interview

05/10/02
brought to you by the nimble fingers and big hair of joe90

 

VIKTER DUPLAIX
UNIVERSAL SOUND
Although Vikter Duplaix is only a household name in his native Philadelphia, he is swiftly becoming one of the most talked about producers in (ahem..) worldwide dance music. With the imminent release of his debut solo lp, 'International Affairs', Vikter’s is a star in the ascendance. Only 29, and already a veteran vocalist, DJ, and producer in the New Philly Soul Movement, we try to uncover Vikter’s universal sound. Having previous worked with Jazzanova, King Britt, Erykah Badu, and Jazzy Jeff, Vikter Duplaix is set for some limelight of his own.

"I am my focus for now", he writes via email. "There's a lot to do. I want it done properly, and concentration is needed. It's nice to know my work is noteworthy. Feedback is the biggest motivator. I am truly grateful for the attention".

Vikter Duplaix’s DJ Kicks selection is undoubtedly the sound of now, straddling the boundaries of house, hip hop, soul, jazz, funk, techno, and Latin.

"I wanted to provide a sample of good sounding things", he writes. "It shows great music still exists, and it's OK to enjoy different tempos and genres in the same listening session.

Most people have forgotten that because of the segregated way music is presented to us". It’s hard to hear anything truly new these days, and although Vikter’s soul heritage is strong, his productions beckon the future like few others.

 

"It's a matter of taste. I love music. I embrace all forms of sound. Sometimes, the creators of our generation spend too much time trying to rival the legends of the past instead of forging into unknown sonic territory. I'm not afraid to do that". Vikter’s sonic bravery is much in evidence with a fiercely underground selection of tracks for DJ Kicks.

"It was important to do that", he replies. "Many of these artists are only ‘underground’ because they don't have the resources to reach a larger audience. It's not due to lack of ability or abstract artistic approach. Given the proper vehicle, this music will speed into the minds of all who listen".

 

Alongside people like Jazzanova, 4 Hero, Kaidi Tatham, and IG Culture, Vikter Duplaix is ushering in the future of soul music. It’s not a sound based on tempo, style, or genre, but based on feeling. It taps music’s rich history, but shapes its traditions into previously uncharted structures. Like with his single Sensuality, it may be a Sexual Healing for the 21st century, but it also sounds like nothing else you’ve heard before.

"I can’t really describe my sound", Vikter writes. "It’s ever changing because it's based on the way I feel at that moment in time. Quality is ultimately what I'm after".

And whether it’s his distinctive singing vocals, futuristic productions, or immaculate DJ selection, quality is what you get. And with his debut album International Affairs set for later this year, there’s more of Vikter’s universal sound to come.

(This article originally appeared on Channel 4’s Planet Sound Teletext)