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In this episode of the series MY FIRST GIG, Belgian DJ and producer Francesco la Cara, better known as Franco La Cara, talks about his musical beginnings. Growing up in Maasmechelen, he learned early on that hard work pays off - a mindset that took him from his first self-financed Technics turntables to a number-one hit in the Belgian charts. In this interview, he looks back on his first gig in the late eighties. “That’s when my addiction to house began.”
“I was born on November 15, 1975, in Maaseik, Belgium, and raised in Maasmechelen. I grew up with a sister and a brother in a working-class family. There wasn’t much money for luxury. ‘If you want something, you work for it,’ was my parents’ motto. I didn’t like that at the time, because my friends seemed to have everything. But looking back, I’m very grateful to my parents!”
DJ Corner
“At home, the radio was always on. Our garage was divided into two parts: one was my mother’s sewing room, and the other became my little DJ corner, where I set up my self-bought Technics turntables and mixer. I spent hours there learning how to mix.”
Impact
“My father died in a car accident at the age of 47; I was twenty at the time. That had a huge impact on our lives and made me see things differently. The harmony between father and son was gone, and I had to look within myself for guidance. I’ve given it a place in my heart, so he’s always with me. My sister was always very creative and went on to study fashion design. I’m very proud of her. My brother started an indoor soccer team with his friends and they became champions. Super cool.”
New beat
“In the eighties, the new beat movement emerged, and I completely threw myself into it. The Serious Beat and La Rocca CDs were essential in my collection. That’s how I first discovered house music.”
Resident
“Around the age of twenty, I ended up in dance café De Verleiding in Heerlen. One night, a fellow DJ couldn’t make it and asked if I wanted to fill in for him. When I got the chance to play, I was instantly hooked! That’s when my addiction to house – to mixing and creating sets – really started. I ended up being a resident there for ten years.”
Holiday work
“The first turntables I bought were Technics SL-1210s. They were very expensive back then, so I worked many summer jobs to save up for them. I specifically wanted these because they were direct-drive and therefore much more precise.”
DJ contest
“In 2003, there was a DJ contest at discotheque Karrewiel. Supported by a group of about fifteen friends, I finished fourth out of 300 participants. That gave me a taste for more, and I soon started entering other contests.”
Retro
“My first gig was at a New Year’s Eve party in Maasmechelen (Belgium), in the late eighties. I got to play at a prime time slot, in a big sports hall with the DJ booth in the middle. I played my first classic and retro records there. I was a bit nervous – a healthy tension, let’s say – but I was super excited. When I saw the crowd going wild to my music, I knew I wanted more and more.”
Networking = ‘key’
“By going out to clubs and events, sharing my mixes, and talking to organizers, I started connecting with people who wanted to book me. Networking was ‘key’ even back then. Of course, you also had to be able to deliver. My mixing skills weren’t as refined as they are now, but I made up for it by playing great tracks. I still believe it’s better to have an excellent track selection with a few minor mix errors than the other way around. Preferably no mistakes, of course, but they add a certain live charm.”
Ableton
“In the nineties, when PCs entered their third era, the first audio editing programs appeared. One of them was Cubase, later followed by Ableton. People were surprised by what I could do with it, but I didn’t dare release any tracks because the sound quality wasn’t good enough yet.”
Big names
“I focused mainly on performing as much as possible, and by the late nineties and early 2000s, I started getting booked for more serious and bigger events. I often found myself on line-ups with big names. Seeing my name among theirs was amazing! To this day, I always give 100 percent, whether I’m playing for a large or small crowd. I kept producing, but I still didn’t release anything publicly.”
Liquid D
“Since 1998, under the artist name DJ Franco, I’ve grown into one of Belgium’s more prominent DJs. My collaboration with DJ/producer Philip led to a number-one hit in the Belgian charts in 1999: DJ Philip vs. DJ Franco – “Harmony“. Later, I remixed a track with DJ/producer Nico Parisi, which resulted in “Real Thing (Remix Jump EP)” in 2001. Together with Nico Parisi, I’ve produced under the name Liquid D, releasing tracks such as “In Search of the Morning“. I’ve also released several tracks under my alias Franco La Cara.”
Connection
“Being a resident at two different venues allowed me to explore a wide range of styles I connect with most. As DJ Franco, I play classics and retro sets, while as Franco La Cara I focus on deep house, tech house, progressive tech, and techno. When I play, I’m in my element, becoming one with my sound and the crowd, creating good vibes and positive energy on the dance floor. Music is my way of expressing myself, of telling my story and sharing it with the world. Music is our connection.”
Recognition
“Over the years, I’ve developed my own unique style, which has earned me recognition as an experienced DJ. After many years behind the decks, I wanted to dive deeper into production and expand my skills, which eventually led me into the growing music industry. Nowadays, I spend most of my time in studios, learning, collaborating, and working on various international projects. My latest productions will be released soon.”
“If someone had told me years ago that this would happen, I would have called them crazy. Of course, I’m super proud, especially when I think about how my only goal back then was to have one official release. Well, that dream definitely came true!”
This interview with Franco La Cara was originally published on DJMag.nl in July 2016.
Who is Franco La Cara?
Franco La Cara is a Belgian DJ and producer. For Franco la Cara it all started in 1999 with “Harmony” under the name DJ Franco. “Harmony” reached the number one spot in the Belgium Dance Chart. This sparked a desire in Franco La Cara to tell stories. He did a lot of collabs with renowned names like Jaydee (Robin Albers) from “Plastic Dreams“, DJ Philip, Nico Parisi and Fabio Romagnoli in which he collaborates under many pseudonyms at Transferunique.
Franco la Cara enjoys producing and playing various styles like afro house, house, tech house, melodic house, progressive, and techno.
When Franco La Cara plays, he is in a state of trance. Becoming one with his sound and the crowd.
Franco la Cara delivers an uplifting energy on the dance floor that brings everybody in a higher state of consciousness. He performed at numerous famous venues and festivals across Europe, including La Rocca and the Love Parade.
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