Five minutes with Sébastien Léger

Sébastien Léger has had a 2011 in fine form. His label, Mistakes, has further strengthened his role as one of Europe’s leading proponents of contemporary underground techno. The antithesis of the showman that is fellow countryman, David Guetta, Léger mines a wholly different vein, updating the rich musical histories of Detroit and Chicago with a quiet determination and no-nonsense approach. Heading to Australia this weekend, beginning the tour in Perth which will end November 19th in Sydney.  Emily Smith caught him for 5 minutes to get some inside knowledge on what Australian fans can expect.  



Pulse: How was the european summer, did you play much? Sébastien Léger: Yeah of course, summer is the busiest time of the year.

What is influencing your set at the moment? Well pretty funky music, I would say, and something in-between house and techno but some really funky grooves.

What inspires this funk element? Actually nothing really [laughs]. . . The main thing is funky singing, and the groves in general is the main influence at the moment.

Does your extensive classical training still influence your music? Not not really, definitely not, not in the music making process. Just maybe the music training, you know, but not in the technical side of it.

Is this the first time you've been to Australia? No, no, it's my 5th or 6th time now . . . . Each time I toured two or three weeks or something, to all Australian major cities.

And what did you think of the music scene here? It's totally different than Europe for sure. It's a little bit more rock n' roll electro, you know, sort of, AC/DC in techno [laughs] I love this.

What can Australians expect from your show? Pretty much what I do all the time, there are no big surprises, if people know me. If people don't know me then some kind of groovy party techno, not too banging but not too boring; in between for the perfect balance for sunshine and party, if you know what I'm saying [laughs].



Will you be playing new tunes? Yeah of course, I will mainly be playing new stuff. So, basically nobody knows what I'm playing because it's not out yet!

Is it much different from your regular stuff? What is my regular stuff [laughs]? I don't know, what I do today is different from what I did yesterday and is different from what I'll do in two years. It's today's music, lets say.

Are you exciting for your Australian tour? I hope there is some nice weather in Australia because it's getting winterish in Europe. Obviously I hope people come and see where I'm going to play, if that makes sense, don't stay home! I'm happy to go back to Australia.

Mistakes Music Tour dates:

11.11 GEISHA, PERTH
12.11 BARSOMA, BRISBANE
17.11 APPLE, ADELAIDE
18.11 BILLBOARD, MELBOURNE
19.11 KINK @ THE ARTHOUSE, SYDNEY

Listen to Sébastien Léger on Pulse Radio