French creative DJ Fudge, known for previous outings on labels like Defected, Nervous, and Yoruba, adds Quantize Recordings to his catalogue with the release of his latest single ‘Never Surrender’.
We spoke to the Frenchman about the new release, which other labels he might be working with soon, and his plans for summer 2025.
Let’s start with your new single ‘Never Surrender’ – how did you link up with Hedi and Sarah for this one?
Hedi and I have been close friends for over 25 years. We first met while playing in a band, I was on keyboards and Hedi played percussion. That shared experience sparked our creative connection, and soon after, we decided to produce music together. We formed a project called Afromento, diving into Afro-ethnic house and Afro-tech music long before the genre became popular. Music brought us even closer, and over time, we became like brothers. However, when I moved to Asia and later to Spain, we had to put our joint project on hold.
Last year, Hedi came to Barcelona for a gig, and we took the opportunity to spend three days in the studio. We created the instrumental, wrote the lyrics and melody, and during that process, I thought of my sister’s friend Sarah. Both my sister and Sarah are lawyers, but they’re also incredibly talented singers. Despite their abilities, they never pursued music professionally, choosing instead to keep it as a passion in the background.
And what’s something you can tell us about how the track came together for you in the studio?
We wanted to create something fresh, joyful, and positive – music with a strong message. We started with a classic soulful beat, then built a driving bassline and added timeless piano chords. Once we layered in the clavinet, we instantly knew we had something special. The verse melodies came together quickly, but we wrote three different choruses before landing on the right one. Now that we’re both over 50 and have experienced many ups and downs in life, we felt the title ‘Never Surrender’ and its lyrics truly reflected our story and personalities. The production took just two days, with one more day for mixing. After three days of focused work, we were proud to have a track where we poured our heart and soul—without making any compromises.
The track is out on Quantize Recordings, what drew you in to want to work with those guys?
It was clear to us that Quantize Recordings was the perfect label to release our track. We’ve been longtime fans of the label, and DJ Spen has consistently delivered high-quality soulful house music for decades. He’s a true pioneer in the genre and a major inspiration to us. For me, The Basement Boys were a revelation back in the day, and that influence still resonates in our music today.
And which other record labels might we see you on in the coming months?
I’m currently focusing on relaunching my label, Tejal Records. I want to use it as a platform to express myself freely, without any compromises. I truly hope Hedi will be able to join me again in the studio as when we work together, there’s always a kind of magic that happens.
Do you have anything special planned for the summer?
I’ll be performing a lot in Spain this summer, with residencies at Nikki Beach in both Ibiza and Marbella. If you’re in the area, come by and say hi! Hedi will also be keeping busy, touring around the world as a percussionist with several major bands.
Give us one track you can’t seem to turn off right now?
There are so many, but I never finish a DJ set without playing my track ‘Echoes Of Jazz’ on Groove Culture.
Anything else to mention?
I’d like to thank Quantize Recordings and the team for the opportunity to release this track, they did an amazing job. I also want to thank all the incredible DJs who have supported “Never Surrender.” It’s truly inspiring to see how vibrant our scene still is. A new generation is coming up – passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the roots. Our culture has stood strong through every musical trend and wave. Let’s keep house music alive.
DJ Fudge & Hedi Benromdam & Sarah Summer – Never Surrender is out now on Quantize Recordings.