For Jack de Marseille, it all started in 1981 during a “Prélude show” at Radio Star specialized in electro funk and hip-hop culture at that time. Today, he is one of the key figures in the French electronic scene and he is considered as one of the most respected vinyl-Djs. Up till now, all his career was dedicated to evolving the electronic movement. In 1992, he co-organized and hosted “Atomix”, the first rave in Marseille. In 1994, he signed his first compilation on Fairway Record and then he released several Eps and collaborations on Ozone records, Distance, Wagram Music, Magic Garden...  From 1994, he held a residency at Rex club for several years. As a born entrepreneur, he co-ran from 1995 to 2003 his Wax Records, considered as one of the best record stores in France.  In 1997, he was the first Dj to open the Daft Punk's representations during their tour “Daftendirektour”. In 2001, the vinyl purist launched his own “Wicked Music” label. The activist keeps going forward by holding his Festival “Jack in the box” for 10 years at Cabaret Aléatoire and on the rooftop terrace of La Friche Belle de Mai and there he will celebrate his 35 years Djing this Summer. Short interview during one of his monthly “Wicked sessions” at Radio Grenouille.

Welcome Jack, a glass of?

Yamazaki.

Where do you come from?

Dad when he was young was a photographer. Later my parents had a handcrafted pottery business. My father manufactured and my mother decorated. My parents have always been artisans. Regarding music, my dad loved the Opera and my mother the classic music.

Your main influences?

Electro Funk, Hip-Hop and Acid House.

If I tell you Prélude?

It brings back so very many memories for me! It reminds me of the 80’s and the “Prélude show” by Phil and Yannick (Philippe Subrini is also the founder of Zulu Nation in Marseille, Editor’s notes) I was listening to every Saturday night. I remember that, during one of their shows, they said: “if you do not have any vinyl for scratching, you can use a zip to create the sound of the scratch”. I think that this moment was my first approach to djing. Then, it was the start of my megamix montages. It also reminds me of Prelude Records ; François Kevorkian was the A&R of the label.

Your first time as a Dj?

1988, in my tennis club where I was a tennis teacher.

Where does the name Jack de Marseille come from?

In May 1997 in a French TV show called “La Marche du Siècle” they presented me as Jack de Marseille because I was and still live in this city! Before it was Dj Jack.

If I mention Daft Punk?

I was the first Dj to play at the “Homework” album tour in 1997. Really good friends, we spent a lot of time together in Marseille and Paris, in the 90’s. One time Thomas Bangalter brought me to his parent’s home, showed me his bedroom where they created the album, small studio, and a little equipment for a phat sound!!

And Trainspotting?

I made one track for the French adaptation for theatre. It was just amazing to be a part of this project!

When and what prompted you to become a producer?

In 1995 in Grenoble, at Ozone records shop with Kiko, The Hacker, Oxia. We shared a lot of ideas, influences… After 6 years of experience and creation through my mixes, listening to so many tracks, something deep inside me wanted to get into production.

Which tracks best represent you today?

“Kalymba Part II”, “Personnal Feelings”, “Got to Believe”, “You Make Me Feel So Good”, “Body and Mind”, My remix “In The Black Of The Night”, and “Echospace”.

How was the atmosphere at your Atomix area?

It was a peaceful atmosphere, amazing energy, and people from different horizons! Like the summer of love in the UK in 1988 with a French touch. People didn’t analyse music, they just felt it, a lot of happiness, a wide music spectrum.

And what about Back To Origins events?

Some events I organised in Cabaret Aléatoire in Marseille with some pioneers of electronic music like Joey Beltram, Slam, Funk d’Void…

You held a residency at Rex Club, do you have any nice memories to share?

First time, in February 1994, Lolo Granier invited me to play with Carl Cox. I became one of his Dj’s friends to play at Space - Ibiza between 2003-2016. A few years later, I became a resident for 14 years. I invited artists who played at Rex for the first time, such as Fumiya Tanaka, Oscar Mulero, Gaetano Parisio, Mistress Barbara, Angel Molina, Ken Ishii, Aril Brikha…

How do you feel about the current scene in France?

For a few years, I have not been into it, the style is cheesier. But it depends on promoters, I feel that the wind has been turning towards quality over the past few months!

Do you think that bridges between main French electronic towns such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille are solid enough today ?

