This Halloween, the Roseland Ballroom will be the place to dance.
NYC is in for a big treat, as Dutch sensation DJ Fedde Le Grand (along with UK superstars Above & Beyond), returns to vamp up the city’s club scene. Continuing his global triumph with his 2009 album debut, Output, Fedde Le Grand has been met positively with loyal fans and new enthusiasts alike, and this will surely be the case this weekend. Output, includes dynamic new collaborations with artists such as Will.i.am, and regulars: Ida Corr and Camille Jones. Le Grand is most notably recognized for his chartbusters ‘Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit,” The Creeps (vs. Camille Jones)” and “Let Me Think About It (vs. Ida Corr).” Fedde Le Grand has also remixed for the likes of Erick E, Madonna, Sharam and Martin Solveig.
We tracked Fedde Le Grand down before his gig, to get the scoop on his success and his new album.

Benjamin Le Hay: 2007 was an extraordinary year for you, starting with “‘Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit!” Tell me about that ride to worldwide success?

Fedde Le Grand: It was a surprise, yes, certainly. I wasn’t expecting that amount of success from the track itself. I knew that it was a good single to release and the reactions that I had when I played it out definitely underlined that but you never expect that your track is going to go to the number 1 spot in so many charts around the world, including the UK chart. Suddenly I was everywhere, my track was on the radio, people wanted to know who I was, the video was on MTV, it was crazy! But in a good way; it definitely opened up the world for me. But you move forward and build on your successes and that’s how I think about it.

BL: You’ve worked with some of the best in the trance and electronic industry, what are some of your proudest partnerships?

FLG: My proudest partnership has definitely got to be my most longest standing, which is with Raf and Ardie (Funkerman) who I set up Flamingo Recordings with. The reason we came together and built the label was because nobody back in the Netherlands wanted to release the music that we were making. But between us we had the experience to do a label ourselves, so that’s what we did. It’s always been important to me, and to us, to make the music that we want to and not to compromise to what labels want. And Flamingo Recordings has been a success so as the English say; ‘the proof has been in the pudding.’ To have that support and to be able to work with people who have the same musical ideals as you, that is very important for me and I’m very proud of what we’ve done together.

BL: Speaking of collaborations—Output seems to feature some of your most diverse work yet? Tell me about the making of the album?

FLG: The whole album is definitely a very collaborative piece of work. I like to work with vocalists, to use their voice as an instrument, another component to the track. For me as a producer, it’s a lot more interesting to produce pop than just straight up dance floor tracks. I worked with several different artists across a broad spectrum of sounds—from the hip-hop orientated pieces I did with Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas and Mr V from NYC, to the full on jazz sounds of Wild & Raw where I got Rob Birch from the Stereo MCs in to do the vocals. Ida Corr, Camille Jones, Mitch Crown, Andy and Dorothy Sherman, I like to take the vocal line, construct it with some great lyrics and put together a track that will work well with a remix but also stand up on its own away from the dance floor. People are too quick to dismiss pop – it might be commercial but it doesn’t have to be cheesy and it takes a real skill to get it right. I’m very happy with what I’ve created, with the finished product. I’ve done what I wanted to do on Output and that is incredibly important for me as an artist.

BL: You’re a busy guy touring so much, but what are some of your favorite things to do during your down time?

FLG: I just like to hang out at home with my friends and family. I spend so much time traveling and playing in clubs that I guess what most people find normal to me, is very special. So I’ll watch films, play video games, just chill with people and take it easy. It’s all good.

$40 Advance tickets for “Made Event presents Halloween Bash Above & Beyond  + Fedde Le Grand,” on Saturday, October 31st, 2009, at the Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street NYC,) can be purchased at TicketWeb

Tickets are also available at Rebel Rebel, 319 Bleecker St NYC 212.989.0770. VIP Premium Seating is available for upwards of $275. Doors open at 10pm. Costumes are strongly encouraged.   For more information on the even or the artists visit:

http://www.madeevent.com/103109.php?REFID=pr
www.aboveandbeyond.nu
www.feddelegrand.com
www.roselandballroom.com