Diplo can work with just about anyone he so desires — but at one point, the producer admits he was warned not to team up with Justin Bieber. He was told collaborating with the pop star could “end his career.”
Instead shying away, he went for it. Skrillex and Diplo released “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber as part their Jack Ü project. Not only was the track well received, but it became a smash hit in the EDM world and over the radio airwaves. As an artist, it’s important to go with your gut — and that’s exactly what Diplo did.
In an interview with ES Magazine, Diplo opens up about the collab:
At one point Justin was one the most unpopular artists. But we thought, the music’s going to cut through all this, if we make something crazy and loud. And that’s what we did.
He also touches on what it was like working with Madonna:
Even on the first day she was not having my bulls***, I could not be on my phone — with Madonna, it’s serious work.
On a more serious note, he gets real about mental health in the music industry:
Anyone who’s creative, who really is in touch with their creative side, is always going to be in touch with depression. Mostly I’m making music and I’m thinking about business, and that drowns out the emotion. But sometimes… The emotion takes over. And I have to deal with that just like anyone else. When I was younger I was diagnosed with ADHD. It’s not a severe case, but I probably had other things too].
The really good feelings? You’ve got to suppress them sometimes. The high you get, it’s just like taking ecstasy. The next day is the worst.
You have to always balance that: suppress the great feelings because it will make the lows not have such an aggressive touch on your life. That’s not good advice for everybody, and I know enough adult people, friends mine, who’ve been suicidal and have committed suicide. I see that it’s so common.
Read the full interview in the latest issue ES Magazine.
Source: Metro UK