With back-to-back Winter Music Conference smash records "Love Generation" and "World Hold On," French house maestro Bob Sinclar has launched the incredible album Western Dreams. Touring the world playing to massive crowds, Bob explores new inspirations and produces new music just about every day. With the ragga-flavored and C&C Music Factory-sampling "Rock This Party," it's obvious that you can find inspiration for great dance music just about anywhere.
DJ Ron Slomowicz: How has the tour been this year?
Bob Sinclar: Really good and really exhausting. It was really
amazing because it's following two hit singles in a row, "Love
Generation" and "World Hold On" (which went top 10 in the UK, top
three in France and number one in the album charts all around Europe).
When you have a big tune you have a lot of requests for all around
Europe to play in the bigger clubs, and you get a very nice response
from the audience.
RS: You also had the FIFA World Cup song "Love Generation." Did
you get a big response from that as well with the soccer players?
Bob Sinclar: We synchronized Love Generation with the mascot, Goleo.
It was nice to be introduced to the German market which is really,
really commercial. It was very nice support.
RS: This new single "Rock This Party" sounds completely
different than the first two singles. What was the inspiration for
it?
Bob Sinclar: I started on the DJ scene in 1988 and started with
hip-hop and dance and, of course, C&C Music Factory was really huge
because they used to mix house, hip-hop, and all types of influences
in their music. I've had in my head for two or three years this
guitar loop and this sample. So I did it, but it was hard for me to
find a way to reintroduce the loop with a nice vibe.
RS: It's also very upbeat. The last two singles were serious
and issue-oriented and its a nice change for something so light,
fluffy, and energetic.
Bob Sinclar: Yes, it's true. The tempo is more a factor than in the
beginning of the 90s and the idea was to add some ragga and do a
crossover with the dance DJs and hip-hop DJs. Guys like Sean Paul and
a lot of reggae and dancehall toasters use the coolie riddim. So it
was easier for me to adapt this new rhythm with the guitar loop.
RS: I noticed the variety of styles on Western Dreams, your
current album. When you were working on the album, did you
intentionally want to put a variety of sounds on it?
Bob Sinclar: I want my music to reach a lot of people and I like to
do beautiful songs. At the beginning of last year I was looking for
something new, and I met Gary Pine from the Wailers. We met in New
York at Studio One and I had these three chords of guitar of Love
Generation, and from that point we started to make a beautiful song.
I also worked with Duane Harden, who did "You Don't Know Me" with
Armand Van Helden. He's a great singer and a great writer who helped
to write the lyrics on the album.
RS: How do balance DJing and production?
Bob Sinclar: It's really hard, because my heart is in the studio and
I like to make music. I have a little room and I work on my laptop. I
like to do that every day. It's like my blood and I like to find new
ideas, new sounds, new peaks, and a bigger sound for Miami and for the
summer next year. It's also very exciting to play the track when
you've finished producing it. It's hard because you have to travel a
lot, but it's a beautiful job. I like it.
RS: On your laptop, what software are you working with?
Bob Sinclar: I'm working with Digital Performer.
