Interview: Sébastien Léger talks about inspirations, hardware and upcoming Oz dates…

Sébastien Léger is a French-born musical prodigy who has over 20 years experience as a producer and DJ. Landing his first residency at the age of 15, and buying an AKAI MPC sampler a short while later, his growing fascination with dance music during his youth led to Léger obtaining a truly unique sonic signature within his own productions. His most recent EP ‘Underwater Rocket’, released under Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream imprint, is a melodic and beautifully complex body of work, executed with laser precision. Australian audiences can ready themselves to welcome Léger back for three dates, but before then we caught up with the Frenchman for a quick chat…
Earlier singles you’ve released, ‘Hit Girl’ and ‘Hypnotized’ are key moments in your expansive career. Do you often look back at those old tracks when writing new work, or are they left in the past?
Hi! First of all, I’m Sebastien, with an E, as it’s French name 🙂 Those tracks are about 12 years old, it’s in the past and MUST remain in the past and I haven’t played them since their release. Those are not key moments for me in my career. The sound has changed, taste has changed, production techniques changed. In general, I’m not nostalgic about the past. There are a couple of my tracks I did 10 years ago that I still look up but apart from them, I like what I do better now.
Your analogue gear collection is both extensive and extremely impressive. How do you feel about the shift in a lot of music production using software rather than hardware?
Well I do have a very big modular synthesiser it’s true, but apart from this, I only own two analogue synths (Moog Sub37 & Prophet 6), so I wouldn’t call this a very big collection. My way of making music is maybe different from other producers, I like to have a feeling with the instruments. The interface of software plugins doesn’t really inspire me and the fact that I need to move and click a mouse to turn on the knob is tedious. The computer’s total recall ability is convenient and great too, so I try to use that as much as possible; mixing and producing in the box is powerful, while most of all my synth sounds and ideas come from external synths. I do use Arturia and UAD plugins too at some point, but that’s it.
You’ve been in the music industry for over 20 years; do you have any advice for up and coming producers/DJs?
I’ll just leave this here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhtQTI6n6VF/
What kind of music (not necessarily electronic) would you listen to for inspiration?
You’ll probably think this is strange, but I do not listen to music at all, at any time. Like never. I make my own, the only moments where I listen to others people’s music is basically when I DJ (and dig for music for the gigs). Eventually, if I listen to music, it will be stuff from the past and my childhood, like Michael Jackson, Funk, Disco, or Stevie Wonder, older black music in general.
Your most recent EP ‘Underwater Rocket’ is a strong continuation from your earlier sound, any new production methods or new gear you’ve been mucking around with lately?
Basically, my modular synth constantly changes and evolves, that’s the beauty of this instrument and it can be anything, any time, from scratch. This has been my main source of ideas for the past 2 years. Sometimes it’s just one sound, sometimes it’s a full complex melody, maybe a full track almost.
You’re returning to Australia this December for the first time in a couple of years, does playing in Australia have a different feel to it compared to playing other places in the world?
I haven’t been in Australia for 3 years I think, I always have good memories from down there. I’ve heard the tickets for the shows are flying so I’m really looking forward to returning. I’m not so much looking forward to the plane ride to get there though! 😉
Can we expect any new music from you at your live Aussie dates?
Absolutely, tons of new ones that no one yet. I have 2 EPs scheduled for release next year that I have been playing already for months, Australia will hear them live. 🙂


Australian Tour Dates
Friday 21st December: The Met, Brisbane (FB event)
Saturday 22nd December: Sebastien Leger & Davi @ Manning Bar, Sydney (FB event)
Sunday 23rd December:  Sébastien Léger, Khen + Davi @ Day Doof, Melbourne  (FB event)