music culture

Interview With Eve Falcon

The Eve Falcon Interview

October 30, 2006

-Adam Singer

Eve Falcon. If you haven’t heard the name, you’ll be hearing it soon. She’s not just the leading DJ/producer on many clubbers’, promoters’ and DJs’ a-lists, she’s also a vocalist and works with the Allen and Heath team, who make the best DJ mixers on the planet, demo-ing their gear. I caught up with Eve before a busy week.

You work with Allen and Heath, demonstrating their gear at various trade shows and events. How’d this relationship get started?

Eve Falcon: I can’t think of a better mixer than the Allen and Heath, so when I met someone involved with them and they offered me this chance, I jumped at the offer. I’ve had the opportunity to demo the xone 3D and the xone:92 when it came out at events in California like the NAMM convention and the Remix hotel. It’s been a lot of fun, but mainly an honor.

What advice would you give to young/aspiring artists?

Don’t let the quest for fame interfere with your talent. I see so many people get sucked into the popularity vortex that they lose their vision and sometimes even quit because they get disheartened. Be true to your art and relish the journey. If you constantly worry about not being at a higher level, you’re missing the whole point… it’s about living in the moment and focusing on art that best represents you.

Where do you see electronic music headed in the next 10 years?

I see EDM integrating with different styles as it is now with electro, but I honestly I have no idea how it will mutate in the future. If you think about it, 10 years from now, we will have turned over at least three new generations of dance music. So to me, the prospect is exciting for new blood and I somehow believe the music will keep evolving into new and exciting directions with producers willing to take chances.

So you’ve had sets in Hong Kong, Peru and Mexico City, just to name a few. Talk about the differences in the international nightlife vibe.

They’ve all been wonderful, but the one that comes to mind right now is Buenos Aires, Argentina. I got to spend a week down there and I played three shows. One of them was at a club reminiscent of NY’s Limelight. It was an old gothic church, but even bigger than I remember Limelight being. I went on for a 3-hour peaktime set and the place was jam-packed wall to wall with two full balconies that snaked around.

The crazy thing was that a lot of the people had fire-torches and were using them like glow-sticks.. It was a little unnerving to see those flames in such a packed area, but I tried not to think about it and just kept on playing and playing. I think I ended up playing for close to five hours and this was back when I only played vinyl.. So I was actually running out of songs! I was turning to B-sides and they were running out too! it didn’t matter, the 4,000+ crowd was with me the entire time, listening, responding brilliantly. And the best part of the night was looking at these beautiful people reacting and dancing. These people had such an incredible connection to the music I was playing.

I know you asked for contrasts with the US scene, but as cliché as it sounds, no matter where I play in the world, what always rings true is that people just want to dance to good music and be taken on a journey. I’m just so grateful that I get to do this… to communicate musically with people anywhere in the world regardless of our language.

What initially sparked your passion for electronica?

I guess it goes all the way back to when I was a kid and my parents who were usually playing jazz or classical music put on the groundbreaking Walter Carlos record, “Switched On Bach.” It was basically an album of Bach pieces performed on a synthesizer. I can even remember the cover vividly with Bach standing in front of a big ole Moog. Going back even further—my parents took me to Disneyworld when I was really little and yeah, it was fun… Space Mountain was pretty awesome, but the best thing we came across was some guy demonstrating this massive synthesizer and all the cool things they could do.

I was riveted! He made wind sounds, dog and cat sounds. I just sat there like WOW! That was definitely the highlight of my Disneyworld trip and I sometimes wonder who that guy was because he made such an impression on me. So from when I was little, I was just always drawn into music that utilized synthesizers whether it was in rock music, pop music or even commercials—remember the song ‘Popcorn’? Then I discovered Depeche Mode and later heard New Order and those really pulled me in further.

You’ve been living in large metropolises all your life it seems – growing up in Brooklyn and then moving to LA. What inspired your move, and did you find it hard to begin life again in a new city as an artist? What helped you persevere to success?

Well, I was born in Brooklyn, but actually grew up in Pennsylvania— literally halfway between Philadelphia and New York in a place called Allentown, famous for the Billy Joel song. This easy access to two major cities really opened up my world musically. I was constantly going to world-class concerts and was involved in bands and musical projects growing up… many of them electronic, but I needed a big change.

