A Conversation With Cedric Gervais

Cedric Gervais is a born winner, to date his life achievements include being a Grammy Winner, a monthly Spotify audience of over 5 million listeners, Billboard, UK & ARIA Chart Top Ten Hits, Multi-platinum selling singles, Beatport, Buzz, Hype Machine & Cool Cuts Charts Number 1′s, 2 BBC Radio One Essential Mixes, 3 Essential New Tunes and a weekly Global Radio show. He is also the go to remixer.

He also secured acting roles in Michael Bay’s blockbuster film ‘Pain & Gain’ alongside Mark Wahlberg and The Rock, and Pete Berg’s ’The Long Night’ alongside Mark Wahlberg again, and Kurt Russell. He’s also had residencies in Las Vegas, New York and Miami whulst a yearly tour schedule & sell out shows spanning the world over too.

These are just a few things that have been making French born Miami resident Cedric Gervais one of the most sought after House DJs & electronic music producers in the world today. With his imprint ‘Delecta Records’ he releases regular singles, alongside a major label deal with Universal Worldwide (Island). Dance Rebels also had the chance to have a chat with Cedric too, read below:

Hey Cedric, welcome to Dance Rebels, how are you? Please introduce yourself too; where are you from and what is your current role in the music industry? Hey guys, Cedric Gervais here, I’m a Grammy winning producer and DJ, originally from France and based in Miami, FL.

At what point in your life did you realise you wanted to pursue your career in the music industry as your full-time profession? What’s the biggest sacrifice you have had to take en-route to stardom too? I was 15 years old when I decided to I wanted to do music full time – the biggest sacrifice was leaving my family in France at such a young age to move to the US and pursue my passion.

As a producer, what record do you feel gave you that big breakthrough in the industry? The one record which grabbed everyone’s attention and put you in the limelight etc. My remix of “Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey.

You’re also a Grammy winner from 2014, winning the award for your remix of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Summertime Sadness’, since securing such a huge achievement, have you felt under more pressure to remain consistent in the industry and in the studio, or do you place no pressure on yourself and just do what you know best? How did you feel at the time of winning the award too? Winning a Grammy felt surreal, like I was on a different planet, very intense and exiting moment in my life. But with that also came the pressure to try and duplicate that success, which is very hard. Ultimately though I think pressure is good, it helps to push you to create your best work.

You’ve had a flurry of releases lately, including ‘Rock That Beat’, ‘Turn Your Love Around’ and ‘Get That Bag’ via your Delecta imprint, a remix of ‘According To Me’ via Axtone, and also a remix of ‘Run For Your Life’ via Transparent Arts. What’s been your personal favourite from them? And do you think it’s important an artist has their own recognisable sound too? I’ve loved all the releases I’ve put out this year, but a standout has been my remix of MJ Cole and Freja Riding’s “Waking Up.” It’s such a unique song that resonated with so many when it was first came out, and I was happy to put my touch on it and take it to another level with my remix.  It’s important for an artist to have their own sound because that’s what sets you apart from everyone else.

In regards to music production, what’s the best piece of advice you have received, and what is the best piece of advice you would give to any aspiring producer too? Also, do you prefer to set-up and work in a big studio, or are you happy to work mobile off of laptop and headphones?The best advice I got was that when you do something and it doesn’t flow and you have to go back and forth a million time and force it…is to drop it.  The projects and productions that always that flow right away and are easy to finish are the ones that end up connecting the most. I’m happy to work off laptop and headphones, especially when traveling so much. Big studios are nice to work in, but not necessary anymore.

What are your plans for the remainder of the year release wise too? Any big releases scheduled? Also, in regards to your Delecta imprint, what sort of music are you looking to sign to the label at the moment? Where can people send their demos to? I have a new edit of my hit “Spirit in my Life” coming up on Ultra very soon that I’m excited to share.

If you’re not in the studio making new tunes, you’re spinning tunes as a DJ all around the world or at home in Miami. Is there anything you do to protect your well-being physically and mentally as I can imagine it can become quite draining, all the travelling, partying etc. I work out every day and play soccer and play tennis to stay fit. Being active and eating well are really important to me.

And if that’s not enough, when you’re not DJ’ing or producing, you’re an actor, with appearances in Pain & Gain, Deepwater Horizon and Patriot’s Day with Mark Wahlberg, crazy! If you could play any villain in any movie released, ever, who would it be, and why? Will you look to do more acting once you wind-down your music career? Or have you not thought about that yet? l’m always looking for new acting opportunities, it’s a big passion of mine as well after the music. I love all of Martin Scorsese’s movies – would love to play a mafia guy someday!

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