{"id":20698,"date":"2020-06-23T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xceed.me\/blog\/?p=20698"},"modified":"2021-03-23T11:58:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T09:58:42","slug":"interview-with-popof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xceed.me\/blog\/en\/interview-with-popof\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Popof: \u201cI couldn\u2019t care less about trends; I make music according to my mood and experiences\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Popof<\/a> is one of the most optimistic artists we have heard from so far since the coronavirus paralyzed the club scene worldwide. Born, raised and based in Paris<\/a>, Popof told us on Wednesday 17 June that for them, \u201cin France, the lockdown has been lifted more than two weeks ago, restaurants have reopened and there are talks about reopening theatres, so I\u2019m quite optimistic things will resume soon on our scene\u201d. For now, French clubs, as in the rest of Europe, are finalizing the details to open with capacity and mobility restrictions in their interior space. And Popof is ready to get back in the game. We are talking about one of the icons of the most minimalistic big-room techno sound of the classic European underground scene. He has remixed to Depeche Mode, Hot Chip, The Chemical Brothers, Moby, Booka Shade, Tiga, Maetrik, Martin Solveig and many more. He runs his own label Form Music<\/a>, where he is about to release a new EP by the legendary Julian Jeweil that includes a remix of his own. Where he has already released a few days ago is on Sola<\/a>, Solardo\u2019s label. We are talking about the Open Head EP<\/a>, which consists of a track of the same name and another one called \u201cRTB\u201d. He has also recently remixed Abstraal and Teenage Mutants. More than a decade of making everyone dance is not enough for the Frenchman to take a break in the middle of a pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Xceed-Interview-Artist-Popof\"
Image: \u00a9 Juliette Leigniel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Alex is\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a guy who was born and raised in Paris, where I still live today. I like good food and good wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

And Popof is\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a dj and producer who likes to rock the dancefloor and try new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Popof?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes back to when I was in high school. I have a Bulgarian surname, so my classmates used to call me \u201cPopof\u201d, which is French slang for \u201cRussian\u201d. They didn\u2019t really know the difference between Bulgaria and Russia\u2026 (laughs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Xceed-Andorra-Hibernation-Popof\"
Image: \u00a9 Hibernation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Last time I saw you playing was in Andorra\u2019s Hibernation Festival. Such a special gig for you, I guess\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was! I was playing alongside Claptone, Andres Campo and Bon Entendeur, and I remember the festival vibe was superb. It was a bit cold outside but very hot under that marquee! I had a really good time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

From that day, I remember your set as a journey based mainly on big-room techno music, with a considerably minimalistic bassline that embraced the audience during the whole mix. What is your approach to electronic music?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am very eclectic. I come from a very musical background, with strong jazz, rock and hip-hop influences while growing up, and so I really try to avoid being pigeonholed. I like to try new stuff and I am not held back by genres or tags. I have released many different things, from hardcore techno to minimal to house music to tech-house to acid so… In short, my approach would be to remain open-minded and curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In one of your last works, your remix of Abstraal\u2019s and Teenage Mutants\u2019 \u201cBroken Smiles\u201d, we can enjoy some trance synths.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a time when I composed a few tracks that were leaning towards the neo-trance genre, but I don\u2019t think that has played a decisive or important role in my career. I enjoy trance sounds but, when it comes to the \u201cBroken Smiles\u201d remix, I simply used the original melodies. That\u2019s all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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