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INTERVIEW: JOAKIM
Written By: Christina Curry
INTERVIEW: JOAKIM
WRITTEN BY: CHRISTINA CURRY
INTERVIEW: DAEDELUS
WRITTEN BY: MAXWELL WILLIAMS
WHAT'S IN YOUR...
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TYLER, THE CREATOR
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WRITTEN BY: MAXWELL WILLIAMS
JUNO TEMPLE
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WRITTEN BY: MAXWELL WILLIAMS
The air is heavy and thick with that suffocating sunny smog L.A. is known for. It’s Monday, and unfortunately
the Boomtown Rats couldn’t have said it better: “I Don’t Like Mondays.”. At a café in Silver Lake, a handsome
man dressed in a trilby, sunglasses, and a Hawaiian shirt sits in solitude nursing a black coffee and picking at a
half-eaten breakfast. His name is Joakim, and as his online biography bravely states, he’s a “part club music, part
jazz, part electronic” producer. It’s been a busy few years for Joakim—numerous singles, four albums with a fifth
one on the way, and his own record label, it’s no wonder that accredited websites like AllMusic and iTunes call
him a prodigy (and that’s not even self-proclaimed). The icing on the cake? He’s French. The most dangerously
charming of all European male species, known to disarm and woo American women at the drop of their stylish
on-trend hats. Feeling remorseful that Flaunt let the opportunity to witness Joakim’s first show in L.A. slip
through their fingers (unfortunately clubs don’t take too kindly to underage interviewers creeping on their
premises after hours, basking in the glory of sex, drugs, and creatures of the night), small talk comes out
sheepishly. Will he catch yon interviewer faking knowledge of his dance floor-moving prowess? Will he be rude
as the French are oft known to be? Alas, he flashes a smile whiter than the surrendering flag any unsuspecting
female victim must have waved in his presence last night. Suddenly, it becomes very clear, taking a grave interest
in every aspect of this man’s existence and career is très nécessaire.
Tell me a little bit about how you got started in the DJing, because you’ve been doing it for a while now?
I never wanted to be a DJ actually. I was just doing music. Becoming a DJ is caused by the fact I was making
music and needed a way to promote myself, to show my face to the world, you know? I was collecting records, so
it just made sense to share that love of music.
What kind of records we talking here?
Back then, it was the first wave of house music in France, so a lot of Daft Punk, stuff from around 1996.
Basically a lot of US electronic music. Also things like ELO, and let’s not forget Chic. But that was back when I
just started DJing. Before that, I was completely into indie rock.
You’re a closet indie kid? So, it wasn’t always dance/house music that interested you. Do you feel like your
eclectic taste in music has shaped and evolved your work to what it is today?
Definitely. I’m not into one genre. I’m just into music. It’s never really made sense for me to think of genres. I
understand you need genres to try and classify things, but in the end, it’s just music. I was so amazed when I
started to make music that I could even pick up a synth and make all these different sounds myself.
What kind of other projects can we expect from you, you seem to have a really broad interest when it
comes to what inspires your music or future projects?
JULIE VERHOEVEN
WRITTEN BY: MAXWELL WILLIAMS
B ETTER LIVING
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THE ART OF E MPIRE
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TESTIMONIES OF...
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WILLIAM LEAVITT
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WAR OF...
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MADE IN RUSSIA...
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Well I’m also really interested in art. I love experimental videos and installations. I did a performance with some
artists in at the [Centre] Pompidou in Paris, [which is] pretty much the equivalent to what you guys call MOCA
out here. When I DJ, I don’t use visuals, but art is really inspiring to me as a musician. Maybe in the future, I’d
like some sort of instillation to incorporate for my live show. Apart from that, I’m just going to go back to Paris,
continue working on my shows, and finish up a few records I’ve been working on with the artists I’ve got signed
to Tigersushi.
Within some families, it’s made to seem like such a fuck-up idea to abandon your education to pursue
music or the arts. What was that like for you being so young when you started to get recognition?
I sent out a dew demos, and I got signed by a French label really quickly when I was super young; I didn’t know
what was happening to me! I was in school when I did my first album. I attended a business school, and my
parents didn’t care if I did well in my studies at all. I never wanted to work in a big company. I mean, I
considered being an astrophysicist until I realized I would have to study for at least 15 years, so I just went with
being a musician. I wanted to be a billionaire by 30 so I could do whatever I wanted, and that’s where business
school came in handy.
So, are you a billionaire yet?