So I decided to pick up and move to New Mexico so I could live in the desert for a few years. I didn’t exactly know what I’d find living there, but boy was I surprised. I discovered a thriving trance and progressive scene there and went to many raves and clubs. Let’s just say it opened up my eyes… so when I came out to Los Angeles two years later, I got inspired to put my new-found knowledge of these genres to good use and learned to spin. I think no matter where I’ve lived, big city or smaller town, I’ve managed to find like-minded people. People I could learn about new music from and share my musical passions with.

Even in a place like Los Angeles, I find myself meeting people who are just as down-to-earth and passionate about music as people from anywhere I’ve ever lived. I think that just starting from the ground up in LA and making a name for myself based on my music, energy and integrity is what’s gotten me where I am today. I also think being flexible and being able to play appropriately alongside any artist, whether they’re trance, progressive or breaks has been an asset and makes me more desirable. I’ve been asked to play before a wide range of DJs from Ferry Corsten to Hybrid to Hernan Cattaneo to Micro… all sets were completely different style-wise, but what they all had in common was a steady buildup to get the crowd excited.

Artists you admire?

Oh boy… that’s such a tough question because my taste is an amalgamation of so many styles and artists. i’m drawn to anyone who pushes boundaries really… whether it be Mozart, Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Kate Bush, Trevor Horn, Way Out West, BT, Hybrid, Andy Page, Phil K or artists who are just up and coming like Darius Bassiray, Lusine, Andrew Kelly, Esque, Kilowatts. Then there are artists that are more obscure who are doing things that are truly unique like Stanley Jordan. He’s a jazz guitarist who’s figured out a method of playing the guitar like a keyboard. Think Eddie Van Halen hammering away, but with all 10 fingers creating intricate chords. I’ve seen him many times over the years and he always blows my mind not only with his technique, but with the beauty and complexity of his music.

What inspires you more – cats or dogs?

Meow.

The LA scene is really a vibrant and diverse group, giving birth to a myriad of artists. Tell me about some of the people you’ve worked with, and about the synergies you’ve had collaborating with them.

It is a really diverse scene here and I’ve met a lot of talented producers and DJs. But it’s funny, my most recent collaboration is with a fellow New Mexico transplant and good friend, Shawn Parker (aka Desert Sol). We wrote a track together called ‘Eve Falcon & Desert Sol – Know it All’ that incorporates moody breaks with uplifting and emotional vocals. I really think this track did a great job of bridging our New Mexico and California sensibilities. Another LA producer doing big things is Colin C. he did a great remix of my track under the moniker Deeptone vs. Slighter. And I can’t forget Mike Hiratzka. He also worked on a fantastic remix of my track.. I’ve been admiring his work for the last few years.

Working with producers has been a real learning experience and has inspired me to start using Ableton Live not only for creating mixes, but for working on my own music. So keep a lookout for some tracks by me, with some more collabs of course, in the near future.

Besides being a DJ and producer, you’re also a vocalist. I’m curious about the process you take when infusing your own voice with your music.

The way I sing really depends on the mood of the song. I have many different styles of vocals I like sing. I was able to develop this vocal range from singing in choirs, bands and a cappella groups. Sometimes a song calls for a more raspy, soulful feel, a breathier more ambient style or just a balls-to-the-wall vocal. It all depends on how a song moves me. I usually figure this out from hearing a song for the first time. The basic melody and timbre of the vocal just comes to me and then I go from there with the harmonies and other intricacies.

Finally, how do you feel been blessed personally as a result of embracing the life of an artist?

I think for me, being a DJ is true—in that, the knowledge I am able to share as a dj is a lifetime of music and experiences. I didn’t just learn overnight how to program, it’s been living inside of me since I was little and comes from a million influences, some not even musical… so for me to be able to manifest my love of performing and sharing the music I’m feeling in big clubs, small clubs, on the airwaves or even just talking about it in situations like this makes me grateful. It’s something I have to do… I’m just glad people are digging it and enjoy dancing to my sets. Thank you for this thoughtful interview, Adam.

Check out Eve on Proton Radio this week:
November 1 – Eve Falcon is Proton Radio Featured Artist of the week
with an exclusive 2-hour guestmix
www.protonradio.com (guestmix currently available On Demand)
Direct link to tracklist and download:
For more Eve, visit www.myspace.com/evefalcon or www.evefalcon.com

Avalon photo credit: Rukes.

http://www.clubplanet.com/news/archive/the_eve_falcon_interview.asp

© 2005-2011 Adam Singer.