Many of the instrumentals that you use on the mixtape aren’t mainstream, or even immediately recognizable. Talk about the choices of your instrumentals for the mixtape.
That’s where I had a chance to show more depth, because the acappellas had to come from popular songs in order for the project to work. The instrumentals weren’t necessarily the newest tracks; I just looked for ones that matched the vocals well, ones that could take the songs to a strange place.
Can you predict what dance music will be like in 5 years? Where will Fool’s Gold be?
I think dance music in America will continue to become a part of mainstream music the same way it has been in Europe for a longer time. The upside of that is that there will be room for more underground scenes within it as well. I’m not really interested in most chart-topping, fist-pumping tracks. But we’re still at a stage in America where audiences don’t have a profound understanding of the music yet, it’s still kind of a mish-mash. The stuff I’m interested in is more nuanced, sometimes more musical and sometimes just weird, and I think with time there will be more room for it as crowds get educated. I’m not only concerned with dance music though, I’m a hip hop head first and foremost and I listen to all types of music. That goes for Fool’s Gold as well. Already this year we signed 2 bands. Our first full-length album release is coming in October, the debut album by The Suzan, an all-girl Japanese band produced by Bjorn from Peter, Bjorn & John. In the coming years I see FG growing into one of the bigger indies, releasing albums by a variety of artists, regular compilations, reissues of classic or forgotten records, as well as being a household brand with our online community and merchandise playing important roles. It’s all growing very fast!