Actually, you know what happened? Five days ago, I was probably the closest I’ve been to being a billionaire for
the day! The bank put 5,000,000 euros on my account. I considered not telling them, but then I asked what was
going on. They panicked and realized they made a mistake and took it off. Apart from that, I think I’ve grown up
a little bit since then and realized I’d actually be pretty bored if I was a billionaire. I’d have nothing to look
forward to. But maybe I should of spent that money before they took it all…
I’m not going to bullshit you; I know very little about house music. I’ve been informed it all started up in
America, but is it wrong to feel like it’s only been recently that there’s been a lot of attention given
towards it?
Well, it was big, then disappeared. That’s probably why it feels so new. It was the same in France. In the mid
‘90s, it was super big. In the US, we were the leaders of the scene. There was the rock ‘n’ roll revival, too with
bands like The Strokes—then suddenly all the kids were into rock ‘n’ roll again. With bands like Justice coming
onto the scene [house] started to be resurrected again, making house, electronic music, and all similar styles
popular among the younger generations. It goes in cycles. Just like fashion, it all comes back.
As someone who runs your own label, what do you look for when it comes to new talent? What are the
really crucial factors that enable them to fit in with you and your label?
It’s complex. I need to be excited as a listener. I want to feel surprised and be thinking, ‘What’s this guy doing?’ I
need to feel like there’s potential to grow artistically, not that someone is doing one thing and unable to do
anything else. Also I am quite interested in people that are cultured and universal in a way where it’s not just
about music; some people factor in their obsessions and have a broader vision of creativity and art. I think it’s
fantastic to work with people like that, because there are so many different levels of interaction.
I’m bummed I didn’t get to see your show Saturday, but unfortunately I’m underage and wouldn’t have
been able to get into the club. [Joakim laughs and enquires as to why I don’t have a fake I.D.] How did the
show go?
This was actually my first show in L.A. I live in New York right now until August. After that, I’ll be going back
to France because of the new record release and all of the touring I’ll be doing. But yeah, for my first show out
here, it was pretty wild. The crowd was absolutely crazy, and everyone was going mental. So many weird people,
seriously. It was mainly a gay party, which are usually the best parties. They dance and just love music. It’s gotten
so popular right now, because of Dita Von Teese and Paris Hilton tweeting about it. So, it’s even crazier than
before, because people are now queuing for hours to get in.
Social media platforms like Twitter seem to be playing an extremely important role now with exposure for
music. What about other mediums like the podcasts? Are you working at all with that to promote yourself
or the artists on Tigersushi?
I already have so much to do; I’m trying to not overdo it! I guess I could do what normal busy people do and get
an assistant to do that kind of thing. I’m too much of a control freak for that though. It’s been part of the core
ethics for underground labels to have this DIY frame of mind. It’s getting your hands dirty, so to speak, and it
feels good. I think if I had a big company with a lot of people working for me, I wouldn’t be happy.
What are you favourite mediums to work with studio-wise?
What is this a nerdy magazine? God, if we start with that, we’ll be here for a while. One thing I’m extremely
proud of is that I built my own huge studio. I started out in my bedroom where I lived near Paris, but once I had
enough money I spent years buying vintage equipment from eBay. So, I’ve got a mostly analogue studio. I like to
mix old machines with new techniques or new ways of making music. I love vintage equipment, because to me it
just sounds better. They’re imperfect, so you can’t control what the outcome is; it never fails to surprise me.
Digital just can’t do that for you. I like things a little raw and dirty.
Will you be in any line-ups for festivals this summer that we should look out for? Or any more shows in
L.A., for that matter, so you can sneak me in next time!
I’m playing a few gigs. Starting next week, I’m going to Washington, Philly, basically around the East Coast.
And, of course, I’ll be hitting New York . I’m pretty excited, because they’re all supposedly going to be really
good gigs. Particularly PS1 in New York. You could go there; I played there five or six years ago and saw a
seven-year-old dancing around like crazy.
Ah, someone within my age group. Fantastic. So, after that, it’s all wrapped up for you for the summer?
Well, after that, I still have Chicago, then I pretty much have to start preparing a new live show to tour with this
new album coming out in the fall.
MOVING...
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S ADNESS AND...
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INVIGORATING...
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Well, I’m sure I speak for all the American women out here when I say we’ll miss you when you leave
L.A.!
So the rumours are true? American women love European men?
Trust me, anything with a British or French accent, and it’s all systems go out here.
But what about you? You’re European, huh?
Exactly, so your charms are rendered useless. Almost.
Joakim’s fourth album Nothing Gold is due out September 20th via his label Tigersushi. The latest single
off that album is “Forever Young”:
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