From the enduring magic of ‘Are You With Me’ to his ‘Kesariya’ remix, the Belgian DJ and producer opens up about musical evolution, creative instinct and the sounds he's keen to explore next.
Few artists can turn a familiar melody into a dance-floor moment that connects people across cultures quite like Lost Frequencies. The Belgian DJ and producer, whose real name is Félix De Laet, broke through globally with ‘Are You With Me’, his reworking of Easton Corbin’s country song that went on to become an international hit. He followed it with tracks such as ‘Reality’ and ‘Where Are You Now’, featuring British singer-songwriter Calum Scott. Over the years, Lost Frequencies has built a sound that brings together melodic vocals, electronic production and a distinct sense of nostalgia.
His approach to music has also found an audience in India. In 2023, Lost Frequencies released his remix of ‘Kesariya’, originally composed by Pritam and sung by Arijit Singh for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. The remix brought his electronic sensibility to one of India's most recognisable recent film songs. For an artist who has built a career on finding something new in familiar sounds, it was another way to bring different musical worlds together.
We caught up with Lost Frequencies to talk about the songs that have shaped his career, his approach to sampling Indian music, the growing role of AI in music production and why some tracks never lose their magic.
ELLE: You've been making people dance around the world for over a decade. What still gives you that ‘this is why I do this’ feeling?
Lost Frequencies (LF): My favourite part of the job is getting to travel to so many different places and experience playing my music in front of such diverse crowds and cultures. Every audience is different, and I love seeing how people connect with the music in their own way.
ELLE: What's your controversial opinion as an artist?
LF: My biggest talking point at the moment is AI and how it can be incorporated into music production. I sometimes like experimenting with it to see what it can do, but my favourite part of making music is actually making it myself. I don't really understand the idea of having someone else do that creative work for me.
I know it's a huge discussion on social media, and people have very different opinions about it, but I don't think AI can take over music. There's something special about the human element of creating a track.
ELLE: ‘Are You With Me’ became such a defining song in your career. When you hear it today, do you hear the song you made back then or the person you've become since?
LF: ‘Are You With Me’ has been out for more than a decade now, and it has played a defining role in my career. Thanks to that track, I've been able to travel to so many places, work with different artists, release albums, collaborate with labels and go on tour.
I'm still playing it in my sets today, although you'll hear a different version of it now. It's still an important moment in my shows. Looking back, I'm happy that I made it because I still genuinely love the track. Sometimes, when you listen to music you released 12 years ago, you realise that it might not be what you would make today. But I still feel that this song was perfect for that moment in time.
I'm always excited to play it because, whenever I hear the vocals, I get emotional. People still love the song, and it's amazing to see how strongly they connect with it, even after all these years.
ELLE: Who is the best DJ you've ever seen live?
LF: I've seen a lot of DJs perform live, but one of my favourites is Netsky. He's a Belgian artist and an incredible DJ. He can jump between BPMs, play practically every genre in a single set and make it all work. He's incredibly talented, both as a DJ and as a producer.
ELLE: Is there a song in your catalogue that feels most like you?
LF: For me, it's about the way the vocals work with the instrumental. I love experimenting with synthesisers, and I think you can really hear that side of me in the deluxe mixes I make of my tracks.
Whenever I release a single, I also create a deluxe version that's more electronic. Those versions capture my musical DNA: melodic, electronic music with an emphasis on how everything comes together. I also really like the remix I made of ‘Kesariya’.
ELLE: You've reimagined an Indian favourite with your ‘Kesariya’ remix. What part of Indian music would you like to explore next?
LF: I've been trying to sample tracks from India, and I usually like to connect with people from the country and ask them to recommend specific songs. I don't necessarily want to go for the most obvious choices. I'd rather discover tracks that are bubbling within the community.
That way, if I make a remix, it feels more like a connection with the culture rather than simply taking a big, well-known track and making my own version of it. I want to discover music that people are excited about and find a way to bring that into my sound.
ELLE: What's your pre-show ritual? How do you read a room before deciding where to take it musically?
LF: I usually go to the stage before my set to check out the vibe. I like to see what the DJ before me is playing and how the crowd is reacting. It's important to understand the energy of the room before I start.
My set can sound quite different from what the DJ before me is playing because I perform a lot of my own music. I try to adapt to the crowd, but I'll still play at least 80 per cent of my own tracks because it's important to me that my music is at the heart of my sets.
I like to get a feel for the atmosphere and figure out how I can translate that energy into my own performance.
ELLE: And finally, what's a fashion trend you're obsessed with right now?
LF: Big shorts! Jorts are my favourite thing to wear at the moment. I bought a pair of khaki shorts in India when I visited four years ago, and I still love them.
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