This is a series of interviews with our favorite electronic music artists, celebrating the Arrival of THUMP and made possible by the new Heineken Star Bottle. In this edition: Brodinski. For more Arrivals, check here. The electronic music scene sometimes feels like a high school cafeteria crowded with cliques of DJs, all with their own distinctive looks, sounds, and styles. Over on one corner: the rich Europeans pumping fists to EDM and munching on caviar. On the other corner, the emaciated Berlin guys blasting industrial techno while doing…weird things under the table. And sneaking out the back door: the leather-jacket-wearing gang of scruffy French guys—with Brodinski leading the way.The perpetually bedroom-eyed DJ grew up in Reims before moving to Paris, where he became entangled with Busy P, DJ Mehdi, and other key figures in the French Touch scene. While Tiga (who released some of Brodinski's earlier tracks on his Turbo label) praised him for being a "crate digger" and a "DJ's DJ," Brodinski has ironically never actually bought a vinyl record in his life.Instead, the "mp3 generation" DJ prowls his long list of music blogs for fresh sounds—some of which end up signed to Bromance—Brodinski's own record label, which he founded in November 2011 alongside his manager, Manu Barron. (Their SoundCloud hilariously describes what a "bromance" is, just in case you haven't heard of the term).Fresh off a flight to Istanbul, Brodinski chatted with us about learning to mind control his audience, getting mentored by the late DJ Mehdi, and the "art of partying".What were your early days as a DJ/producer like?
I was mostly into techno music, and I was playing a lot in Reims, my hometown, and Paris. That was six years ago, and I'm ashamed to say that I've already forgotten some stuff from the not-so-long-ago early days.What's the most unexpected thing you've learned about being a DJ?
I can control people's minds, giving them what I want, but making them believe that I'm giving what they want. It's a trick, and I'm still not sure I'm good at it!Who are your mentors?
Everyone from the Reims-based DJ/producer Yuksek to Cyril Jollard, who organizes these parties in Reims called Bonheur Binaire, and a festival called Elektricity. Also, my friend DJ Mehdi, who unfortunately passed away. I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but it's been amazing…everyone I've met since the beginning has been really inspirational.
When did you commit to going pro as a DJ?
When I was still in school, it was hard to get my life together, with studying on the weekdays and DJing on the weekends. So when I graduated, I told my parents that I'd take a year off to see what was possible. I never went back to school. I knew that I wouldn't, but I had to tell them something, right?At what point did you realize that you'd arrived at the top of the game?
When I played Soulwaxmas in Ghent. 2manydjs invited me their big Christmas party in their hometown, alongside Busy P, Riton, Justice, DJ Mehdi, Erol Alkan, Tiga, and loads of other people…it was such an amazing time.What were some other important moments in your ascent?
I've had a lot of gigs, but playing at an electro party in London called Bugged Out, Sonar in Barcelona, and Hard in Los Angeles have all been high points.How do you connect to the crowd you're playing for?
Let's just say that the art of partying is super random, and I'm pretty much always surprised at how things turn out. But it's a great game I love to play.@michelleLHOOQThe Arrival series is made possible by the new Heineken Star Bottle
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I was mostly into techno music, and I was playing a lot in Reims, my hometown, and Paris. That was six years ago, and I'm ashamed to say that I've already forgotten some stuff from the not-so-long-ago early days.What's the most unexpected thing you've learned about being a DJ?
I can control people's minds, giving them what I want, but making them believe that I'm giving what they want. It's a trick, and I'm still not sure I'm good at it!Who are your mentors?
Everyone from the Reims-based DJ/producer Yuksek to Cyril Jollard, who organizes these parties in Reims called Bonheur Binaire, and a festival called Elektricity. Also, my friend DJ Mehdi, who unfortunately passed away. I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but it's been amazing…everyone I've met since the beginning has been really inspirational.
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When I was still in school, it was hard to get my life together, with studying on the weekdays and DJing on the weekends. So when I graduated, I told my parents that I'd take a year off to see what was possible. I never went back to school. I knew that I wouldn't, but I had to tell them something, right?At what point did you realize that you'd arrived at the top of the game?
When I played Soulwaxmas in Ghent. 2manydjs invited me their big Christmas party in their hometown, alongside Busy P, Riton, Justice, DJ Mehdi, Erol Alkan, Tiga, and loads of other people…it was such an amazing time.What were some other important moments in your ascent?
I've had a lot of gigs, but playing at an electro party in London called Bugged Out, Sonar in Barcelona, and Hard in Los Angeles have all been high points.How do you connect to the crowd you're playing for?
Let's just say that the art of partying is super random, and I'm pretty much always surprised at how things turn out. But it's a great game I love to play.@michelleLHOOQThe Arrival series is made possible by the new Heineken Star Bottle