Paris Cesvette is recognised worldwide for her incredible talent as a multi-disciplined musician, songwriter, music producer, DJ and Grammy Recording Academy member. Her current remix of Kinky Roland & Boy George’s ‘You’re Not The One’ single is currently up for Grammy consideration this year. With a career spanning decades, Paris has continually pushed the boundaries of sound, earning her a place among the most esteemed figures in contemporary soulful music. Aside of successful releases on her own label, ‘Our People, Our Music’, Paris’ productions and remixes have graced labels such as Reel People Music, Freeze Records, Soul Heaven, Ts Box, Groove Odyssey, Quantize Records, MoreHouse Records, Dafia Records, HouseHead London and MN2S, among many.
During her career, Paris has produced and remixed the likes of Barbara Tucker, Robert Owens, Kenny Bobien, Byron Stingily, Demuir, Boy George, Lifford, Tortured Soul, DJ Spen and Leee John (Imagination), alongside Jazz and R&B artists such as Will Downing, Robert Glasper, Marion Meadows, and Marcus Johnson, to name a few. As a DJ, she has graced the decks at festivals and parties worldwide, including Jameos Festival and Mallorcan Smooth Jazz Festival, Spain, Wolfsburg Festival, Germany, and the Chosen Few Picnic, Chicago, among others. As she releases her brand new second album, ‘As Above, So Below’, on Quantize, chock-full with soulful stars and stunning production, DMCWorld checks in with Paris Cesvette.
Hi Paris, welcome back to DMCWorld. How’s 2024 been for you so far?
Hey Hey!! 2024 has been wild… So many ups and downs but its equally been very peaceful.
What’s the best piece of new music you have heard recently?
The best new music would be by Avery Sunshine. She released a song called “I Wonder”, its sooo beautiful.
How did you first get into making specifically dance music?
I always joke and say, “I am a Jazz musician that got stuck in the wrong lane of traffic and never turned back.” My passion for all music just led me here. Something about that drum.. OOO wee.
How would you describe your signature sound?
I would say if you mix 90s RNB with the sensibilities of classic Soul music and a rooftop party in the summer time. That’s the sound of Paris Cesvette productions!
Who or what inspires your music?
My family have been my inspiration, my little boy is my reason and my constant want to create keeps the music coming. When I am not making, I am plugged in and listening. The new and old songs I hear help form my songs.
What’s been your most successful release so far?
Oooo that’s a tough one, I’m going to go with a record that was the first to attract a lot of support from other places and also birthed something knew in my love for what I do. It’s gotta be ‘I Love You So’ featuring Scott Paynter, which marked the start of a new dawn for me. How good is Scott!
Congratulations on the release of your second album, ‘As Above, So Below’, on Quantize Recordings, what was the inspiration behind the release and what can we expect to hear?
Thank you so much, I treat my albums as stamps in time on my journey as a record producer. So expect to hear the second chapter in an evolution. Musically its soulful and jazzy House Music with almost a completely new selection of artists from my first album, ‘Celestial’. So therefore, a completely new artistic gallery of vision, creativity fusing all the amazing talent I’ve been producing for over the last few years.
Who was involved with the project?
DJ Spen, a huge supporter of my work, challenged me to create an album better than anything I’d done before. With the challenge set, I pulled together an incredible team of vocalists: Tracy Hamlin, Hannah Khemoh, Rona Ray, Will Downing, Frank McComb, Scott Paynter, Michelle Weeks, Sabrina Chyld, Mr. V, C. Robert Walker, and Kenny Bobien. Gershon Jackson co-produced the track “Back to Me” and introduced me to my go-to bassist, Teo Lee from Unlimited Touch. I had also collaborated with Jack Sax Davis on a couple of songs prior to this project.
You’ve got some pretty impressive names on the line-up. What was it like working with legends such as Frank McComb and Will Downing?
They are legends and I am proud to have been supported by them and in their production circle for over 10 years. Every time we make a new song together, I’m as elated as the very first time. There really are not enough words to describe how special they are to me and to be working with them both.
What’s your favourite track from the album and why?
This can not be answered… lol, but I can tell you, this is my favourite album, haha!
How does ‘As Above, So Below’, differ from your first Traxsource No.1 album ‘Celestial’ in 2018, and how do you think your sound has changed / grown?
I always say, the marker of a producer is your finishing point. That moment when you think your song is done. This season of production (the album) has been a journey of me as an engineer, also singing and writing a lot of the songs on the album. I only wrote one song on ‘Celestial’ and had none of my own vocals in. On this album I wrote 5 of the songs and sing backings on a couple! I guess I jumped in even deeper with this one!!
How long did the album take to make and did you come up against any obstacles you had to overcome in the process?
My albums take a dedicated 6 months. 1 to 2 songs a month. The actual obstacles came when the songs were done. I’m such a visionary with my projects, they are never just about the music. It’s the artwork, the story. Unlike a lot of music, I didn’t want this project just thrown out. So Spen and I spent months back and forward with release dates. But here we are, yay!
How you typically go about putting a new song together?
It always starts at my keyboard or with my headphones. I’ll play a chord progression that sparks a light to something new. Or I will hear a record that inspires me and that’s it, the factory gets powered up!
What has been your favourite gig so far this year and where are you most looking forward to playing?
Ooo, my favourite gig so far has to be Brixton Disco Festival with the Handson Family. Playing for their stage was so much fun! I am extremely looking forward to playing The Chosen Few X Househead London Party on October 26th. Playing alongside Alan King & Wayne Williams of The Chosen Few is certainly a career highlight and Chicago is my favourite place on the planet.
As a London girl, how is the House music scene there at the moment and what club nights are popping?
I am a very introverted dedicated music maker, so when I am not the DJ myself. I couldn’t tell you exactly what club nights are the best, but the ones that book me are certainly getting the best parties in the city! So big shout to Househead London, Forward Motion and The Handson Family.
We come to raid your record collection, which embarrassing record do you chuck out the window before we arrive?
You know what, there is nothing, I am so into the art of all records, I’ll be able to tell you why a record that could be embarrassing is not!
What record makes you say ‘damn, I wish I made that’?
Oh that’s easy, Maxwell ‘Til The Cops Come Knocking;. The definition of the perfect groove. The way the bassline drives that composition. Out of this world!
Finally, what new productions are you working on that you can tell us about?
OOO, I have sooo many new songs coming. In 2025, I’ve engineered a lot in RNB & House music. Too many to mention really, but off the top of my head new songs with Benjy Bradshaw, Will Downing, Tracy Hamlin, Hannah Khemoh and so many more.
Paris Cesvette ‘As Above So Below’ Album is out now on Traxsource promo / Full release November 1st 2024 on Quantize Recordings.
https://www.traxsource.com/title/2381225/as-above-so-below
