DJ + EDM producer Klingande, aka Cédric, is a force to be reckoned with. After his 2012 debut, with the self-released track “Punga,” Klingande has been recognized worldwide for his unique tropical house vibe, and heavy use of saxophone and piano elements. The French-native’s originals + remixes have flooded the Europe and US EDM billboards, with his supercharged summer-track “Jubel” reaching #1. Most recently, the very 1st Klingande Live Show made its US debut in NYC. Next up, Coachella?

Introduction and transcribing by Camden Gaultney
Interview by Mike Greene
Photography by Lauren Engel

Do you feel that there is any part of your upbringing that has affected the way you produce today?
Umm, not really, I don’t think so. Maybe, of course, what you are used to listening to with your parents. I mean, if you like that kind of music. Thanks to them, I was a huge fan of pop-rock music and indie-rock music. In that kind of music, you can hear a lot of pop influence. After that they asked me to do piano. And it was a great idea. It gives me a lot of help when I have to produce my own music. So, I guess they did have a lot of influence in what I am doing now.

What kind of music did your parents play while you were growing up? Were there any specific artists or musicians that you listened to, or that they played?
There was a lot of U-2. Coldplay, of course. This kind of vibe.

Where do you receive your inspiration to create? What inspires you? Is it the places you go; the people you meet?
It’s a lot of different things. Sometimes, I go to a country and something can inspire me. I can listen to music, and be like: “oh, this idea is great; I can do something with that.” The thing is, with my music, I always want to put some organic stuff in it. I don’t like to use that much stuff with synths. It can be on tour, or whatever. Most important for me is to be in a room that I feel good in. If I feel good in it then I can be very creative.

Is there a specific location or thought that you need to have in order for you do create? Or is it all natural? Like, wherever you are, you’ll just start and it will come to you…
I’m bad if I am pushed to do it. If I’m told I have to do music now, now, now…

That doesn’t work?
For me, no. Normal days, if I wake up and I want to do something–to produce–then I produce. That’s it.

Is there a specific day of the week? Like, you don’t produce well on Mondays but you produce well on Tuesdays?
No, everyday. It’s my hobby. It’s what I like to do. You know, some people like to play tennis or football, but for me it’s music. So, it’s perfect.

“My biggest feeling was at my first show ever. It was already in front of 1500 people, so I was very impressed. I didn’t know anything about this stuff… So, I was like: “ah, the fuck.”

What instruments did you grow up playing? You said piano…
It’s all about piano. I always wanted to add saxophone to my music. When you start, you don’t have money to hire someone to play on your song. After that I saw Klangkarussel—who made a song called Sonnentanz—and it blew my mind. I didn’t know there was a way of using the saxophone like that. And so, I tried to do that in my music with my first one “Punga.” Now, I would like to keep on doing this same kind of thing… music with a harmonica, violin. What I want to do is perform my album on stage next year.

With a full orchestra?
Yes. Sometimes I feel frustrated because I want to tell a story to the people, but I don’t have enough songs that really correspond to my universe. I can play a song, but not really the song I would love to play. That’s why I want to compose more of my own music.

Do you feel that having a live band or orchestra will add another layer for the audience to interact with? Or is it just another part of the show? Another layer; another way to feel close to you. To feel like they’re part of something?
I think so. I just want them to think at the end: “ah, that is something different—a unique experience.” It’s all about that. And so, I’m going to work harder and harder to make people feel that.

Being an international producer, do you think that there is a difference between creating music that will gain popularity in America versus in Europe?
It’s such a different market. My dream, of course, is to be #1 here. It’s amazing to do that; I’m working with my team right now to do that. But here, the music is more about hip-hop. You can see the chart. You can look at the billboard and every time you see something like The Weekend—this kind of stuff. Like, what they really like here. I am now trying to make my style evolve. I am trying to evolve more in a different style. I don’t want to be categorized a just tropical house. The next songs… some are going to be very different. I’m going to experiment with some new stuff.

How do you feel that music differs in other countries compared to in America? Like The Weekend…
Well, The Weekend is huge everywhere. Whenever I arrive in the US, I go in a cab and the radio is playing hip-hop stuff—every time, every single time. That’s why I know that it is really big here. But, I don’t know any of the songs. In France, hip-hop is not so big. Like in the UK, actually. In the UK, music is still very different. So, it’s difficult to get a #1 everywhere. I’m not looking for an absolute #1. Of course, that would be great. But, you can’t focus on doing that, because if you do, you’ll make shit and lose you own style.

What are you and your friends back in France listening to? What or who is popular?
All kinds of music. Like, Felix Jaehn, for example. He was at number #1. We have a lot of this kind of stuff. It’s so eclectic. In France, it’s so different. You can have a really shit #1 song in France, or you can have artists like The Weekend or Kygo at the top of the charts.

What has been your most memorable experience to date? What’s been the craziest part about life as a producer and touring DJ? Especially now, being the star…
Well, we used to party a lot, like every night. As a DJ, I have to pick one.

It doesn’t have to be a party experience, it can be the 1st major festival you played or the biggest crowd you played or an unexpected feeling that over-came you.
My biggest feeling was at my first show ever. It was already in front of 1500 people, so I was very impressed. I didn’t know anything about this stuff… So, I was like: “ah, the fuck.” It was for students, a party in the mountains. It was outside, it was snowing on me… it was great. So, at the end I was like: “wow, that was amazing.” And after that, Tomorrowland came, which was another big experience for me. I had dreamed about it so much. And now, I want to go to Coachella. I would love to. It’s one of my targets.

Well, maybe we’ll shoot you next year at Coachella.

I have to do it. The thing about Coachella is that the people who go there are like real artists. They don’t just do a DJ set. They have something that makes them very special. So, maybe next year or the year after. I don’t know… *laughs*