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10 Questions with ... Cole Plante
February 25, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
www.facebook.com/ColePlante & twitter.com/ColePlante
1. In 2011 at the age of 14, you opened for Paul Oakenfold at Rain Nightclub at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, becoming the youngest person to ever play the club. How did this come about?
Paul was a great supporter at the beginning of my career. After being introduced to Paul, his assistant Dan Rosenthal had given him my mix CD to Paul and he loved it. He wanted me to do a live DJ set in front of him as well. Soon after, he contacted the promoters of Rain and I got the call that I'd be opening for him. It was such an amazing night! One of the best in my life and forever grateful that Paul opened that door for me.
2. In 2012 you played on a number of dates on the Identity Festival with the likes of Eric Prydz, Paul van Dyk & Porter Robinson and you opened for Avicii at the Santa Monica Civic Center. In 2013 at the age of 16 you became the youngest DJ to ever play MainStage at Lollpalooza. Did you ever expect to accomplish so much at such a young age?
I didn't actually. I knew there would be a lot of work that would need to be put in, so that was my focus. Each time my agent Jonas at WME would contact me to let me know about each of the gigs, I was so stoked and felt really honored and it just keeps me working harder.
3. Your first single, "Lie To Me," with Myon & Shane 54 opened the doors at radio and your follow-up single is "If I Fall." What can you tell us about your new single?
We've been wanting to do a follow-up for "Lie To Me" and luckily our schedules allowed it to happen. It's a progressive house track that picks up where "LTM" left off. Stephenie Jones' top line for "If I Fall" is just amazing! Originally I built the song with just vocals and a Rhodes piano and then shot it over to Myon & Shane 54; they too loved it and added a real acoustic guitar and we both just kept building from there until it was finished. The creative flow between us is so great; we're always able to create something special with each collaboration.
4. You've done a number of remixes including the latest single from Demi Lovato "Neon Lights." What do you love most about doing remixes?
It's the ability to reinterpret someone else's work and give my creative additions to it. It also allows me to step away from stuff I'm normally working on and get inspired, with some new structures and ideas going into my own new materiel as well.
5. Speaking of Demi Lovato, you are currently the featured DJ on her Neon Lights Tour, playing the VIP room at each venue before the show and on stage DJing for a portion of her show and then joining her for the finale. What can we expect to hear from you?
Pretty much what I would normally play in a club or festival setting, which is a mixture of Progressive / Electrohouse / Trap. Exclusive mash-ups and definitely new tracks like "If I Fall" and a few others I've been working on the past couple months. The best part is playing in front of full stadium venues every night. I know that almost all the 28 shows on the tour is completely sold out, which is just incredible!
6. You've worked on a number of videogame soundtracks. What does it take to create music for a game?
A lot of patience. Well, I've been a HUGE gamer (RPG, FPS to RTS and everything in between) since I was a kid, so luckily I understand the pace of games and the flow. It's still a massive challenge because you're wanting to put a piece of yourself in each setting, but at the same time you have to anticipate what the players themselves would be "triggered" by during certain scenes and gameplay, so those things have to be taken into account when you're building out the track -- and with the soundscapes that go with it.
7. Your currently 17 years old, with all the traveling you have to do, do you attend a regular high school, or are you home schooled? Do you utilize a tutor when on the road?
I'm currently a junior in HS and do attend full-time. It was one of the major things I had to make sure remained intact when I got signed as an artist. I wanted to be with all my friends and didn't want to miss out on that once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the road, all my homework is sent to me ahead of time and I also Skype when I would need any extra help from my teachers.
8. At such a young age, how do you handle the success that has come your way and do you have any advice for someone just starting out?
My family has been my core through all of this and that's really helped keep me grounded. Also, being able to remain in school has really helped me keep it all in perspective. My managers, A&Rs, label and all the companies I've been working with too are ones I represent so even though there's great rewards, there's also great responsibilities. My best advice is to learn from others (veterans) in the industry and be humble. I'm really proud that I can truly say that there's not a day I take any of this for granted.
9. If you could work with any artist, vocalist or producer in the world, who would it be?
I'll do one for each. Kanye, Chris Martin (Coldplay) and my buddy Hugo (Madeon).
10. You've been involved in a number of TV shows and documentaries; anything on the horizon that we should be looking for?
Mainly singles at the moment -- and working on my album (everyone says that, but really I am). I love MTV and I'd like to continue that relationship with them.
Bonus Questions
Since you've worked on a number of videogame soundtracks, if you had one hour of extra time and could play any game what would it be?
Halo 4. Right now that extra time is after show breakdown and my unwinding time on the bus.
What's one must have item that you have to have with you when traveling on the road?
Gaming consoles, hands dow,n but it's such a pain to travel with & lucky if you have a TV in the hotel that lets you hook to it. Then my buddy Jared Gerritzen hooked me up with this company GAEMS and they sent me their Vanguard all-i-one system that had a 19" HD monitor, speaker system in one that holds any console on the first day of the Demi tour to my hotel room. Lifesaver!
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