Known for such popular disco tracks as, ‘Love’ and ‘Be Brave’, Louis La Roche is the pinnacle of Disco House musicians. Look out for his new album ‘To Rest Is To Rust’ that will release this year, it’s going to be big!

FS: What an interview we’ve got lined up for you today! Louis La Roche is here to talk with us! So I’ve seen many interviewers talk about your track ‘Love‘ and how it was mistaken for a Thomas Bangalter track.

Do you think this “mistake” paved the way to your career?

L: I’m definitely grateful that it got me the attention it did at the time. I think that’s the problem these days. There’s so much music out there, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. I was 17 when ‘Love’ hit the internet.

I’m 24 now, a lot has changed since then. My craft, the music industry, even the genres I write these days.

FS: What is your favorite release that you’ve made?

L: It’s always the newest release! If you don’t believe in your new material and strive to make better songs, what’s the point? If I was at gunpoint though, I’d say my ‘Super Soaker‘ EP. I was in a good place when I wrote those tracks, and I’d like to think that it’s aged well too.

FS: I particularly like your track ‘Prick Stick‘ off your Super Soaker EP! What are your musical influences?

L: 80’s Boogie Funk/Post Disco producers. Leroy Burgess, Quincy Jones, Kashif, Hubert Eaves III, Paul Laurence, Jacques Fred Petrus, and many many more.

FS: How did it feel to support Kylie Minogue on tour? That must of been a big opportunity for you.

L: Yeah it was great, definitely a challenge though! I’m used to playing crowds in their 20’s/30’s, most Kylie fans are 40+. Kylie has always boarded Disco, which has gone in and out of fashion for years. So having someone like myself as support, shows this new generation are just as inspired by Disco as she is.

Comparing a nightclub of 800 people to playing an arena of 15,000 people, really makes you realize how amazing someone like Kylie is. To get a crowd that large all dancing and jumping up and down, that’s talent.

FS: What’s your opinion on the ‘EDM’ genre these days?

L: I don’t think I’ll ever like the term ‘EDM’. Simply because it’s associated with the ‘Super-Saw’ sound of the noughties. Honestly, I don’t really listen to much modern music. The Deep House sound of today is a good thing in the long run though.

It’s allowing the youth of today to discover it’s roots of 90’s House. It’s showing signs of wear and tear, but I think whatever genre it leads on to will stay strongly influenced by House music.

FS: Interesting insight there. How about 2006-2007 when it came to Electronic music?

L: I call that the ‘distortion age’. Some great records came out of that time, but I don’t think most music of that era aged well. However the records that do stand the test of time strangely are the ones that paid tribute to the 80’s.

Lifelike – So Electric, Kris Menace – Jupiter, Fred Falke – Omega Man, they all still sound fresh to me. I guess that’s due to the fact they sound retro to begin with and didn’t follow the ‘distortion’ bandwagon at the time.

FS: Do you collect vinyl? If so, are there any records that stand out in your collection?

L: I do! I spend most days searching through old Funk/Disco records. It’s definitely an addiction, haha. I’m still sampling like I used to, but these days I like to make new recordings sound like samples.

I get a kick out of fooling the listener, my 2014 track ‘Wondering‘ is a great example of that. As for favorite records that I own, I have an original pressing of ‘Thriller’ that’s on my wall. It’s still sealed too!

FS: Seriously speaking now. What can we expect from your new album ‘To Rest Is To Rust’?

L: I think it’s likely to be a big surprise for people. It’s a departure from the House sound that I’m known for. It’s Pop, Disco, Funk and very nostalgic. My favorite track on the album is called ‘Undercover Lover’. It’s an old 80’s slow-jam, and could easily be a long lost MJ or Prince track.

A lot of time was spent researching old production techniques of the 70’s/80’s, the drum machines and synthesizers used on my favorite records. It’s very much an album and not a collection of club tracks. It took a lot of time for me to accept that my vocals needed to be upfront.

Not only to allow the instruments to compliment my vocals but also to bring a sense of honesty, and innocence to the record. It’s not perfect, it’s rough and not polished but I love that.

FS: I cannot wait for the release now, I’ll be sure to pick it up when it comes out! Louis La Roche everybody!

Louis La Roche



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