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Written By: BenGomori |
Despite having one of the weirdest names in house music, Cedric “no relation to Ricky” Gervais is killing it on a global scale in 2008. Born and raised in Marseille, the young Frenchman caught the techno bug at an early age thanks to the likes of Laurent Garnier and Carl Cox, and after taking up DJing he became the youngest ever resident to play at legendary Parisian venue Club Queen.
It was in 1998 though that he made the biggest decision of his career – to move to Miami and try and crack into the scene over there. It might have seemed a strange choice at the time – given that France was still riding the crest of the “French Touch” wave that saw the likes of Daft Punk, Cassius and Air leap to worldwide acclaim – but it turned out to be a very savvy one.
Before long he had bagged a residency at the world-famous Crobar, where he remained for four years, honing his blend of European sounds and American tribal beats, before he moved down the road from South Beach to Downtown Miami and took over the reigns at Space – where he remains a resident in 2008.
He’s produced and remixed the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Queen and Duran Duran, as well as for the cream of the electro house scene like Sander Kleinenberg and Dirty South. He recently released a superb double CD for Deep Dish's label Yoshitoshi - aptly entitled Space Miami Terrace - which showcased his dark, dirty, thumping tribal sounds in all their murky glory, and with his temporary summer relocation to Europe, his global assault is climbing to new levels.
How did growing up in France help you to formulate your sound? Or was it more music from abroad that was inspiring you?
Growing up in France was a great thing for me because I was exposed to and inspired by people like Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier and many other amazing French DJ /producers who were influential in my creating a sound for myself.
What were the key breakthrough points in your career?
Definitely moving to Miami was my big breakthrough, along with becoming a resident at Space Miami. Also signing on with the agency Bullitt and having their team push and book me globally.
Your sound has quite a bit of a Tenaglia vibe in it. Was he one of your big influences in creating your sound?
Definitely. I have been a big Danny fan for a while. I always remember the first time he played Space for WMC - one of the craziest nights! I think I danced for 9 hours straight.
What’s your view on how dance music is represented and consumed in the USA generally speaking? A pretty wide question I know but over here for instance, it’s part of mainstream culture really...
I think dance music in the USA is growing. The industry is no longer in the infancy stage and really growing to a point where it’s influencing more popular genres of music such as hip-hop. Hip-hop is so saturated and people have grown a little tired of it so what you’re seeing now is a lot of hip-hop DJs adding in house records. It’s time to change things up a bit. People overseas underestimate us, but the States is ready for a change.
Do you think that American crowds are well educated in terms of dance music and DJs?
Well it’s often unfair to compare because the US is such a big country and the radio culture doesn’t support dance music than say Radio 1 does in the UK. Technology is certainly helping people get more clued up. Also, cities Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, to name a few, have crowds that are well informed about dance music.
You came over to the USA from France some 14 years ago, in which time France has experienced two massive periods in the dance music spotlight. Do you ever feel like you have missed out by not being there? Obviously things are going very very well for you in Miami but...
No I don’t feel that I missed anything, I always kept in touch with whatever was happening in Europe especially because I have European roots.
People really rate Space Miami. What makes it so good? Can you sum it up?
Well there no other place right now in America or the world where you can dance on a terrace until 5PM the next day to the tune of an amazing sound system and coupled with a crowd that is ready for anything. For a DJ, it’s a dream place to play. The main room is legendary as well.
If you had to live somewhere other than Miami or France...where would you choose and why?
I’m travelling a lot to Los Angeles these days so I would probably live there. I love the weather - it reminds me a lot of when I lived in the south of France.
DJs who complain about the long travels they have to endure and time spent in airports and hotels...should they all be shot?
Lol! Well that’s the price you have to pay to be successful. I think what’s going on in the travel industry right now has made it much more difficult for anybody to travel so it’s fair to complain. I would much rather be stuck at an airport en route to a gig than not have a gig. But come on, who wouldn’t want to travel the world and do what we do? We are all very fortunate to be able to do this.
What have you been enjoying most this summer?
Being back in Europe as I live here in the summer. I have so many great gigs coming up and it also gives me a chance to go back and visit my family.
Which producer makes you jealous / envious?
My boy Dubfire! That guy is on a roll right now. He is been putting out some serious music.
Which film would you most like to create a soundtrack for?
Matrix if they ever make a new one.
Which tunes makes you laugh because it’s so ridiculously good / filthy / wrong / naughty?
Texi from Sharam – it’s my biggest record right now.
Yoshitoshi: Space Miami Terrace mixed by Cedric Gervais is out now.
He headlines at Club Azuli at Pacha London on September 13th – www.azuli.com for full details.
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