It's a long way and a long time since Montpellier, France! Laurent acquired his appreciation for fine music in the backstreets of the Antigone district and Rue de la Loge. It was here that he stumbled across a small music store owned by a person called Stephane Auvignon. The record store was passed down to Stephane by his grandfather and he had amassed a very impressive collection of french folk music. Laurent would visit the store a few times a week and listen to something new each time. He has fond memories of listening to 'Je chante' by Charles Trénet for the very first time and also more contemporary artists such as Françoise Hardy, whom he fell in love with immediately, like most teenage boys in France! 'Tous les garçons et les filles', 'Ce petite coeur' and 'La maison ou j'ai grandi' changed his life in many ways! Anyway, when Grace Jones released her sublime track, Libertango and Slave to the rhythm he immediately got caught up in electronic music. A healthy diet of Depeche Mode followed. Then Human League. And so the story goes! Fast forward to 1991 ... Don Carlos releases the ambient house classic 'Alone' ... who can forget the 'Sax Ambient mix' (Laurent still plays it today!). Then Saint Germain's sublime deep house cut 'What's new' from their 95 Boulevard lp. The rest is inevitable. He takes a trip to Melbourne to art direct a campaign for a well known luxury brand. He loves Melbourne. He stays. Deep, minimal tech house music is what he plays. Have a listen to the mini mix on this page and make up your own mind. Merci beaucoup!
MUCH respect to all lovely, 'genuine' people and those that have the VISION and COURAGE to lead.
Below:
Montpellier hasnt changed much at all except, instead of Françoise Hardy being blared out of radios, now it's local legends, Rinoçerose, that lead the way. The pic in the middle is the street where Stephane has his record store. This is where it all started. Bless.
Photography: ©2007 Linn Melum (www.linnmelum.com)
Hair and make up: Linn Melum
Art direction and design: Laurent Dupré at RG/D
Model: Claire
Clothing: OBUS (www.obus.com.au)
This pic was taken in Vladivostok, Russia. There's something tonally harmonius about it. Bless that unsuspecting Russian bird for being there at that quiet moment whilst I was sitting in the car waiting for my friend.
Upcoming gigs:
INITIATE
NEW TRACK BY LAURENT DUPRE
LAUS MUSIC, LONDON
OUT ON BEATPORT NOW
REMIXES BY HERMES & SENSE, NOISE DESTRUCTION
WHAT SOME OF THE BIG GUNS HAVE TO SAY:
'This sounds awesome!!! Original mix for me but i reckon I'll give all of them a try'
DANNY HOWELLS
'This shit is pretty deep ... nice one!'
PHONIQUE (1ST PLACE, BEST DEEP HOUSE ARTIST, BEATPORT MUSIC AWARDS 08)
'Top deep stabbiness in FULL EFFECT. I expect big things from this producer!'
FUNK DVOID/FRANCOIS DUBOIS (2ND PLACE, BEST DEEP HOUSE ARTIST, BEATPORT MUSIC AWARDS 08)
'Good deep stuff! I like the original and the Hermés & Sense remix'
LARS GREGERS (BLAGGER/CONNECT FOUR RECORDS COPENHAGEN)
