The Echio Quiz with Fred Everything

How did you learn music and did you have mentors?

I'm self-taught, I think just by being very stubborn and being very passionate about music. One of my mentors is also my good friend Martin atJazz. We started around the same time and we've known each other all this time. But for me he was always, you know, a step ahead. And he was always there to help me with any questions that I would have.

If you were not making music what would you do?

Probably something still related to music somehow, or maybe graphic designer.

If you could spend a day in the studio with one of your heroes, who would it be?

It’d be probably someone like Quincy Jones or Trevor Horn. These are, you know, pioneers and men of really great vision.

What is your secret weapon ?

Well, it's not so secret, but the new Isla instrument, S2400, which is right there. It’s an updated take on the SP1200 and it's really, really good. It sounds amazing.

What’s the special object in your studio that you can’t live without ?

I'm going to be a bit boring, but just basically. Yeah, pen and paper, you know, always handy to take notes.

What was your worst / funniest performance experience ?

Well, there are many, but in 1999 I was opening up for Derrick May in the main room at Creem for Bugged Out. I was very young, nervous, and at the end of my set he still wasn’t there. He showed up maybe an hour and a half late. I already played all my B-sides and C sides, if you know what I mean. So yeah, it was kind of a good experience in a way, but yeah quite nerve wrecking at the time.

Your ritual before creating music ?

Usually pretty mundane stuff like emails, label stuff etc.

What would you say to your younger self?

It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it.

Fred Everything

French Canadian DJ/Producer Fred Everything is a key player in the world of House Music. For over 25 years, he’s released 250 releases and remixes on labels such as Defected, Freerange, 20:20 Vision, Compost, Om, and of course his own Lazy Days Recordings as well as Remixing artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Jazzanova, Miguel Migs, Osunlade, Dennis Ferrer, Crazy P and more recently Juno Jazz Album of the Year winner, Dominique Fils-Aimé. He also records under the name All Is Well for labels like Drumpoet Community, Compost, Permanent Vacation and Internasjonal.

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