Sep 17

Abstraal: "Signing with a major label was a significant milestone"

Abstraal’s futuristic sound has caught the attention of major artists and labels, including Olivier Giacomotto and Popof. Their tracks, featured at events like Cercle and played by legends such as Sasha & Digweed, have established them as a prominent force in electronic music. Supported globally by acts like Innellea and Joris Voorn, Abstraal continues to push boundaries in the genre.

How did your collaboration with Dalida and Pegazi for "Salma Ya Salama" come about? What drew you to this project?

Back in the days, we worked with Pegazi in studio on other project. He’s a very good producer, but he’s not a DJ, so he doesn’t quite have that “club touch” that we bring to the table. A few months ago, he sent us and idea, just to get our feedback about his remix of that iconic track from Dalida, a true legend.

Everybody knows this song, and we saw a great potential on this project. The idea was very cool for us, the initial version needed a lot of work. The track needed more groove, a better mix, FXs etc to sounds well. Naturally, Pegazi asked us to work on it and producer a banger together.

The project started as a just for fun remix and quickly evolved. After making several adjustments, we felt that we could turn this remix into something much bigger. So we mobilized our contacts and connections and then, after a few weeks, the track landed on the right person’s desk.

The project officially took off with Universal Music.

What has been the most exciting moment of your experience with Universal Music?

Of course, the moment we received the contract was a significant milestone in the evolution of our project. Signing with a major label is incredible, especially since it wasn’t something we had anticipated achieving in the short term.

The most exciting moment was when they told us they loved the remix. They explained that they appreciated how our work captured a modern and contemporary feel while still preserving Dalida's original vision.

What do you enjoy most about working with Family Piknik? What is your favorite memory from the festival?

We’ve been collaborating with the Family Piknik team since the start of our project. Our mutual trust is strong; they value our feedback and we respect their insights in return.

There isn’t a particular moment that stands out because our relationship is a continuous partnership. Our connection is both professional and personal as management.

Playing at their events is always a pleasure, as we enjoy great set times, excellent exposure, and the chance to develop our projects alongside them.

What does playing at ADE 2024 mean to you? Do you have anything special planned for your set at Boom Chicago?

Performing at ADE is always important. It’s an exposure to the world of our industry to see our name on the official ADE program. We’ve previously played at ADE for the Exit Festival on a live broadcast Dj-Set before COVID.

This year, we can’t wait to play 3 shows. The first show is on the 16th October at Supper Club Cruise (a boat party), the second one is announced at Boom Chicago with our Family Piknik crew on 17th October. We play on friday 17thn too, the show is not announced yet.

During ADE, people are very busy with events happening everywhere, so we need to deliver a highly dynamic and impactful set. It’s also the perfect opportunity to test the new tracks we’re currently producing in the studio.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before? How has your musical style evolved over time?

If we had to classify our music, we’d describe it as techno-melodic. We use powerful drums to energize the dancefloor, long breaks to build tension, and plenty of vocals to add emotional depth.

However, with our track "Salma Ya Salama," we demonstrated our ability to produce tracks with a different vibe, incorporating more afro and deep elements while still focusing on the dancefloor.

During our sets, we always adapt to the lineup, set time, and other artists. Our style ranges from deep and indie to peak-time techno-melodic. We believe our music and style authentically reflect who we are : imperfect but made with passion. That’s what makes music and art beautiful.