Electronic music suffers from a untrue and negative stereotype that producers and DJs aren’t real musicians. It usually stems from people who have no clue what they’re talking about because when you really start to look deeply into the production and performances, and take the time to learn about the artists themselves you’ll find that some of them are the truest musicians of our time. One artist in particular that represents this truth is Brooklyn by way of Vermont producer Pierce Fulton. Listening to his music it’s undeniable how talented he is as a musician in every sense of the word.
Growing up in Vermont, he grew up in a supportive musical family, spent his formative years playing multiple instruments in live bands and dabbling in music production. Pulling influences and inspiration from a multitude of genres and using them to craft his own sound and production style; Pierce Fulton has become one of the fastest rising names in the scene. It’s funny to think that not too long ago, he was just a musically inclined college kid in Vermont until the electronic music world found him through his releases online and turned him into a world traveling headliner with fans flocking to his sets and sounds in droves.
He’s been playing on the biggest stages with the game’s biggest names for sometime and now he’s ready to take it to the next level. Currently, he is on his own headlining tour and we got a chance to catch up with him and ask him some questions about his music, his life and see if you we can catch a glimpse of what’s coming next from the young producer.
Pierce Fulton – Kuaga (Live Version) [Official Video]
TSS: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us and congrats on the tour so far. You are on a pretty big run right now, how has the road been treating you? How does it feel to be coming back to the New England area to play Royale?
Pierce Fulton: The shows have been incredibly good! I can’t remember my last less-than-amazing show which is crazy, I couldn’t be happier about my gigs lately. I’m so stoked for Boston, I haven’t played since last fall and Royale was where I first played in Boston (opening set) and to come back and headline is so awesome.
TSS: I personally became a fan of you when I stumbled on your live video of “Kuaga”. I was blown away by your setup and the way you were able to remix that track live with live instruments. Is it possible that that’s the way you see your live show going as you move forward?
Pierce Fulton: The video was essentially a way to show all the elements going on in the song. Sadly that particular set up wouldn’t permit me to play live for a live show but the next video will be a 100% live performance. I’m gonna have to redo the way I do Kuaga live for the eventual live show but this was really a test video for what’s coming later.
TSS: Can you talk a little bit about your roots in music? You grew up playing in bands, but found your way into DJing and electronic music. What kind of bands did you play in growing up? How did you find your way into electronic music and what music/artists got you into it? Also, how do the skills you have gained from all of your music experiences inspire and shape what you are doing today as a producer and a performer?
Pierce Fulton: Well I sort of bounced around bands from the age of 14-18 ranging from small groups of friends just jamming, to school band class, to pit band in school musicals, and really just all over, covering all sorts of styles. I found electronic music randomly through a friend all while I was still playing guitar in a band or trombone at school and random other instruments for fun jam sessions with friends. I had been producing hip-hop for a bit so when I first discovered dance music I decided to give it a go and here I am. I think playing music for most of my childhood really helped the performing aspect; I’ve never had much of a problem playing some music and dancing around while engaging a crowd.
Cash Cash – Surrender (Pierce Fulton Remix)
TSS: I know this is such a basic question, but can you talk about some of your influences? I hear so many elements of different styles in your music we have to know where the inspiration is coming from. What did you listen to growing up? And what are you listening to a lot these days?
Pierce Fulton: I’d say the music my parents brought me up listening to is what really inspires me still to this day. Stuff like the Rolling Stones or the Doors and the Grateful Dead. Just reminds me of simple and elegant songwriting combined with some punch. All catchy, all fun.
TSS: What do you think the biggest turning point was for you in your career? You went from a college kid making music to traveling the world and doing big records with top artists. Was it a certain song? A video you did? A show you played? When did the dream start becoming a reality?
Pierce Fulton: I think it was when I left school to go on a bus tour with Wolfgang Gartner. It was a time where I had to make a choice that decided where my life was going. School or music full time. I’d also say Kuaga was a pretty big turning point because all of the sudden djs and labels are asking me for new music and I was a definitely more unknown before the song.
TSS: Also, what was your approach to making it happen? You never went through the local circuit as an opener or anything but you found a way to get your music out and get bookings.
Pierce Fulton: People always think I’m full of shit but I literally just made music and put it on the Internet. I didn’t hound anyone and I have never had really any connections besides people that have contacted me through my music so I just sort of did my thing and let people hear it. I think it’s a super strange approach but I just tried to make the music the most important part.
TSS: Is there a place you have been booked that made you say to yourself, “I can’t believe I’m playing here?”
Pierce Fulton: Tomorrowland last summer was definitely one of those moments.
Pierce Fulton – Runaway (Original Mix)
TSS: Who have you gotten praise from that just blew you away to know they are a fan of what you do?
Pierce Fulton: I’d say Adventure Club because they somehow found my song Kuaga and started playing it so much and they’re two of the nicest dudes I’ve met in this whole industry. Always so fun and supportive and put on a really great show, love those dudes.
TSS: What is your songwriting process like? How do you develop ideas into songs and remixes? Also, what gets you inspired and what do you do to keep growing as a producer?
Pierce Fulton: I don’t really have a process anymore. I sort of trained myself to approach every song differently because I got tired of routines. It helped me fall in love with the process of starting a song again. Sometimes you can get too used to using what you know already works but when you dig a little deeper and take the long route it will most likely make a difference.
TSS: You have probably made a mistake on stage every now and then. I bet most people do not notice it live other than you, but can you recall a mistake you made live in the past? Also if you make a mistake how do you recover?
Pierce Fulton: Hahaha literally 2 nights ago I was using the mic and tossed it off to the side and it accidentally hit the master volume knob and it was BLARING loud for like 3 seconds but I reacted pretty quickly. In those moments, even like the ones where you pause the wrong cdj and the music stops, you just gotta laugh. Sometimes I’ll even get on the mic and go “I fucked up” and it gets a good laugh.
