French DJ and producer KLINGANDE (Cédric Steinmyller) is a multi-platinum artist and a true pioneer of the melodic house genre. Known for his uplifting tracks and collaborations with tropical house greats like Kygo, Bakermat, and Sam Feldt, he brings a fresh spirit to the electronic music scene. LoudLife had the pleasure of interviewing him about his journey and musical vision.
Interview With Klingande:
Tell us the story behind “Nightlife”.
It’s actually a pretty cool story. I met Koates — the singer on Nightlife — a few months ago during a writing camp in London. When I go to a session, I usually bring some reference tracks, you know, songs that inspire me at the moment, to set a mood. That day, we worked on a completely different song, which I’ll actually be releasing later this year.
But a month or two after that session, Koates messaged me out of the blue. He had made a demo and said, “Hey man, I’ve got this track — it’s called Nightlife — and I think you might like it.” As soon as I heard it, I was hooked. I could immediately hear how I could bring my own twist to it.
I think he thought of me for this song because the mood of Nightlife reminded him of the reference tracks I’d shared during our session. Funny how some collaborations just find you like that —
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since dropping “Punga”?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to really trust my intuition. If I don’t feel a song deeply, I’ve realized it’s better not to release it. You can’t fake connection or emotion, and I think people sense that. I’ve also learned not to chase trends too much. Music moves in cycles — trends come and go like trains — but in the end, what people respect is when you stay true to yourself. It’s not about catching every wave, but about riding your own wave all the way through, the best way possible.
Be honest — do you still vibe to “Jubel”?
To be honest, yeah — I still vibe to Jubel, especially when I play it live and see the crowd’s reaction. Even more than 10 years later, it’s still such a special moment every time. Obviously, I’m not going to put it on at home just for myself, but if I do, it brings back so many memories — from touring, to the writing sessions, to all those years I spent learning and growing before I was ready to release it.
There’s definitely a feeling of nostalgia when I hear it. But at the same time, what amazes me is how the track still holds up. It doesn’t feel dated — somehow, it’s aged really well. New generations keep discovering it, and people still connect with it. It’s hard to explain, but there’s something about that song that just keeps going. Maybe there’s a bit of magic in it — I don’t know — but I’m grateful for everything it’s brought me.
You studied at Point Blank in London — what did you take from that experience?
Yeah, I studied at Point Blank. At the time, I was already producing music — I had been doing it for a few years while also studying web marketing in France. I wanted to take a year off to fully focus on music, and thankfully, my parents supported me. So I moved to London to attend Point Blank.
I didn’t go there as a total beginner. I already had some knowledge of music production. But what I really took from that year wasn’t just technical skills — it was more about the environment. Being alone in a new city, meeting people from all over the world, and having the time and space to focus on what I love most: making music.
I never really had this dream of becoming a superstar DJ. At the time, I was a big fan of artists like Avicii and Axwell. I admired the emotion and melodies in their music. But honestly, I wasn’t good enough to produce that kind of sound — and I didn’t fully know what I wanted to do either.
But something changed when I got to London. That’s when I discovered this new wave of melodic house and deep house — those covers of classic hits that had a fresh vibe. I remember hearing Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell, and not long after that, Bakermat . That sound really resonated with me — it felt like something I could connect with, and that’s where I started to find my own voice as a producer.
If you could do a surprise B2B with any artist, who would it be?
That’s a tough question. But if I had to name a few, I’d say Rufus Du Sol or Fred again.. — I think they’re some of the most interesting artists out there right now. Their music has so much soul and emotion, it really speaks to me.
Of course, realistically, I’m not sure our styles would completely match in a B2B set, but still… that would be a dream. I think this kind of question is a nice way to give a little shoutout to artists who inspire you, and those two definitely do.
What’s next for Klingande in 2025?
There’s a lot coming — I can’t reveal everything just yet, but one thing’s for sure: a lot of new music. I’ve been working the whole year on fresh tracks, and I can’t wait to start sharing them. Touring is also on the agenda, of course.
But beyond that, I’ve been thinking about the next step for the Klingande project. I don’t have all the answers yet — it’s something I want to reflect on in the coming months. I’m always looking to explore new things, to evolve, and to stay curious about what’s next.
