By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
French house music DJ Martin Solveig has performed in some of the hottest clubs and parties around the world, but he can't forget his time in Seoul.
``It was quite memorable. I played in a hotel lobby," he told The Korea Times, in an e-mail interview. "It's very rare for us in Europe to play in a hotel because that would bother the customers too much and we wouldn't be allowed to do that. It seemed that everyone in the hotel came to the party and it was big, but also like a home party so that was quite exceptional.''
Solveig is in town this week, with two gigs in Seoul and Busan. He's looking forward to performing before enthusiastic Korean crowds, adding that the city's club scene is fast gaining a good reputation among Europeans.
``It's extremely famous for us Europeans because we know it's a very good one. People in Seoul are extremely interested in music, very aware of the artists or the DJs they go check out. They know exactly what they want, what to expect: if you're doing well, they will give you ten times more than the Europeans. If you don't do well, then you're in trouble,'' he said.
Born in Paris in 1976, Solveig grew up listening to classical music, but as an adolescent he was drawn to different kinds of music.
``When I was 13, I asked Santa Claus for a turntable to be able to mix records over the radio. That was the way I learned how to beat sync music and to get the first feel of being a DJ,'' he said.
While he really liked electronic music as a teenager, Solveig admitted that part of the allure of DJ-ing was ``the idea of organizing parties with my friends in my parents' garage and obviously getting the girls!'' By 18, he landed a residency at the famous La Palace club in Paris.
``Of course, I was a lot into electronic music, so I found it interesting to interact with the music as I was not a musician in a traditional way. I found it very easy,'' he said.
His ideas for music come almost naturally for Solveig. ``Most of the time, it's when I'm on my scooter. I have a melody that pops into my head, then I just translate it with a microphone or a keyboard and that's it,'' he said.
Among his musical influences are rhythm-and-blues and black music from 1960s and '70s, funk, Prince, Bjork, Fela Kuti and Serge Gainsbourg. These days, he also listens to Lykke Li, Architecture in Helsinki, The Strokes and Daft Punk.
Solveig does not follow any of the trends in music today. ``Honestly, I don't really know where the music is headed. It moves faster and faster and it's also a lot more global than it used to be. At this time, it's all about electronic and even a lot about digital music, computerized. I'm okay with that and I think it's just an element of creativity and that everyone can make something out of it. Probably, it will go back to some more acoustic or organic things. As long as we have fun, it's cool,'' he said.
Solveig will be a special guest at Club Heaven, Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, Friday. Tickets are 20,000 won before 11 p.m., and 30,000 won after 11 p.m. Call 1644-8466. He will also be the main draw for French Night at the Murpii Club, Novotel Busan, at 10:30 p.m., Saturday.