Interview with Felix Cartal [Partial]

In a day and age when electronic artists are becoming the biggest names in the music industry, the humble and immensely talented Felix Cartal continues to do what he has done for years: produce incredible music. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Felix is considered one of the most talented and innovative young DJ/producers in the business. Combining catchy melodies and aggressive electro breaks, Felix continually breaks down genre barriers with his revolutionary sounds.

Most recently, Felix has amazed the electronic world with the release of his new single Don’t Turn On The Lights (ft. Polina) on DimMak Records. This first single from his upcoming album, which will be titled Different Faces, perfectly combines the creative aspects of electronic music with catchy vocals provided by Polina. In addition to the songs popular release, the music video premiered exclusively on MTV’s new show ClubLand and has been a fan favorite ever since (YouTube). Recently, I sat down with Felix and discussed some of the details behind the release of one his biggest songs to date:

What were you trying to accomplish through the production on your newest track, Don’t Turn On The Lights (ft. Polina)?

Felix: I have always been interested in pop music, and it’s taken me awhile to get to the point where I am confident enough in the studio to write a track with that catchy pop sound and influence, but also with a hard, electronic edge. This track was the first time I felt I had successfully done it and once I sent the instrumental over to Polina, who sings on Ultra Music, we worked for about a week and finished what we thought was a great track. Overall, it was a completely painless process, and it resulted in a sound that was different from what I have done before, but still remained close to my roots musically.

How did you pair up with Polina for the track?

Felix: I’ve been close with Ultra Music for a while now, and Polina has been singing top-line vocals on countless tracks for everyone from Kaskade to Steve Aoki and Tiesto, so I figured it’d be a great partnership. We actually had the chance to perform the song live at Pacha in New York City, which was a great experience. It was a little chaotic at first because I had never tried anything like that before, but the end result was really awesome.

How excited were you for your video to make the world premier on MTV ClubLand recently?

Felix: I was completely flattered MTV wanted to air the video – I mean that’s a big deal as an artist and I could not have been happier. My friend from high school actually directed the video for me, and we wanted to keep that high school, house-party theme throughout the production. I was really excited when I saw the end result because it’s a ‘feel good’ video and that’s exactly what I wanted from both the track and the video.

And lastly, if you could use one word to describe this single or your musical style as a whole, what would it be?

Felix: That’s tough because the kind of music I love to make is so hard to categorize into one genre. I love all kinds of music, but I’d have to say energetic. I love to create tracks with a ton of energy and I think my work as a whole, and Don’t Turn On The Lights in particular, captures that.

In addition to the release of the album’s first single, Felix has kept up a busy touring schedule in support of the track. Last Sunday, Dim Mak Records hosted their weekly party at Drai’s Hollywood (site) in support of the new song. Headlined by Felix, the release party also showcased Harvard Bass, Fashen and DJ Metric. Dim Mak Sundays has become a weekend staple in downtown Hollywood and last Sunday’s party was no different – Felix and the other DJs created an incredible atmosphere high atop The W Hotel. During our interview, Felix admitted he was not entirely sure what to expect from a show on a Sunday night – but the turnout for the DimMak gig was amazing.

Following a great set by the very talented Harvard Bass, Felix took over the decks around 1 a.m. Playing everything from original mixes to an array of bootlegs and remixes, Felix had the capacity crowd at Drai’s grooving for the two hours he played. The posh indoor/outdoor venue turned into one giant dance floor as partiers were dancing everywhere – from the main dance floor to the VIP booths – the entire club was alive. It was a truly surreal scene for a Sunday night by normal standards; however, it was exactly the party Dim Mak and Felix Cartal expected for the release of such a huge single. In addition to Don’t Turn On The Lights, there are two more singles (DOMO, Black to White) set for release in the coming weeks and the full album, Different Faces, hits stores and iTunes/Beatport in March.

Don’t Turn On The Lights (ft. Polina) – Felix Cartal    

iTunes    Beatport

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Category: Interviews