Armand Van Helden

An awful lot has changed for Armand Van Helden since he first signed to Southern Fried back in 2002. In 2005, he’s scored a huge commercial hit with ‘My My My’, his biggest hit since ‘You Don’t Know Me’ hit number 1 back in ‘99. In the interim, he’s released two excellent long players, ‘Nympho’ (2004) and ‘Ghettoblaster’ (2007) while also satisfying his New York culture vulture cravings with ‘New York: A Mix Odyssey’ (2004) and ‘A Mix Odyssey Two’ (2008), the latter of which is an homage to the emerging hip house and electro movement of 1988 and is by far the most classic retrospective compilation we’ve heard all year. And yet, to return to our opening point, by the man’s own admission, nothing’s really changed that much at all. Are you a contented elder statesman these days, Armand?

“I had my son for a long time - only David Morales had kids before me!” he laughs. “But I never had a golden retriever. That’s supposed to knock you out but I think it makes you more focused. I’ve actually been speaking on this subject with friends, this idea of personal happiness and success in terms of public perception. Most artists are happiest personally when they’re out of the public eye: so whenever I’ve fallen off, it means that I’m enjoying life. The odd thing about Southern Fried as opposed to other labels is they understand that I’m that kind of guy. I know you don’t make money unless you are up in peoples’ faces 24/7 but I’m not concerned with that so it takes a deep understanding to know and accept what I’ll do and what I won’t do.”