Miss Kittin: The Interview

By Conan the Destroyhhher.



Its 2009, and who better to break in our new year of great interviews with none other than Electro-Clash's own and the queen of the deadpan (but very melodic) tone, Miss Kittin.



Born in Grenoble, France, Miss Kittin (née Caroline Hervé) who was a former Pole Dancer started Djing at the age of 22. She then was approached by DJ Hell when he ask her to record for his International DJ Gigolo label.

I grew up listening to Miss Kittin since her career starting with her and Golden Boy who then gave us such wonderful hits as "Rippin Kittin", "Campari Soda" and the very humorous "After 8 ". It then later followed her collaboration with her permanent music cognoscenti, The Hacker who went to pen probably the most memorable but rather ironic tune "Frank Sinatra."

So where is the irony behind the tune? Well if you listen to the lyrics, she over annunciates that "he's dead...dead" within the chorus followed by a sinister laugh from her which wins points with us because making fun the famously
deceased makes us wear a smile from ear to ear.....besides the Rat Pack were consider a rather secretive bunch of Hollywood's elite.

This followed with her most famous collaboration with house legend, Felix Da Housecat in which they gave us "Silver Screen-Shower Scene" and "Madame Hollywood"

Despite hearsay about her rather detached and sometimes cold personality, it appears that she has made some lifestyle changes over the past couple of years such as taking up yoga, quiting smoking and just being normal, happy and healthy (to a degree of course). This particular Miss Kittin we talked to sounds very happy and very wise beyond her years!

We hold a high degree of respect for her and her thought processes when it comes to both her DJing and her song writing which has a great deal of savage carnality and innocence's which can't be matched!


So ladies and gentlemen.......we talk to Miss Kittin about her new album Batbox and......everything else (via email)

Seems as though this our first time talking to you (via this email interview), how would you describe yourself as a person?

Better to ask my friends... I try to be honest, true, and better days after days, sometimes trying too hard, too sensitive, but caring and faithful. And a big imagination... If I am cold it's only to protect my emotional side, like anyone else.

Do you think in your 13 year career in music that you've accomplished alot, or is there more that you want to pursue?

I accomplished a lot in life in general through that experience. That's the best reward of a so called "career". I never looked at things as a career, but in a more global way.

As a DJ today I don't see the point to involve myself more than I already did, technically or artistically, because I feel I can accomplish and learn much more as a song writer. DJ leaded me to that point, it's a natural evolution to me, and it took that long. But you never stop learning. Just, getting older, your points of interests and priorities change, and I am writing now a new chapter of my life. Only you can create your own excitement, taking risks, never staying in a comfortable position

Do you ever get time to relax?

Yes of course. I also learned to do that after living a kind of burn out, after so many years of intense DJing. Social life, family, friends, doing regular things, in a more "normal" way, everything I hated when I was younger, are now crucial.

I don't want to die thinking I missed all these little moments of happiness, trapped in the sunlights. So of course I do need to relax, and love to spend time at home. That's why I slowed down my activities as well. Funnily, it gave me lots of inspiration, space and time to have new ideas, and by surprise I got back to serious work! But in a more balanced way, more organized, knowing when to switch off your mobile phone. I think you can only understand that when you went too far!



So what about collaborations, have you done much collaborating with artists or peers that you admired over the last year?

I have a few projects on the grill, but in secretly, can't talk about it.


Will there be another collaboration with your friend and fellow Cohort "The Hacker"?

Miss Kittin and The Hacker

Exactly, that's what I meant with "serious work". Back in France, we started to play tracks to each other, and now our 2nd album is about to be released, plus a tour starting in April all over Europe, later USA, Asia etc... It's exciting especially with a new live act, well prepared, with videos and a proper stage design, something we never got to do back then.


I know that you personally prefer Djing over live performance, but is this still the case for you or would you like to do more live shows this year?

It changed. Too much Djing killed Djing! After getting back on stage with Hacker, with a proper technical team, I realized I wasn't comfortable on stage because I wasn't ready for it, we weren't ready for it. We did everything by ourselves for many years, no sound engineer, flying with our equipment to crazy low-tech clubs, it killed us. So we decided to have a long break, choosing the easiest solution of traveling with a bag of records from clubs to clubs. But a few years ago we got bored of traveling alone and staying up all night.

Miss Kittin with her road crew and The Hacker
somewhere in the USA

We had a long talk about it together, we both wanted a change again, and we both knew our great partnership was a perfect open door to evolve. Not every artist has this possibility, even if it takes guts to leave the good money and security of successful DJing behind. We wanted to take the risk, no doubt about this.



What is your philosophy around DJing? Because alot of people I know don't dj for the love of music, I believe that the majority nowadays are seduced by the scene (ie girls, glamor and fame).

