facebook.com/OXIA.official
1. Hello Olivier Raymond (Oxia)! Thank you for being so kind to accept our invitation for an interview. Do you believe that 2012 was a good year for the development of your personal career?
Hello, you're welcome, I am happy you invited me! Indeed 2012 was a very good year for me with the release of my album 'Tides Of Mind' in May - this was very important to me as my last album was in 2004. I had very good feedback from the public and also a very good press coverage with many reviews & interviews. Usually, when you release an Ep, you don´t have that much chance to talk about your music, I was glad I could share more in interviews with the album.
2. With a unique sound, Oxia is considered to be one of the most significant names in the world of electronic music. What do you want people to take away from your music?
When I am in the studio, I always try to please myself and I really wish the people listening to my music to feel the same. I hope that my music reminds people of good memories, of personal and strong emotions and inspires them.
3. In your opinion, who’s the best: Oxia the DJ or Oxia the Producer?
It is difficult to reply to this question as, according to me, both are complementary. If someone would ask me to choose between both aspects of my aspect, I think I would just not be able to do it. I started first as a Dj when I was a teenager, but I went pretty fast then to the studio to produce my own tracks. I would say I have as much passion for both parts and I have as much pleasure producing in the studio than playing in club & festivals. And I am very comfortable in both situations.
4. What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
There has been different steps. The first one is the release of my very first Ep in 1995. Then, I started producing and releasing more and more, reaching important international labels such as Intec, which was Carl Cox´s label at this time (2000). From this moment, I started touring all over Europe and my career as a Dj really kicked out. The third step was the release of my first album '24 Heures', in 2004, on my own label Goodlife that I was managing with two friends, The Hacker & Alexandre Reynaud. With this first album and the success of it, I reached another step my career. I have to mention the big impact too of the release of 'Domino' on Kompakt, plaies and supported by a large range of artists, from Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath, Miss Kittin, or Steve Bug, to David Guetta or even Tiesto. Even if I am not really fan of these last two artists, the fact that they played a track of mine made this release becoming a hit. Thanks to this success more crossover, many doors opened to me and I had the chance to play big stages in many festivals over the world. Finally I would mention my release on 8bit in 2009 with the success of the track 'Whole Life'. And I hope 'Tides of Mind' is now the next step :) I have to say that I constantly kept touring over all these years and that the success of key gigs is as well part of the construction of my career.
5. What's your creative process when you're making a track?
Well, it depends… But in general, I start with the rhythmics and then comes the inspiration for the baseline, the vocal or the melody. But this is not a fixed process, it depends of my feeling of the moment, what is in my mind and what I want at this time. For instance, for my last album, I worked on a different way as I was working back and forth a lot on each track to get the link and the flow between the tracks of the album. So I sometimes changed a lot afterwards…
6. If you could choose one DJ, producer or an artist you'd like to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
There are many artists I would be interested in working with… for different reasons, I would like to cooperate with some musicians or singers… but it is too difficult and long to quote them all.
7. How important do you think it is for DJs to also be producers?
Nowadays, it is really difficult to be only a Dj, without production. Releasing is the way to get recognized and identified with the music you produce and play. Many producers are not Djs but at the end, became some as music business changed and you make your living by playing gigs. And being a good producer does not make you a good Dj, and vice versa - I guess this is why some producers prefer to only play Live.
8. Do you agree with this situation that the electronic music became so hyper productive?
Indeed we can say that there are loads of production nowadays; and this is not easy to get to know everything and to listen to all the new releases every week, there are so many! I would say that some artists should work a bit more on their production before releasing them. Today it is so much easier to produce than in the late 90s when you had to buy expensive equipment. Now, young kids start with a laptop and a software - sometimes it is bad, sometimes it is good as it allows young talented producer to reach a certain level and get recognized more easily.
9. What is your opinion about house music nowadays from its quality point of view?
I think there are still lots of high quality releases and especially in the house style with young and less young producers inspired by the old house.
10. You are well known for the way you know how to put in place a show. For those who haven’t been present there for one of your live shows, what lies, technically speaking, in your set up?
When I play a Dj set, I listen to the new tracks I received as a promo or I just bought to get more familiar with it. I play with 3 Cds player and one Pioneer DJM 900; I am using a lot the effects from the mixer. Since few months, I am also presenting a Live act. There I am using a laptop with Ableton live and two controllers (APC40 et MPC32). Of course, many sequences are prepared in advance, but most of the things are played Live, depending of the feeling and the feedback of the crowd.
11. How has digital technology changed your DJ sets?
Djing changed a lot over the years as before we could only work on 3 decks with a mixer, without effect or other gadget. I am now only playing Cds and of course it allows me to integrate loops and cue points in the tracks. I am also using a lot the delays, effects and filters from the mixer, which gives another dimension to the dj set.
12. Which was the best event that you have mixed for?
It is always difficult to pick one event over my career. There have been many amazing events, in clubs or festivals over the last 10 years.To speak about Romania, there is a very important event to me, it was 2 years ago at Kudos Beach in Mamaia. It was really amazing, I played for three hours during the afternoon, atmosphere was so good and I got a lot of great feedback. Speaking of which, I am very happy to play in Boiler Club at Cluj-Napoca, I was not in Romania for a year and I missed it.
13. Do you prefer playing the carnival and festivals or in clubs?
I really like open-air festivals in the summer, you reach a big crowd and you meet all your Djs friends that you don´t have so much time to see during the year. When I play in a club, I meet a lot of people, from the resident Djs to the promoters and it is as well always a pleasure. I like playing in clubs because the atmosphere is warmer, you have a real contact with the crowd.
14. Please recommend us some ''must listen'' tracks.
Please find here my last chart: - Dachshund - Need U - Highgrade Records- Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - Morning Gin - Circus Company- Guido Schneider & Florian Schirmacher - In the Toilet (Philip Bader Remix) - Moon Harbour- Boris Werner - Set It Off - Soweso- Chris Carrier - Love Bug - Holic Trax- Tigerskin & Lazarusman - The Blackness (Rhadow Meets NTFO Remix) - Get Physical Music- Little Fritter - Lip Quiver - Affin - Guy Gerber - Steady feat. Jaw - Supplement Facts- Jack Dixon - Spindrive - Leftroom- Chris James - Kind Of Heavy (Andre Crom Remix) - Klangkultur Schallplatten
15. What else are you working on at this moment? Any scoops?
No real scoop, I am working on some new tracks and remixes, but I can´t say too much for the moment, still confidential. :)
16. And finally, when you look back on your career, how will you describe it?
This is a career full of good moments, amazing memories, pleasure, nice people I met… and I hope it won´t end up anytime soon. I am also grateful to be able to travel in countries I would have never visited - I went to more then 50 countries already, I feel really lucky.
17. Thank you very much for your time! Do you have a message for all the people out there who love electronic music?
Thanks to all of you and thanks to whose who support our music. Please enjoy and keep your mind open!
Interview made by Adriana-Laura L. © 2012 DJs Arena. All rights reserved.
