World of spins and tricks

The man behind some of the billboard hits like ‘Turn Down For What’ and ‘Lean On’ was recently in the City for the Sunburn concert.

Spinning his tunes and keeping the crowd on their toes, DJ Snake is also a Grammy-nominated producer and artiste who debuted in the international music scene with his single ‘Bird Machine’ in 2013. In a chat with ‘Metrolife’, he spoke about his life as a DJ, rapper and producer who mixes trap and electronic dance music.

When did you first start dabbling with music?

When I was about 18, I opened for one of my idols, Snoop Dogg, and that gave me a chance to have a conversation with him. At the time, I thought of myself as a kid from the streets of Paris. But things changed after that and I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to live out my dreams and meet interesting and creative people on a daily basis.

What’s your production process like when you’re in the studio? Where do you draw inspiration from?

I have a different method of attacking beats each time I’m in the studio. One day I might have seen some documentary from Brazil and heard a sound that I’ve never heard before, and that triggers a primal desire in me to run to the studio. I probably won’t use that sound but it inspires me to develop a vision on which I can create an amazing track. If my phone rings or my manager’s making noise outside, it doesn’t bother me because I zone out when I’m in my creative space. In my opinion, the more I go into this space, the better the beat comes out.

With a rapid influx of advanced softwares in the market, DJs can change a track down to the tiniest detail in a heartbeat. How do you make use of these possibilities in your sets and is there a benefit?

My music is always trying to make people have fun and ensures a lot of energy and dancing. I mix my music looking at the mood and energy levels of the audience. So all the extra help has been great!

Most people underestimate the work of a DJ and think it’s just mashing together two great records. How do you bring some originality to the sounds?

I try and create my own beats. I use more of my original tracks that I’ve produced than the original one to create a difference.

How has travelling and playing around the world helped your music?

I pick up a lot of local beats from every country I travel to. It helps me create a unique and authentic sound that keeps me alive.