a magic place, then directly to Bastille to have lunch before passing after noon to dig vinyls at Syncrophone Record Shop and ask Blaise (the seller) a good place to have dinner and drink some good wines. For the night my advise is a Sonotown party (if there is one) or you can go to one of the clubs, Rex, Batofar, Social Club or the Nouveau Casino, which offers good line ups. Just before the train, a brunch at “l’autre café” in the 11th district or for the most motivated the after-party, Concrete.

What keeps you busy outside of music?
The music represents a big part of my life. My other pleasures are the human relationship, talk about society and being human. I love eating and drinking good wine. My greatest pleasure is to share my life with my girlfriend and spending time with our cats. I adore spending time thinking, to let my imagination go but now I don’t have any time to do that.

Don’t miss Zadig joining Ostgut-Ton’s Virginia and Melt residents Arnaud Le Texier, Maura and Monika Ross for Melt 6 on Saturday 14 July.

Zadig’s Networks:
Facebook | RA | Myspace | Soundcloud |