Le Loup - Game Play
Next up on our interview and podcast series we’re catching up with mighty Le Loup! Real name Léonard Perret, he’s produced and played electronic music for over a decade. Active during the French wave in the late 2000s holding residencies at Rex Club, Badaboum and London's Half Baked, he also ran Hold Youth side by side with Seuil. Hold Youth became a symbol for every facet of electronic music, from party residencies to label A&R, productions and DJ-ing. The Hold Youth sound intertwines minimal, house, hip hop, funk and jazz. The persona was reinvented in 2016 with the launching of Shadow Play together with Pura exposing a different kind of underground with both new and established artists (Scott Edward, Dawl, Daïf, Chris Carrier, Le Loup!). Sinking his teeth into the 90s' revival, all the while staying true to his minimal, house and hip hop roots, Le Loup's sound today is crisp and raw. He's got mega beats on labels like SUR, Lumbago, BinarySound and Cabaret Recordings.Follow Le Loup's signature with his new mix for the mag combining solid technique, groovy selection and pro flow. Dream and dance!
Hi Léo how's it going. How are things in Paris?
It's fine thanks. Lockdown is back on again so I'm focusing on things that I can’t usually work on because of my job. It’s not easy to deal with what's happening but I try to stay positive.
What were you up to in the first lockdown?
Eating, watching stuff, playing games... nothing really creative I'd say.
It wasn’t a creative period for you?
Not for me, didn’t manage to make one song during the first lockdown. I wasn't focused at all.
So what did you do musically?
Listening to a lot of albums of jazz, ambiant and funk.
What makes this second lockdown different?
During the first lockdown I didn't have any focus to make music or anything artistic for that matter. I tried, but I just couldn’t. I just wasn't in the mood to create something… so this time round it’s totally different because I have a different mindset. And I have the time to make new music, it's refreshing =).
Your podcast for the mag – you recorded it during the second lockdown right?
Yes.
Did you have a concept in mind?
I haven’t played for a while now so I wanted something that's danceable but also smooth, that you can listen to at home. New and old records that have been sleeping at home unfortunately.
Have you always lived in Paris?
Yes, always in Paris or the suburbs.
What do you like most about it?
It’s a beautiful city and once you know it, you can find everything you need. It's not for everyone that's for sure because life is tough and expensive. I live on the east side and one of the things I like the most is to go out to the local shops and markets because there's a real neighbourhood life around here. It’s like a village.
So when did they start calling you Le Loup?
It goes back to when I was at school. Me and my best friend had started listening to house music and getting into DJs. At the time we were like 13 years old and he started calling me Leo Le Loup for all sorts of reasons. At the beginning it wasn't anything serious but I decided to keep the name and it later evolved into Le Loup.
Was French house an influence on you?
Yes, a lot. It was actually how I got into electronic music. Back in the days everyone my age was listening to hip hop and r&b. Electronic music at the time wasn't so popular. It was something really underground, also really connected to the gay movement so not accessible to kids like us! And the Internet wasn't what it is today so to hear music you'd need to listen to the radio, buy CDs or go to clubs! We were too young to go clubbing but I got a lot of CDs from my best friend’s brother and then I spent hours downloading music on Napster & Soulseek. That was the beginning for me.
How would you describe French micro house and minimal back then?
The minimal and microhouse movement has come a long way since but it had a big influence on me back then. It was massive at the beginning of the 2000's, with labels like Logistic or minibar. I like the crossovers in electronic music, the possibility to mix genres, organic and electronic sounds, the possibilities are infinite.
In France Hip Hop is pretty big, right?
It always has been! I think we have the second largest number of hip hop producers (and consumers) in the world after the States of course. When you like me have grown up in the 90s, there's no doubt that you would have been influenced by it.
Who's your favourite rapper?
Tupac Shakur without a doubt. He brought hip hop to another level and that's not even considering his voice or flow. He was talking about different things, universal topics that are still on point today... RIP Pac!Nowadays I'd say a French rapper called Alpha Wann.
Can you share a nice ambiant album?
