The Unconventional Evolution Of VitalicFebruary 21, 2012
By Cyclone
Vitalic (aka Pascal Arbez-Nicolas) is bringing tastemaker cool to Creamfields Australia 2012, the French producer specialising in future disco, deep techno and alt-electro. And longtime fans – including those who first heard him at the Big Day Out (BDO) or even 2008's Stereosonic Festival – will hear material from his upcoming third album. "I've almost finished my new album, so I've started to play some tracks a bit in my DJ sets – and I will play them in the live [set], for sure," Vitalic confirms.
Vitalic is an enigma in the global electronic scene. Early on he circulated "a fake biography" about being a Ukrainian residing in Germany with a shadowy past. In fact, Vitalic is based in Dijon but has Spanish and Italian ancestry. Growing up, he learnt the not-so-sexy trombone – at his parents' behest. But, by the mid-'90s Pascal, his electronic roots lying in "pure" techno and Belgian New Beat, was making music as Dima for France's niche Choice label. Enamoured of Daft Punk, he introduced 'Vitalic' with 2001's Poney EP on DJ Hell's International Deejay Gigolo label, La Rock 01 a cult hit. Pascal had befriended Gigolo's Michel "The Hacker" Amato. He and The Hacker subsequently updated the proto-Detroit techno classic Shari Vari by A Number Of Names. Four years after his breakthrough, Vitalic presented his debut album, OK Cowboy, via [PIAS] Recordings. It pre-empted the exuberant post-Daft Punk sonic mash-ups of Justice, yet was more sophisticated – and sexier. Vitalic also visited Australia, initially on "a mini-club tour," then with BDO.
As Vitalic, Pascal developed a new playfulness – and sense of freedom – that he credited to his exchanges with the Gigolo camp. He realised that the otherwise anonymous – and cerebral – techno could have personality. Appearing at events like BDO won him a rock audience. Vitalic began to experiment more. Most recently, he ventured out with 2009's Flashmob, his take on Giorgio Moroder's Italo disco. (He'd again hit BDO in 2011.)
Vitalic will drop another album later this year, with a single in June. "I don't know the title, but it's finished to the point that it should be released in September."
It'll be different to Flashmob, Vitalic leaving behind cosmic disco for new nu-rave. "It's difficult to explain, but there is some rave stuff, some indie-rock flavour, and still a bit of disco, of course. But it's less disco. There's more energy in that one." Vitalic is committed to the album format. "It's true I still have this will to make a full album and to widen the scope of the music, not to make just tracks – because with EPs it's difficult to release some more quiet music, some atmospheric stuff... So, for the moment, I'm still into that. Maybe I will change, but I'm convinced there's still people who want to buy full albums. Even the fans of [Creamfields' mega-star] David Guetta buy the full albums, no?"
Vitalic's music has been used in French films and trailers. He's also remixed pop icons like Björk. Vitalic's last major remix commission was Jean Michel Jarre's early '70s single La Cage – and his 2000s disco interpretation was welcomed in an unexpected quarter. "It was really cool. It was strange because [Jarre] has his own 'public', so I had some feedback from his fans who didn't know me. There was a strange connection, but it means that the remix worked well... Jean Michel Jarre is one of my favourite musicians from since I was a kid, so it was really exciting to work on that." Nevertheless, Vitalic's top remix remains that of Malian duo Amadou & Mariam's Sabali. "The voice of the singer, Mariam, is really beautiful." He occasionally performs it live.
In addition to pursuing his own career, Vitalic is involved in Citizen Records. He actually signed Madonna producer Stuart Price's Zoot Woman. The acts of which he's most proud? "Maybe John Lord Fonda, who has been a friend for a long time. His last album [2011's Supersonique] was really beautiful. Also Teenage Bad Girl – the first album [2007's Cocotte] was really successful, so it's one of my favourites."
Vitalic has proven adept at evolving with dance music – but always on his own terms. He is still attached to the Detroit techno ethos, admiring Derrick May and the Parisian Laurent Garnier. "I think it's coming back in some scenes now. I've heard that there are some parties where this music is back a bit... It's not techno, but it's disco – and it takes some of these old Detroit sounds and melodies. So, in a way, it didn't disappear everywhere, but it's coming back – in another shape, but it's back again." Yet Vitalic likewise digs today's hybrid house, namechecking Diplo for being "really fresh" – and "very funny". And you just might see him checking out Italy's Congorock at the third Creamfields. "I like some of this rave thing like The Bloody Beetroots – and the Italian scene can be sexy sometimes also." He's even into those "hippy" Antipodean electro bands Empire Of The Sun and The Naked And Famous. "It's sunny, it's hot, it's about friendship and life experiences – it's teenage kinda stuff, but I really love it."
Indeed, Vitalic has fond recollections of Australia. He enjoyed his first traditional Aussie barbecue beside the beach on the Gold Coast a few years ago. "We don't have that in France," he enthuses. "It was really very sexy to do that. It was a joke, kind of! But it's a good memory for me." He's anticipating more adventures during his Creamfields tour. "I'm really excited to come to Australia another time. I think it's a very special treat for me. I hope it's gonna be a great time like the other times."
