Multi-Platinum Selling DJ and Producer KLINGANDE Opens Up About Debut Album, His Newest Remix, ‘Paint California’ and Much More!

Get to know the multi-platinum selling DJ/producer Klingande! He recently teamed up with the electro-pop R&B artist NoMBe for the remix of his latest single “Paint California.” Utilizing his signature blend of upbeat production and mesmerizing melodies, Klingande delivers a refreshing rework of NoMBe’s ode to the West Coast. As NoMBe draws in listeners with his dream-like vocals, Klingande transforms the original into a groovy dance track filled with mid-tempo drums, momentous drops, and an infectious hook.

Speaking on working with the French hit-maker, NoMBe explains: “It’s always exciting when a remix makes you hear a song in a brand new way. When I first heard this I went nuts, Klingande is the truth and the deep-house junky in me loves how this serves the dance floor in a whole new way. I hope people will love it as much as I do.”

Fresh off a career-defining 2019, Klingande is heading into 2020 in full force. Last year saw the highly anticipated release of his debut two-sided LP, The Album, which featured nine new tracks along with a collection of previous hits including “Jubel” and “Pumped Up”. Coming up next, Klingande will be showcasing his unique electronic live shows across France, Mexico, Germany, and more, DJing alongside a saxophonist, violinist, and guitarist.

Connect With Klingande Online Here:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website | Spotify

Learn more about Klingande in the following All Access interview:

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician? What do you think motivated you day in and day out?

I think it came very progressively. When I was young, my parents took me to piano lessons, and later I started to get interested in DJing and production. I really dedicated myself to learning how to mix properly and then how to produce my own music. I think the motivation came from my love for music and my desire to produce and compose on my own.

How do you think your hometown has influenced the kind of music that you make? If not, why is that?

I think it influenced the way I discovered electronic music. I was born in Northern France, which is close to Belgium where there were a lot of very iconic clubs that have since closed. I was also near Paris, Amsterdam and the Dutch scene, and London is just an hour away by train. All of this created a mix of culture and inspiration for the young people in Northern France and it definitely inspired me creatively.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Was your family and friends supportive of this career choice? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing?

Music has always been important to me. I think it connects with my emotions and feelings, and I am always listening to music wherever I go. My family has always been supportive, even if at the beginning they were worried about music as a career and didn’t want me to stop my marketing studies. If I wasn’t a musician, I would have probably followed that path in marketing and communication.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?

That’s an interesting question. I think the biggest surprise was how wide and complicated the industry is. You have to integrate so many people around you to make it work. It’s the best challenge, because it really is teamwork. We as artists are surrounded by people who help us organise and achieve our goals. I also love being on tour with my team, connecting with crowds at shows, spending time with the fans…I think that’s the best part—the human part of it.

Let’s talk about your recently released debut album, The Album. What was it like getting into the studio and recording these songs? Did anything surprise you about the overall process?

It was a very cool, long process. I really wanted to come with original materials for this album. Recently a lot of artists breakthrough with covers of existing songs—myself included with the success of my song “Pumped Up”—but for this album, it was important for me that we wrote all original songs, tell stories, and get a vibe full of emotions. I spent a lot of time in the studio, most of it with my co-writers and co-producers, and it was a lot of work but also a lot of fun. I loved it. There weren’t any real surprises as I have my own process that I always use. I like to be involved in all parts from writing to production and the final mixing and mastering of each song.

I understand that this is a double album and side two features previous hits. So how did you go about choosing these songs?

Yes, there is a second part with all of my previous songs. A lot of fans were asking about an album for a long time, and a lot of people still love all of these songs, so it was very natural for me to offer all of them together for a full listening experience.

Can you discuss the inspiration behind some of the songs on this collection? How did you go about putting them together?

I have various inspirations including the places I was when we were writing and composing the songs. I produced the album mostly between London and Ibiza, which were both a source of inspiration. I always want to include something special in the lyrics or production, and it’s important to bring some interesting elements like the bottleneck in “By The River” or the harmonica in “Ready For Love”. I’m focused on the global vibe of the song, the emotions, energy, and feelings you have when you listen to it.

Why do you think Ultra Music is the right place for you and your music now?

I’ve worked with Ultra Music for the last 6 years, and I’ve seen them grow over the years. Ultra is one of the biggest dance labels at the moment and they are specialized in this music, which is a real asset in this digitalized world with all the new forms of distribution and promotion. I’m happy to be a part of their great catalog of artists from SOFI TUKKER to Steve Aoki.

Do you have any tour dates scheduled for this year yet?

Of course, yes! I’ll be at Tomorrowland Winter and again in the summer, Pa’l Norte and Vaivén Festival in Mexico, Lollapalooza Paris, and many more to be announced! It will be a very exciting year on tour I’m sure.

How do you feel about social media? What do you think social media has done for your career so far?

When everything started with “Jubel”, it was thanks to the blogs, SoundCloud, and YouTube channels who shared it. Instagram wasn’t around yet, but it’s now very important. I think I owe a lot to social media globally in my career, but I also choose to stay careful and not be too connected all of the time.

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I always answer Flume because I’m passionate about his production skills. I would love to collaborate with Kygo, Robin Schulz, and Lost Frequencies. I’d also like to work with singers like Dermot Kennedy or Gavin James.

If you could design your dream music video right now, what would it look like?

I think something pretty epic, with a lot of FX, very cinematographic.

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

I would love to have one of my songs used in a movie by Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, something big and beautiful.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I hope that they feel something, that it connects with their personal stories, and that this music will be linked with some memories. I know that “Jubel” has been the wedding song for a lot of happy lovers, and I love to hear these stories.