Michael Canitrot
There must be something in the Evian. The French have really made an impact on dance music of late, showing innovation, creativity and ultimately finesse. There seems to be something special about their touch that just captures people’s imaginations. French producers often have the ability to make songs cross musical boundaries effortlessly, a la Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier, Bob Sinclar and more recently David Guetta who have all had huge success causing the rest of the world to sit up and take notice of their sound.
The same could be said of French club culture; there is something about Paris that captures the imagination of the rest of Europe – when there is a hot party going on in the capital we want to know all about it. ‘So, Happy In Paris?’ is that event, the playfully named and highly successful international club night held at the famous Queens club. It is the place that is currently attracting the young, beautiful people of Paris and is spearheaded by the city’s most glamorous DJ and producer Michael Canitrot, a talented, good looking, well connected, ambitious 27 year old. If you are a Paris music-lover and socialite, this really is the place to be.
Here he tells us about his event, his new single ‘Desire’ and what it is like being the official DJ for the Cannes film festival.
All famous club nights have a concept, tell me about 'So Happy In Paris', what is it about?
“So, Happy In Paris” is a musical party concept which was started in 2000. It is the epitome to Parisian's glam and chic. It’s an invitation for the people to join our party. We bring Paris right to your doorstep and in that one night, you will be able to experience the energy, the love, the music - straight and simple, as if you were in the greatest Parisian clubs yourself. That is why "So, Happy In Paris?" has been so successful - we are all about the music which is universal and transcends all boundaries. Everyone comes together on that dancefloor to enjoy themselves and to share that great joy of just being free, even if we are all complete strangers.
What makes your party different from other club nights?
The ingredients to “So, Happy In Paris?” are truly simple and when put together, result in an explosive multi-sensory experience like none other - there is art and design, complemented by the adrenaline-pumping music. While “So, Happy In Paris?” features music that I have blended together – it would not be surprising for me to be mixing up a great funk classic with some Afro or even Latino beats – I feel that, in particular, House music is very powerful and is one genre of music that really stirs up emotions in people, whether you used to be a fan of House music or not and which will have them dancing away all night long.
It has been going for 10 years now, how old were you when you started this party?
I was 17 when I did my first party at les Bains-Douches but it was a secret, I wasn’t old enough to be inside.
Tell me about the kind of people that come to your events. Who do you stop at the door?
It’s a mix between music lovers, beautiful girls, fashion addicts, artists and people who just want to have fun! Our party is glamour, chic but we don’t want to be too selective. The party is open to all the good people who want to share a good moment on the dance floor.
Who creates the beautiful imagery for your parties? Where does the inspiration come from?
I always have the ideas myself. Then I select the best team to create them. I often let myself to be inspired by what I see during fashion shows or in the magazines. Inspiration also comes from this wonderful city of Paris. The best in the world… The new series of imagery for the disc was created by Axel Huynh from the Crazybaby design agency and the result is handsome.
David Guetta has been a shining light for French dance music, would you like to enjoy the same success?
Who would refuse a such success? I am quite ambitious and I do all I can to make my dreams come true. Music is not a world where everything is calculated; the most important thing is to keep on working with the same passion every day and lets the future show if I took the right path.
Why do you think that the world is loving French DJ producers so much? What is your take on Frances success?
This is clear that there is a special touch in France. French producers often have the ability to make songs that have mass world appeal. Let’s remember Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier or recently Bob Sinclar and David Guetta who have been having strong successes around the world. All that fame is attracting new, young French DJ’s and producers dreaming of such achievements. Moreover, it is also contributing to develop the “French touch” brand image all around the world where the people pay attention to French musical scene.
I hear you are the official DJ for the Cannes film festival? Can you tell me more about this?
I’ve had some wonderful experiences mixing at the top of “Les Marches” (the steps of the Palais Des Festivals) for the world’s most prestigious film festival. This really is something extraordinary. The cinema’s world greatly influences my mixes and I love to compare them to those I would have made for fashion shows: people moving, photographers snapping, beautiful dresses… and the music especially adapted for the event. I particularly remember when Quentin Tarrantino came up the Palais des Festivals steps. It was incredible to see all those people dancing down on the floor. I will never forget that feeling.
How did you get connected to so many fashion labels to direct their music? Tell me about them?
My connection as a musical designer for the Cannes Film Festival helped me to enter the fashion world. It is always interesting to work with brands and designers for events or fashion shows. Each designers needs are different and the musical research I have to do is always very enriching. I remember a musical theme we developed on Christian Dior’s life, his tastes, his influences. It was so exciting.
‘Desire’ is your first single release on Defected Records; tell me about the track, what was your inspiration and who is playing it?
It’s an amazing vocal track. I always feel a lot of emotion when I play it in a club. I produced it between Paris and Miami with the first step being during the last Winter Music Conference. I was in a studio in South Beach with Jay Sebag, Michaël Malih and Johnny Sanders … the song was made during this magic session. It’s already a huge success in France but now I m very proud to be on Defected to send this song to the world !
