Having bagged two ofΒ the biggest dance festivals in Southeast Asia like ZoukOut Singapore and Djakarta Warehouse Project into his rΓ©sumΓ©, so far December has been an exciting month for Felix de Laet.
The 23-year-old Belgian DJ and record producer is better known as Lost Frequencies, a name that has been a festival and house party playlist staple. His hit reworking of Easton Corbin’s “Are You With Me”Β went from Soundcloud to the top of European charts and a record deal with Armada Music sub label The Bearded Man Armada.
See also: It Ainβt a Party without Harrison: meet EDMβs hottest βhybridβ producer
With such an indomitable emergence and a debut albumΒ released back in October, de Laet joined hundreds of EDM big leaguers and local stars last weekend.
AsiaLive365 got to chat with theΒ Brussels-based house talent during his visitΒ to Southeast Asia about the local crowd, upcoming music, dream collaborations and why Less Is More.
First of all, Felix, how are you?
Iβm very good! Thanks for asking.
Back in 2014, you decided to remix “Are You With Meβ. Whatβs the story behind reworking this particular country song?
Back then Iβd always wanted to make an electronic track with songs that have guitar and cool vocals. I was looking for tracks to remix because I couldnβt play guitar or sing at that time. Then I found βAre You With Meβ and I knew itβs the track Iβd been looking for. I love the melodies and the singer so I downloaded the track and made my version of it.
Does that mean youβre a fan of country music to begin with?
I donβt mind country music, actually, but itβs not the music I listen to every day. So itβs more like I stumbled across the original version of βAre You With Meβ and thought it sounded cool regardless of the genre. I didnβt go, βOh, itβs country, I have to remix itβ.
You said that the monikerΒ Lost Frequencies is from the fact that you like making remixes of forgotten or “lost” songs. Are there any remixes that you want to put out later?
That was my plan, my project, in the beginning. But now that Iβm able to work as an original artist, Iβm more focused on putting out original tracks. And people now are expecting from me that Iβm going to make original music. Thatβs why I released an album with all my original tracks but before that Iβd released a cover of βWhat Is Love?β (a 1993 hit by Trinidadian-German singer Haddaway), which was a chance for me to do a little throwback to what my project was at the beginning.
Why did you name your album Less Is More?
When I got a radio play for the first time in Belgium, a guy from my label who said my music kind of exemplifies the phrase βLess is moreβ, because the production was quite small but the end results, the tracks, became really big around the world. So it shows that you donβt have to have a crazy production to make great music. When I had to think about the name of the album, βLess Is Moreβ just fit perfectly.
You played the piano growing up. How did you make the transition from a piano player to an electronic music producer?
Iβve played the piano but Iβve also been a fan of electronic music. When I got my first computer, for me it wasnβt even a question what Iβd do with it: I was going go to make electronic music. The things that I was listening to at the time had a huge impact on me so I was inspired to make my own stuff. Itβs very funny because I didnβt actually sit and thought about what I was going to do career-wise or what other kinds of music I could pursue. I just thought, βIβm going to make electronic musicβ.
Who were you listening to?
I was a really big fan of Avicii and Afrojack growing up. Back then they were only beginning to Β so it was amazing to see how gradually these βbedroomβ producers became so well-known around the world and how they took electronic music to the US. Itβs just really impressive. IΒ looked up to them so much.
Tropical house is known for its guitar riffs and relaxing vibes. Within all of that, what is Lost Frequenciesβ signature sound?
I hope that I had a signature sound! Itβs hard to say because when Iβm in the studio, Iβm trying to make something that I really like and not try to sound like someone else. Maybe itβs the fact that I try to make what I want to make, work with the vocalists I really like, putting the vocals together with other elements and not care so much about other things. And that may make people say, βHey that sounds like Lost Frequencies.β But then I donβt have a special sound or formula that I try to fit it in. Maybe itβs the arrangement or the mixdown at the end with the percussions that get louder or sometimes the guitar β oh I donβt know!
As a Belgian, how did you feel when you got to perform at Tomorrowland?
Oh, it was amazing! I had my own stage, Lost Frequencies and Friends, so I had DJs like Robin Schulz, Felix Jaehn and Ruby Rose on my stage. Itβs amazing to have such big artists sharing the stage with me and to see that people were having an amazing time!
Tomorrowland 2016 … Group picture with the crowd is coming up … π₯ππ»π§πͺ
A photo posted by Lost Frequencies (@lostfrequenciesmusic) on
What are the next big festivals you would like to perform at?
Well, Iβm very excited to perform more in Asia because the crowd was so different from what I’ve beenΒ used to but they have so much energy. Iβm also looking forward to doing EDC Las Vegas next year. Itβs going to be my first time so Iβm excited for that, too.
Before coming here whatΒ have you heard about ZoukOut and Djakarta Warehouse Project?
Only the good things! You know, Iβve already been to Jakarta twice so I know some people from there and theyβre telling me all these things about Djakarta. But Iβm also very excited to see how itβs going to be seeing it for myself because itβs always like that when people tell you how this place and that place is like but when youβre there itβs a completely different experience from just hearing how it is.
And since this time itβs going to be my first festival in Jakarta, itβs going to be different from the two gigs Iβve done so Iβm really looking forward to people’s response because my set is now completely different from a year ago. So Iβm very excited to see how theyβre going to react to the music.
![Β©ZoukOut Singapore](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/lost-frequencies-zouk.jpg)
Felix de Laet, “Lost Frequencies”, performing on Night 1 of ZoukOut Singapore at Siloso Beach on December 9, 2016 Β©ZoukOut Singapore
Speaking of your set, how do you prepare your set for Asian audiences? Is it different from what you put on in the West?
Yes, when I play in Europe, there are big tracks that I can play here that may not necessarily be as big in Asia. But since Iβve just released Less Is More, thereβs going to be remixes of the songs on my album. If people have been listening to itΒ theyβre going to hear a lot of what they know. And I know that people there have been listening to it so itβs going to be very exciting and special.
You’ve worked with several artists in this album. Can you tell us what who you’re working with right now?
For this album I only worked with singers and songwriters who added a lot to our sessions and for me personally. Now that the album is out and Iβve created this universe of my own, I can work with other DJs so now Iβm working onΒ collaborations and stuff like that. Iβm really excited to see how that works out because itβs my first time. Iβm working with Zonderling, a really amazing artist from the Netherlands, and with another big DJ from there who I have to keep mum about for now. Iβm very excited to see how our collaborations, the crossover of our music, are going to be like in the end.
![Felix de Laet, "Lost Frequencies", performing on Night 1 of ZoukOut Singapore at Siloso Beach on December 9, 2016 Β©ZoukOut Singapore](https://asialive365.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/lost-frequencies-zouk-2.jpg)
Felix de Laet, “Lost Frequencies”, performing on Night 1 of ZoukOut Singapore at Siloso Beach on December 9, 2016 Β©ZoukOut Singapore
Who are on your dream collaboration list?
Yeah, Iβd live to work with Flume. I love that guy. I think everyone does! As for the vocalist, Iβd love to work with Cee Lo Green because heβs really funky and from a completely different world of music.
Lastly, do you have anything to say to your fans in Asia?
First of all, thank you for your amazing support. It has been incredible! Itβs so far from Brussels but when I visit and hear people singing my music itβs just crazy. Iβm very thankful for everybody who listen to the music, who like it and share it. I want to say that Iβm excited to see all of them.