DJ Antoine Aphrodite Terra

Who is Aphrodite Terra (age, where did you grew up, did you produce, remix records, where can people hear you play nowadays) ?
My real name is Antoine and I'am 31 years old (Birth date 01/01/1969) I'am born and grown up in the south/south east suburban of Paris, in a small town which have been during a long time a very industrial's town (quiet dark).
About music ? hummm this is a very long story. I'am basically a guitar and bass player, wich I started to learn by year 1983. After it's less simple, but due to some facts of my life and as I have always considered myself beeing not a good musician, I have stayed 2 years in a recording's studio with a social purpose and there everything have started.
1) I have learnt the "sound's technician" work,and now i'm sound eengener, after more of ten years of hard works and training (every job needs 10 years of works to learn it)
2) There I have met a guy who by the time has became a very good friend of mine (who is always still today) who was djiing and also making "e-music" so, simply because I have showed some interest to his work and also perharps he felt a strong "musical's talent and overfeelings" in me, he has pushed me to build up my own "home-studio" and he has given to me his 1st turntables (turntables from outer space, but good enough to train myself and see if this direction interested me) so without him I would never have became a dj/producer and even today he use to tell me that I'am a "good musician" and that it's not because I've got no recognition that I'am not good. anyway, that's life. so I still do produce music and have a good "home-studio" even if I think it is not finished, but we all know that a "home-studio" is never finished.
I've got a lot of musicals'project (I'm working on 5 differents'ep and will start to work on my first album, wich will be a "tribute" to all the great "be-bopers") I have leaved Paris in August 1999, and now I'm living in the south of france, in a small village on the country side. so about djiing, people can hear me on some local's radios'broadcast and soon on a "pirate radio's broadcast" on internet. I have almost stopped to djiing in public, and really spin not too much anymore, only into partys with a "low cost politics" but anyway I still really do love to make some mix-tapes for friends, websites, and simply people who asked me some of them : this is the only gift I can do for the moment. My last dj's set in france will be on the 10th november 2000. Perharps I will start back to spin in the future, perharps not. Only the future will say it !!!! And now I really want to make records and focus myself on it.
Tell us something about the early years when you started What was the vibe like, where did you play yourself, what was your experience with early house music like ?
Hard questions to answer About my musicals' path, I have always loved music and have always thought that there are good musics from every styles, from everywhere, past and present. So I have discovered the "bass culture's musics" with the first "sounds'systems" in paris by early 80's after I have discovered "house-music and techno" while I was in psychiatrist hospital. It was completly a new sound for me and it was sounded really crazy. At the time there were no radios'broadcasts for these musics, only some really, but really, crazy raves Only for few people who where loving this music and in these partys people coming from everywhere (most generally outcasted people,but not on a social's level) some people were cool, the others used to react like stupids'snobish, like "hipsters" Later there have been 2 radios'broadcast :
- one on "Radio 7" with Dimitry from paris who has introduced the "garage's sound" in france
- the other was "radio-MAXIMUM" but you have to know that these musics have always have suffered from a really strong repression from the french'governments,so between 1990 to 1992/93 there were no more radios'broadcast for these musics.
I have started djiing during a long time as a "bedroom'dj" (like most of us) and I have waited a really long time before spinning in public as I wanted my sets to be more than good. basically I'm a "techno dj" so I used to play into some raves,even if I have always considered "deep-house" as the most beautyfull music. It's after 1995, when the raves have been "outlawed", that I started to spin "deep-house" (hard beguining). I have played twice at "the rex club" in Paris, in a lots of bars and private partys (for fun !!!)e.
Do you try to express something special with your way of playing? What, if so, is the message people should retain from the classics you play ? And is it important that we keep in mind those records ?
Of course I express something!!!: Spreading love and freedom of the soul, spirit, mind, heart and body (but also beeing like a terrostist dropping bombs made with turntables just for my will of destroy all the walls wich are existing between the people.) my 2 sides
About the classics ?
We all have been introduced to these music thru "Classics'records" I don't play a lots of "classics", rather perharps "phuture classics????" I deeply think we have to don't forget these classics in anyways. (they are our roots and where everythings have started).
What would you name to be your greatest musical influences and handpick some records you consider to be crucial ?
Umm too much to number them but let's go :
- Charlie Parker
- Jimi Hendrix
- Serge Gainsbourg
- John Barry
- Lalo Schiffrin
- Sham 69 etc
Do you think the "deepness" of the house scene is degrading over years, or do you think quality of music is getting better throughout time ?
I really don't know and have no ideas on this subject (it's so special here in france)
What's your experience with European deep house. Which labels are drawing your attention ?
Do really love "nu-house" I do still love Nuphonic (even if they are less constant than in their past) about paper: I buy one of their records on ten released ones about 20:20 Vision : the ten first are fucking good !!!! But now, everybody here play their new records and by the time I have lost my love for them. But I'm still have my hears turn on UK's house and I really do love, for example, "People Recordings" and also such artists as "Bougie soliterre", Nigel Hayes' Productions( chaser,etc.), Calum Walker's Productions (Fresh and Low,etc.), Colin Gate's Productions (deepsensations,etc.).
Do you consider vocals to be crucial in order to have a top deephouse record ?
I do love to spin really soulfull vocals'deep-house,as well as very hypnotics and electronics' deep-house,etc I make my own cooking. But I do love vocals deep-house, it's touch me a lot, as well for the public I think. but it's no way "crucial" in order to have a top deep-house record, as far as I'm concerned.
What do you think of the evolution towards a global Internet deep house community, which seems yet to be seeing light throughout the explosion of the Internet worldwide ?
It's a positive thing in anyways. even if I have a really old computer, internet has deeply changed my life.
Will you do a special preparation program for your Belgian gig ?
What can the public expect from you on the 27th, musically speaking ?
What special message, if so, do you have to all the Oase de Pleasure partyheads ?
Yes, like I do for each partys I have played in and will play in.
about : "What can the public expect from you, musically speaking ?" I'am really out of control so I don't really know. But anyway I want the public to expect and live something great, something they have never lived before, to enjoy it and to have a beautyfull time on the dancefloor while I will spin. I just want to see smiles and joy upon their faces
"Your happy welcome is like a favour that I must now return." What special message, if so, do you have to all the Oase de Pleasure partyheads ?
You are "gold". keep doing what you are doing,as long as possible There are so few people like you in the world!!!! You will always have my recognition and support. thanx take care peace
Antoine "MR Venus"