David Guetta : The World's Hottest House DJ

(bum) - It’s no secret that French DJ David Guetta is behind several of the top dance hits out there. Among those are Love Is Gone, and most recently, his collaborations with Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child (When Love Takes Over) and Akon (Sexy Bitch). These two songs are found on his fourth, freshly-released album, One Love, which also includes collaborations with will.i.am, Estelle and Ne-Yo, among others. This is an interview with the man who deservingly holds the title of the world’s number one house DJ.

Why did you make One Love (featuring Estelle) the title piece of your album?

 

It’s obviously in reference to Bob Marley, but it’s a very collective title. The goal of the album was really to gather people together with a very positive message. I am linked to artists that come from very different backgrounds; hip hop, R&B and electronic in my case. We are all music lovers, regardless of our origins. We felt we needed to share our completely different cultures.

 

It seems like you really clicked with will.i.am and Kelly Rowland, since you collaborated with them on more than one track on One Love.

 

Yes, it all began with Kelly Rowland and will.i.am, and it was going so well that I really wanted to continue in that direction. They were super; they spoke about me to their friends and all of a sudden, I was meeting so many artists. We really felt like doing something new, in a new style, with very different influences. We had so much fun making this album. I think that’s why it sounds so happy.

 

I spent a lot more time with will.i.am, because I worked on producing the Black Eyed Peas’ latest album [The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)]. I did two songs for the group, Rock That Body and I Gotta Feeling, so I spent a lot of time with them in Los Angeles. Will.i.am loves electro. He spins electro DJ sets now. We still work together.

 

When there is chemistry upon a first meeting, we want to keep it going. That was the case for Kelly Rowland. We did a second song together [Choose]. She invited Ne-Yo to my studio one day in Paris to listen to When Love Takes Over, and when he heard it, he really liked it and asked me if I had a disc to record it right then. All these collaborations sort of happen by accident. There’s really no rhyme or reason. Everything is not always planned out.

 

What inspired you to make your songs like Sexy Bitch with Akon, for example?

 

Actually, it’s the same thing with Akon. I met him by accident. I was in London at a festival. I came on stage to perform When Love Takes Over with Kelly Rowland. He was coming on stage for his turn. He passed me and said, “It’s you [who was behind the song]! No way! Love Is Gone is already my favourite disc, and now this! Wait for me, wait for me.” Then I waited until he finished his song. When he came down, [he said], “I want to do music together.” So we rented a studio the same night, because he was leaving the next day for Atlanta. It was completely spontaneous. I think that’s always how the best songs are made. Akon came up with a completely different style and gave it a sexy twist, like in the clubs and all. It was great for me to have my ideas and lyrics refreshed.

 

Is it true that you are going to collaborate with Britney Spears?

 

That’s the running rumour! Actually, her artistic director got in touch with me a little while ago. But nothing’s for certain. It was only one discussion that took place.

 

What is your best memory as a disc jockey?

 

This year, I experienced an extraordinary moment. I was performing in Brazil at Carnaval de Salvador de Bahia. There were two million people in the streets. I was the only one playing electronic music; all the others were playing samba. This experience couldn’t even compare to one in a club or even a festival. People really have a really tough life in Brazil. For them, Carnaval is really the most important day of the year. They think about it all year round. What I saw in these people’s eyes was very unique.

 

What is your worst memory in the 25 years of your career?

 

The worst moments were in the beginning. Now, there are only beautiful moments, because people like my sound. At other times in my life, that wasn’t the case. In the beginning, I had to find my style and get it accepted. This is the reality for all artists, I think. There are moments when everyone likes you, and others, not so much. That’s how it goes. It’s the reality of the business. The important thing is to stay honest. Everyone has a style.

 

It’s hard to believe by looking at your photo, but on November 7, you are going to turn 42. Does being a disc jockey keep you young?

 

(Laughs). Yes, this job keeps me young for sure. In fact, I think that we stay young doing the things we love in life. I am lucky to have a thrilling job. I would be doing the same thing even if I wasn’t paid. To enjoy waking up in the morning and say that it’s great to go to work, to do my job, that’s the biggest privilege there is in life.

 

Occasionally, you make albums with your wife, Cathy. Do you share your tour life with her and your two children?

 

I don’t share my tour life with them. I do that alone. They live in Paris, but I do see them often.

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David Guetta’s fourth album, One Love, is now available at online music stores.

 

By Carolyne Marengo

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