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10 Questions with ... Dillon Francis
December 2, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dillonfrancis
- Instagram: instagram.com/dillonfrancis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DillonFrancismusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dillonfrancis
1) Where did it all begin for you?
It all began in L.A. when I met Diplo. I hit him up on Twitter because I heard he liked one of my songs and that night I went to his studio and had a beer with him as we watched the Phillies lose.
2) The current single, "When We Were Young," is with Sultan+Ned Shepard and features The Chain Gang Of 1974 ... how did this song come about?
Ned & Sultan had made the song as a demo with Kamtin Mohager (The Chain Gang Of 1974). I got ahold of the demo somehow and I loved it so much that I told my manager to get on the phone with them and I convinced Ned & Sultan to let me work on it and add my Dillon Francis-ness to it. They loved what I did and we went in the studio for a day, got some food and finished the song. It is one of my favorite songs because it is such a huge departure into an area I wanted to go into it; with Kam's vocals it's very alternative.
3) You have a new album out called Money Sucks, Friends Rule; how did you come up with that name?
I was taking a shower and I decided I wanted to make a T-shirt that said that. I sent it to my manager and he said we need a name for the album and we both said that is a perfect name for the album.
4) Is the rest of the album like it?
Not entirely; there is maybe one other song that has a similar vibe, I have a song with Twista, "All That," which is the new single, that is completely in the opposite direction. I also have two songs of mine -- "I Can't Take It" and "Not Butter" -- that are completely 110 BPM, Dillon Francis-style records. Then "Drunk All The Time," which is very indie hipster vibe, and "We make It Bounce," which is a cool club record that I did with Major Lazer. So the album is all over the place; I believe everyone who listens to it is going to really enjoy it because there is something for everyone.
5) You teamed up earlier this year with DJ Snake for "Get Low"
It's really cool to see how well it did on iTunes and it was featured on one of the routines on So You Think You Can Dance. A lot of people really enjoy it because it is out of the box.
6) What's the mindset when you go into the studio to work on a song?
I always want to make something that is cool and different and that hasn't been heard before. I like to take the influences of what's going on around me and what I enjoy.
7) Do you remember where were you the first time you heard your song on the road?
I remember exactly. It was Radio One on BBC with Annie Mack and she was premiering my song, "Masta Blasta," because her boyfriend had given it to her. I definitely teared up because I never thought I was going to have a song on the radio. All I wanted to do when I got into this was DJ at a place called Sinner Space that Steve Aoki used to do; that was my goal and to get on the radio was even more awesome. When Kramer debuted a song for me on Sirius XM BPM, that was really huge for me as well.
8) Growing up who were some of your idols ... who did you admire?
Jamiroquai ... I used to listen to the Spice Girls a lot, whoever was producing them the production style was so good on them and of course The Beatles, but everyone likes The Beatles.
9) When you go into the studio these days, do you think about radio or have the clubs in mind?
When I did "When We Were Young," I really wanted to have a song on the radio. That is radio-friendly so I went in with that on my mind on that one and a few other tracks, but I also wanted to have songs that I could also play at a club and have it translate so that it would work in either place -- and I think I accomplished that.
10) If you could go out tonight and hear one DJ who would it be?
The first person who comes to mind is Calvin Harris. I really like his music a lot and have been a fan of his since his "I Created Disco" ... and it would be really cool to hear him play some songs from "I Created Disco."
Bonus Questions
With all the traveling you do what's one must have travel item?
Condoms ... definitely gotta have condoms. That way you can hang out in your hotel room by yourself and not make a mess.
You are out on the road and you want to grab something to eat, where do you go?
Any place that has tacos except when you're in Europe because they have the worst tacos ever.
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