Guéna LG, the DJ who wants to go from the shadow to the light

Apr. 20 2013

by Julien Chadeyron

You may not know him very well, but you've probably already heard him. Official remixer of the biggest pop stars, DJ in the biggest gay parties in France, it is also partly to him that we owe the famous Glam as You parties, which gave rhythm to the Parisian gay nights from 2003 to 2006. To know a little more about his prestigious collaborations, we went to meet him.

Hi Guena LG, can you introduce yourself?
Guéna LG: I am 33 years old, I am a DJ producer. I started dj-ing in my room and then in business school parties. One thing leading to another, I was brought to remix " Take me home " by Sophie Ellis Bextor, then "Murder on the dancefloor" and then Britney Spears, and then Kylie, and then Enrique... in the end I must have done more than 50 remixes in 10 years. I mixed in clubs until I was advised to do my own tracks. I wanted to for a long time but I lacked time. Now I finally have some tracks ready, including "Brighter", and I hope to release an EP in the spring.

You have mixed the hits of the greatest pop artists... How did you get there?
It's usually the record company that comes to me. Then, when a remix works, it inevitably leads to others. The remix of Sophie Ellis Bextor's "Get over you" got playlisted on FG and it clearly got other people's attention. So did the remix of "Just Dance" that was synced to "Tap Tap Revenge" and other compilations. Opportunities are a real game of dominoes.

About "Just Dance", tell us about your collaboration with Lady Gaga?
I was sent her track "Just Dance" and told that I would love it, that I had to remix this new artist. I met her in 2007 in Los Angeles during a showcase. She was not at all satisfied with her show, there had been technical problems, she was pissed off in the dressing room. She had wedge shoes in "mirror ball": I asked her if she had the same in 43: she exploded with laughter. Since then, a mutual trust has been established. She is very loyal, she does not forget where she comes from, who helped her, who was there for her. She is very nice and very funny.

Do you have an anecdote with Gaga?
One of the first times she came to Paris, we took her to the David Lachapelle exhibition and then we walked around Saint Germain and ended up in a brasserie eating oysters and snails: she loves French food. We drank a little too much to the point that her false eyelashes fell into the profiteroles and she was gluing them back on her eyes... we howled with laughter.

Who was your favorite mixer?
If I had to pick five, I would have to say Gaga because I think she is vocally amazing and I love her songs. When I was asked to remix Mylène Farmer, it was like a childhood dream come true. I have a lot of respect for her career, her character, her way of working... I was very happy to remix "Over and Over" by Offer Nissim" too. And I really enjoyed remixing Hurts and Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Are there still artists you dream of remixing?
Yes, fortunately. There are two of them. Pink... it was almost done, on his previous album and finally there were no remixes. And Cher because I like her improbable voice that fits very well to dance, her extravagant personality, she is a great lady.

How was making your own single different from remixing others?
It's more complex because you start with a blank sheet. Everything has to be created. It's more scary than a remix where you know where you're going. On a composition you don't have the right to make a mistake. It works or not. It takes a lot more time too. A remix is 2 to 3 weeks. for "Brighter" it took almost a year before we were satisfied with the result.

Do you write your own lyrics?
I wrote all the melodies. On " Brighter " yes, I co-wrote with Gravitonas, a band featuring. On the next one, "Stay awake", on the other hand, the text is by Matthew Koma.

What is "Brighter" about?
"Brighter" tells us that even if life is not rosy every day, there are always things, events, or people we can hold on to to make it better, to give us a little hope.

The only way to make your career explode is to have your own productions. Otherwise you end up in the box of the guy who did the remixes of this or that artist, and it's quite frustrating. No DJ, or very few, have managed to exist on the international scene by only doing remixes. I'm happy with what I did, now I would like to be recognized for my own tracks.

Do you have in mind any career models that you admire?
There are mostly DJs that I respect. David Guetta for example, whose career you can only admire. He is a war machine, worthy of the great pop artists, as much in terms of production as in terms of image and marketing. I also like Offer Nissim a lot. On an artistic level he influenced me, and on a personal level, he is a funny and touching person.

Is it more difficult as a Frenchman to make a place for yourself as a DJ?
French dance music still has a good reputation. From Justice to David Guetta through Daft Punk, Solveig, Sinclar, there are things that emerge from France. Since the 80's we know how to make dance music, we didn't wait until 2006 and Lady Gaga. In France, the media is rather timid and there are artists who don't get the exposure they deserve, but it's all a matter of luck, patience, and work.

Any dates planned in clubs soon?
I have to tour in March, for the moment it's about the MICA Club in Lausanne, then I'm going to Val d'Isère at the Doudoune, and I'm doing a date at the Nelson in Limoges. I'm also working on a lot of other dates before this summer.

