TLC vs. Tiga: The Electric Zoo Interview

Tiga at Electric Zoo, 9.6.09. Photo by Ted Cadieux for Tastes Like Caramel

Last Memorial Day weekend we said farewell to summer and the festival season with the fantastic 2-day electronic music festival on Randall’s Island aptly titled Electric Zoo (coverage of Day 1 & Day 2.) I felt a bit like Pinocchio on my way to Pleasure Island both days and had a great sense of closure from summer once the lights and the disco balls went down on Sunday night.

One of our favorite DJ sets was by Tiga who closed out the Respect Groove tent on Day 1. The crowd went wild as Tiga dropped a solid set that kept the crowd dancing hours and hours after they began.

Before Tiga’s set we chatted during Armin van Buuren’s set about the beginnings of his career, the significance of winning awards, side projects, remixes and his mental state in the studio. Check out our exclusive interview below!

MP3: Tiga – Beep Beep Beep (Crookers Remix) or zShare
MP3: Tiga – What You Need (Zombie Nation Remix) or zShare
MP3: Depeche Mode – Shake the Disease (Tiga Remix) or zShare

>So I read that you were a rave promoter in the beginning. How did you go from promoting to recording?
Tiga: Quite a few steps in between those two. I promoted parties, and then I opened a record store, and then I opened a nightclub. I did all kinds of things when I actually wanted to make music, it just took me awhile to work up the confidence. It was something I wanted to do and I kind of delayed it for awhile. There was no direct link between all the business stuff , although I learned a lot from those projects it’s served me well since.

> You won a Juno Award in 2007, did you feel a sense validation as a Canadian artist?
Tiga: It’s not a big deal. I don’t care much about prizes and stuff in general. I mean they’re things that matter and it was nice because it’s a certain level of legitimacy at home. My parents and friends got to read about it in the newspaper and stuff but the honest answer is that it didn’t have an impact on me.

> It’s like graduation.
Tiga: Much of a less bigger deal than graduation. A Grammy would be different.

> Your side projects TGV and ZZT, how and why did you decide to pursue these projects?
Tiga: Well TGV is kind of over, that was a long time ago. That was me and this friend of mine from Montreal  Mateo Murphy. It just evolved naturally, we were doing remix work together and decided that we wanted to make some original tracks together. ZZT is with Zombie Nation, we’re hoping to make an album this year or early next year. It’s great, we work really well and compliment eachother. ZZT is a chance for me to do records with no singing where there’s less of my character involved, I can just make tracks.

Tiga at Electric Zoo, 9.5.09. Photo by Ted Cadieux for Tastes Like Caramel

> In the same vein, do you feel that remixing tracks takes away from your own projects?
Tiga: I think it’s an important part of everything. I like remixing, I enjoy it and it’s fun for tracks to get played out (at clubs.) I really enjoy remixing; I don’t think it gets in the way

> You covered Nelly’s Hot in Herre in 2003, are you interested in doing any more covers?
Tiga: I am, I will. Not for now but I’m sure it’ll resurface. All the covers I ever did came from a specific idea, either I fell in love with a song or thought I had a clever way of doing it.  I have to wait for that inspiration to strike again. Lately I’ve been more interested in writing my own songs but I’m sure the covers will return.

> Let’s talk about your latest album Ciao! What mental space were you in during the creation of that album and what do you feel came out of that?
Tiga: That’s a good question. I was in this space where the studio was a bit of an escape from my life. I was in this space that I just wanted to make music. I didn’t have anything specific in mind, I didn’t wake up with a musical vision saying “Okay I need to make this!” It was more of that I was just really enjoying learning and making stuff and being in the studio. It was a very fun album to make. I made some new friendships like with James Murphy and Gonzalez. It was a fun experience.

> Last question, how did you get hooked up with Electric Zoo?
Tiga: They just asked me to play and I said yes (laughs.) That’s the whole story.

> Okay thanks so much for chatting with us, we’re looking forward to your set.
Tiga: Thank you too!

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Day 2 at Electric Zoo
• TIGA – MIND DIMENSION
• Tiga – Beep Beep Beep (Punks Jump Up Remix)
• Tiga x Crooks