It was the last big concert in Paris, February 22, 2020. A date to mark with a hot iron. That evening, DJ Snake, the most listened to Frenchman in the whole world thanks to his planetary hits "Loco Contigo", "Taki Taki" or "Let Me Love You" (28 billion listeners online) won his League champions of his own, by bringing together 40,000 sold-out people in La Défense Arena, the largest venue filled by a DJ in France. A triumph with a particular flavor tinged with intimate, for this unconditional supporter of PSG who played at home, he the kid from Val-d'Oise, the young salesman of a shop in Les Halles, who became an international star offering hits to Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga or Selena Gomez.
This already legendary show, an impressive show of force, is broadcast in Pathé theaters this Thursday evening during a unique screening. Thanks to a capture carried by breathtaking images, this dantesque show will allow its fans, but not only, to let themselves be carried to the cinema, in the heart of a bubbling cauldron. Exclusive meeting with this electro prodigy, followed by 17 million people on social networks, extremely rare in the media.
Is the recording of this show a project thought out long before the ban on concerts?
DJ SNAKE. Yes, I wanted to immortalize this show because it was going to be something big for me from a personal point of view, in Paris, at home. It was a big challenge, I wanted to put on a show worthy of the biggest festivals in the world, but at home. We already had the idea to release it in theaters and then the pandemic arrived. It's the last positive thing of 2020. I just followed up with two big shows in South Africa and Australia and after that we all went into confinement. To offer it to the fans who lived it and to those who could not get a place, it's wonderful in the current context.
What feeling did you have before going on this stage?
Usually, I don't have the pressure, but here we have to admit that I had a little something extra. In my head, I was like "William (Editor's note: his real name) , don't miss, don't miss". I was like a boxer who steps into the ring and sees no one around him. We no longer hear anything, we no longer see anything. We have to win the evening fight and I had no room for error. There were all my friends, my family, my teachers from college, high school… Finally those I loved and who made me love school (he smiles) ! There were also artists, singers, Youtubers, DJs… Everyone! It was very, very strong. We went through all the states and being able to offer this in a movie theater when people are no longer allowed to go to concerts, I find that great! You really feel the energy with this magical montage. You can see details while in concert, light shows can blind you. There, we take everything head-on.
When you review the images, what sensations do you get?
It's a milkshake of emotions, I even had tears in my eyes watching the song Paris , a moment when I thank all the people who helped me, it touched me on stage and it made me feel 'touched again in the heart. I was teary-eyed when I didn't have it in an easy way. It is a feeling of pride.
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You begin the beginning of the show on an almost life-size Arc de triomphe, as on the cover of your album. A symbol ?
Yes, of course. It means a lot for a suburbanite like me who grew up in Val-d'Oise. When I came to Paris and got off the A86, it was the first thing I saw. It shows that by working hard, you can excel in any field, you are not doomed to spend your life complaining and doing nothing. Even when you start at the bottom, you can achieve great things with passion, determination and rigor. You have to believe in these dreams. Worth a try.
How was your summer, you who have been around the world non-stop for seven years and who live in the United States?
I returned to Paris as soon as I could and got back to basics. I did barbecues with my friends, played sports, things I couldn't do anymore… I went through an emotional roller coaster. I have lost loved ones to the Covid, so I went through difficult times. And then, I wandered in the south of France, in Corsica, in Europe, in Greece, in Spain, in Italy. It's a way of rediscovering places. Even though I travel around the world, I don't see much. I sleep on the plane, I land, I see the airport, I go to the hotel, I do the show and we go on at a frantic pace with another date in another country. There, I took the time to find out.
If you take off your sunglasses, do you go incognito?
Yes… even if it doesn't work too much anymore.
Is it your hair dye that betrays you?
Yes, the blond, it kills me (he laughs) . But with a cap, it works and the masks for that, it's great! I often found myself in a car with a driver listening to my music, and who didn't know it was me behind. Really funny !
You haven't released a summer hit this year ...
Everything was ready, I had songs with great potential but I preferred to shift because I could not defend them on stage. I am quietly waiting for the right moment. It would be inappropriate to talk about my career today when we are in the midst of a global pandemic.