Your favorite clubs ?
In France I love the Queen, I feel comfortable there, I like the clientele. The High in Nice, for the Rainbow Power night, it's always great moments, it's packed, people react well, it's great
And then there is Tel Aviv. When I played last year with Offer Nissim for the gay pride, there were people everywhere, people were really into it, it was a great night, a very good memory.

What did you like in Tel Aviv?
The people there are very welcoming. It's pretty crazy to see this ability to enjoy the moment. From one second to the next, their lives can change. I went back there in November and my friends there told me that three days earlier, the streets were deserted, that there were bomb threats and now everyone was in the street, celebrating. There's this need to get away and enjoy it. The parties, the sound, both warm, dramatic and festive, everything is great there. Plus the setting is great. There are plenty of restaurants, the beach, it's open all the time..
And then there are real talents in Israel, as much on the pop scene as on the electro one, TYP or Asaf Avidan. There is a real creativity. The only problem is that they don't have the connections and it's a small country.

Tell us about your meeting with Offer Nissim?
We were talking to each other through management before I met him, in Tel Aviv. A great moment. We met again when he came to Paris to mix at the Queen where we played together and then in November in Tel Aviv and I think we will soon work on tracks together.
I like what he does: these clearly gay sounds, this dramatic melo side, it's very musical, very vocal, it grooves, it's effective! In 20 years, he has been able to stay straight in his heels, in this case it is also literally the case for him (laughs)... Respect !

What is your opinion on the marriage for all ?
I understand that we ask ourselves questions. But it's 2013: the world has to move on... We just ask to be equal. I pay taxes like everyone else so I think it's normal to have the same rights. I am quite scandalized to see all the behaviors, the comments and the reflections of some people: if we want to start on outdated and medieval principles like those I hear, tomorrow I will drive a carriage... It is not up to the "older generations" to say how we should live tomorrow. Once it's over, we'll realize that nothing has changed (in a bad way anyway). It will just have helped people to fit in better, to feel better. So yes to marriage for all of course.

In all your travels, which city, which country has marked you the most?
Israel. I had some preconceived ideas because the media describe this country in a rather negative way. But in the end I was very pleasantly surprised by Jerusalem and especially Tel Aviv. As the Israelis said to me: "you've realized that we don't travel on camels and that we don't throw bombs at each other all day long.

A city, a country that you preferred?
Definitely Ibiza. I've been going there since I was 17. I fell in love with the island. I hope to go and live there one day. Beyond the clubbing, there is a real quality of life, people do not take the head, they do not judge. And the landscapes are beautiful
I really like Turkey. An exceptional country, with a real cultural richness, and beautiful landscapes. I went to Istanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia to go horseback riding and I loved it. The people are kind, warm, festive and generous. We had some crazy parties.
I loved San Francisco where I lived for two and a half months. It's a city that straddles the line between the excessive side of the United States and the human side of Europe. People are very open
Anyway, every time I go to a country, I find that there is always something interesting to do.

Your favorite clubbing destination?
For gay clubbing it is clearly Barcelona, especially with festivals like Circuit or Tel Aviv. Ibiza for straight clubbing.

A dream destination?
India, both for the cultural and human aspect. I was told everything and its opposite. That it was beautiful. That it was filthy. That it was great... It made me want to go there
I would like to go to the Seychelles too. Just to hang out
Everyone tells me I should go to Japan and that I would love it, so why not.

A romantic destination?
Rome is very beautiful and romantic. There is a lot to see. It's the first romantic weekend I've done with my partner of 7 years. Venice is also very nice
I went to Sweden and I loved the small village coast, very quiet, no noise, very cute, it's very relaxing and very good for a romantic weekend.

The most gay-friendly destination?
Clearly, the fact that Tel Aviv has become a gay spot is not surprising. The infrastructure is great, the people are friendly, the atmosphere is great, the guys are handsome, the weather is good all year round, and it's not very far
There is Ibiza which I find more gay-friendly than Mykonos. Maybe also because there are more things going on there. Mykonos is basically beach, clubbing and cruising
Barcelona is obviously a super gay destination
I was also surprised by the gay-friendly side of the Turks. Istanbul, Antalya no problem. Bodrum is even a very gay city, very pleasant by the sea
On the other hand, Corsica, not gay-friendly at all! It's very beautiful, they are very nice, but I didn't feel very comfortable.

Your next trip?
Switzerland, in Lausanne. Then I think I'll go back to Israel. And this summer it will be very Balearic because I'm going to Minorca to ride horses and to Ibiza to "do the bitches". But it's often decided at the last moment so we'll see.

Can you share a picture of your vacations with our readers?

Photofrom Jordan, Wadi Rum