Contributing Writer
Hoopalaï was founded in 2015 by longtime friends Lebaron & Pfreud, who quickly established themselves as key artists in the Montreal scene by frequenting spots like Stereo Bar and Piknic Electronik alongside names like Gene Farris, Wolf + Lamb & Marc Rebillet. Their debut release was charted by legendary American artist Felix Da Housecat, leading the way in a series of quality releases on labels such as Get Physical Music, Kindisch, Poésie Angulaire & Victims Music Company. Now, they release three stunning cuts on Icewax records and we get the scoop…
Hi François & Frédéric, welcome to Music Is 4 Lovers! Where do you find yourself right now and what have you been up to lately?
Lately there have been lots of late-night sessions as we are working on our first live set. Not to mention upcoming Ep’s and .. an album on the way!
Can you please tell us something about your newest release on Icewax Records?
Certainly sir! Every song we make, every breath we take in the studio, there’s a story behind it. “Electric Tartar” was originally a song called “Electric Fajitas” produced on a hot early deconfinement summer night eating fajitas and building presets on the machines. Later in 2022, we decided to spice it up with some raw elements and it became « Electric Tartar ». Sona Bar was another story, Pfreud (Hoopafred, half of Hoopalai) was a resident at the infamous SONA club in Montreal (98-2003) which Tiga co-owned and he made me hear a groove that could be nice for our project. So we added some parts and it became what it is. This song represents the vibe in the packed bar right before those huge doors opened which led to the after hour room . Golden days!
Your catalog spans labels like Kindisch, Get Physical, Poésie Angulaire and now Icewax to name a few, what’s your relationship with each of these labels like?
Get Physical Music and its sister label Kindisch take a special place in our journey since they are great labels and also Philipp Jung (Get Physical co-founder) is a friend. Poésie Angulaire is a label founded by Lebaron (Hoopafrank) which is inspired by the Hoopalai project. Different sides of music poetry and word play. Icewax is a Montreal based imprint we love. Very dedicated, full of passion, the founder is a long-time friend, old school rave DJ hat has been around forever. Icewax do things for love and this is how it should be.
Can you tell us something about how you started working together?
François: We met in 1997 at DNA Records (also owned by Tiga) in Montreal where Pfreud was a music curator at that time. I booked him a lot at my rave parties in the 90’s. I started a label in 2000 called Trigger Recording which was under license with Warner Music Canada. I offered him record deal for a mixed compilation in 2001 and a long relationship began. The Hoopalai project started in 2016.
What was the creative process like for this EP?
Frederic: The music produced on this ep happened pretty quickly. Electric Tartar was produced in the studio together starting an idea from scratch. The other 2 songs are ideas we each added separately. During a jam session, we sometimes pull out a groove or an idea from our sleeve and see if the other one digs it. So each of us works on it’s side on some stuff and then we put that Hoopa-touch together. Fun fact, those 2 pieces are different ideas oriented on beats and grooves. They are pretty much dancefloor-oriented and the two refer to different clubbing experiences. “Das Geht Nicht” refers to us being refused at the entrance of the Berghain by the enormous doorman. As a duo from Quebec, Canada, it’s quite a long way to get refused at the door. But this tune is more on the minimal sound of tecky-house. The other tune, “Sona bar 2am” is (which mentioned earlier) dedicated to this legend of a club where I was a resident DJ. So, to round up, the creative process extends on some years. The music we make comes from life experiences. So clubbing and spicy tartar I guess.
You’re both involved with Stereobar in Montreal; what’s the scene like out there?
Stereobar is a very nice venue where they have great sound and djs. The bookings are always cutting edge, and the public is an educated one that is there for the right reasons. Music and good vibes. We are happy to be part of it for many years now.
What are some of your favorite places and spaces to go in your city?
Aside from taking a good walk around the city in Parc Lafontaine or the Mont-Royal, having a bite at the Kabinet before hearing some of the numerous good options in town on weekends! There’s a fine experience to live at Sans Soleil. They have very good Japanese food, great soundsystem and DJs. Not to mention Jojo Flores’s Cafe Gotsoul. That’s a very special boutique. Great attention is put in the sound. Tube mixers and a very niche sound system. The Societe des Arts Technologiques (Satosphere) has an immersive experience with its all-around projection and sound. Which is pretty impressive. Of course, it’s always nice to take some time and go record shopping at 33 tours, La Rama or Atom Heart.
How did you develop your musical skills together, and what challenges have you faced along the way?
As busy people, the lack of this precious thing we all know as time is a big challenge for us. But having each of our own set of skills, tools and tons of studio hours together, we get in the studio and generally magic happens. We are very good friends, and we share the same vision about the project. We are always learning our machines, and we experiment to find what sounds and grooves we like. We challenge ourselves not to take the easy way out and nail that different angle. We are on the lookout for new sounds, new ideas. So maybe that’s why (as long time DJs) we feel like presenting our own music live, also could be a good challenge and keep things interesting.
What motivates you to keep learning and pursuing your music career?
The love for music. Being able to play music and spread the love with sounds we like and good vibration. The passion is the fuel.
Hoopalaï ‘Electric Tartar’ is out now on Icewax Rec
PURCHASE HERE
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