TSS: Do you think what you did with “Kuaga” is indicative of where electronic music or music in general could be heading in terms of taking production on stage and expanding beyond the confines of just being a DJ when you are performing? Also, how much of that is what you do in the studio when you are making music?
Pierce Fulton: I don’t really know where electronic music is going so that’s why I’m just doing my thing and enjoying the ride. I’m simply trying this live approach because I miss performing like I did when I was younger. As for the studio, I’ve been recoding guitar bass or my vocals in almost every new song of mine. It just spices up the whole experience.
TSS: If you had an unlimited budget and resources for an album what would you do? Who would you bring in? Also, for fun, you get to book your own tour and bring out 2 acts on the road with you. Who would you bring out with you?
Pierce Fulton: Oh god that is the worst question ever because that’s like my dream so I don’t even want to fantasize because it will bum me out haha. I’d seek out some interesting features. I’ve been meaning to work with some more session players instead of just vocalists, for example get a dope bassist instead of relying on my sub par bass playing or working with a horn section. I’d obviously work with vocalists too but I’d want the focus to be less on how many vocal tracks I’ve got but rather a blend of everything. As for a tour I’d totally bring my two friends who are coming up in very different but awesome world of electronic music: Yotto from Finland and Puppet from America. Both are quickly coming up and making seriously good music.
Pierce Fulton – Get Weird Episode 019
TSS: You work with guitars, sampling vinyl records and tons of different pieces of hardware when you are working on music. What piece of gear or instrument do you have your eye on these days that you would like to have? I have a hook up at Guitar Center if you need it.
Pierce Fulton: Haha I sort of want a new guitar or bass. I mean of course I want some synth gear like a Juno 60 or a moog voyager but the inner teenager in me wants a Gibson guitar haha. To be honest though I don’t really need anything right now. Just more time in my studio! Maybe some new records from a thrift shop once I go thru all my Grandma’s old ones.
TSS: Share with us the funniest thing you have seen on the internet today!
Pierce Fulton: A kid was accusing me of using a prerecorded set on Twitter because I didn’t use a cross fader hahaha. It was very funny because yes I don’t use a cross fader while I mix but surely he couldn’t see the other 4 volume faders going up and down? Or the cdj spinning with the song? Kids are too quick to assume these days. Also why the hell would I fly for most of my life to go and stand and play a premixed set? Just hilarious.
TSS: Time for some hypotheticals! If you could work with any rapper who would it be? If you could work with any band who would it be? Which singer would you like to work with? Also, if you could just sit down and hang out with anyone, who would it be?
Pierce Fulton: I’d say a group like Souls of Mischief or something. Old school vibes, even Joey Bada$$ he combines the best of contemporary hip hop with an old school feel. Band I’d say maybe The Wombats or Passion Pit (even tho Madeon beat me to that). Singer I’d wanna work with James Brown I’ve been listening to him so much lately he is just so raw. I’d sit and hang with my great Grandfather, he was a singer, songwriter and played trombone in Paul Whiteman’s orchestra. Sadly he passed away when I was very young so I never got a chance to really get to know him. I was also named after him so I’ve always felt a special connection: Jack Collins Fulton – Pierce Collins Fulton
TSS: What is your usual coffee order?
Pierce Fulton: Red eye always. Unless it’s the afternoon then I just do a small black coffee or cold brew.
Pierce Fulton – As You Were
TSS: What’s the craziest/funniest experience you have ever had while performing? I am sure you have seen some crazy stuff the way your shows seem to pop off.
Pierce Fulton: Well it’s semi funny, one time I played in Montreal like 3 years ago and I was really enjoying my set when all of the sudden the dance floor cleared in like 10 seconds right when I played a new song of mine and I was like “OH SHIT this song is a dud” but actually someone pepper sprayed someone else and in a stuffy club the stuff spreads like crazy and makes it hard to breathe. I was in a booth sort of away from the dance floor so I never got a whiff but I thought I cleared the floor with a new song of mine haha.
TSS: Do you have any new songs or projects coming that we should be on the lookout for? Any big gigs in the future that you are excited about? I saw you were scrambling to finish some new tracks before Miami Winter Music Conference…be honest, are you a procrastinator to a certain extent? Or just super obsessive?
Pierce Fulton: I have a tooooon of new music. I finished 4 for Miami and I’ve actually been playing them out every gig since and I plan on continuing to. I also am starting this group with my good friend and roommate Ansolo and we’re called Shirts & Skins. We’re a tech house duo that started out because we just wanted to play fun music on like a random Tuesday in NYC. Then we started making songs for it and now we’re gonna try to release some and see what happens haha. I don’t think I’m a procrastinator but I do know when I should and shouldn’t work now. If it’s crunch time like right before Miami I will work day and night to finish what I know I have to get done but if I’m home for a week and one day I’m just not vibing with sitting in my studio cave I know to do something else to get me fired up for working later.
TSS: If you could change the world in some way how would you change it? By that I mean, is there something you see in the news or see in the world personally that you wish you could do something about?
Pierce Fulton: I’d definitely try to change how America deals with education, college more specifically. I’ve had so many incredibly smart friends who go to college and get a degree + student loans like you cannot believe. I just think it’s such a shame that the cost of education sometimes outweighs the actual benefit.
TSS: Have anything to say to the fans out there?
Pierce Fulton: I love all y’all and I hope you’re ready to hear a ton of new music I’ve been stockpiling for almost 6 months. Most excited I’ve ever been about new music!
TSS: Have anything to say to any of the haters? If you have any?
Pierce Fulton: haha well that cross fader bro was the first one that I’ve had in a long time but thanks for the laugh dude!
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