Even if you don’t want to admit it, chances are, you’re a lot like your parents. Maybe hitting the links isn’t your idea of a good time, or your cooking prowess doesn’t extend beyond pressing “add 30 seconds” on the microwave, but your ‘rents undoubtedly had a massive influence on the person you’ve become. When it comes to German DJ/producer Justin Faust, that influence is apparent in every grooving body on the dancefloor.
The son of a successful disco composer and producer, Justin was practically born to pump up a party and make people move. From playing in packed clubs all over the world, to producing massively successful remixes for the likes of Missy Elliot and Daft Punk, to his highly anticipated upcoming release on Discotexas, we think it’s pretty safe to say that Faust is doing his papa proud …
Lucky for us, we caught this rising hot commodity in a moment of downtime during his most recent EU tour!
It’s been said that your style of nu-disco is identifiably “German”. How would you say German electro music is different from something like French house?
Justin: I would agree that it’s different from French house, but there’s nothing specifically German about my style. To be honest, I don’t even know what “German electro” would sound like, seeing as there’s so much different stuff coming from Germany at the moment. From Boyz Noise to Siriusmo or
Lorenz Rhode. I find it hard to pin it down to a certain style. I think that my music is more like a blend of different styles–Italo, Chicago House, and many others.
How do you decide what songs are deserving of the Justin Faust remix?
It’s a question of whether or not I like the track and what possible ways there are for me to create something new and unique out of the material.
Your father was a composer and producer. How has his musical taste affected your own? What does he think about the music you’re making?
Oh, he loves my stuff! He’s worked with Boney M., Moroder, and other disco people in the 70s, so he has a natural understanding of the kind of music I’m making. And, of course, he has been a huge influence on me. I learned a lot about music from him, especially about Jazz and Classical Music, but I also developed a sense for genres that he never got into, like Hardcore Metal or Hip Hop.
Where do you feel more “at home”: in the studio or in the booth? Why?
I love spinning and playing to people; it’s just wonderful to do that. Being in the studio is more of an “everyday thing”, whereas playing live is something special and different every time. I love doing both, though!
Tell me about your upcoming Girl Talk EP on Discotexas. What were your goals for this record when making it? Is there a specific direction you’re moving in with your sound? Any plans for an LP?
Yeah, it’s a 3 track EP with tracks I made over the last couple of months that the label and I decided would be a great fit for a release. As for the sound, I think I’m moving in a more “danceable” direction, which might be due to the fact that I played lots of shows lately. I’m constantly learning new stuff about production, mainly from other producers that I admire, and I try to constantly incorporate those things I learn into my sound. I’ve also been thinking about an album for quite a while, but I’m just not so sure how relevant albums really are in our times. It seems to me that the really interesting albums in the dance genre were made years ago (for example, Daft Punk and Cassius), whereas now, albums are often just a compilation of singles and b-side tracks with no coherent feeling or sound. So, as long as I haven’t figured out what my album would have to be like, I think there will be none…
If there was one thing people could feel while listening to your tracks, what would you want it to be?
Bliss!
EXTRA CREDIT: While we’re all waiting on that EP to drop, check out the exclusive Justin Faust Pre-Party Jamz mix!