Terminal V Podcast 051 || Franck

Franck is making moves. The Scottish DJ and producer is a long-time dance music “obsessive” who has recently switched aliases. He is now focused on the hard and dark end of the techno spectrum having previously operated in the electro world. He is no stoney-faced chin stroker, though: instead, he brings plenty of personality to what he does, including to his fledgling label Carouse.

This week he serves up a scintillating mix that shows us just where he is at. Part of his mission is to try and put Edinburgh back on the global techno map, as it once was. And if he carries on like he’s going right now, that doesn’t seem too big a dream. Read on to find out more about this exciting new talent…

 

Introduce yourself and tell us how you’ve got to where you are today in terms of DJing and production.

Yo! My name is Franck and I’m a Scottish DJ, Producer, Promoter and Label Owner from Edinburgh!! As the previous titles may suggest, I’m obsessed with dance music and the ‘scene’. I think that is why I am where I am today as it’s consumed my life in some shape or form for over 4 years now, and I love it.

As a young, up-and-coming artist, how do you hope to stand out and make your mark? Do you trust that the music alone is enough or do you have to embrace social media, too?


It’s a tricky one… there is undoubtedly a need to have a social presence of some sort if you want to create a career in the modern music industry but I believe it’s a combination of both. Being able to make class tunes will of course get you fans but it is then how you interact with them that can really make a difference. In a weird way, you almost serve the punters, without them nothing would exist. It’s them that buy tunes, go to the gigs, etc so I always think it’s important to adapt because whatever means your fans want to consume your content is what you should be giving.

Seems from the first part of your biography that you don’t take yourself too seriously, which is rare in the world of techno. Is it fair to say you are bucking the all-black garms and moody face trend?

Don’t get me wrong I do look pretty cool donning my all-black boiler suit, but yes, that’s a fair assessment haha. Not sure at what point people that play techno had to start looking like the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but alas here we are. Personally, I don’t take things too seriously and I always try to let my personality shine through because things would start getting pretty stale pretty fast if we were all the same.

What made you switch aliases to Franck from VIGILE? How different are the tunes you make and the sets you lay down with this alias?

It was basically due to a slight shift in the musical direction that I was taking. My previous alias VIGILE was establishing itself as more of an electro DJ largely due to the tracks I was releasing and while I do still have a soft spot for electro / breakbeat, I would rather separate from that. In the broadest sense of the term, ‘techno’ is what I want to be playing at peak time when I’m hammering out a set so I think it was important to re-establish myself with this in mind and release tunes aligning with this vision.

What draws you to the harder and darker sounds? How much does Scotland, the landscape, the weather, and the attitude to partying take you down this darker path?

Good question – I’m not sure really, but I know that hearing a slamming kick does give me a tingly feeling that makes me want to neck a bottle of tonic so maybe it is the Scottish heritage. I’ve been told by folk older and wiser than me that apparently back in the 90s, Edinburgh used to be revered as a techno capital much like say Berlin is nowadays. I think it’s something that has been lost over the years but I hope I’m part of a generation that will put us back on the map.

When you make tunes, are you picturing the crowd, the club, the time of day, and soundtracking that in your head or is your creative process different to that?

Well I used to think that the creative process for me was more sporadic and didn’t require too much external input but the opposite was proven true over the pandemic. I found myself during lockdown sitting in my dressing gown probably watching Peep Show and absolutely no desire to make any music. It was only when I got back into the clubs and festivals and without sounding too cliche, ‘experienced’ the music I was hearing that the creative juices got flowing and I made a beeline to the studio. So yeh for me, when I’m making music, I’m making it with its utility in mind and what purpose the track has.

Tell us about your Carouse label – why start it, what’s the musical vibe, who do you recruit, and why?

Carouse initially started a party and was a means for myself and my friend to get involved in the scene either by booking DJs we liked or ourselves – very sort of DIY. Over the pandemic, I took the reins and it then transitioned into a label, giving me a lot of things to learn and exciting ways to connect with artists in a world without clubs. Now that we have pretty much restored normality, I run it under both functions but leaning more towards the label side of things. Much like my own style, it’s a techno label and my main motivation for it is being able to uncover diamonds and give them a platform to be heard.

What do you and the label have coming up?

Next up on the label side of things and also my own productions is going to be a joint EP from myself and fellow Scottish producer – AISHA. We’ve whipped up three tracks that’ll make you think you’re back on a park bench tanning mad dug and listening to tunes from a phone in a cup. My next solo project is going to be my first vinyl release coming out in November on Lobster Theremin sub-label 10PILLSMATE and will feature a track I think a lot of people have been eagerly anticipating since Somewhen and KI/KI started rinsing it. Wish I could release this EP tomorrow but trust me it’ll be worth the wait!

Tell us about your mix, the aim you had with it, and what you wanted it to say?

Some of the track selections for this mix were a nod to my sets for Terminal V and Nightvision and the ones I’ve enjoyed playing most at them. Although the main aim of the mix was to embody my mixing style, and for me, that is high energy. While I consider myself a techno DJ a lot of the stuff I play may go into the realms of trance, rave, hard dance etc, but the main thing for me is that it’s fun. Like I said before, I don’t take things too seriously and I go out to dance and enjoy myself and if you like to do the same then we’ll get along. If you’re more into chin-stroking in the club then maybe it’s not for you.

What gear did you use, is that important to you in any way whether in the booth or studio?

Well it touches on the whole meme format of vinyl-only DJs or tech nerds but to me, it honestly doesn’t make a difference. Much like the previous answer, people are going out to have fun and listen to tunes, how you create these sounds really shouldn’t have much bearing. Whatever you feel most comfortable with to deliver a top-notch set or make a tidy tune is what you should go with.

 

Interview by Kristan Caryl