Louisa Pillot, aka the brashly named DJ and producer LOUISAHHH!!!, has mixed this week's podcast, Pulse.193.
The New York bred, Paris based DJ, vocalist and producer first gained widespread recognition when she laid down vocals for Danny Daze's 2011 house monster 'Your Everything'. Meeting Brodinski soon after led to Louisa joining the heralded French crew Bromance, in turn seeing the release of her debut EP in 2013 and a well received collaboration with Maelstrom, 'Traces'.
Now one of the scenes most exciting up-and-coming names, LOUISAHHH!!! pushes a dark and edgy electro and techno sound with plenty of accessible melody; a fresh take on the mid 00s electro-house era.
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You've been pretty busy lately, playing in NYC and around Europe. What have been some highlights from your most recent adventures? This year has been incredible, really. I feel like I'm learning a lot, which can be uncomfortable, but the atmosphere is so supportive and inspiring that the challenge of growth and of trying new things is bearable. Specifically, learning to really step up to the plate as a headliner and deliver a big set is kind of new. The response has been incredible, but now without some unsure moments. It's a real blessing to play to crowds that support that uncertainty and stick with me as I challenge myself and learn to trust instincts and stay really present. The end result is magical.
When you’re back in NYC, where can we find you when you’re not working? What are some of your go-to spots? I am usually running along the rivers early in the morning, or hanging out with family and friends. My Dad's girlfriend works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art so I try and get up there every time I'm home and see what's going on at the costume institute.
You grew up in NYC, lived in L.A. for a while and are now in Paris. Each city has its differences, but have you felt more freedom to explore, creatively, in Europe? I guess freedom comes from security, in a lot of ways. In Europe it is possible to actually make a living playing and making dance music, which frees up a lot of possibility and opportunity and energy to devote to 'exploration', not just musically, but in other creative pursuits as well. I also find that a lot of my inspiration comes from longing and displacement, touring, constantly moving around...I am always missing something. This is healthy for the work.
Do you plan on moving back to New York anytime soon or are you focusing on Europe at the moment? I did my time in New York. I love it dearly; it will always be my hometown. But right now Europe is where I need to be. I'm back and forth quite a lot, however and over the next year my goals include a club residency in Europe and in NYC. You can't get rid of me that easily, USA.
Your style is versatile and spans many genres in the electronic world and you manage to play darker and tougher while still keeping melodies alive. Have you found yourself leaning towards any different styles or sounds recently? I'm obsessed with Chicago footwork and juke tracks right now, labels like Hyperdub and Planet Mu and Teklife. It's impossible to play 160 bpm in a techno set, though, without feeling like you're turning gabber, so I just slow everything down like 25%, which puts hats and claps in weird places, the swing is deep and strange. I'm into it.
While in LA, you started NYCPARTYINFO with your friend Stevie Be. Tell us a bit about how this came about. What inspired you two to join forces? Stevie Be is amazing, one of the most talented producers working right now. He is also a genuine heart; honest, and one of the funniest people I know. I love him dearly. All that being said, we connected around 2010. I was feeling super lost musically. I had just separated from Gina Turner as Staccato - she had moved back to NYC and I was in LA and had started playing all vinyl; more organic, deeper house music, trying to find myself. Stevie had just moved from Philly and we knew each other through our friend Stephen 'Bushy' Bush, a legend of the Hollerboard and NYC/Philly circa 2004-06. We sat down to make music together and spent literally six months working on one track, just learning how to work together. That track was actually never released but it birthed 'NYCPARTYINFO'.
You’re part of Brodinski’s Bromance crew. Traveling around with a bunch of boys must be entertaining – tell us one about one of the most memorable moments? Oh god, one of the funniest this year I found out the morning after. Being clean and sober, I am the adamant non-partier of the crew, but the last time we had a crew night in London, I heard a lot of shouting in the hotel hallway in the wee small hours of the morning. Furious knocking on the room next door to mine and someone shouting, "MONSIEUR! MONSIEUR! S'IL TE PLAIT!" KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. I ignored it and went back to sleep. From what I understand, it turns out that Club Cheval had hidden Monsieur Mr's beds. Like, literally dismantled and removed the beds from the hotel room. Monsieur Mr had gotten back after the gig, expecting to go to sleep and were furious. They accosted the Cheval boys, suspecting they had something to do it. Les Chevaux called the front desk and told them very seriously that someone had been in the room of Monsieur Mr and had stolen the beds. I'm not sure what the hotel did about it, but I still laugh thinking about this.
Who are some artists and labels you’ve been into at the moment? Obviously, our sister labels Zone and Marble are always releasing cool stuff, and it feels like the family is growing around the world with Motorik in Australia and Sicario in Mexico. Outside of 'dark new techno' and the juke I mentioned earlier, I always love what Perctrax is up to, and very excited about artists like Tinfoil/Defekt, Twwth, Danny Daze's new stuff and Jimmy Edgar's Ultramajic. Have also been rediscovering Switch's weird loopy remixes from around 2006, they're club fire.
Tell us a bit about the mix you made for us. I did it live and unedited, so it's a bit imperfect, which I like. It feels more human and intimate. It has a pretty broad spectrum of what I'm into right now, opening and closing with unreleased tracks of my own, and moving from older 'tech-house' through slow juke and electro, into a bit of moody deep house and ultimately real grown and sexy techno. I'm quite proud of it. I spent a lot of time putting together what I was going to play and then ended up throwing the plan out the window. It was a lot of fun to make.
What’s next for you and the Bromance crew? We have some crew nights coming up, which are always really fun - the energy of the group is really magical and it's always a delight to hear everyone and get to spend time together (a rare treat because we're all so busy). Maelstrom and I also just finished our second collaborative EP, I am super proud of this and excited for it. I'm not sure what the release plan is but it's pretty special. We will keep you posted, I'm sure.
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