We Surprised Dillon Francis at Le Café Des Chats In Montreal Before His Concert
Dillon Francis is currently crushing the music scene after the release of his debut album ‘Money Sucks, Friends Rule’.
He’s engaged on a 25 stop FriendsRuleTour and is performing beside Trippy Turtle and Hoodboi who play a back-to-back opening performance.
I went to speak with Dillon for Canada Nightlife at one of Montreal’s Cat Cafes where he was brought without any prior knowledge of the days plans. To his surprise, he was greeted by a room full of happy cats crawling all around him.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Dillon and conduct an exclusive interview where we cover remixes, collaborations, and hotel rooms.
Canada Nightlife: I want to start talking about your latest album, “Money Sucks, Friends Rule”. It’s a mix of pop-infused tracks with classic electro songs. How long did it take you to make from initial idea to day of digital release?
Dillon Francis: It took about two years, but the first half of that year I didn’t even know I was making an album. I was always working on multiple songs, single, or EPs beforehand. I had a bunch of songs together and I decided to make an album.
DF: I started pulling a lot of the songs together, for example, I had the song “We Make It Bounce” for a year before the final version. Same with “Drunk All The Time”.
CNL: Were you playing out a lot of these tracks in your sets before you made the album?
DF: Yeah, definitely. There is a version of “Drunk All The Time” that got streamed at Ultra 13. Also “I Can’t Take It” had a different drop that DJ Snake used in his essential mix. Most of the club tracks I tried out live, just to make sure they work.
CNL: There are collaborations with other producers like Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, and TJR, but also vocals from singers like Brendon Urie, Simon Lord, and the Presets. Do you think each distinct contribution is noticeable in the final album?
DF: Absolutely, I think you can hear a lot of the sounds of the other artists mixed with my own style. The track that I’m most happy about is “Love In The Middle”. A lot of people have been saying that they can’t hear my influence, but I think the vocals just mask that. If I put them out as instrumentals, people would understand and hear my soundscape.
CNL: That’s part of the criticism with you making more vocal orientated songs, people are not accustomed to that from you yet.
DF: Exactly, that’s what I wanted to do with ‘Money Sucks, Friends Rule’ by showing people I can make a cool record using vocals. What’s lost in today’s culture is most people are only buying singles. Back when I used to buy albums, I’d listen to the album all the way through. After a while, people will get it and like my music, I just think vocals threw people a little bit off.
DF: It was so much fun to work with all those people. That’s why money sucks and friends rule! It was exciting to work with friends and just having fun doing what we enjoy.
CNL: You’ve explained how this album is a balance between content for an older fanbase and material to please the masses through mediums like radio. Do you think you’ll continue with this mind set for future music?
DF: Yeah, I just want to make everybody happy to be honest. I get bummed out when people get pissed about what I’m doing. I’m doing what makes me happy though and everything that I’ve ever released I’ve always been 100% behind. I had this album finished before I signed to Columbia Records, I actually sent the album to them and they wanted to sign it because they liked it so much.
I’ve always loved pop music, but it’s different for me because I don’t listen to that much pop music any more. So when I listen to it, it’s not washed out and sounds brand new to me.
CNL: What new music do you have coming up?
I’m going to keep producing everything, at the moment I’m making a moombahton EP that features a collaboration with Skrillex. It’s all original tracks, the song I opened with at EDC, the Skrillex collab, this new one I’m making on the road, a track that I made with Cataracs in DC, Washington.
I’ve regained my inspiration for the moombathon tempo of music because I had made it so much. I felt I had done everything and if I kept doing it, I would be making the same records over and over again. I didn’t want people to criticize me for staying the same, I’d rather have people criticize me for changing, but then being able to go back to moombathon so people know I still got it.
CNL: You’ll often take your released popular tracks and self edit them into moombahton versions, called the Rebrith series. Yet you started out originally in really weird and moombahton music, so would you say then that these personal remixes are a reflection to your early production?
DF: The reason I like doing it is because I love the sound I was working with back then. The reason people get remixes to their songs is so they can play it again differently. That’s why I did Masta Blasta 2.0, that was a reedit just to make it sound better.
I like being able to keep playing my songs and keep people interested about those old records that were really big in my career. For example, “I.D.G.A.F.O.S”, I still want to make another Rebirth of that one so it’s closer to the style of moombathon that I really like right now. It’s similar to the Skrillex collab that I did, we made this really cool minimal style song.
