The ever-reliable FCL, aka Belgian house heroes San Soda and Red D, are back on the block with a remastered remix package of ‘Can We Try,’ released on London label Freerange Records. We got the chance to sit down with San Soda to discuss all things production process, the new track, where we should visit in his hometown, and more!

WWD: Welcome to WWD! Where does the impulse to create music come from in you?

The inspiration comes equally from DJing, hardware gear, and music from other artists.

WWD: What roles do stuff like art, relationships, and the state of the world play for you in the ideas process?

They do more now than before, and this hasn’t always helped with the efficiency of the process. My favourite place to be is in that bubble where there is no time or outside world. This is the most fun and therapeutic place to be.

WWD: Do you find you need a concrete idea before you start producing a track? 

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It really helps if you see the end product before you start making it. However, sometimes there is nothing, but all of a sudden inspiration comes when messing with a synth or an effect, and a track grows from there.

WWD: What is the balance between planning and improvisation for you?

Too much planning kills my creativity; too much improvisation kills my productivity. I’ve been looking for the sweet spot for the last 10 years.

WWD: Is there a preparation phase for your process?

The signal path is the most important one here. If you can output what you had in mind quickly without rewatching your machines, it’s a big help.

WWD: Can you tell us a bit about the way ‘Can We Try’ developed and gradually took its final form?

As far as I can remember, these were my first explorations with the “arpeggiator” in Ableton. Not too much thought went into the arrangement (read: the whole thing is underproduced), but when you have a talented vocalist grace the instrumental in this way, it’s all good.

WWD: Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later?

I’ve never really had the feeling that I completely finished a piece – or when I did, I ended up hating it, and most of those monsters are tucked away on a hard drive. I’ve been digging and listening to music for so long that my bar is set very high now. I don’t reach the level of quality in composition and production of the artists that I love — yet. The last 5–10 years of my life have been about other things than production. However, the jungle years of having kids and building a house are nearly over, and I want to bring the focus back to creating and performing.

WWD: How much tweaking do you allow until you’re satisfied with a track? 

Between 3 hours and 2 decades.

WWD: After finishing music and putting it out there, there can often be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this?

Not at all. I completely disconnect from anything I’ve created even before it’s released, and then it’s on to the next thing.

WWD: Do you find that the feedback of others is important to you? Are there sometimes misunderstandings or does feedback from your peers help you to gain new insights?

It’s hard to get objective feedback – it’s human for your peers to spare you. The best way to get it is to forget about your song for as long as possible and listen back months or years later. Especially on that first listen, you can very clearly hear everything that’s wrong with it and what needs changing. After the second or third listen, you’re already familiarized with the thinking process of the creative project, and it takes away your fresh perspective. 

WWD: What was most important for you to convey throughout this remix EP? Do you feel you have achieved it?

I’ve always appreciated what my longtime production and DJ buddy Red D has done to put FCL on the map, and if this results in remixes by talented producers like here, even better.

WWD: Where should we make sure we visit your hometown?

Pass through the music academy in Lede where I teach – a great hotspot for local and not-so-local DJ and production talent!

WWD: Who do you think is currently changing the world for the better?

My daughter.

WWD: Amazing! Thanks for the chat 🙂

The ‘Can We Try’ remixes are available here