Michael Canitrot can seemingly do no wrong. From starting a now internationally respected club night at the tender age of 17, he has risen fast through the achingly chic social circles of Paris’ nightlife and can now be found making Quentin Tarantino boogie along the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival. Plus, he’s just about to have his first single released on Defected and has a compilation due to drop next week. We caught up with him to find out exactly how he managed to find himself in this extremely enviable position...

Tell us about 'So, Happy In Paris?', what is it about?

‘So, Happy In Paris’ is a musical party concept which was started in 2000. It is the epitome of Paris’s glamorous and chic image. It’s an invitation for the people to join our party.  We bring Paris right to your doorstep so that in one night, you will be able to experience the energy, the love, the music - straight and simple, as if you were in the greatest Parisian clubs yourself. That is why ‘So, Happy In Paris?’ has been so successful - we are all about the music. Everyone comes together on that dancefloor to enjoy themselves and to share that great joy of just being free, even if we are all complete strangers.

What makes your party different from other club nights?

The ingredients of ‘So, Happy In Paris?’ are truly simple and when put together, result in an explosive, multi-sensory experience like no other. There is art and design, complemented by the adrenaline-pumping music. House music is very powerful and is one genre of music that really stirs up emotions in people and which will have people dancing away all night long.

A dancer at Michael's 'So, Happy in Paris?' night


It's been going for 10 years now, so how old were you when you started this party?

I was 17 when I did my first party at les Bains-Douches and it was a secret that I wasn’t old enough to be inside.

Tell us about the kind of people that come to your events…

It’s a mix between music lovers, beautiful girls, fashion addicts, artists and people who just want to have fun! Our party is glamour, chic but we don’t want to be too selective. The party is open to all good people who want to share a good moment on the dance floor.


David Guetta has been a shining light for French dance music, would you like to enjoy the same success?

Who would refuse such success?? I am quite ambitious and I do all I can to make my dreams come true. Music is not a world where everything is calculated; the most important thing is to keep on working with the same passion every day. Let the future show if I took the right path.

Why do you think that the world is loving French DJ producers so much? What is your take on France’s success? 

It’s clear that there is a special touch in France. French producers often have the ability to make songs that have world appeal; Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier or recently Bob Sinclar and David Guetta who have been having strong successes around the world. All that fame is attracting new, young French DJs and producers , who dream of such achievements. Moreover, it is also contributing to develop the ‘French Touch’ image all around the world in that people pay attention to French musical scene.

We hear you are the official DJ for the Cannes film festival? Can you tell me more about this?

I’ve had some wonderful experiences mixing at the top of ‘Les Marches’ [the steps of the Palais Des Festivals] for the world’s most prestigious film festival.  The film world greatly influences my mixes and I love to compare them to those I would have made for fashion shows: people moving, photographers snapping, beautiful dresses… and the music especially adapted for the event. I particularly remember when Quentin Tarantino came up the Palais des Festivals steps. It was incredible to see all those people dancing down on the floor. I will never forget that feeling.

Quentin Tarantino


‘Desire’ is your first single release on Defected Records; tell us about the track, what was your inspiration and who is playing it?

It’s an amazing vocal track. I always feel a lot of emotion when I play it in a club. I produced it between Paris and Miami with the first step being during the last Winter Music Conference [2009].  I was in a studio in South Beach with Jay Sebag, Michaël Malih and Johnny Sanders and the song was made during this session. It’s already a huge success in France but now I m very proud to be on Defected to send this song to the world!

Tell us about the ‘So, Happy in Paris?’ compilation...

There are 2 CD’s. The first one is typical of what I play at fashion shows, on the Red Carpet in Cannes or at a cocktail party. It’s an eclectic selection between Electronic, Pop, Rock, Deep. The second is a snap-shot of what you might hear me play at a club, especially at one of my ‘So, Happy in Paris?’ club nights. This disc includes two of my own production; ‘Desire’ and also ‘Feel The Spirit’.... two great vocals for the dance floor.

Michael Canitrot at the Cannes Film Festival


What records from this album are particularly big for you?

Oh, it’s hard to say. I really love all of them, but the Simian Mobile Disco with Beth Ditto from Gossip is amazing as is the Rasmus Faber tracks ‘Wilder Side’ with Candi Staton. Also, the young talent from ‘So, Happy in Paris’ Kaëlig with the song ‘3 in The Morning’ and of course ‘Hey Hey’ from Dennis Ferrer.

So, Happy in Paris? is out 19th April on 2CD and download - click to listen & pre-order