Felix Cartal Interview: SXSW 2010

A recent signee to Steve Aoki's Dim Mak Records, Felix Cartal is one Vancouver's hottest producers. His debut LP, 'Popular Music,' may have only dropped a few short weeks ago but Cartal has already amassed an impressive resume cutting tracks for the likes of MSTRKRFT, Moving Units and Acid Kids. The west coast producer-DJ will be on the road for the next two months as part of the 'Popular Music Tour' and will wind up in Austin on March 19 for a few days of SXSW madness. Spinner recently spoke to Cartal about his dance floor bangers and got some insight into what makes him tick.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Energetic, feel-good electro.

How did you get your start?

I consider myself a producer more than a DJ. I just kind of transitioned from playing in bands when I was younger to dance music.

What are your musical influences?

I liked the Beatles growing up and then started to like Radiohead transitioning into James Holden and punk stuff like Lightning Bolt, I could keep the list going all day.

How did you come up with your name?

Oh man, there's no good story, I wish there was because I get asked this every interview. I just like the name Felix. I think I was shopping at this store in Vancouver called El Kartel and it just popped into my mind for a last name.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Paul McCartney I'd say.

What's your biggest vice?

I've never been asked this before and you're asking me to open up so early in the conversation... I'd say probably getting caught up in the party scene and being unproductive.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Good luggage, a clean change of clothes and necessary liquor if the party needs it.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles, they're the perfect blend of being experimental and accessible.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Pop music for sure, I love Gwen Stefani's first record.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced on tour?

When I started DJing I put on MySpace that I was from France as a sort of joke I guess, so when I played in Mexico they brought out a French translator for me. I can speak a bit of French so I told her is, 'Oh, I'm not actually French, so you being here is pretty pointless.' We both laughed and then I told the promoter [as an excuse], 'I'm pretty good at English too.' I changed my MySpace page pretty quickly after that.