CNL: Cool, I’m pumped to hear that. So what gave you the idea for I.D.G.A.F.O.S 3.0? Did you originally slow the song down by accident or were you just messing around on the computer?
DF: What happened was we had gotten the film from our videographer when I was on tour with flosstradamus in Europe. I was sleeping on the ground in the airport and my manager came up with the idea to slow down “I.D.G.A.F.O.S” and try to make an orchestral version of it that is super calming.
CNL: Yeah agreed, I’ve actually fallen asleep to that track before. A fifteen minute delight.
DF: (Laughs) That’s awesome.
CNL: What do you think are inherent limitations of working with another musician’s material, for example creating a remix or mixing songs on a DJ set?
DF: I don’t think there is any limitation, if anything it is not limiting because you have more stems to work with that the artist provides. So part of the work is already done and you have exponential growth from there. I started out mainly doing remixes at the start of my career and it was so much fun. I still love doing remixes.
CNL: How important was your role on social media when you first started getting noticed from songs like “Masta Blasta” and “Bootleg Fireworks”?
DF: At that point I don’t think I was really that occupied with social media, I was just tweeting stuff ever so often. The main thing that really helped with my online social presence was Instagram video and Vine because that helped me do the video stuff that I really like to do. Yeah, Social media has helped a lot with getting my music out.
CNL: I feel that you’ve become completely developed in your role online through social sites that it helps build your persona. Which platform are you active on the most and which social media site have you never bothered to use?
DF: I don’t use Myspace anymore, I don’t think anybody uses Myspace anymore. The main thing that I use now is Instagram and Twitter, those are the top two. I love Instagram. I also use Snapchat, but I don’t check any of my pictures. I don’t want to see any dick pics.
CNL: Between DJ Hanzel, Rave Dad, DJ Rich AF, Becky, and Greg, which is your favourite character?
DF: All of them, that’s why I made all of them, they’re just so much fun. I gotta start doing DJ Hanzel again though, but I did a DJ Hanzel set on Mad Decent Block Party Cruise.
CNL: Do you still have the tattoo on your bottom lip?
DF: (Laughs) Yeah, still there. (Peels back lip to reveal “ZOMG”) Never going away.
CNL: You’ve repeatedly told interviewers that your cat Mittens is an asshole, but I want to know your best memory of your cat for all the cat lovers out there.
DF: I mean in the beginning when I first got him he was fucking incredible. He was the nicest cat and I could tell he was really happy that I saved his life from the shelter. He used to come up to me and nuzzle my face when I was living at my old apartment.
After that I had to give my cat to my parents because I couldn’t take care of it. He likes me, but he’s in this weird stage of his life where he doesn’t want to hang out with anybody so he’s a dick.
CNL: So on that note, were you super surprised when you came to the cat cafe today?
DF: Yes! I did not even know we were doing this at the cat cafe, so it’s amazing to be here.
CNL: Quick Questions: Answer in one sentence each. If you have a story, by all means elaborate.
CNL: What are you most proud to have accomplished in this industry?
DF: Putting out my album for sure, finishing and releasing my album.
CNL: Longest DJ set ever played?
DF: I think like three and half to four hours. It was in Edinburgh.
CNL: Smallest crowd you’ve played in front of? If there was no one, it doesn’t count.
DF: Definitely when I first started out DJing. I was playing at the room and I think I played to like two people.
CNL: Last show attended but did not perform at?
DF: HARD Day of the Dead, when Zedd was playing. I just hung out all day with him.
CNL: Worst language barrier you’ve ever faced?
DF: I guess French. France-French. That one’s a hard one because if they don’t speak English, it is so hard to understand each other.
CNL: What has been your most unexpected tour stop ever?
DF: It was in Fargo, Flosstradamus and I just added on a tour.
CNL: Weirdest place you’ve been recognized?
DF: Anywhere in Europe I think it’s weird.
CNL: First thing you do in a Hotel room?
DF: Take a shit. (Laughs)
CNL: The best thing you’ve ever had to sign from a fan?
DF: Your painting of me with a signature that’s not me. (Laughs)
CNL: Weapon of choice in a post-apocalyptic world?
DF: The Smiths Greatest Hits.
CNL: What kind of milk do you usually drink?
DF: 2%!
CNL: On a side note, who is the girl in Bootleg Fireworks EP Cover?
DF: Just some random fan, she was playing that guessing game where you attach a name to your head. She sent it to my manager so we decided to use it as a cover.
CNL: Awesome, thanks for speaking with me today Dillon!
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