Getting to Know… Ahoona

Getting to Know… Ahoona

feeder: Hi guys, it’s a pleasure to chat with you both today; how are you? 

Ahoona: We are great. Thanks for your invitation!

feeder: Please introduce yourselves and tell us a little about your musical background.

Jim: My name is Jim; I’m French but based in Switzerland. I’ve been DJing for more than 20 years now and producing since a bit less but been in love with music for along time.

Emilien: My name is Emilien and I’m French too and have been DJing for 15 years. I came from night life into music production to create and play my own music.

f: How did you meet, and when did you start making music together? 

A: We met in Switzerland when we worked together in a Swiss club where Jim was the creative director. We started to make music together from day one. The Ahoona project actually came a bit later when we finally came up with something we wanted to share. Something powerful, something dynamic, something that represented us basically.

f: What’s the inspiration behind the name Ahoona? 

A: We read an article years ago that said Ahoona meant “stupid” in Japanese… We recognized ourselfves in this concept, hahaha ,and we liked the word’s sonority… And Ahoona was born!

f: Who did you listen to growing up, and do they influence your music career at all today?

E: I’ve been rocked by Disco Funk from Nile Rogers to Stevie Wonder and also inspired by the 2000s French Touch sound.

J: Daft Punk, of course… for the Electro sounds, but I’m a huge Disco Funk fan, too. From Donna Summer to Cerrone or Earth Wind & Fire, the 70s and 80s are so inspiring.

f: What was your first release? 

A: Our first Ahoona release was “Revolt” on KIDS Records Foundation in February 2023.

f: Your new collaborative remake of Laurent Wolf’s classic ‘Calinda’ has just been released on Spinnin’ Deep’, how is it all sounding?

A: Signing on Spinnin’ Deep was a proper goal for us, to be really honest. Added to that is the fact that we were able to collaborate with Laurent on such a house anthem… We won’t hide our joy! Our new version transports the song into the Afro house arena with percussive Afro-tech beats, captivating synth-scapes, and melancholy piano melodies.

f: How did you get together with Laurent, and will you be working together again in the future?

J: Laurent has been a friend of mine for a while, we worked together on a remix some years ago. We are already working on new ideas in order to bring you more of that Laurent Wolf / Ahoona project. Stay tuned!

f: Which of your own Ahoona tracks was the biggest labour of love to create / personal favourite? 

E: For me, ‘Breath’ was a milestone in Ahoona’s adventure… I love to play it, and it will stay my crush for a long time.

J: Personally I enjoyed producing ‘Life’ so much. This track gave me goosebumps since day one when we played the first chords in the studio.

f: Do you have any plans for an Ahoona album?

A: Not really. We like this dynamic; we are in a place where we can produce and share our music without pressure. But if Spinnin’ wants an album, we are ready to talk. Hehe!

What can we expect from an Ahoona DJ set, and where are you most looking forward to playing this summer?

A: Good vibes and a lot of fun with fresh, powerful and groovy sounds. We can’t wait to play at JimmyZ Monte Carlo in August. It’s a legendary venue hosting afro house parties with Keinemusik, and Black Coffee, etc.

f: You’re based in France, how is the French Afro House scene there these days and who should we be on the look out for?

A: We are lucky to have a talented and inspiring Afro House French scene. Producers like Moojo, Rivo or Montrouge are definitely kickin’ it!

f: As relative newcomers to the music scene, how hard has it been to break through, and what advice do you have to give producers looking to do the same?

A: Of course, it’s a daily effort, but if we had to give one piece of advice, I would make music for its pleasure and the pleasure of sharing it. Go for it with passion but without expectations. 

f: Which dance track holds the most precious memories for you?

J: ‘Sandstorm’ by Darude, hahaha… no, just joking. I would say ‘Around The World’ by Daft Punk. It’s when I heard this track in a club that I knew I would be a DJ.

E: For me, it would be ‘Leave The World Behind’ by the Swedish House Mafia. What a banger!

f: Who are your top current producers? 

E: I regularly follow what Rampa does, and I really like Marasi’s vibe.

J: & I and Notre Dame are killing it these days both behind the turntables and in the studio. LIKE!

f: What else is in the pipeline for Ahoona?

A: We have a few nice tracks coming up! And we are exploring new musical directions… We are not done yet, You will hear from us. 😉

Laurent Wolf & Ahoona ‘Calinda (2024)’ is out now on Spinnin’ Deep.