We caught up with the talent ahead of her addition of the Watergate mix series coming out, which is set for release at the end of the month.
What are you earliest memories of music?
It’s either my mum listening to a cassette tape with Susanne Vega, me dancing ballet to classical music or my grandfather letting me choose my own first cassette tape in a supermarket; I went with Michael Jackson’s B.A.D.
Why do you think it captivated you so much?
I’ve always been amazed with how music affects your body, soul and mind. How it invades you; makes you feel things; makes you wanna move to it; how it can set your mood depending what you’re listening too.
What were you listening to back then?
When I grew up I was listening to a lot of indie rock and pop music, like The Cure, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, The Smiths, Kent, and more.
You started your working life as a pharmacist. How difficult was the decision to go full time with your music?
It was hard but at the same time I had no choice; I came to a point where I had to choose. I worked too much, as a pharmacist during the days and as a DJ during the nights and I got exhausted. It was work over load!
But in all that I really also wanted to make time to start my own productions. It was of course nerve-racking, but at the same time I felt calm taking the decision. I took a big step, moved away from everything I felt was safe to give music and the life that comes with it a real chance. But that’s the good thing with having an education, for me it always felt like a safety net. As I still say sometimes, if this doesn’t work out I can always go back working as a pharmacist.
It’s more a feeling; the feeling of being one with the dance floor. It makes me smile, and I like when I see smiles on the dance floor too...What tracks are rocking your sets of late?
I’ve been hammering most of the tracks that are in my Watergate mix compilation. The exclusive ones are amazing as well as some fav old classics and newer ones!
I’ve been playing Carl Craig’s remix of my Arms Around track in every set lately. It works so well, LOVE IT! Also, I’ve made a remix for Danish artist Jesper Ryom for his EP that will be out on my label Power Plant Records this summer.
What do you look for on the dance floor to know you've made that connection with the crowd?
It’s more a feeling; the feeling of being one with the dance floor. It makes me smile, and I like when I see smiles on the dance floor too.
You've built a solid reputation as a remixer. How different is that to producing your own tracks? Do you take a different approach to each?
It is much easier to do a remix for me. I have something to get inspiration from, something already there. It usually sparks ideas and it is also easier to let go, since it’s not 100% your own baby, aka track.
Haven’t you just remixed Kerri Chandler’s ‘Mama’? How did that come about?
Yes, that was an honour. Kerri is one of my favourite DJ and producers. The way he puts his heart in it, his humbleness and lovely personality; I am a big fan of him. We’ve been in contact for quite some time; he played my Flowerhead track back in the day. As he did the previous Watergate mix he was releasing an EP in connection to that and he was up for having me as one of the remixers. That made my day!
What constitutes a good remix to you?
When you hear the soul of the remixer in the remix but also something that sparks from the original.
Oh there are so many amazing remixers out there. Dixon is one. Other ones that I’ve played recently are Casino Times, Kornél Kovacs, Jesper Ryom, Lake People, Daniel Avery, Jay Shepheard, KiNK...
You also run your own label, Power Plant Records. Is this something you’d always wanted to do?
Yes! And a natural step and the third point connecting the triangle.
What’s your ethos for the label?
We make you groove and grow.
What are you looking for in the tracks you choose to release?
I want them to touch me and to feel special for me. Maybe no one else likes them or they don’t feel the same as me. But I want to feel that I am releasing something I care for, something I like; something that I think is special. That is also why the releases don’t come that often.
So far we only had one per year. I’m trying to speed it up, but I don’t want to force anything. Since the artwork also needs to fit with the music and vice versa, that takes some time to find too.
Next out is a longed for EP from Jesper Ryom. He released Nature Boy in 2011 and now it’s about time for the next one. It comes with remixes from Taron-Trekka and me. It was planned to be out in May but, since we haven’t cleared the artwork yet, it will more likely be June or August. Good things come to those who wait!
You’ve said, “The visual side is very important to me. When I’m thinking about a track to sign or to release, the artwork needs to match the music and vice versa.” How do you go about on pairing up the right artist with the right musician?
So far since I’ve only released myself and Jesper Ryom. It hasn’t been that hard. I could go on about this forever, and tell you the very special stories that are connected for every artwork and release, but I don’t want to bore you. But every release has a very nice story to it, how gracefully it all worked out in the end. When I find the right illustration for the music and artist, I just know. And then I try to work my way to get that artwork. Sometimes it’s taken up to two years until it’s been cleared. But it has been worth all the time spent. I work with different illustrators and with the last two releases I have also had exhibitions at galleries in Stockholm and Berlin, showing their art as a release party in connection to the release.
How did the move to Berlin affect your career? Did you find fresh inspiration there?
Yes, I did! For sure, I found inspiration in Berlin, that was the reason why I moved. I thought I’m not gonna DJ at all in the city, since already at that time, in 2007, it felt like everybody was a DJ. So I thought I’ll just go there for three months to get some inspiration and time for productions. But then Berlin had other plans for me. So I’m sure the move to Berlin has affected my career, but it’s hard to tell how it would have looked if I hadn’t moved. For me, moving to a new city without really knowing anyone, it’s a thrill.
You’re now a resident at Watergate. How’s that going?
It is going well I think, I hope! I’m a loner and I like to have control and do things my way, but it was good for me to be part of a crew, a family.
Indeed, you’ve just compiled the latest mix CD for Watergate Records. How was it putting that together?
It was exciting, frustrating and very satisfying, all at the same time. It has been with me since November last year and was part of my daily routine for so long, and it was at some point a roller coaster of emotions, but in the end it was worth it and I am proud of it.
You were recently the guest director for Musikguiden I P3 at Sveriges Radio. How did that go?
It went well. Was very nice to be back at the radio again. I hosted a radio show, P3 Dans on Swedish National radio, for three years before; it was the biggest show for electronic dance music in Scandinavia at its time.
So I have a love for radio and am happy whenever I get the chance to do it. This show was also very special, because I had total music freedom, and I played tracks from my first early music memories, tracks that inspired me or that I have good or fun memories of.
What about yourself, what's upcoming on your horizons?
Well, now the Watergate mix CD will be out 26th of May. Then my Arms Around EP, including a Carl Craig remix, on 23rd of June, followed by my remix for Jesper Ryom’s Aviator EP on my Power Plant label. Then I’ve started working on part two on the fashion project I have in the green house, Power Plant Elements. Today I also got an email with a possible remix request I am so thrilled to hear more about. Finally, finishing new tracks and looking for the perfect home for them.
 | Various Artists mixed by La Fleur Title: Watergate 16 Compilation Label Watergate records Tracklist Watergate 16 compilation is out now |
La Fleur Ibiza Dates
02nd July - Tribal Sessions - Wednesday @ Sankeys Ibiza
23rd August - The Zoo Project - Saturday @ Benimusa Park Ibiza
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