How Motorbass Laid The Foundation For Daft Punk | Will Clarke Podcast

Will Clarke

Will Clarke

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This week’s episode features an absolute pioneer of electronic music: the legendary Etienne de Crécy. Sitting down with the architect of the French House scene was incredibly inspiring, especially as we dive into the raw, early days of the Parisian underground. We talk about his groundbreaking duo Motorbass, formed alongside his partner and friend, the late Philippe Zdar, and what it was actually like laying the foundational blueprint for French house before Daft Punk took the sound global.

We also celebrate 30 years of his iconic Super Discount project! But what blew me away the most during our chat was Etienne's relentless drive to create the music of the future. He is a producer who refuses to rely on 90s nostalgia and is constantly searching for the next sonic boundary to push. Whether you are a massive fan of classic French house or just love hearing the passion behind what Etienne took to get here, you are going to love this one.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Cold open
01:28 - 30 years of Super Discount, and never looking back
04:30 - Raves under a bridge, and booked worldwide in two years
06:38 - The ecstasy night that made the music make sense
11:35 - Sound engineers who learned to make tracks
17:00 - Why every track had a different alias
20:38 - The joke behind the name Super Discount
23:14 - Before Daft Punk: what France started
25:26 - French Touch, and why it took 20 years to get its name
28:39 - Can you still build a scene in 2026?
31:00 - New tools make new genres, and where AI fits
34:30 - The record shop community that streaming killed
37:27 - Getting jaded, and why commercial pressure kills music
40:50 - Building a career on albums in a singles world
48:47 - The Cube: a landmark show made cheap
58:30 - Live over DJing, and never touching a computer
59:38 - The new album Warm Up, and writing with vocalists
01:03:00 - What is French culture actually doing to music?
01:07:24 - DMing his heroes for the remix album
01:11:30 - The impact he does not see, and what is next



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