What were you doing when you were a teenager? At only 17 years old, American DJ/producer Cole Plante has already released several chart topping tracks, collaborated with some of the biggest names in electronic music such as Myon & Shane 54, and toured all over North America... and that's just the beginning. We had a chance to catch with Cole to chat about how he got started as a DJ, some of his lesser known musical influences, collaborating with Perry Farrell on his recent track, "Here We Go Now," and what we can expect from him in the coming year.
Your story is pretty amazing. You learned to DJ when you were 13 by using your dad's old equipment while your family was living out of a hotel room after your home was foreclosed. Within a year, you were playing with Paul Oakenfold in Vegas. Respect. What would you has been the most gratifying moment in your career so far? It's two-part: being able to help provide for my family because in the lowest times they've pushed me to chase my dream and working with all my heroes from film, TV and music. I never take a day for granted.
We take it your dad was a DJ? Tell us a bit more about your family and how they've adjusted to your career/lifestyle? Yeah, he was part of the early 90's group of DJs/producers and stopped in 2006 to concentrate more on the production/engineering end. My dad tours with me as my tour manager (since I'm a minor) and it's great since he knows what to expect. My mom and brother also come out when they can but they're not really into the scene.
What/who inspires you musically and in general? I play piano, guitar, bass and trombone so I kinda pull from different artists like Two Door Cinema Club for their guitar and bass patterns and melodies, Depeche Mode for the synth pop harplines and leadlines, Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor for film scores and textures, and Coldplay for overall songwriting.
Your new single, 'Here We Go Now', was recently released. Tell us a bit about the production process and what inspired you for this track? Originally, I did a bootleg of Jane's Addiction, "Stop," just to play out because the drop is so sick, then switches to half-time and the main vocal hook "here we go!" was the perfect sample, so I thought it'd be a great track to remix. Perry recorded the vocal "here we go now" and the countdown which gets the crowd hyped every time it's played.
What was it like working with Perry Farrell? How did this collaboration come about? Perry is such an amazing person. He's got this charisma that fills the room when you're with him and he's such a great mentor giving me advice both in the studio and for the road. My manager Al works with Perry, so he introduced us and after I presented the idea, he was into it and next thing we were in the studio.
You also have another new single, 'If I Fall' Feat. Ruby O'Dell, released on Beatport on Feb. 18th. The vocals are lovely - who is this track about? Thanks, I really appreciate it! When my A&R Mike Daly first sent me Ruby's top line, I loved it within the first 30 seconds and connected right away with the lyrics. For myself, I feel it's more about a universal feeling that everyone has had one time or another about finding that one person(s) you'd go to the ends of the world with and stick with through thick and thin. It's very symbolic to all the people that have been with me from the beginning of my career.
What else are you looking forward to in 2014? It's cliché but completing my album with more collaborations, remixes, and continuing to work with film composers and video game developers. I'm on this six week 28 date tour with Demi Lovato at the moment so a big focus when I get back is to try to build a small residency in a venue that would hold about 300 people somewhere and build from there.