There's a lot of Native American myths about the coyote, and he's usually made out to be a trickster who pilfers cultural treasures. French producer Koyote lives up to his wiley moniker in that he played an instrumental role in bringing the sounds of Detroit and Chicago to Parisian dancefloors as a member of the Family Werks and Diamond Grills crews alongside former partner-in-grime Goon. In the past couple years, he's struck out on his own and crafted three EPs for Dre Skull's Mixpak label: first came Midsummer Tales, which was followed by Blowin' My Mind and I Stand Accused. The latter dropped late last month, but it took us a few weeks to track him down for a chat with L.A.-based Canyon Cody about his American heritage and why he sampled Chef from South Park.
The first two EPs of the trilogy were about travelling—in South France for Midsummer Tales, in South America for Blowin My Mind—and it's about personal quests. "I Stand Accused" was made when I came back from South America, where I spent a year. It's about love, a declaration of love, and the beginning of a new adventure.This record was made entirely with hardware, which is an increasingly rare methodology. What gear did you use for producing this album?
A pretty basic set up: 909, 808, RZ1, Juno 106 and Virus KB. Usually, I choose one synth and one drum machine per track and stick with them.How'd you get your name? Were you inspired by the animal, or is there some other reference that others might be missing?
It's definitely inspired by the animal. I don't remember exactly how I got this name, but I think old friends starting calling me Koyote almost 20 years ago. Maybe it's because I'm half American, and the coyote represents the archetypal North American animal to them. Maybe it's because I've always been into North American culture. Maybe it's because I used to watch the Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Or maybe it's because I've got a long nose. Anyway, when I started to DJ, I just picked that name. And the K is because I was a big fan of Plastikman back then.Coyotes are notorious for running in packs. Tell me little about the crews you've run with over the years, from Family Werks to Mixpak.
I joined Family Werks in the early noughties because we were the only ones in France who were into Detroit booty music back then. We decided to gather the strength to promote that sound and started throwing parties in Paris. A few years later, we disbanded the crew and I started Diamond Grills with Goon, one of the former members of Family Werks. We had a club residency where we booked Detroit and Chicago headliners, we had radio gigs, and we released mixtapes. We met Dre Skull in 2007 while we were touring the US, and by the time he started Mixpak a couple of years later, I had developed my own solo sound. I sent him some tracks and he signed me for three EPs.The word "Coyote" comes from the Aztec word for "trickster." It's fitting, because I feel like there's a certain mischievous quality to your production. Do you enjoy throwing curveballs at a dancefloor just to see how the crowd reacts? Have you ever tossed in a juke or footwork song at straight-up house night just to cause trouble?
Not drone music or hardcore, but juke and footwork, definitely. I usually throw in mini sets of juke and footwork regardless of the party. I still love that sound and want to support it.Outside of the more obvious influences, like Detroit techno and Chicago house, tell me about the other global elements in your music. How have coupé décalé and other non-electronic musics influenced your production?
There's a big African community in France, and African music is quite popular over here. A few years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to this track from Bab Lee, "Sous Les Cocotiers," and I've been obsessed with it since I first heard it. I play it in almost every set. I like the beat—simple and complex at the same time—and I like the synth riff. I like African rhythms. I listen to a lot of soul and classical musical, too, so I guess I get inspiration from them also.It's late night in Paris, and you're starving. When you leave the club, what sort of food do you go hunting for?
Not sure. I quit eating kebabs a few years ago, and basically it's the only street food you can find late at night, so that doesn't leave me with many options. A few brasseries, which are typical Parisian restaurants that serve traditional food I'm not very fond of. So, generally, I wait until I go home, but if anybody knows any good etnhic restaurants (Chinese, Thai, Ethiopian, etc) that stay open late, let me know.Tell me about the title track, "I Stand Accused." What attracted you to that Isaac Hayes sample? Are you a long-time fan of his? I feel like he's almost more famous nowadays as Chef from South Park.
I'm a die hard fan of Isaac Hayes, Stax, and soul music in general. When I was a kid, my mom used to listen to Otis Redding when she drove me to school. Recently, I was listening to the Isaac Hayes Movement in the car, and the lyrics popped out at me. I just thought, "I gotta do a track!"Who did the painting that you used as the artwork for this release? What's the idea behind the image?
My girlfriend did it; she does artwork for all my records. It's a graphic metaphor of the title track. As I said before, it's a record about love, inspired by soul music, thus the hot colors are incorporated. But it's also the fist of the Black Panthers, which is a nod to the Civil Rights Movement.What's next for Koyote? Maybe a prequel now that the trilogy is finished?
