Fedde Le Grand Shares Secrets to Creative Success in the Industry [Interview]

After almost two decades in the industry, Fedde Le Grand has had quite a remarkable journey cementing his success in dance music.

Luckily for him, there’s seemingly no end in sight for Fedde Le Grand’s prolific career as a DJ and producer.  Exron Music had the chance to interview Fedde Le Grand while attending the Armada Music headquarters in NYC on Sunday, April 14.  Exron was privy to an intimate livestream on one of New York’s first warm-weathered spring days.  Dozens of friends, family, and coworkers came together to mingle and celebrate the unique occasion.  Reflecting on pivotal moments, his most obvious answer would be releasing “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit” in 2006 because it propelled him into a much more international scene. However, he admits that his most important moment, producing and DJ-wise, was when Carl Cox took him under his wing for Ibiza and Space.

Following the success of his global debut, Fedde Le Grand continued to dominate with hits “So Much Love,” and “Sparks (Turn Off Your Mind).” Fedde’s prowess as a DJ is undeniable, with high-energy performances captivating audiences across the globe. He has graced the stages of iconic events such as Tomorrowland, Ultra Miami, EDCLV, and Sensation. Further, his collaborations with artists like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Nicky Romero have produced even more chart-topping tracks.

Fedde Le Grand has witnessed the gradual evolution of the electronic music landscape firsthand. He perceives trends in dance music as somewhat cyclical, adding that “the pandemic [just] put [that] change on steroids.”  While everything may feel way more house-and-techno-focused, it’s just a new group of clubgoers finding their place during this time.  Among electronic music’s greatest, Fedde Le Grand’s secret to longevity is letting the music speak for itself.  Particularly, he expressed that excessive labels and sub-genres can ultimately stifle creativity.  On that note, he pointed to “people like Carl Cox or Green Velvet – guys that have been around for a long time.”  What has provided them that the key to success is to not care about labels and “just play what [they] think sounds awesome.”

As the founder of Darklight Recordings, Fedde Le Grand has been instrumental in propelling the careers of many artists. He emphasizes that the underlying vision is paramount. For Fedde, “it’s really easy – if the track is good and it moves [him], [he’ll] collaborate with you.” Moreover, his advice to newcomers underscores perseverance and authenticity.  He noted that this new wave of artists has shifted too heavily to socials. 

“Most people… don’t actually know why something goes viral,” but many turn to TikTok for a quick ticket to fame.  Accordingly, he emphasized not getting discouraged and “try[ing] to find your own way.”  Instead of cutting and pasting from current trends, which “by definition… [is] not going to make you stand out,” try to hone your own sound.  Fedde has certainly practiced what he preaches, as he continues finding new ways to stick to his roots. Additionally, collaboration has been a recurring theme in Fedde Le Grand’s career. Working with artists like Madonna and Coldplay has left a lasting impact, but the collaboration with Will.i.am stands out most for him.  Above all else, respect figures like him for finding new ways to propel their genuine passion for music.

When asked about favorite venues, Fedde Le Grand highlights Untold Festival in Romania and the nightlife in Croatia‘s Old Town.  Thinking back to moments in his DJ career, he highlighted a memorable yet chaotic moment at Roskilde Festival.  While performing with Ida Corr and Camille Jones, they had to stop the set at several points due to overcrowding.  When security finally evacuated the tent, it led to a scene out of a battle movie, albeit with beer cans instead of arrows.  “The poor security guard got obliterated with beer cans,” he chuckled.

From remixing tracks for icons like Rihanna to headlining festivals like Tomorrowland, Fedde Le Grand’s versatility is undeniable. He navigates between mainstream and underground sounds effortlessly, driven by a constant search for inspiration. He emphasizes the importance of evolving, drawing parallels with painters who never paint the same thing twice throughout their careers.  Fedde’s radio show, Dark Light Sessions, is a way to share his eclectic tastes with global audiences. Fedde Le Grand curates mixes that blend his roots in house music with the latest tracks, showcasing the abundance of inspiration in the industry.

To end the interview, we asked Fedde Le Grand what his plans for the future look like. Humbly, Fedde answered that he sees his journey as a competition with himself. His ultimate goal? Mainly, he mentioned that his only goal is “to do this [for] as long as possible”.  The longer he goes, the closer he gets to the bigger picture of what success means to him.  One thing is for sure – we sure hope he sticks around for the long haul to solidify his legacy.  For more information about Fedde Le Grand, be sure to head over to his website.