Interview With Whatermelon

Hey guys! As promised here you can check out my interview with Aron Scott & Chloé, the minds behind Whatermelon. Their single Be Fine is an incredibly catchy tune and I'm a huge fan so it was an honour to be able to ask them some questions! I thank both of them for taking time to answer these questions! Check it out below!

Hi Aron. How did you get into Deejaying?

I started deejaying thanks to my cousin who owned vinyl turntables and was himself passionate in mixig and electro house music as a whole. Then I started going to vinyl shops in Bordeaux, where I am from, and spent so much time wandering there, that it was like an evidence for me to start deejaying and getting involved in music!

What made you want to follow music? Was it always the #1 thing you wanted to do for a living?

Chloé: Yes music has been my passion since I was so young ! I think it's a wonderful way to express yourself.

Aron: Of course, it's also been a dream for me, so much that I'd really love to make a living from it!

Which artists influenced you the most to pursue a music career and to adopt this style of music?

Aron: Electronic music til 2005 (Eric Prydz, Mark Knight, Sebastien Leger, Funkagenda, Arno Cost, Norman Doray, Axwell, Steve Angello, Deadmau5, Arias, Daft Punk, Laidback Luke, Moby, Mylo, Armand Van Helden, Roger Sanchez, Michael Grey, Michael Cassette, Alan Braxe, Lifelike, Kris Menace, Jean Michel Jarre...), classical music too (Vivaldi, Beethoven), and also... funk, disco, jazz, Ludovico Einaudi, Pop@@ w (The Do, Metronomy, MGMT, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Avicii...)

What do you prefer doing? Producing or Deejaying?

Both are really exciting and complementary. Playing my own tracks in a club or in a festival is amazing, because I can't imagine how the people will react when i'm doing a track as I'm comfortably sitting in front of my computer ! But producing totally free, without knowing if people will like it or not, is exciting too. According to me, if you're only a producer you can't see how people react on your tracks, which makes it difficult to settle your mind on your own work, though it , which might explain why i haven't got so many gigs. I prefer remaining the only one who did the stuff, than engageing someone to do that part of the job I like so much!

What is the best and worst part of life as a DJ?

According to me, the best part of a DJ 's life is the pride accomplishment ! It's more exciting than exporting a track on which you worked day and night. When your song is listened and liked by thousands of people all around the world, you're proud to realize that is your track, and that you did it yourself step by step. I think that the worst part of a DJ's life is the lifestyle. Honestly, I need some more sleeping but I have to work at night because , as you may know, all DJs and producers work at night, as if inspiration was even better at that time... and when I have to get up in the morning to go to work, it's quite difficult...

So you teamed with French singer Chloé. Why did you choose the name Whatermelon? What’s the story behind it?

Chloé: We were looking for a name that would fit a summer project, something fresh, like fruit. And we chose the watermelon because it's fresh, but also cute and beautiful. We added the « H » to show that we are not totally serious, and that we are free!

How did you guys meet and decided to make a track together? How was the recording process?

Chloé: One day this winter, I was in the train going to Bordeaux, where I met Aron. I didn't know who he was but we decided to make a track together. Three months later, our track " Be Fine " was ready. The result was very surprising, and far from our habits and usual tastes.

Aron: After our meeting in a train, we met again on the docks of Bordeaux. We talked about music, about how we come to composing music etc... we became acquainted. We planned to record the vocals in Pau a few weeks later. I remember that it was complicated because It was the train strike this day and I had to go to Pau carpooling ! It was the first time I was carpooling! I had to wait her in a little village called Lescart for 3 hours ! Then we recorded the vocals (written by Samantha Clark - « away ») and I had to work again on it for a few weeks.

What can you tell us about the remix competition that starts today, Monday July 14th? What’s the prize?

Aron : This remix competition will be very interesting because (according to me) this track is a UFO ! I made it as a classic club track but... in 95 BPM. So i'm curious to see how edm producers will work on the vocals to do a remix in 128BPM. I hope i'll receive remixes in various genres (disco, trap, dubstep, drum n bass...). It's the most interesting remix contest I've launched till now! And it will be officially released a few weeks later on my label Monochrome Music ! (publishing : Joys Music) 

Can we expect more music from Whatermelon soon? Will the sonority be similar to Be Fine? And will we have music sung in French as well?

Chloé: Yes ! I really would like to go on working on such projects ! I think the next song will be sweeter because it will be released in autumn. 

Aron: I would love to do more tracks under this name but I want to see how the people react before making a decision! If I continue to produce some instrumental tracks for this project, you will probably recognize the spirit of " BE FINE " but maybe in a different kind of music.

Is this duo here to stay or is just an occasional team up to record a few songs?

How do you think your new sound will be received in France’s dance music scene?

Aron: I was very sceptic about reactions of people on this track, because it's far from my norm and because it's not a club track... But the first reactions are very good, I am pleasantly surprised ! So now I think that people will like this song ! It's worth taking risks !

Aron, is being featured on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs a thing you want to achieve as a DJ?

This ranking means nothing for me ! It's only based on public votes, it's cool to check your notoriety, but not to reward the quality of your work as a producer ! On which criteria is based this ranking ? quality of your show, quality of deejaying, number of gigs, number of tracks, number of Beatport tops? We don't know ! A grammy would be more interesting... maybe... one day...

Are you planning any collaborations with other artists/DJs?

Chloé : No, Aron Scott was a great opportunity, and it's the first time I've worked with a DJ. Aron : I'm actually collaborating with Lahox, RAWD, Sonny Zamolo and my little brother The Little P!

With whom would you love to work with and why?

Aron: I would love to work with Giorgio Moroder because this guy is a genius, this guy is generous and simple!

What has been the defining moment of your musical career so far?

Aron : The defining moment of my musical career is when I signed a not mainstream track on Oxygen (Spinnin Records), it was played by Armin Van Buuren, Sander Van Doorn, W&W... It was released too on Doorn records just afterwards ! It gave me a lot of energy to pursue my dream : succeed by producing some sincere, sensitive and timeless music, far from the tendencies of the musical industry !

What artist are you listening to on your iPod?

Chloé : Dimmi, Beyoncé, Bob Marley, Pharrell Williams, C2C, Fauve, Genesis, Lana Del Rey... and my love Serge Gainsbourg 

Aron : Daft Punk, Pharrell, Syn Cole, Avicii, Vincent Delerm

If you could only listen to one artist/band the rest of your life, who would it be?

Chloé : Serge Gainsbourg

Aron : Pink Floyd

Name five things you can’t live without.

Chloé : Music, friends, my sister, sun, love

Aron : Music, my family, internet, sun, clothes

What’s your favourite song of 2014 so far?

Chloé : I like the energy of Sia, especially in the song « Chandelier ». 

Aron Scott : Arno Cost & Norman Doray - Stronger SO SO FAR !