Finding Inspiration in Everyday Sounds with Damien N-Drix [Exclusive Interview]

Finding Inspiration in Everyday Sounds with Damien N-Drix

3/6/2019

What first got you into the EDM industry?
My godfather was a DJ and he was the one who made me want to start down this path. I started out DJing at weddings and birthdays but after a short while, I wanted to start mixing my own songs, so I started learning how to produce. I didn't play any instruments or have any real musical background, but I was extremely motivated to create my own tracks. Step by step, I managed to get the hang of production and began developing the Damien N-Drix project. Now I'm able to share those tracks while I'm DJing around the world and it's the most incredible feeling!

Your style over the past few years has always brought a clean and refined spin on the bass house genre. What makes you gravitate towards this specific side of EDM and what is your creative process for putting these tracks together?

I have a love for electronic music in the broadest sense of the word, but my adoration for bass house grew because it was a movement that helped the scene branch out from big room. So many of the songs today sound a bit too similar to each other and I found that I was able to experiment more with bass house. When I'm on tour, I'm often inspired by different cultures and encounters that I have. For instance on a trip to Morocco, I had the idea of associating Oriental instruments with electro elements and it paved the way for tracks like "Turn It Up" and "Inkali!" I am inspired by everything that surrounds me every day like the simple sound of the telephone which was the basis for my track, "Let It Ring." Inspiration can truly be found everywhere!

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A post shared by Damien N-Drix (@damienndrix) on Feb 19, 2019 at 12:53pm PST

What can you tell us about your latest track on STMPD Records?
The track is called "Thumpin Like" and it is a collaboration with the American producer, Cazztek! We have a very similar style and he contacted me to collaborate, so I sent him an idea that he loved right away! He worked on it and the whole thing was hammered out really quickly. We are both so proud of the result and very happy to be able to sign it to Martin Garrix's label, STMPD! It came out on March 1st and the support we got on it is already crazy from artists like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Tiesto, Mike Williams, and Felix Cartel!

How do you feel about the family and brand that STMPD Records has been forming?
I'm still a little newcomers on the label as this is my first original track that's been signed by them, but last year I made a remix for "Into You" by Matisse & Sadko that they released! I love everything that the label releases, especially the tracks from Blinders and TV Noise to name just a few. The spirit of the label fits me well because they often release powerful club tracks like I enjoy creating and listening to! I won't be a full-time presence over there because I'm actually signed to Spinnin' Records for the next two years.

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Studio session in Amsterdam â–¡ @tiesto @moskahouse @musicalfreedom #writingcamp

A post shared by Damien N-Drix (@damienndrix) on Mar 5, 2019 at 10:56am PST

In the past, you've primarily released tracks that you produced solo with a few notable exceptions like your iconic collaboration with GTA and other tracks with the likes of Klosman & STV. Where can we expect your sound to go in the future and can you give any updates on the collaborations you've teased in the past?
This year I have a lot of collaborations. I can't tell everything yet and I'd rather keep a part of mystery for now! I can say that I've been working with guys like Aazar, Feder, Tony Romera, and a few producers from the DJMag Top 20 list. The tracks we've created are an amazing blend of our sounds and have yielded super interesting results! we mix our universes and give a super interesting result.

What is your life like outside of music? What other hobbies and responsibilities do you have in your day-to-day life?
Music and tours take up most of the time in my life but it's an amazing life to live. I have the chance to live out my passion and get booked every weekend at a club or festival. When I'm not on tour, you can find me producing new tracks in my home studio. I do all my remixes and tracks entirely by myself from the composition to mixing and mastering so it takes a lot of time! I manage to take a break from time to time by playing video games. I am a geek and I love video games but I don't want to play too much of it! Besides that, I also enjoy watching a game of my favorite football team, Olympique de Marseille. Go OM! I also make it a point to take time to do some shopping because I love clothes as well!

In your opinion, what do you feel are the most important qualities to have if someone wants to be successful in EDM in 2019?
I think you have to be passionate, original, and a hard worker! Being surrounded by positive people is also important when building a good personality. Finding a signature sound in production is important when building a brand but it's also imperative to find your own image as well. I'd go so far as to say it's just as important as the music, unfortunately! This industry moves fast so it's necessary to adapt quickly to stay in the game. My team and I spend a lot of time on these aspects and work to release aftermovies from gigs, post every day on social media, and making sure everything supports the brand we're building.

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Germany you are the sickest â–¡â–¡â–¡ cheers to @oliverheldens â–¡ @dadalife Happiness (Damien N-Drix Remix) â–¡ @witstag @samdesalvador #hamburg #ontour #oliverheldens #airbeatone

A post shared by Damien N-Drix (@damienndrix) on Feb 20, 2019 at 10:13am PST

And lastly, where do you see yourself ten years from now?
I hope to continue with this momentum and release big tracks played by people around the world. I'm also looking forward to finishing and starting new collaborations. Touring and playing shows around the world is also going continue being a big part of my life. It's just so fantastic to meet so many cool people wherever I'm playing! Apart from the music and shows, I would like to develop the DMSN brand from my radio show by having my own events and work on merchandising! Being able to continue making a living from this passion on a global scale fills my spirits and keeps me motivated to keep pushing forwards!

Thank you so much to Damien N-Drix and his team for making this interview possible! Also thanks to Arthur Stypa for helping translate our questions into French and Damien's French responses into English!