by RAF KATIGBAK

It only took one hour to record "As the Rush Comes," but for Motorcycle - vocalist Jes Brieden and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden - it was an hour that would change their lives forever.

"We didn't really know each other that well," recalls Brieden, "but there was this great wonderful, creative, excited energy between us and that really got on that track. That's what it's all about, getting that magic."

It would be a magic that a lot of others could soon feel too. After a limited run of white labels, the driving trance anthem anchored by Brieden's emotive, velvet vocals got jocked by all the biggest superstar DJs, from Oakenfold to Van Dyk, and would go on to hit number one on the Billboard dance charts (staying in the top 10 for 42 weeks).

The Mirror caught up with lead singer Jes Brieden, who's coming to perform at the Festival Latino-Americain de Montréal this weekend, alongside local Latino rockers la International Sonora Calavera, reggaeton artists CNB, the salsa and merengue of Guanaco's King, a fashion show, food stalls, family fun and more (all to benefit the Fondation de l'Hôpital Ste-Justine). The fest continues on Aug. 9 with merengue lord Elvis Crespo, Soraya Benitez, Venezuelan traditional music and more.

Mirror: Your follow-up to your huge debut single was very different - "Imagination" is almost an acoustic track. You must have been under a lot of pressure to make another "As the Rush Comes."

Jes Brieden: At the beginning, yes. We were on a bigger label, they wanted the same thing - it was very specific, they wanted this, they wanted another "As the Rush Comes." And it kind of comes to a point where you don't want to give them what they want. Also, we're on a British label, so the tastes are very different - we're very American-sounding. There was a lot of pressure at first, then we said, you know, we're just gonna make music. Which is what we're doing at the moment. We're doing what makes us happy.

M: So was "Imagination" a conscious effort to get away from that trance sound?

JB: No, I have to say we were so surprised at the success, we were so happy. It was an amazing thing. We just enjoy working on a lot of different things. We haven't been trying to get away from that because that song touched a lot of people. I only hope to bring more music that touches them that way.

M: Speaking of touching people, you're playing the Latin-American Festival here in Montreal.

JB: Yes, I'm really excited.

M: But you're not Latin-American.

JB: No, I'm all American. I guess I look a little Latin American - there might be something in my blood. I got some Italian in me, does that count?

M: No, not really.

JB: Well, I'm gonna sing all the songs in Spanish, and then I'm gonna do the cha-cha-cha. Any reason though, I'm there. It's gonna be fun!

With la International Sonora Calavera, Fruit de la Passion, Guanaco's King, Latreille & the Lucky 7 Band and much more at the El Salvador Day of the Festival Latino-Americain de Montreal at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Friday, Aug. 5, noon, $15–$75, all ages

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