To say that Los Angeles native Dillon Francis is the most motivated producer in underground electronic dance music at the moment is the understatement of the year. His ascension to the top of the pack of hungry and progressive minded producers was so quick, so effortless and ultimately so great that if you didn’t notice, it’s quite okay. Francis didn’t make the made the tracks this year that crushed the party, he made the tracks that pushed it to higher levels of impressiveness. In a career spanning less than five years, Francis has worked with a list of production luminaries that rank in the top percentile of the most fertile creative minds in this history of dance music. In 2011, the only thing holding back Dillon Francis is that there’s only 24 hours in a day to make things happen.
Dillon Francis & Dj Ammo – Westside (Dillon Francis Moombahton Edit) by DILLONFRANCIS
He’s the youngest and arguably most important producer on Plant Music, the high end underground label started by legendary DJ Stretch Armstrong. Having spent time with the likes of Dallas Austin upon deciding to take a year of his life, lock his bedroom door and use his blessing of laser like focus to understand how to produce dubstep initially, Francis’ boundless creative mind that expanded to house and yes, moombahton, is at the moment one of the great treasures of the forward minded underground. “Westside,” his track with Will I.Am’s personal DJ, DJ Ammo is a killer. Made with a deep desire by the Black Eyed Peas front man for an American and West Coast leaning version of Sidney Samson’s Dutch winner “Riverside,” the Westside Connection sampling banger does just that and more. As well, latest track “Brazzer’s Theme” with Dave Nada has continued Francis’ ability to pick up on the impulses that makes a top producer unique, manipulate their sound , and make it entirely more melodic, propulsive and a DJ necessity. Francis is a musical sponge, both able to soak and be wrung dry with equal effectiveness.
Dillon Francis & Dave Nada – Brazzer’s Theme (Original Mix) by DILLONFRANCIS
2011 finds Dillon Francis releasing an EP with Mad Decent Records featuring all of his top cuts, as well as some new bangers. He’s already confirmed to be at SXSW and WMC as a guest of the leading label and cultural identifier, and with a planned Murderer’s Row of collaborators and artists demanding remixes at the top of music at the moment, this is only the beginning. I had the opportunity to interview the top young producer, and in his answers note his joy, focus and sheer wonder at reflecting at the nature of his own rise. The best part about being great sometimes it when you’re not even aware of your own potential, and are just attempting to enjoy likely the most amazing moment of your life.