Birdy Nam Nam: Skrillex & Justice Helping French EDM Act to Fly in America

Posted on Dec 11th 2012 5:00PM by Jesse Ship
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Samuel Kirszenbaum

French band Birdy Nam Nam have figured out why EDM has taken off.

"In America, EDM is finally talking to young white Republican voters," Lil' Mike, the tongue-in-cheek parrot of France's four-person former turntablist-turned-beat-maker crew jokes with Spinner.

The crew already bring out hordes of fans in France and the rest of Europe, but have recently flapped their wings across North America after being discovered by Skrillex on the European music festival circuit last summer. The lop-haired one liked their set so much that he couldn't wait to get to his laptop to drop a remix of their "Goin' In" tune, which is now raking in millions of YouTube hits.

Their music doesn't exactly fall into the dubstep category, but the wobble-heavy beats are probably the most logical way to gain new fans while on Skrillex's OWSLA Records North American tour.

"[Skrillex] really understood our band's energy. If we were touring dubstep in Europe, it would be different, but it's the best way to get in touch with our audience," says Lil' Mik. "What we're doing isn't hip-hop, EDM, dubstep, techno, but it's a bit of everything at the same time. We have to find all kinds of ways to find our audience, so dubstep is a good avenue."

What started as a loose four-man turntablist and DMC scratch champion collective has evolved into something a little more current, with a high energy medley of organized swooshing and stabbing chaos added to their sound.

"Now we use M-audio pads, mini synths, Serato, effects boxes, turntables. You know, simple stuff," he says nonchalantly.

"There are kids who are pushing the limits further with turntables, but now it's better to know computers than to be a scratch DJ. There will always be more ways to express yourself. The idea is to be making money, and there isn't much money in strictly turntable music these days."

The band's had some support from chart-topping international exports like Justice whom they collaborated with on "The Parachute Ending," and most recently got their recording studio neighbor, Para One, a godfather of sorts in the French electro scene, to produce their last album Defiant Order, with a guest spot from French electro rap crew Tekilatex on "Cadillac Dreams."

"Para One was in the studio next door and he just liked what he heard coming through the walls. He suggested going back to scratch techniques, to re-use the tables as we used to, and to use a certain element of minimalism. He was also able to reflect the band's internal psychology."

The hip friends is cool. But winning awards has been no big thing. They won at the French Grammys a.k.a. Les Victoires De La Musique in 2010.

"It's like graduating from high school. It's good for family, friends and parents to see you winning on TV, but it didn't change anything for us. We know that we wouldn't have won if we weren't signed to a major label. Award shows are a way for the music industry to touch the public, and say 'Hey, remember those guys? Go buy their album!' If anything, David Guetta accomplished a lot more than we did that year. He should have won, we aren't in the business of awards."

Watch Birdy Nam Nam's "Goin' In (Skrillex Goin' Hard Mix)" Video