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 One of the most underestimated and hardest working producers for the last 10 years, we are delighted to have caught up with the great Fred Baker!
i:Vibes: Hi Fred, how are things going for you at the moment ?
A: Hi Ian ! First of all, I’d like to thank you for this interview because it’s a pleasure for me to be able to tell something more about me to the members of ivibes.nu.
Everything is working out very well for me for the moment and I produce a lot of new projects, of which you are sure to hear from very soon!
i:Vibes: You're a man of many talents and guises, some of which people may be unfamiliar with, could you tell us about some of those projects ?
A: Yes, it’s true that I’ve produced many projects but each time with my name marked in small characters or behind the other artists. Often the aim was to launch other artists who left me when the big work was done! Let’s start with Groovezone “Eisbaer” which has been a number one hit, but never allowed me to be recognized in other countries than Belgium. At this time, my producers asked to the dancers of the live-act to do the interviews instead of asking it to me, but I was already a DJ and I was never booked to play as a dj in other countries. Many times, my projects reached the number 1 place in the belgian dance charts but in fact, this had never an effect on my carreer as DJ...
Same story for the projects that followed as Global Trancemission and The Effect which were supported by the biggest dj’s. Afterwards, I’ve produced the second Groovezone “I.C.U.” and Y-Traxx “Mysteryland”... Again the same reactions were great and I’ve seen them in the dj playlists of Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold (I tried to contact him since I saw it in his playlist but have been in no way successful sadly) , Paul Van Dyk, Tall Paul, Seb Fontaine and Vern, Judge Jules and many other “star” dj’s... a dream came true ! But in reality, in spite of all my work, I’ve never got the chance to meet one of them. Y-Traxx became the movie soundtrack of “Kevin and Perry Go Large” which had a great success in the UK but, as usual, I walked in the shade. While Y-Traxx was one of the Ibiza Anthems during 2 years, I’ve never tested how it feels to hear my track played in Ibizan clubs.
Afterwards, I decided to help somebody I treated as a friend and for which I spent 5 years of my life to help “create” his name and turn it know. The “Mr Sam” project name was born... I gave my heart and my feelings in all his projects. But now, the story is finished because he decided to “thank me” after all the work I did with him and he began his solo carreer... Good luck to him, I’m fair play ! He is not the only one doing me this thing... that’s the reason that I don’t want to work in the shadow of any other artist anymore ! I have to restart from scratch and show to the world who I am... That’s where my real career as Fred Baker takes off !!!
i:Vibes: You have released tracks on lots of labels, how do you go about choosing which one is right for the track ?
A: It’s a question of feeling and also of contacts. I like to know the people I work with beacuse it’s very important to produce records in a good spirit. Formerly, I had a producer so I wasn’t responsible for the labels on which my records were released but today, it’s a major point for me to work with serious people if we have a mutual respect. Armada, Black Hole, Vandit and of course my big friend M.I.K.E. are ideal partners to me and I believe that also other people will soon join me for future collaborations.
i:Vibes: Y-Traxx - Mysteryland featured on Kevin & Perry film, how does it feel to be able to say you wrote a song from a film ?
A: When you’ve experienced something like this, you want to do it over and over again...
It’s a real pleasure to see appear your name on the soundtrack credits of a movie ! For that matter, I’m busy producing an album exclusively for movies soundtracks and commercial TV use. I’ve to admit that some of the titles of this album have a “Hollywood” touch for movie soundtracks such as Matrix and many more and I will be proud when this project will be finished and released !
i:Vibes: Having produced 'Active Sight' with M.I.K.E, What was it like to work with somebody with such a reputation and how did you enjoy the experience ?
A: To work with M.I.K.E. is great because he is like a brother to me and he supports me in my career.. We both know how to compose music and how to program a computer, which is not the case with some people that I’ve launched into the music business. In the studio, we are very complimentary and everything goes smoothly. We never think about the fact that one of us is more knowledgeable than the other.
Our friendship passes before our professional collaboration ! Active Sight is not our first work together and it surely won’t be the last... We are working on the follow-up and it’s going to be more “massive” than the first... ! We are very happy to work together... he’s my “brotha”!!!!
i:Vibes: What does 2004 bring you on a DJing and Producing front ?
A: The year 2004 is for me the year of the changes... As I’ve said, I finally want to show who I am and what I’m capable of! I’ve done a lot of works for other people but I’ve never gained the success I’ve hoped for because I always stayed in the shadow of those people. Yes, I’m a producer and I will prove I’m also a good DJ and a complete artist!
At the moment, I don’t have any manager for my DJ bookings and I’m working by myself to find them... but I hope that the future will change soon for this! If you go to my website, you will see that I’ve played this year in big events in Belgium, in Israel with stars as Armin Van Buuren, Sven Vath, Richie Hawtin, M.I.K.E. of course, Robert Gitelman... but I hope it’s just the beginning!
i:Vibes: What are your top 5 tracks ever ?
A: There I have a problem, I don’t feel able to respond because I have a lot more than 5 favorite tracks !!!!!
i:Vibes: You have done some works with Terry Bones, and personally I Know you're very close, what is Terry like to work with and how do you put the passion and energy you both possess into a track ?
A: I believe that Terry Bones is a very talented composer and I gave him the will to produce while having a bad period and wanting to stop the music... We both put our hearts, our feelings in our music and our emotions are reflected in it. The result is the proof that we have again a lot of things to realize together in the future. He has a lot of ideas and I’m glad to be able to work with this kind of person. Respectful and not pretending to be a “star” I believe that in this kind of business, you always try to do your best, to be modest, honest and put yourself in question all the time
I like to conclude saying to all my friends, fans and the others... RESPECT for you all...
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