‘You and I’ is your next single on your own label “Aime Music”, tell me about that, did you do anything different on this production to your other tracks?
Yes “You and I” is more pop. The lead vocal is by a very good singer from New York, Polina, and the chorus is a band of 4 singers (Polina, Duane Harden, Moises Modesto and Makedah)... it’s full of good vibes! I really wanted to produce a song with a strong chorus and where we never lost the energy.
I produced this with a radio vision in mind but I also had some strong remixes for the clubs, including Nicky Romero, Daddy’s groove, Tristan Garner, Mark Alston, Mitch LJ & Jared Dietch.
Have you remixed or produced any of the tracks on the album? Tell me about them? Do you work by yourself or do you have a studio partner?
There are 2 CD’s. The first one is typical of what I play at fashion shows, on the Red Carpet in Cannes or at a cocktail party. It’s an eclectic selection between Electronic, Pop, Rock, Deep …
The second is a snap-shot of what you might hear me play at a club, especially at one of my “So Happy in Paris?” club nights. In this compilation you can listen my song “Desire” but also “Feel The Spirit” .... two great vocals for the dance floor.
What records from this album are particularly big for you? Tell me about some of the reactions that you get when you play them?
Oh hard to say. I really love all of them, but the Simian Mobile Disco with Beth Ditto from Gossip is amazing also look out for the latest Rasmus Faber “Wilder Side” with Candi Staton. Also the young talent from “So, Happy in Paris” Kaëlig with the song “3 in The Morning” and of course “Hey Hey” from Dennis Ferrer …
Where will we see you DJing soon, or what is the agenda for SHIP for 2010?
I have a lot of parties … of course every month my residency at Queen Club Paris on Champs Elysées but also in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Canada, USA, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore etc.
There must be something in the Evian. The French have really made an impact on dance music of late, showing innovation, creativity and ultimately finesse. There seems to be something special about their touch that just captures people’s imaginations. French producers often have the ability to make songs cross musical boundaries effortlessly, a la Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier, Bob Sinclar and more recently David Guetta who have all had huge success causing the rest of the world to sit up and take notice of their sound.
The same could be said of French club culture; there is something about Paris that captures the imagination of the rest of Europe – when there is a hot party going on in the capital we want to know all about it. ‘So, Happy In Paris?’ is that event, the playfully named and highly successful international club night held at the famous Queens club. It is the place that is currently attracting the young, beautiful people of Paris and is spearheaded by the city’s most glamorous DJ and producer Michael Canitrot, a talented, good looking, well connected, ambitious 27 year old. If you are a Paris music-lover and socialite, this really is the place to be.
Here he tells us about his event, his new single ‘Desire’ and what it is like being the official DJ for the Cannes film festival.
All famous club nights have a concept, tell me about 'So Happy In Paris', what is it about?
“So, Happy In Paris” is a musical party concept which was started in 2000. It is the epitome to Parisian's glam and chic. It’s an invitation for the people to join our party. We bring Paris right to your doorstep and in that one night, you will be able to experience the energy, the love, the music - straight and simple, as if you were in the greatest Parisian clubs yourself. That is why "So, Happy In Paris?" has been so successful - we are all about the music which is universal and transcends all boundaries. Everyone comes together on that dancefloor to enjoy themselves and to share that great joy of just being free, even if we are all complete strangers.
What makes your party different from other club nights?
The ingredients to “So, Happy In Paris?” are truly simple and when put together, result in an explosive multi-sensory experience like none other - there is art and design, complemented by the adrenaline-pumping music. While “So, Happy In Paris?” features music that I have blended together – it would not be surprising for me to be mixing up a great funk classic with some Afro or even Latino beats – I feel that, in particular, House music is very powerful and is one genre of music that really stirs up emotions in people, whether you used to be a fan of House music or not and which will have them dancing away all night long.
It has been going for 10 years now, how old were you when you started this party?
I was 17 when I did my first party at les Bains-Douches but it was a secret, I wasn’t old enough to be inside.
Tell me about the kind of people that come to your events. Who do you stop at the door?
It’s a mix between music lovers, beautiful girls, fashion addicts, artists and people who just want to have fun! Our party is glamour, chic but we don’t want to be too selective. The party is open to all the good people who want to share a good moment on the dance floor.
Who creates the beautiful imagery for your parties? Where does the inspiration come from?
I always have the ideas myself. Then I select the best team to create them. I often let myself to be inspired by what I see during fashion shows or in the magazines. Inspiration also comes from this wonderful city of Paris. The best in the world… The new series of imagery for the disc was created by Axel Huynh from the Crazybaby design agency and the result is handsome.
David Guetta has been a shining light for French dance music, would you like to enjoy the same success?
Who would refuse a such success? I am quite ambitious and I do all I can to make my dreams come true. Music is not a world where everything is calculated; the most important thing is to keep on working with the same passion every day and lets the future show if I took the right path.