Tiga
A key figure in the dance music scene, Tiga is a DJ/Producer whose initial steps into the music world revolved around organizing rave parties in his native Montréal at the beginning of the 1990s. He created his own label, Turgo Recordings, in 1998, and made his debut as a musician with his album Sexor in 2007, which was given the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year. He has recently released his second album, called Ciao!. We met up with him…
“Shoes” - Tiga
1. It feels like your new album, Ciao! revisits the Italian disco sound of the 1980s… Am I right?
It wasn’t the idea to make a disco album, but somehow it happened that way. Of course, disco isn’t the only influence: there’s hip-hop, ‘90s techno, a bit of Prince. Ciao! is a real mix of influences and styles…
2. The title Ciao! sounds like an homage to Italy…
It is actually; it occurred to me while I was in the middle of a visit to your country. I like the Italian sense of humor, your ability to take things lightly. It’s an attitude that comes through even in the music produced here. Which it manages to be technically precise while clearly expressing the fun had while was making it! So yes, Ciao! honors the Italian spirit and the desire to experiment with new things, which is a quality I admire and feel as though I share.
DREAM BOX BY TIGA
3. Gentle Giant and Love Don’t Dance Here Anymore, the two closing tracks, introduce a new sound for you: they’ve got a melodic, pop-like feel. Are you giving us a preview of a new musical direction?
They’re the first tracks not written especially for the Dancefloor, and I must say they’re my favorite tracks on the album. They’ve got a kind of melancholic aftertaste and come from simple, but deeply existential questions. You know, when you begin to wonder about what sense it all makes,…well, that’s really the mood. These tracks could mark a new musical phase for me. Life means change, and it’s natural that my music reflects my life experience.
4. Some critics believe that the electronic scene picks up where the punk scene left off, in terms of the ‘do it yourself’ spirit…
I completely agree and am the living proof of this: I’ve never learned to play an instrument, I never went to a school. Sure, I have ideas and now I’m very familiar with the technology. It’s easy to compose electronic music, but quite challenging to compose something high-quality. I’ve never been part of the punk scene, although certain people say they find a similar attitude in my approach to music: maybe because I’m not afraid to make mistakes. What interests me is experimenting and being able to express myself freely.
5. What are your sources of inspiration?
Listening to the radio inspires me, as it gives me lots of bizarre ideas. For example, you’re in a taxi and a Fleetwood Mac song comes on – a band I’d never listen to at home, but which starts off a kind of domino effect of ideas.
6. You’ve got very specific look. Are you interested in fashion?
Sure I am, but in the same way I think everyone is: who doesn’t like to look good? Apart from this, I’ve loved collecting things ever since I was young: watches, shoes, jewelry, and so on. I think that really fashion is based on an interesting but naïve need to decorate the body. All the great designers from Alexander McQueen to Hedi Slimane and even YSL, work on what isn’t necessary, on the inessentials, and I find that process fascinating. It’s about a celebration of the body, of creativity, of color. The attitude behind fashion holds a strong appeal; if designers didn’t exist we’d all be wearing the same uniform…and how sad and depressing would that be!
