Interview

We have a special treat for the faithful today with a little Q+A with the Fists Of God Tourmate and rising electrohouse star from Vancouver BC Canada. I was hoping to have this ready pre hype the Fists Of God show a couple of weeks ago in Winnipeg however no hyping was needed as it sold out a week in advance. As you might have guessed Felix and our voweless superheroes from Ontario are busy as fuck so time is a premium with theses doods. Enjoy and RESPEK.

When I first heard the name Felix Cartal it made me think of an assassin for the Colombian’s. What made you choose it as your moniker?

- Felix was a name that my parents were originally going to name me, and I always quite liked it. The Cartal part really has no background, it just "sounded right" to me.

What sort of music did you grow up on? What sort of music currently inspires you?

- Like most people I grew up on a lot of music that my parents enjoyed. Some really classic stuff that still inspires me today like The Beatles, Supertramp, Steely Dan and Elton John. I also grew up on punk music like NOFX and Lagwagon and switched into harder stuff like The Blood Brothers and Red Light Sting. Lightning Bolt is still a big inspiration to me today and as far as dance music that inspires me i range as far as moody tech stuff on Border Community (think James Holden and Extrawelt), to the wonky newer stuff of Alter Ego, to the more accessible music of my friends MSTRKRFT, LA Riots and Beetroots.

Was the scene in Vancouver supportive when you were getting started?

- Yeah, there are a lot of people that helped me out once I was ready to get started (my!gay!husband, tony x, tyler fedchuck, paul devro, alvaro of stereotype, the expendable youth boys).

In keeping with the Canadian thing, do you hate Canadian politics as much as we do? And did you vote in this recent election?

- I won't be home to vote, but I probably wouldn't have anyway.

What were the circumstances that led you to rise to power in annals of electronic alongside the likes MSTRKRFT with whom you are touring?

- JFK was very supportive of me from the get-go, and has continued to help me to this day. He played my tracks before I had ever started DJ'ing and continues to do so.

When did you start to produce music?

- The first time I was ever in a studio I think I was about 15years old. We had a studio at my highschool and I would hang out there everyday with my teacher, watching him mix. I started producing my own music about 4 or 5 years ago, and have been doing dance music for the last 2 or so.

Can you take the readers through a typical day in the life of Felix Cartal?

- Wake up, check emails, listen to music for inspiration, work on a track until dinner. Go out for dinner, come back and continue edit, but usually start a new edit if it was shit, which it often is. I always try to produce even if i'm un-inspired so I don't get rusty.

What do you do when and if you have some time off?

Hang out with friends, party, visit family.

What is your favorite piece of equipment you use in the studio or when DJing?

Reason.

What your process of writing new songs? Do you create on the road or do you have to be in a studio situation to get a song down?

I usually lay down a kick drum and try and create a bassline melody that flows really well with only a kick, from there i add everything else. I'm slowly starting to produce more on the road since I am starting to be on the road more.

What song or album/artist is currently on repeat?

Vitalic - Ok Cowboy.

What music, outside electronic, do you listen to?

Always been a big fan of Floyd, and really like Jacques du Tronc.

After the tour what’s the next project for you?

Off to europe for 2 and a half weeks!

MYSPACE

DL : Felix Cartal - Skeleton .
DL : Felix Cartal - L'Amour
DL : MSTRKRFT - Bounce ft N.O.R.E. (Felix Cartal remix) .
DL : Lazaro Casanova - Venganza (Felix Cartal remix)