RB Exclusive Interview: Louis Vivet in the Next ‘Best Thing’

Nicolas II and Aria S, aka Louis Vivet, have effectively risen the ranks of Los Angeles’ burgeoning dance collective after a seminal breakthrough year. The duo boast a sound that’s founded on house music, one that also possesses clear influences from deep/UK styles, progressive house, and pop. LV’s live performances have resonated with audiences, highlighted by a diverse track selection that reflects their artistic diversity. When they aren’t producing or performing, you’ll find LV working on new graphics or visuals to enhance their live shows. LV brings listeners into their own carefully constructed universe with their heavy emphasis on narrative storytelling, one that they communicate clearly through their art and music.

Last Fall Louis Vivet debuted their smash hit during a Discovery Project performance at Escape All Hallow’s Eve. Playing on the 90’s classic ‘Save Tonight’, LV successfully bridged the multi-generational gap for a radio friendly single that can still be heard to this day. With over 750,000 plays on SoundCloud and an equally popular remix by Nigel Good, Louis Vivet successfully turned the folk anthem into a mellow masterpiece. This caught the attention of international DJ / producer Gareth Emery, who has regularly featured their tracks on his Electric For Life podcast. It wasn’t until after the massive success of ‘Save Tonight’, that Louis Vivet debuted their first original track ‘Downbeat’ in March 2015 on Dancing Astronaut. This exceptional track is comprised of trip step pops, melodic lifts, and pounding bursts of energy. Possessing a clear talent for utilizing vocal samples, ‘Downbeat’ showcased their ability as both remixers and producers. Throughout a spectrum of different influences, Louis Vivet have continued to stay true to branding themselves outside of all preconceived genre limitations.

Now Louis Vivet is back once again, this time with an original entitled ‘Best Thing‘ with the vocals of Gavrielle. Check it out along with my interview with them about their start and plans for the future!

What was it like winning Insomniac’s Discovery Project and how has that impacted your career?

Nick: “It was a surreal moment, especially since it was before we had released our first song, “Save Tonight (ft. Gavrielle).”.  I remember we were all at dinner with a large group of friends and our managers pulled us aside and broke the news. “

Aria: “That was a big moment for us because it provided validation that there were professional tastemakers out there who appreciated our work.”

What can you tell us about your upcoming track ‘Best Thing’ and what it was like working with Gavrielle?

Nick: “You know it’s strange thinking about that track because we finished it over a year ago.  Gavrielle was actually the first to approach us with the song.  She had already written the first verse and chorus.   I remember she played it for us on the piano and we looked at each other and immediately knew we had to produce it.   Most of the production was actually done in a make shift studio we set up outside at Aria’s house in Malibu.  We feel that’s what gives the song that uplifting feeling when you first hear it.  I mean what’s seriously better than making music outdoors in beautiful So Cal weather.”

Aria: “Also, we love working with Gavrielle. Every project together seems to flow so naturally.  It’s hard to find that when working with other artists.  We still write songs with her and she’s become one of our closest friends. Also shout out to her boyfriend Robbie who is literally the dopest guy you’ll ever meet.”

Has coming from LA has played a role in diversifying your music or shaping it into what it is?

Nick: “Absolutely.  LA is the capital of up and coming musical talent.  You’ll hear a track playing out in the clubs months before you hear it on the east coast.  LA has such a diverse range of music too from the tech house vibes of Sound nightclub to the indie dance parties of Silverlake.  I think that aspect of the LA music scene has influenced us the most. The fact that there are no rules or limits to the type music an artist can make.”

Do you think by designing your own visuals you are able to draw the audience in more? Does it enhance the music?

Aria: “Yeah it allows us to have greater creative control over the story of Louis Vivet.  Not only that but Nick is an incredible graphic designer.  He’s actually graduating with a degree in graphic design this Spring from USC.”

What made you guys decide to use live elements in your shows?

Nick: “The late great Bob Dylan once said “The times they are a changin’.”  That line holds so true today in electronic music.  You’re seeing a large shift from the producer as a straight DJ to now an actual live show accompanied with synthesizers and electronic drums.   But this aspect also allows the audience to immerse themselves more with the show.   We feel that aspect is so important for the Louis Vivet project.”

How did you guys decide you wanted to be a duo? 

Aria: “Well Nick and I actually met in college at USC.  It was our similar tastes in music that drove us to work together in the first place. It makes our work flow so much easier because we rarely disagree on the general direction we should take in a new track.  On top of that we’re both great friends.  There’s nothing better than being able to do what you love alongside your friends.“

What events or plans are you looking forward to in 2016?

Nick: “We can’t talk specifics but there is a possible tour in the works with one of our great mentors in the industry.  This guy has helped us tremendously in our careers.   But we’re probably most looking forward to debuting our live show.  We’ve been talking about it for months now but we want it to be perfect before we debut it to our fans.  The idea of Louis Vivet revolves heavily on immersive visuals and storytelling.  To us, artists are storytellers but unfortunately, too many performers have lost sight of that. So we’re hoping to bring that emphasis back through our live performances.”

Who are some artists you look up to? Who would you like to collaborate with?

Aria: “We really admire guys like Skrillex and Christian Karlsson (of Miike Snow and Galantis) because of their ability to cross over into different genres of music.  Especially Karlsson, we’ve followed his career as fans for such a long time. The guy has his hand in so many genres of music. He’s produced hits for Britney Spears, is a part of the indie pop band Miike Snow, and he makes dance music with Galantis. He’s the type of artist Nick and I strive to be.  He’s not confined to one particular genre, but is successful in any genre he chooses to take on.  We would love to collaborate with him.”

What advice do you have for beginning producers?

Nick: “Don’t let anyone discourage you from making the type of music you’re truly passionate about, whether it be Pop, Deep House, or even Bigroom EDM.  An artist is most creative when they’re making music that really speaks to them, which in turn makes the music better.  Once you stop doing that and start making music to please others, they’ll always be chasing the next sound.  In our opinion, that’s not how you become successful.  Look at guys like Flume and Kygo, they forged their own path and created a sound and style that was genuine to themselves.  We’re not saying you have to create your own genre to make it in this industry, but an artist has to have that level of confidence in their sound and turn off the unnecessary outside noise.”

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