Jul 4

Julien Vertigo: "My music is usually inspired by nature itself"

Julien Vertigo, DJ/Producer from the area of Nyon in Switzerland, has been an avid electronic music lover for years. His dedication and love for music led him to take a huge leap in 2018, when he decided to fully commit himself to produce his own journeys oscillating between Progressive & Melodic Techno.

What inspired you in creating your new EP "Eclectica"? Are there specific elements or personal experiences that influenced the tracks?

Hi guys and thanks for having me for this little interview :) Well most of my music is usually inspired by nature itself or the current mood I have when I’m into the studio to produce new journeys. Through this EP, we have actually 3 different vibes as "Eclectica" has kind of sunny or joyful vibes. Then "Esoteria" is the darker side of the EP and really more club-oriented and the closing track "Ephemeria Astral" is such an emotional one, maybe a secret weapon to close a set.

Can you describe the creative process behind one of the tracks on your EP? What tools and techniques did you use to achieve the desired sound?

Let's' talk about "Eclectica" which is the main theme of the EP. Everything started when I recorded the dog of my girlfriend breathing by having in mind to add unique textures/fx to this journey. Then a few jam took place with the one and only Moog Sub 37 to record a warm bassline to drive the track properly. Most of the pads have been recorded with the Microfreak synth form Arturia, love this one as it’s really powerful. The LFO synth entering just before the drop has been essentially crafted with Diva, one of my favorite VST. And then a lot of mixing sessions spending hours and hours on some details until saying: Ok now it’s done haha.

How did your musical journey begin? Were there any key moments or people who influenced your development as a DJ and producer?

Well I've been into the music industry for around 15 years now but producing since more than 6 years only. I think the artists who inspired me a lot at the beginning were Tale Of Us without any doubt but essentially their darker and more underground side. A special moment which pushed my motivation to its fullest was when Tiesto supported my unofficial remix of the tune « Freed From Desire » from Gala in 2020. I was like a kid opening his Christmas present and it was hard to believe that such a legend played my music as I was only producing music for 2 years at this time. And recently, more and more big names from the industry are supporting my musical journey like Joris Voorn, Fideles, Paul Oakenfold, Eli & Fur or Kevin De Vries to name a few which is just crazy. It’s such a unique feeling to get recognition from them and I can’t thank them enough for this massive support!

How do you see the evolution of the electronic music scene in Switzerland? Are there any local artists or events that have particularly inspired you?

Good question haha. The problem we have is that we have too many talented artists for such a small country but I think it’s the same problem everywhere. Since a few years the evolution of the electronic music scene has just been so crazy and even in Switzerland as we are seeing more and more electronic acts through big festivals/clubs too. One of the local artists who really drew my attention are Enøs, Garance, Black Space or Natascha Polké to name a few. All these 4 artists have such a unique soul and as of today I’ve got the chance to met 3 of them and they are all really nice people actually. One event who really pushed my decision to start this journey was the Paléo Festival in Nyon (near Geneva) as I’m still dreaming about playing there once in front of all my friends and family. Going there every year but hopefully once I'll cross the barrier to go there as an artist.

What are your thoughts on streaming platforms and social media as tools to promote your music? How do you use them in your marketing strategy?

Well, I'm really active on socials as of today and trying to be active on all platforms as much as I can to gain visibility as much as possible. For example, for Spotify, i’m working with an agency who is setting up some ads on Instagram and facebook redirecting on my Spotify profile or my Spotify playlist which means i’m promoting 3 platforms at the same time. Having a Spotify playlist is also really powerful to push your releases and/or connect with some new artists by supporting their music too. And what I've learned there on instagram for example, is that you have to share content on which your community may identify themself or feel close to you. I’m always thinking about telling a short story through my content. But the main point here is that if you’re using social or streaming platforms properly that could be a game changer to your career i think but that’s something really hard and i’m learning everyday :)