Veteran DJ and producer Philippe Toutlemonde aka Phi Phi has been churning out quality vibes since the mid 80’s with projects like Dobel You, Honey C, The Gaps, Extreme Trax and the famous Quadran, most of which he produced alongside the late great Philippe Van Mullem. Over these years Phi Phi’s attention was mainly on progressive and trance, and he still leans in that direction to this day. He has had countless residencies and club and festival appearances and is regarded with legendary status amongst his peers. We sat down with Philippe to get the low down on his forthcoming new single – Breaking Danger, and we also dropped in a few other questions to get a look at the man behind the music.

BP: Hi Philippe, thanks for chatting with us, how are things with you at the moment?

PT: I’m going well, thx. I’m spending a lot of time in the studio on new tracks, and working full time doing promo for forthcoming releases. I’m also working on a compilation for Bonzai Progressive.

BP: How did you first get involved with DJing and producing?

PT: I started to mix back in 1985, I played some Italo Disco and New Wave, it was the beginning of in tempo mixing or beat matching. I got started in underground clubs and held a residency with Johan in At The Villa in 1987, all this was happening during the rise of the New Beat era. Soon after I got residencies at Boccaccio Life, Extreme, Fuse and Café d’Anvers etc…
In 1987 I met Philippe Van Mullem and we started producing together as Dobel You, soon we had our first release with Mammy. We were then contacted by Jean Vanloo and Patrick Hernandez who wanted to produce us and that’s where it all started. There have been many different projects since including Una, Honey C, Innertales, Quadran with PVM and Phi Phi & Greg D with Gregory Dewindt. Other collaborations have followed through the years.

BP: You’ve been around the dance music scene for a great number of years and seen many changes. What’s your take on today’s scene and how have you been able to stay at the top of your game?

PT: If you talk about the European scene, it is amusing to note the shifting of influences, of creative places, London yesterday, Berlin today and Paris seems to always come back, this is very interesting. Since I started, I’ve always been attracted to new sounds, new vibrations. There are so many rich and varied sounds to listen to, beyond the Retro tracks. New and underground sounds are so much more exciting to explore. That’s why my project is named ‘Mouvement Perpétuel’, it’s like the underground, always moving. Ok, lots of people know me as a pioneer DJ, my appearances in Retro events puts the emphasis on me for that. I’d say that one key thing is to always trying to find unexpected and sharp music. It’s like a quest, searching for hidden treasures. I did it before and I still do it today! A DJ must give people something they won’t expect and I’ve always tried to do that since my debut up to today. Few know me for my underground side and I invite people to listen to my current sets. On my website – djphiphi.com – we work to separate Retro mixes from New mixes. Passion for music and public reaction motivates me, I like each moment spent behind the decks as if it’s the first time. In particular when the crowd shouts when I play an unknown track, something happens between us, I’ve completed my mission!

BP: Your residencies over the years have included some top venues like Extreme and At The Villa, which would you consider to be your favourite venue and why?

PT: At The Villa was the first. Boccaccio was the biggest one and Extreme was where I played for 7 years, they were all magical. We were at the birth of a scene that became a real culture in just a few years. Being a resident gives the opportunity to offer long sets that tell stories and take people on a journey. I’m a storyteller, I’d really like to do it again, which is the reason why we’ve created the Mouvement Perpétuel project with no more than 4 DJ’s at each event.

BP: So your new single ­ Breaking Danger (awesome track by the way) features a really cool monologue from Mr. Heisenberg, we’re guessing you’re a big fan of Breaking Bad, right? How did you end up using that particular reference to the show?

PT: Thank you! But a fan of Breaking Bad? not really, sorry. I’m not a big fan of TV shows, not enough time. I thought the monologue was interesting enough to use it like that, going into the bridge.

BP: The track feels complex in its structure and arrangement with so many layers, how long did you work on this one and what was the inspiration that brought you to create it?

PT: Yes it’s a rich track. I like when sounds are complex and twinkling. The first version was made in two days. It was reworked later after a try on the dance floor. In particular some arrangements to make the sound stronger.

BP: Have you played this one out yet? What reaction has it got?

PT: I played it on the intro of my set at Tomorrowland, I was very pleasantly surprised by the public reaction, absolutely crazy.

BP: In general, your tracks always seem to have a unique quality that is instantly recognisable as a Phi Phi piece of work. What’s your secret when it comes to putting this quality into sound?

PT: This is exactly the goal, give an identity to each track. Be exigent and don’t hesitate to spend time on details, work the spectrum of each sound in order not to overlap the frequencies and mix them perfectly. A well balanced mix is required to get an optimal sound.

BP: You’ve worked with so many brilliant producers over the years and continue to do so. Do you have any favourite collaborations?

PT: It’s not easy to give a preference over one composer or producer over the other. All are talented, but each with a different feeling. I will always have a top spot for Philippe Van Mullen who passed away last year and who was my friend for 25 years.

BP: What would you consider to be your best work, and why?

PT: For the sound quality, I think Breaking Danger, it’s one of the most finished and the more recent of my tracks. During the last 25-30 years, each track produced corresponds to its time. For the rest it’s not for me to judge but it’s to the public to do so. It’s a question of emotion.

BP: You’ve been connected with the Bonzai crew from the early 90’s, how did you guys get together?

PT: In 1994-95 – when I was resident DJ at Extreme (Affligem) – Fly, the boss of Bonzai came to me and asked me to sign with Bonzai in a new division created especially for us (Philippe Van Mullem and I) and the trancey sounds we played at that moment in time. Bonzai Trance Progressive was the label and I’ve released so many tracks since then as Quadran, Phi Phi & Greg D etc. Today the label is rebranded as Bonzai Progressive.

BP: What do you like to do in your time away from music?

PT: I like to spend time with my family and caring for my daughter among other things. I also enjoy gardening, being in the quietness of the nature.

BP: Well Philippe thanks so much for talking with us it’s been a pleasure, take care.

PT: Thank you, the pleasure is mine also. Hope to see you soon, at my next event maybe.

#phiphi #bonzaiprogressive