To be seduced by the scene was always a big part of music world, not only rock 'n' roll. My philosophy is simple: music always has to be in front. When fashion, sex or drugs start to take too much space, it's the beginning of the end. I never forget that.

Of course I love music for what it brought me: discovering the world, self confidence, relationships between all kinds of people, fun of course etc... And I can give back a little bit of all that when I perform. I respect the audience for supporting me, making my living, I make sure they have a good time, I put my problems on the side and I am 100% there, but it needs a lot of self protection to deliver this pure energy. To be opened, but not an open door to everything.



Now lets talk about the politics of music. I've read somewhere that you do support the idea of MP3s providing that its done with a great amount of respect. What are your thoughts about MP3s now taking hold of the DJ culture?


Used to be very cold about technical progress because I don't understand it! But as soon as I put a finger in it, experiencing the benefits of a software like Serato, I realized it's natural. Technique doesn't make you a good DJ or Producer, but it can serve your imagination a lot. There's nothing bad to reach as much people as you can with your music, all musicians want. if it's done according to the values you want to share.


I don't mind to hear a DJ playing good music with his I-pod, better than a Dj playing boring music with a complicated set up. Talking about the financial crisis, we got ours when MP3s and Internet downloading came a few years ago. It forced music industry to come back to the roots, being more flexible. Small structures are emerging again, and in difficult times, people want to have fun, so we now have more work! So at the end, it was a good thing. Vinyl is still alive too, small amounts but for collectors


What are your thoughts about digital technology? Has it helped you as a musician?

Yes. As a DJ, because Serato for example gave me the freedom to travel with a huge catalog, so during a set if I feel like playing an obscure track or an old rave hit, I type the title in my library and can play it immediately. Again it's up to you to use technology to serve your ideas.

As a musician, I work a lot on vocals on my computer and I now how to make my voice sound better. We are far from the 1st Kittin and Hacker album, made live at the Hacker's home, but our music got so much more colors to it.


(ED: Hey Serato, we got Miss Kittin to endorse your product......now give us some free stuff!!!)


Now lets talk about your new album "Batbox". I believe that this album is a return to form (if you don't mind me saying) in terms of great song structure and great programing. Care to elaborate on the process?

The pop song structure was always my aim, of course mixed with my electronic influences. It's not easy to do because whether you're too poppy for the electronic world, whether too electronic for the mainstream. But that's what's so interesting, to create your niche.


Of course meeting Pascal Gabriel in London was a turning point. His big experience in pop music made it possible, with such a technical knowledge, everything was possible. He told me he was looking for so long for women who had their own hybrid style, and now, he said music is full of them, like Little Boots, Ladyhawke, Cocknbullkid... He pushed me a lot to believe in my ideas, not to be scared to go too far. Now I can finally imagine one day I may write of other people, produce artists. It would be a great future for me.


Alot of people are probably going to mention that their favorite tune from Batbox is "Kittin is high", but my favorite from the album happens to be "Wash n Dry". It sounds so innocent and innocuous. Your thoughts?


That's a big side of me. If you look at things in a virgin way, if you stop carrying your fears or old judgments, you can reach happiness. The song is about this cleaning, because if you don't do it, you will never grow.

And lastly, another favorite from BatBox is the punk de jour "Barefoot Tonight". Is this tune paying a homage to some of your punk influences?

It's when I bought my bass guitar. We wanted to build a band with my best girlfriends but it never happened! The song is very innocent too, funny, feminine, nothing serious, just a girl having fun not caring about what people say, the codes etc... Like when I say I don't need high heels to be a lady!

Okay lets talk about touring. Now you're already toured Australia some time ago, so is there anyway we could convince you to come to New Zealand?

I hope I could finally go there. It's nearly the only civilized place on Earth I've never been. I know it through movies and music only.

If there was a destination in the world that you would recommend, where would it be?

Maldives, before it disappears. It's a postcard paradise, great place to relax, dive, connect with amazing nature cos it's only very small islands like flying saucers landing on the sea. Otherwise I would say Japan, for the complexity of the culture, the food, the design, the architecture. And Paris, for the romanticism!



Thank you for giving your time out for this interview Miss Kittin. Enjoy the rest of 2009.


Thanks!


-------------------------------------------------------------------

Batbox is now available at Beatport (region free) and it features "Kittin is High", "Wash n Dry", "Playmate of the Century" and "Barefoot Tonight." Its a tremedous album and an instant classic. Get yours today!


For more information on Miss Kittin goto the following links

http://www.misskittin.com/

http://www.nobodysbizzness.com/

http://www.myspace.com/kittinmusic