I could mention any album from Weather Report but I'd pick one from Miroslav Vitous. He was the co-founder of the band in the early 70s. It really represents the essence of creativity - it'd be classified as jazz but for me it’s also the beginning of electronic music and ambiant.
Miroslav Vitous – Magical Shepherd. I listen to it pretty often. “From far away” is simply beautiful.
Can you share a deep house track?
Stasis - Welcome To The New Age Disco
It's actually in the mix. Stasis is one of my fave producers ever when it comes to electronic music. This track represents what deep house means to me. It's mysterious, deep feelings with a positive touch. The album is one of my favourites. It's been a massive reference point for me especially in dark times.
Name two recent purchases:
I recently fell for a record that I'd wanted to buy for years, but that I'd never been able to afford because like most records on Discogs it was overpriced. I finally found a good deal and got my hands on the first Stasis album on Peacefrog (1995). I also recently bought this amazing repress that I'd recommend to anyone: Atonal - Cithare.
What’s one of your favourite pieces of gear?
The 606 that I was given for my birthday a few years ago. Many friends contributed and I’m so grateful.
Let’s talk about ‘Real Talk’ on Cabaret Recordings. Did you use sampling on A1 Real Talk?
Yes there are two samples - one of them is 2Pac.
What was the main inspiration behind B1 Digital Whisper?
You need to know that I’ve always been kind of a geek. I love video games and I have an interest in 8bit old games on Atari or Nes for example. The sound effects and music from those games are pure gold and I wanted to make a track using parts from them. So I basically started to sample the voice and build something around it that was hypnotic, simple, that 90s Detroit feeling but also with a modern and minimalistic twist to it.
What machines did you use on B2 Acropoloup?
Roland R8, Electribe ER-1, Moog Minitaur and sampling.
You’ve got two tracks out on as VA on BinarySound. They say that there’s a perfect time to play every track. When would would you play these?
Pop That for peak time or any outdoor situation and Axone definitely for an after hours.
Is it strange for you that there's no dancefloor at the moment for you to test your tracks.
Yes def weird but I have to admit that I don’t like to play my own tracks. Most of the time I'm playing music from others! It’s difficult to know how a track's going to go down on the dancefloor, you can have a feeling or an idea but after years you realise that it's never how you expected it to be.
3 clubs/parties that you've loved to play at?
I'd go for 100% local Parisian combo: Sundae/Concrete/Breakfast club.But there are many amazing parties with amazing people from all over the world, you all already know them!
You’ve travelled all over the world. What are your top 3 destinations?
Without a doubt Japan & Korea. I’m fascinated by the life and culture out there! People are also very dedicated to what they do and respectful to each other.
South America also because the scene is growing out there and it's refreshing to meet the people out there. Iʼve been amazed by the diversity of landscapes and the amazing food of course =).
The third is not so easy to pick but I'd say Spain for the quality of life.
What were some of your favourite gigs at the start of the year?
One of my last best memories is without a doubt the Cartulis party that I had the chance to play at recently thanks to Unai and Rapha! I've always had a great time with those gentlemen.
Would you rather be underrated or overrated?
Underrated I hope.
Can you share an underrated producer/musician?
It’s difficult to drop only one name because most good producers in electronic music are underrated in my opinion. Scott Edward for example. He mainly released on his own label 'Beau Monde' under a different alias. He was a very versatile producer who could make killer electro beats but also hybrid electronic and experimental jazz... I've rarely heard something like this from any other musician. For those who missed it we've released some old unreleased material from him on Shadow Play.
You are a solid DJ and producer. What would you say is a key ingredient to success?!
There's no special ingredient - just do what you believe in. If you're passionate and you have something to express or say, it will take some time but keep going. Success shouldn't be the goal though, that just comes along naturally.
If you had to live in a video game, which one and which character would you be?
Nice question! If I had to pick one I'd say Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid. I remember when the first one was released on PS1. I was blown away by the gameplay. He’s an elite soldier who infiltrates a base full of enemies. It was the first time I'd experienced a game where using different tools and techniques you don’t have to kill everyone to win.
Cool, thanks Le Loup!
Le Loup - Game Play
Edited by Kajol Shah