After Covid many people from Paris or Lyon came to live in Marseille, the city became popular! The big problem is that there are too many Djs and promoters for the city, and not enough places for events. For a few years, there have been a few bridges with Marseille and different cities like Toulouse, Paris or Lyon. We can’t say it is solid, I think we need more artistic exchanges between promoters and cities.

Could you speak about your Jack In The Box festival?

I organised the first edition in 2015 to celebrate my 25 years of Djing. Actually, for several years, I was thinking about organising my own music festival. After this edition, it became a festival. It’s a good balance between all generations of artists in different kinds of underground electronic music.

Le Cabaret Aléatoire in 3 words?

Residence, warehouse, Djing.

How was your period Wax Records store?

I heard that it was one of the best record shops in France.

Wax Records was my shop from 1995 to 2003, opened with my partner Paul, considered, with the BPM Records in Paris, as the best vinyl shop during the 90’s by some French electronic music magazines. It was a big honour! We were ordering vinyls via distributors in Detroit, Berlin, Hambourg, Geneva, London, Paris, Bruxelles, Lille, Amsterdam, New-York trying to represent the best underground electronic music of each country. House to Techno to Electro / Break to Drum n’Bass to Electronica.

What about your radio show at Radio Grenouille please?

I started during June, July 92. Then in 1995, the show was called Wax Up via a 2 hours mix presenting news from my shop Wax Records. End of 2003, I closed the shop and renamed the show Wicked Session.

If you could teleport yourself for 1 day…

The Hacienda in Manchester, Boccaccio in Belgium, Warehouse in Chicago.

Some nice memories you will never forget?

In 2017 I played on the Great Wall of China at the Yinyang Music Festival. My residency for more than 2 years at Club Risk in Amsterdam, the connection with the crowd was amazing too! (Jack de Marseille was the revelation at the Festival Dance Valley 1999 - Editor’s Notes). May 1992, my first mix in a Warehouse with a huge sound system; it was at the Rave Atomix. 1992 at Rave O Trans during the Trans Musicales de Rennes… Too many nice memories (laughs).

Speaking of which, in 1992, you organized the first rave in Marseille. What makes you proud of yourself?

I’m not proud, we just wanted to make people happy and show a new way for party time, RAVE ON! My partners, Thierry and Pierre came from Paris, they already organised some raves, only house music and garage, in the capital. For Rave Atomix in Marseille they brought Laurent Garnier, the first time I met him, since we have been really good friends.  You can find an archive broadcast recorded by MCM - "120 BPM" below.  

How important is Marseille to you?

It’s the city where I was born, it’s written in my artist name, to be a part of the cultural history of the city.

A banger in 3 words?

Soul, groove, energy.

The last record you bought?

St Germain “Boulevard” album new press color edition

What does the vinyl represent for you?

First Passion! 35 years of my life, back pain! (laughs) A collection of around 60.000 vinyls.

Wow 60.000 vinyls! Jack, what are the main difficulties for a vinyl-only Dj today?

Vinyl is more and more expensive.

Your top 3 record shops?

Hardwax in Berlin, Clone in Rotterdam, and Rough Trade in London.

Techno or House?

Both.

Which new talents should we keep an eye on?

Idoru, Hugo Rolan, Sanna Mun, Mystery Kid, Gannein, Sound Synthesis, Justine Perry, Fasme, Tauceti, Poly Chain, Talfelt, Human Safari, Otto Diva. 

Your top 5 new releases?

- Johannes Volk « Sense Of Wonder »

- Damon Wild « Reflection » [SW126]

- Franz & Shape v TenGrams « Quantum Drift »

- LSDXOXO « Witching Hour »

- MASTER-H « Be Real »

Your top 5 old releases?

- Ability II « Pressure Dub »

- The Orb « A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld »

- LFO « LFO » (Leeds Warehouse Mix)

- CJ Bolland « Horsepower »

- Sleezy D « I ve lost control »

Mountains or sea?

Sea.

Who is the current Jack de Marseille in 3 words?

Curious, passionate, zen.

Your projects for 2025?

I will celebrate my 35 years of Djing, write about Acid House history for a fanzine and maybe a bio book.

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi / Photo header by Isis Mecheraf and photo footer by Edouard Hartigan.