I've been making a lot of new demos, so I definitely want to release more music. Maybe it's time for an album. I also want to take care of my label, Supergenius Records, that I've left off. And I've just started a residency on Rinse France which is really exciting. You can catch me every two Thursday 10 PM till midnight.What quality do you most respect in coyotes?
Bad vision, but good ears.Buy "I Stand Accused" here
Connect with Koyote on Soundcloud
Connect with Mixpak on Soundcloud
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Your music has quite a cinematic quality. Does this EP—the third installment of your Mixpak EP trilogy—include a big twist or surprise ending?
The first two EPs of the trilogy were about travelling—in South France for Midsummer Tales, in South America for Blowin My Mind—and it's about personal quests. "I Stand Accused" was made when I came back from South America, where I spent a year. It's about love, a declaration of love, and the beginning of a new adventure.This record was made entirely with hardware, which is an increasingly rare methodology. What gear did you use for producing this album?
A pretty basic set up: 909, 808, RZ1, Juno 106 and Virus KB. Usually, I choose one synth and one drum machine per track and stick with them.How'd you get your name? Were you inspired by the animal, or is there some other reference that others might be missing?
It's definitely inspired by the animal. I don't remember exactly how I got this name, but I think old friends starting calling me Koyote almost 20 years ago. Maybe it's because I'm half American, and the coyote represents the archetypal North American animal to them. Maybe it's because I've always been into North American culture. Maybe it's because I used to watch the Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Or maybe it's because I've got a long nose. Anyway, when I started to DJ, I just picked that name. And the K is because I was a big fan of Plastikman back then.
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I joined Family Werks in the early noughties because we were the only ones in France who were into Detroit booty music back then. We decided to gather the strength to promote that sound and started throwing parties in Paris. A few years later, we disbanded the crew and I started Diamond Grills with Goon, one of the former members of Family Werks. We had a club residency where we booked Detroit and Chicago headliners, we had radio gigs, and we released mixtapes. We met Dre Skull in 2007 while we were touring the US, and by the time he started Mixpak a couple of years later, I had developed my own solo sound. I sent him some tracks and he signed me for three EPs.The word "Coyote" comes from the Aztec word for "trickster." It's fitting, because I feel like there's a certain mischievous quality to your production. Do you enjoy throwing curveballs at a dancefloor just to see how the crowd reacts? Have you ever tossed in a juke or footwork song at straight-up house night just to cause trouble?
Not drone music or hardcore, but juke and footwork, definitely. I usually throw in mini sets of juke and footwork regardless of the party. I still love that sound and want to support it.Outside of the more obvious influences, like Detroit techno and Chicago house, tell me about the other global elements in your music. How have coupé décalé and other non-electronic musics influenced your production?
There's a big African community in France, and African music is quite popular over here. A few years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to this track from Bab Lee, "Sous Les Cocotiers," and I've been obsessed with it since I first heard it. I play it in almost every set. I like the beat—simple and complex at the same time—and I like the synth riff. I like African rhythms. I listen to a lot of soul and classical musical, too, so I guess I get inspiration from them also.
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Not sure. I quit eating kebabs a few years ago, and basically it's the only street food you can find late at night, so that doesn't leave me with many options. A few brasseries, which are typical Parisian restaurants that serve traditional food I'm not very fond of. So, generally, I wait until I go home, but if anybody knows any good etnhic restaurants (Chinese, Thai, Ethiopian, etc) that stay open late, let me know.Tell me about the title track, "I Stand Accused." What attracted you to that Isaac Hayes sample? Are you a long-time fan of his? I feel like he's almost more famous nowadays as Chef from South Park.
I'm a die hard fan of Isaac Hayes, Stax, and soul music in general. When I was a kid, my mom used to listen to Otis Redding when she drove me to school. Recently, I was listening to the Isaac Hayes Movement in the car, and the lyrics popped out at me. I just thought, "I gotta do a track!"Who did the painting that you used as the artwork for this release? What's the idea behind the image?
My girlfriend did it; she does artwork for all my records. It's a graphic metaphor of the title track. As I said before, it's a record about love, inspired by soul music, thus the hot colors are incorporated. But it's also the fist of the Black Panthers, which is a nod to the Civil Rights Movement.What's next for Koyote? Maybe a prequel now that the trilogy is finished?
I've been making a lot of new demos, so I definitely want to release more music. Maybe it's time for an album. I also want to take care of my label, Supergenius Records, that I've left off. And I've just started a residency on Rinse France which is really exciting. You can catch me every two Thursday 10 PM till midnight.What quality do you most respect in coyotes?
Bad vision, but good ears.Buy "I Stand Accused" here
Connect with Koyote on Soundcloud
Connect with Mixpak on Soundcloud