Chloé: Back in Black
Published 14 months ago
DJ and producer Chloé intoduces One In Other, her second studio album for red-hot Parisian label Kill The DJ...
- Text by Dean Mayo Davies
Chloé’s debut, The Waiting Room, imposed itself to listeners as a cult over some time - radically introverted, a duality of clubby electronics and analogue noir showcased the brooding, emotive side of Chloé Thevenin. Call One in Other a return, but the truth is she’s never been away; the first record sounds as bold as it did in 2007 and Thevenin continues to stir crowds with machine-like rhythms as a DJ worldwide. It’s because of this that more than ever her sound must continue to move forward. That’s exactly what One in Other does.
Dazed Digital: One in Other has a directness that is a definite progression from the The Waiting Room. Did performing the record live shape this?
Chloé: Playing live brought my music from the studio to the crowd, which is a very inspiring and creative experience, it gave me a lot of new ideas for this new album. When I play live, it’s with improvisation - in a way I use the same technique from DJing: the freedom to change the music and effects according to the atmosphere of the crowd. Doing it live helped me to build some parts of this new album, it really opened new fields to me.
DD: How do your studio records contrast with DJing? Do you want to expand on the world you create in clubs?
Chloé: When I DJ, I play tracks by other producers. Sometimes mine but rarely as it's not so much made for clubbing. When I produce, I don’t limit myself, I like to go further than what I do as a DJ. Without limits. That’s why I see playing live as the connection between both. DJing takes a lot of my time because I tour every weekend, listening to so many tracks to prepare my sets (which are always different). If I was producing only club music I’d feel bored, I need to search somewhere else to get inspired.
DD: What’s your favourite city at the moment in terms of nightlife? Do you feel excited by anywhere in particular?
Chloé: I like Berlin as there’s always something to do, every night you can find a party. In Paris it's a bit weird at the moment, the nightlife is focused on the weekend, not so many interesting things happen during the week. I don’t know why really...
DD: Can you tell us about the collaborations you are working on at the moment? You have an event for Festival Montpellier Dance...
Chloé: I’m working on the music for the next contemporary dance project by Fabrice Ramalingum and I will also be performing live on the stage with the dancers. It's on the 28th june 2010 at the Montpellier Danse Festival. It’s the second time I’ve worked with this dance choreographer. I also have an electronic project with my friend Krikor, under the name Plein Soleil. We've already released two EPs and done a few remixes. We play live together and plan to make more releases this year. And I'm preparing my live act at the moment with the Berlin visual artists Transforma. The first show will be presented on 15th May at the French festival Les Nuits Sonores, in Lyon. The idea is to propose a whole concept of live music and visuals.
DD: Where do you imagine people listening to One in Other? Do you have any visions of situations in which people play/experience the record?
Chloé: I’d like people to listen to it very low or very loud. I think there are two ways of experiencing it. If you play it loud you can hear little details that have a lot of importance at the end on the tracks.
One In Other is released worldwide 17th May through Kill The DJ
