After dropping releases on Basic Recordings and Versatile, France’s Julien Jabre decided to launch Elias in 2003 as a platform to release his own music without any constraints. From 2003 to 2005 Julien dropped three records on Elias including the timeless tracks “Swimming Places” that was later released on Defected Records and “War” that went on to pick up support from the likes of Derrick May, Laurent Garnier and many other renowned DJs. After a decade of working behind the scenes with various artists and scoring for film, Julien has decided to make a comeback on Elias following the reissue of the magical record “Stand On The World” by The Jourbert Singers with a remix from Dimitri from Paris in 2016.
Samana EP marks Julien Jabre’s return to his Elias imprint with two nostalgic cuts including an edit from Oscillat co-founder Lazare Hoche.
“Samana (Lavant Mix)”, which translates to ‘our sky’ in Lebanese, kicks things off with alleviating melodic waves, undulating euphoria and glistening chord progression before ‘Far At Sea’ delivers eccentric vocal loops, a pitched-down drum groove and shooting synth stabs. Paris based producer Lazare Hoche who is 1/3 of Mandar and has a number of standout records on his Lazare Hoche Records imprint, finishes things off with an edit of ‘Samana’ by adding an effervescent, dancefloor focused atmosphere to the original.
We asked Julien to share 5 of his biggest music influences as he readies for the release of his latest EP.
The first club track that blew my mind was “French Kiss”. When I heard it playing on French radio in 1989 I just turned 13 and it was like discovering a new world. When I started making my own music several years later, I looked up to Lil Louis’s in terms of aesthetics and diversity in production, going from a hard house track to a more jazzy ballad with his very unique touch. It was like an approval to be free and allow myself to explore many paths.
I discovered the label Nu Groove at its dusk, and I got hooked right away. A few chords, a bass, a groove and a flute synth preset. Instant goosebumps and deep raw emotions. All my first demos were pretty much based on these simple yet essential elements in search of the right profound feeling. I remember playing my demo tapes to DJ Deep and him telling me how they made him think of Rheji Burrel’s music.
Impossible to talk about House music without thinking of the king Larry Heard and so many of his tracks. The anthem “Can You Feel It” has obviously marked me and so many of us house music lovers for life. But I also love more intimate vocal productions of his like “You’re Someone Special”. I love the song itself and this beautiful jigsaw of sounds playing melodies answering one another, creating this intoxicating looped theme. This is deep!
One of my favorite “house music songs”. It is just beyond a specific genre and the pop touch these guys added to the game really resonated with me and eventually inspired me. They kept evolving in their productions years after years pushing further and further the boundaries of house music with elegance. It feels we have the same need of exploring new vibes, sounds and grooves when starting a track. It has always been precious to me to feel that I am doing something different from what I have done before, trying to have a fresh start every time.
It is one of my first techno records that Romain BNO, at Parisian record store BPM, insisted that I buy when it came out, saying “Trust me with this one” while I was seeking for Moodyman and Romanthony early records (both big inspirations by the way). It actually became one of my favorite electronic track and opened a more abstract path in my way of feeling and approaching music production. I’m pretty sure my track “War” wouldn’t have existed without having “Dominas” deeply rooted somewhere in my head for a decade.
Samana Tracklist:
1. Samana (Levant Mix)
2. Far at Sea
3. Samana (Lazare Hoche Edit)
Julien Jabre Samana EP drops on Elias on 13th May 2019 (Vinyl) and 31st May 2019 (Digital)
