Your musical history: When did you start mixing, remixing and producing ?
LK: I had a love for music from a very early age it started out with me humming melody’s making my own words up for song etc… as early as 5-6. Then when i was 11-12 i started listening to acid house and piano driven house. My first experience of ‘Decks’ was when i was 15 in a friends party and you literally couldnt get me off them for hours and from then on things built from there. By 17 I had my own setup and my record collection was growing by the day and by 19, I landed my first professional residency.

After that I never looked back and over the past decade have DJ’d all over the UK in many bars clubs.

In 2004 i thought the natural progression of DJing was production so i started to mess around on sequencers ‘Acid pro/Reason’ from then moved onto Cubase in 2005 thats when things started to get more serious. I started writing tracks around 2004-05 and started remixing in 2006-07.

I’m also completely self taught (A friend ‘DJ Tugie’ helped me with the basics in cubase but i learnt the rest over the years).

Many pop stars such as Katy Perry, Rihanna, Pink, trust you when it comes to turn their tune into a club smash, what does it take to make a successful sound?
Its all about keeping the track as close to the original but with more energy, nice uplifting synths and a solid Beat/Percussion, so the listener can enjoy the original in the Club and in the Gym etc…

I especially love this one, tell us about the music you love: favourite song ever, singer and DJ ?
Ha… tough question i love all kinds of music from Motown/Soul RnB right through to House/Techno/Hardcore and everything in between. One of my favourite tracks ever has to be….. Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey – Together In Electric Dreams, favourite Vocalist Phill Collins, and favourite Band The Lighthouse Family Both inspiring/unique artists as for favourite DJ…it’s a flip between Frankie Knuckles and Paul Oakenfold.

You seem to be a “Synth” lover, so let’s talk about your secret weapons: What are your favourite DAW, plug-ins, and of course synths?
Here comes the classified information haha:

I use the trusted Virus Ti and a lot of softs like Nexus, Hypersonic 2 (old but gold) Mini Moog, Arp2600 i use quite a few. My DAW is Cubase.

If you were coming to play in Paris, which track would you choose to burn the dancefloor ?

If im booked for a big gig i always try to make a brand new remix for that particular gig so i suppose a remix of a cassius track or early Bob Sinclar track would work well.

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  Liam Keegan - Liam Keegan In The Mix October 2010

Super-producer and 2010 Grammy nominated remixer Dave Audé, is our guest this week.

If you already heard about him, maybe it’s because he is behind loads of high-quality club remixes, for superstars such as Janet, Lady Gaga, U2, The Pussycat Dolls, Madonna or Beyoncé. Dave Audé is a man that the Industry turn to when they want amazing music.

Dave's chameleon-like skills allow him to succeed within any genre of music whether it’s about remixing, producing, DJing or writing new tunes.

It’s time to know him more, with an interview and a mix selection he’s offering us.

You just have been nominated at the 52d Grammy award as "Best Remixed Recording" for "I Want You", although you did not win, what does that nomination means to you ?
Dave Aude: I’m told its bad luck to win your 1st nomination………lol. I know its cliché, but I’m just really happy to be nominated. It means somebody out there in the business noticed what I’m doing and that’s really all I could ask for. Winning would just make my head bigger anyways...

From Lady Gaga to Gorillaz, from The Pussycat Dolls to U2, you always seem to please everyone; artists, labels, people.. What’s your secret ?
Dave Aude: I try to deliver mixes that appeal to everyone. I also try and keep the song and vocal in tact. So many guys try and do the “ultra cool/underground” type of mix which is great, but at the end of the day I’m trying to reach as many people as possible with my remix.

With 24 official remixes produced in 2009, you’re one of the most sought dance producers in the world. How do you proceed about creation ? In what order do you work ?
Dave Aude: Is that all? 24? Thought I did more. Um, I really couldn’t tell you there’s an exact science or checklist to what I do. I’ve done so many mixes over the years, I just sit down and do it. Really, just whatever happens, happens. Having said that, I suppose I do put some thought into tempo, but that’s about it. The rest just “happens”.

Is there an artist you would like to be commissioned to remix ?
Dave Aude: Steve Perry the original singer from Journey.

What has been your decisive track so far ? (the one that brought all eyes on you)
Dave Aude: Not sure. There’s probably more than one. “I Hate This Part”, “Halo”, “Pokerface”, and “Pyramid” are a few recent big ones.

As a DJ, where is your favorite place in the world to play ?
Dave Aude: Anywhere there is 1.) good sound, 2.) packed club, and 3.) a lighting guy that knows what’s up. In the past its been: 1997 – 2002 Velvet, St Louis. 2003 – 2006 On Broadway, San Diego. 2007 – 2009 anything Triad Dragons did in Denver. Present: Voyeur – San Diego, Playhouse – Los Angeles, and Lizard Lounge – Dallas.

What are you working on at the moment ?
Dave Aude: Plumb, Kelis, Pussycat Dolls??, Havana Brown, Zayra, Erika Jayne, and Dave Audé bombs. This is the year of Dave Audé singles I’ve decided…

Tell us more about your studio : What’s the equipment you use ?
This is secret info, but here’s a few: Pro Tools, refx Nexus 2, Spectrasonics Trillian, Nord Lead, Nord Rack, Studio Electronics SE-1. Roland V Synth XT, Roland Juno 106, Roland MKS 30, TR909, Linn Drum, 808, 727, Roland 5080, and all things McDSP and Waves.

Have you ever been to France ? What do you think of the French nightlife ?
Just had dinner at the Eiffel Tower in October but I didn’t hit any clubs so I really can’t say. I’m hoping my next trip will include some packed clubs with screaming half naked women, a pumpin’ sound system and a lighting guy who knows what’s up !

Thanks Dave !

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  Dave Aude - Dave Aude DJ Mix February 2010