From 24 to 28 August, the seventh edition of the Dutch festival Dekmantel Selectors will take place at The Garden Resort in Tisno. Alongside other respected names, French DJ Simo Cell will also perform this year.
A talented young producer from Nantes, he was hosted last April at Kocka by the Split-based collective PULP.
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“We wanted to close the season with a performer who handles a different kind of music than what the audience is used to. Simo Cell was the ideal choice, and we can definitely say that he exceeded our expectations. Also, out of all our guests, he blended best with the collective’s own story,” Foxy, El Commando and Anako told us.
As the founder of the TEMƎT label, Simo Cell has drawn attention with his playful, eclectic and experimental approach, both in his productions and DJ sets. Previously known under the alias Purism, he built his career in Paris, briefly returning to his hometown during the pandemic.
Foto: Aurore Brisset
Although he primarily operates on the French scene, a love for the British sound is undeniably present in his work. It is worth highlighting that Simo Cell was the first producer of non-British origin to be given the honour of releasing on the acclaimed Bristol label Livity Sound.
This achievement opened many doors for him in the music world. So far, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with members of the BFDM collective as well as artists such as Peter van Hoesen, Skee Mask, Hodge, Bambounou, Low Jack and Pilotwings. In addition, he is keen to support young French musicians in whom he sees potential.
These days, the hardworking producer is especially proud of himself. On 14 September, his first solo album, Cuspide Des Sirènes, will be released on TEMƎT. He has been working on it for the past three years, and the first single, behind the waterfall, is already available on all platforms. The LP also comes with an interesting limited-edition addition – a Game Boy video game featuring exclusive 8-bit versions of the album.
While others eagerly await to hear what he has “cooked up”, Simo Cell is preparing for his performance at Dekmantel Selectors. In the lead-up to the event, we spoke with the French DJ to find out how he spent his time in Split, with what mission he launched his own label, and what kind of musical environment he grew up in.
How was the party for you? Have you listened to the hosts’ mixes?
Fantastic party with a really dedicated crowd. I stayed till the end to share a dance on the dancefloor with everyone because I felt it was a really special night. I came early to listen to all the artist and I loved how Anako and Foxy built up the room. The warm up sets are always really important to set up a mood and they give me a lot of space. Nowadays it’s rare to have a proper warm up, most of the djs plays at 140 bpm at 11 p.m., hahah. Loved El Commando party vibe at the end too.
Foto: Gregg Bréhin
Was this your first time in Split? Did you like the town?
First time in Split in the best company yes. The PULP crew brought me to the city to visit the old town. I also discovered picigin. I need to get my own ball.
We saw that you even visited Poljud and watched Hajduk’s game. Whose idea was it and how was the experience?
Hectic game with two red cards! A bit messy I have to say, hahah. The ultras are going mad no matter, love this. The stadium is beautiful with a perfect location between the mountains and the see. We were talking about football in the car from the airport and Luka and Ana suggested to watch the game. I couldn’t resist. I hope Hajduk will win the league.
Tell us about TEMƎT. You founded it back in 2020 during the pandemic. How come that you decided to run your own label and what is it’s philosophy?
I mainly release music from new french talent because I want to develop the label around local artists. From an artistic standpoint, my experience with the label has truly allowed me to cultivate a refined aesthetic vision that was previously uncharted territory for me. I find immense joy in this newfound passion. At the outset, I invested ample time in perfecting every intricate detail, such as embedding hidden links and visual puzzles within our album covers to offer additional content.
To me, the human connection is the cornerstone of the label philosophy. Prior to even considering releasing music, it is crucial to establish a meaningful relationship with each artist. I spend a great deal of time on the phone with them, collaborating on artistic direction and nurturing a long-term bond. I hold myself to high standards and have a very clear vision of what I want musically, which may involve requesting several modifications to ensure we achieve a cohesive and harmonious TEMET outcome. I run the label alongside my manager Souleiman, and this shared experience has only strengthened our bond. It is yet another fulfilling aspect of the human dimension that makes this project so rewarding. Being able to release records brings me immense musical satisfaction.
Are there any genres besides electronic that affect and inspire your production? What kind of music were you exposed as a kid? Are your parents fans of a specific genre?
I listen to a lot of french and us trap, rnb but also pop. I’m really inspired by the US mainstream production to be honest, Dawn Fm from the weekend album is probably the album I listened to the most last year.. My dad is from Argentina so I also have a Latin background that inspires my rhythm a lot. My parents are both guitarist and i grew up listening to my parents. They have a wide repertoire, from Baroque, Renaissance music to more contemporary stuff and also milongas and tangos from Argentina.
Can you recommend some hidden or underrated French artists worth listening to?
You can check my label, all the artist are French new talents. 😉
Foto: press, private album, Facebook, Instagram (Adrien Ozouf)