It goes without saying that today’s election affects the entire world. Even though only U.S. citizens can vote, the outcome impacts not only America, but also (at least in some way) the other 194 countries that make up our world. And in an era of internet and social media, this campaign for the U.S. presidency has, at times, leaned more towards spectacle than any election previous.
Electronic music producer POPOF has been watching these events unfold from France and has used the campaign as a focal point of his new EP, aptly named, President. Sampling excerpts from speeches by both Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump layered with dance beats and acid sounds, the project couldn’t be more relevant than on a day like today (official release is November 21).
Where did the name POPOF come from? My father was Bulgarian, and in France anything or anyone that sounds remotely Russian or Eastern European is called (affectionately) a POPOF. It was a nickname and I kept it.
Why dance music? My whole life, my true passion was electronic. I’ve never had a real job, other than making music since I was a teenager. It’s the passion of making people dance, and the creative process, which I really enjoy. Creating sounds, sitting on a desk for hours.
What is the meaning behind the President EP? Initially the songs were not supposed to belong to something with a theme. I sat while watching the news on TV and they became intertwined, I was watching from morning to evening. I felt the American elections becoming an integral part of President. Initially I had the canvas, and slowly started integrating the samples.
As a non-American, why is this election important? As a French person you can not help but feeling like a spectator to something that has become a bit of a circus, no offense. As foreigners, we’ve become spectators to a show. In a way we have this in France too, we’ve watched this revelry and this antagonism crescendo in France as well. People are cut in half, the idea being that “if they’re not us, they’re bad people.”
Where do you access news about the U.S. election and candidates? Television and online. When you watch it on TV in France it’s very concise, they just mention the big headlines.
What is the goal behind your music label, Form Music? In 2009 it was to help young talents to emerge, nothing was pushing me to do it, it’s 100 percent because I love the music, and was thinking that other people struggle to make themselves a name. Form Music is not limited to one genre, it’s pretty diverse and all genres are welcome.
What is your producing style like? I always start by doing everything rhythmically, then I research the bass lines, then add the synthesizers and the vocals, and once I have everything I stir everything up, and change it until I’m happy.
What is the dance scene like in France at the moment? I’m very happy. It has really exploded in the last three years, so many new clubs have opened. The warehouse trend is refreshing and the new generations have been extremely productive. Electronic has been an integral part of our culture, the younger artists are doing fresh and interesting stuff. There are nice places opening all over France, not only in Paris, and people have of course started comparing it to Berlin.
Is there a track that you find always works on the dance floor? “Mr.Orange"- it’s this solid track where you know people are going to dance.
Any producers that should be on our radar? They’re so many that are really talented, especially Julian Jeweil and Oxia.
Any advice for other artists? No one will go anywhere if they’re calculating. Listen to your gut and do something that convinces you before it convinces other people.
Translation from French done in tandem with POPOF’s Management Team.
pre-order the President EP HERE