Fonteyn From London's Computer Blue: Electroclash Is Good
Author: Benedetta Skrufff
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Though Computer Blue was practically the first London club to champion electroclash, their media profile has yet to match clubland contemporaries Nag, Nag, Nag though three years on, their slow burn rise sees them hosting increasingly popular monthlies at Kingsland Road club Red Lounge. Mainman Fonteyn (who co-promotes the club with Danny Berlin and Marika) is also just about to release his first single La Cienaga; a collaboration with Mobb Rule that comes out on Berlin's Beauty Case Records on May 10.
And chatting to Benedetta Skrufff this week, Fonteyn remains as enthusiastic about electroclash as he does about his new record.
"Electroclash is a good thing despite having been caricatured by the press, who've done that simply because they didn't understand it," he continues.
"The scene it's still growing and diversifying, despite the weight that has been put on it by the media. Ultimately what electroclash has done, is to bring outsiders back into to clubs and personality back to the music."
Skrufff (Benedetta Skrufff): I read that your new single was inspired by Los Angeles, what was it about LA that struck you-
Fonteyn (Fonteyn): "I'd taken a month off and went there with a friend on a road trip to the west coast of America and I was struck by the sleaze and glamour of LA; the neon, the chrome, the palm trees and all that stuff. It ties in with the Euro concept, I think, the idea of decadence and sleaze coexisting under the sun."
Skrufff: Looking at you, I would have never thought you were into that sort of stuff…
Fonteyn (Fonteyn): "Really- To me, it's a Miami Vice thing. Most people tend to look for the dark side in obvious places, such as the dark side of punk or the dark side of disco, whereas I always find that obvious instead. I've always been attracted to things that are shiny and bright on the surface but with a sinister edge underneath, something that has a sheen plus an underbelly of trash. Having said that, I recognise my vision of LA comes from an outsider's perspective."
Skrufff: How long have you been making music-
Fonteyn (Fonteyn): "This is my debut track, and to me it has the same ethos of Computer Blue. In fact, I'd say La Cienega is an introduction to Computer Blue. I started the club over three years ago, to capture the look and stand of that whole synth, heavy, disco feel; the italo (disco) side of electro if you like. From DJing, I felt the need to make a track that would fil an area I felt was missing, something that you can't hear anyone else making or find out there. I hooked up with a friend of mine who goes under the name of Mobb Rule and we did the track initially just for fun. Then, I gave it to a few people like Tommie Sunshine and JoJo de Freek, who started playlisting it, which made me think that perhaps I should have done more with it. So I then gave it to more DJs and had more good responses, then this label from Berlin, Beautycase, picked up on it and decided to sign it."
Skrufff: What's your assessment of the state and health of London's clubland right now-
Fonteyn (Fonteyn): "There's definitely a healthy underground scene still, but I've found that the initial breath of fresh air that was sparked by the new electro wave has ended up with a formulaic slant. Everyone seems to have had a go at promoting electro punk nights, it's become very obvious. I think those who initially kicked it off were, and still are, great at doing it, but to me it's become a bit too one sided. With Computer Blue, I wanted to show there's a different side. People should take more risks and inspiration from what the new electro started, and try to personalise it a bit more."
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