Boxon Records Interview with Julian Minet

Boxon Records hits the ground running this Monday, November 19th 2007, with it's first release, Boxon 001 the Drama Queen EP. The EP features two incredibly promising French producers, Tom Deluxx (also of the equally wicked Just a Band) and Julien Milan(Read the Trash Menagerie feature on Julien here). The pair bring a brilliant blend of hard electro glitch to help define an extremely promising sound for Boxon. The ep lays out 4 new tunes for the label Drama Queen and Mushion Heroe by Tom Deluxx, whose style is easily fitting into the uncontainable dance-floor sound likening to that of Boys Noize. Pony Plage and the Drama Queen remix are stellar examples of a cohesiveness that Boxon delivers through Julien Milan's hard elctro / punk sensibilities. I need be said however, that, one just can't pigeon hole these two artists as just another part of the French electro scenery. The sounds are fresh, sexy, and pack great musical intonality. Look out for these two, because their on their way up for sure.



I was quite excited to catch up with Label Head Julian Minet to discuss Boxon's home, releases, art, and future plans. You can find the first of Boxon's many great releases through Discograph. Also, digitally the begining of December, through iTunes and Beatport.

1) Tell me about you. Your background and how you came to form Boxon.

JM - I took business studies, before to get a master specialized in event management, what helped me to become trilingual. I have been deejaying for ten years, playing piano for 12 years, and listening music for more than 26 years! That was my destiny to create a label.

2) What's your vision for the Label in 2008?

JM - It is programmed that the Boxon team will get bigger in 2008. I have already got gigs set-up for January, February and March. Then I hope to get booked in order to organize more Boxon Parties during the rest of the year. The ideal would be that these dates could be in accordance with the artists’ ambitions of my label, as well as keeping satisfying the interest from the organizations and from my contacts’ network about this project. I am just hoping that the 2008 vintage of Boxon Records will be as good as Bordeaux wines next year

3) Tell me about Bordeaux, how is the scene there?

JM - Bordeaux’s artistic scene is full of outstanding bands and dj’s, but some improvements could be done concerning the communication about the parties to go for example. Otherwise Bordeaux is quite alive at night. There are really cool places to have good dinner, to go out, and to drink good wine ;-).



4) I think people are really excited about this label, having heard some of the cuts. Tell us about the Boxon 001 Drama Queen Ep. Tell me about the process you went through in deciding on Boxon 001. Was it an easy choice featuring Tom and Julien? And How did you meet?

JM - Boxon 001 Drama Queen ep has been created in July 2007, following the first meeting we had between Tom Deluxx, Julien Milan, Anem (our graphic designer) and I. Then it has been really simple and logical that we made this project become true.

5) Is Boxon 001 just a teaser for Tom and Julien? Can we expect full- length albums from either of these two?

JM - Tom and Julien are on this “ep” because I believe in their talent.
The BoxonRec002 will be the first Ep 4 tracks of Tom Deluxx. It will be release on February 18th.

6) It must be tough dropping your first release in France when there are so many top notch labels right in your back yard, Ed Banger, Kitsune', Archibell, Ekler-o-shock, Institubes... etc. How do you feel Boxon stands out differently from labels like these?

JM - I have not created Boxon because of the existence of any label. I have just followed my intuition and I listened to the will I had to concretize some of my artistic ideas.

7) Talent wise, who else can we be expecting to appear on Boxon?

JM - We have some ideas concerning some upcoming Boxon artists, but I prefer not to say anything at the moment. Let’s see what happens… Box is On ;)

8) Another aspect of the label that stands out with Boxon is the Anem art. Tell us about how the two of you came together for the visual presentation of your first EP.


JM - Since the beginning, I have always trusted Anem. I have always been a big fan of her, and I am now very satisfied with the artwork she delivered to Boxon Records.


9) Tell me about your Boxon 001 release parties in Toulouse, Paris and Madrid. And why Madrid? Are there connections there?


JM -We have got these gig dates in order to promote the BoxonRec001. We’ll also play in Dormund and Leipzig in Germany in January 2008.
Why Madrid? Because I have lived there for two years, that’s one of my favorite cities, and I have got some good friends there.

10) Where can we find Boxon Releases? And where and when can Americans pick up Boxon 001?


JM - From November 19th, you will be able to find the BoxonRec001, with Tom Deluxx and Julien Milan, at Virgin, Fnac, and all the independent shops that order to our dear distributor, Discograph.
As well, you will be able to buy digitally our releases on iTunes and Beatport, etc. from the beginning of December.


11) Who should we be looking out for in 2008? Any favorite new Boxon talent?


JM - Just follow us, and you will know about it! Go on: www.myspace.com/boxonrecords

Boxon Recordings - Julian Minet's November Top 10

01. Danger - 11h30
02. Danger - 14h54
03. Digitalism - Pogo (Mentalism Version)
04. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Let’s Make Out
05. Timbaland - Miscommunication (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
06. Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body (Just A Band Remix)
07. Boys Noize - Lava Lava
08. Tom Deluxx - Mushion Heroe
09. Julien Milan - Poney Plage
10. End-Jy - Sitaro (Dimitri Andreas Rmx)


Here's a Julien Milan mix posted recently for the excellent Trash Menagerie Blog:

Julien Milan - Take it Easy Mix