Interview conducted by our favourite four-to-the-floor expert, The Insider.

Yuksek has been playing, and making, music for well over 2 decades. The success of his own productions bringing in commissions from big, big, names. such as The Prodigy, Lady Gaga, Gorillaz, Moby, De La Soul, and Lana Del Rey.  Along the way he’s scored the odd movie, and secured Radio Nova’s coveted prime time Saturday night slot.

I’ve been covering Yuksek’s releases, here on Ban Ban Ton Ton, since the summer of 2021. These have included a series of rocking remixes for Brooklyn’s Razor-N-Tape, and E.P.s on his own Reims-based label, Partyfine – the imprint he established 10 years ago. 

Emerging from France’s `90s rave scene, Yuksek – aka Pierre-Alexandre Busson – alongside artists such as Brodinski and The Shoes, has been a huge part of a new wave of “The French Touch”. His fifth studio album, Dance `O` Drome, due this summer, features collaborations with a long list of like-minded friends and talented guest vocalists. The ambitious, 16-track, affair is an incredibly confident combination of worldwide rhythms, a colourful carnival of textures and influences, ranging from latin, Italo, disco, punk-funk, Balearic moods, and, of course, classic house. 

Very much in demand as a DJ and always on the move, Pierre’s globe-trotting schedule meant that our catch up was limited to just 10 quick questions.

When did you get started DJing and making music? 

I studied piano from the age of 6 at the French conservatoire, then I discovered electronic music when i was around 16. From there I started to slowly build a music studio and I got into DJing at the same time.

What clubs and parties were you going to? What DJs and artists were you listening to? 

I used to go underground rave parties, like Mozinor in Paris – with Laurent Garnier. I was also a big fan of Ivan Smagghe, Trevor Jackson, James Murphy – that dark disco vibe of the late 1990s.

What would be your dream gig to play?

A nice outdoor party, under a beautiful sky, with open-minded people ready to loose themselves in a DJ set, listening to music that they don’t expect.

What would be your dream gig  to attend?

The same – but with my friends!

Please tell us about your dream studio set up?

I had the chance to build my own studio, and I’ve been filling it with gear I like for 20 years. So my dream studio is actually the studio I have now. It’s full of vintage synths and drum machines, percussion instruments, with good speakers and mixers. It’s a nice and warm place.

Do you have any dream collaborators?

I only collaborate with people that I like and respect, so it’s really about making connections. We’ll see who is gonna be next (smiles). 

What’s your dream job, other than DJ / Producer?

Photographer, and I am actually starting a photography project right now!

What are your immediate plans?

To sleep a bit.

What’s your perfect party starting tune?

Zohra’s Badala Zamala. She’s an Algerian artist, a singer from the `70s. The track has been re-released by the fantastic label Habibi Funk. That’s how I discovered it.

Finally, what is your perfect sunset or sunrise tune?

Guinu’s Palago – the Jose Marquez Remix. I love this so much I could listen to it for an hour. It’s like a sweet massage in paradise.

Yuksek`s Dance `O` Drome is out any minute now on Partyfine.