Mehdi Faveris-Essadi, better known simply as DJ Mehdi, is a hip-hop electro DJ outta Paris, France. Since getting started in the mid ‘90s, Mehdi has knocked down some collabos with Daft Punk, MC Solaar, Chromeo and Busy P, among others. Signed onto French label Ed Banger Records, Mehdi has brought some of the freshest mixes to all corners of the globe. And despite his current touring schedule, Mehdi recently gave some time to Killahbeez to answer some questions we’d been wondering.
You’re mad touring all over Europe right now. How’s that going?
DJ Mehdi: Going very good, thank you. I love touring here in Europe. It’s my home. I never get tired of it. France, U.K., Germany plus Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, so much things to see, so many good people, and the food is usually great. What more could I ask for?
You’re playing both festivals and smaller club venues. Do you have a preference?
DJM: I do prefer club venues because I think it suits the music I play better, and also because it’s always hard to compete when Iggy Pop, Arcade Fire or Wu-Tang Clan is playing on the main stage at the same time as you.
What’s been your favorite place to play? And why?
DJM: I have no absolute preference. There will always be a special thrill when playing for a packed club crowd, anywhere in the world, I guess.
How’d you hook up with Busy P?
DJM: I became enamored with Busy P when I saw him play the Volstein Sonate on the piano, not because I saw him on MySpace.
How has working with other Ed Banger artists affected your sound, which is more hip-hop based?
DJM: One of the misconceptions about Ed Banger is that there is this sound that we supposedly all share, I guess because of Justice or Sebastian’s success. That’s one of the reasons Busy P came up with the idea of having the Ed Rec compilations, to showcase everyone’s style and also show how much we do influence each other.
Who are some of your influences in hip-hop and other genres?
DJM: DJ Premier, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Futura 2000, Mode2, Os Gemeos, Chris Ware, Justice, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and my wife, Fafi.
What have been some of your favorite remixes?
DJM: I very much like “La Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee.
Who do you see as the next big artist?
It’s been a few years since you released Lucky Boy. Planning on putting together another album anytime soon?
DJM: I’ve just started to gather some ideas and tracks, I’m working on it, so next year promised!
Saw you last year when you toured with A-Trak and Kid Sister at the Fool’s Gold tour. Planning on heading over to North America again sometime soon?
DJM: I will tour America this fall, yes, and with quite a big surprise around late October/early November, so you will definitely be invited to some more Ed Banger fun near you soon.
“I became enamored with Busy P when I saw him play the Volstein Sonate on the piano”!!!!