What is your name and role within Vitalic?
Vitalic my nickname. I do everything myself, from writing to playing live. I am also an idependant musician and i release my stuff on my own labels, Citizen and Clivage.
How did you start?
i started when i was a student, making music on cheap synthesizers and with a computer i was given my a friend. before releasing music, i started to make a little name playing live here and there at small parties.
Where are you based?
I am from Dijon, but i moved to Lyon, then i spent a lot of time in Rome, and i am now based in Paris.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
Most of time, i have an idea of what i want to do, and i don’t count too much on accidents. So ususally i write down drafts that i leave aside for some time and i get back to them some time later. Then i finish the track and go to a studio to mix it, because i am more of a musician and synth programmer than a sound technician.
What are you working on right now?
i just released an album so i am mostly touring and can’t really produce anything now. But when i have time i program sounds on my machines that i should use later this winter.
What is your gear setup?
I have an Abeton Live and some machines like Arturia Matrixbrute, Arp 2600, Buchla 200E and Music Eazel, Moog Subphatty and many other small gears.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
When i am not touring, do ordinary things like going to sports or cooking for friends. I used to pilot mono engine planes, but i had to stop. i don’t like going on holidays for more than 5 days because i miss Paris and my studio. Making experiences like piloting a plane of sky diving are inspiring for music for sure.
How would you describe your music genre?
I would say that the music i make is electronic music without any limitation. I made a polka, a song in spanish, a digital orchestra, some hard rock songs, and of course techno stuff. But the easiest way to describe my latest material would be : techno with a dose of disco and a little kinky something.
Do you know any music theory?
I do know music theory because i learnt when i was a kid and i used to play the trombone. I think you can hear that in some of my stuff, but technology makes theory optional to write music now.
What are your plans for the future?
There is no real plan for the future, i just want to go on this way. I think i am at my place, doing what i was designed for.
How did you get into music?
I got into music when i was 7, going to a music school. Later as a teenager i went clubbing and i knew that i wanted to make my own music.
What are you listening to at the moment?
This night i discovered a French musician called Adrien Soleiman and i love his song Nuit Tombée. Also discovered Martial Canterel from NYC, who maes a new EBM and it’s good to hear again those sounds.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Giorgio Moroder
Bondie
Laurent Garnier
Klaus Nomi
Wim Mertens
So not so much techno at the end!
When and where are you playing next?
This week i am playing in Manchester and the day after i am curating a stage at the huge Eurockeenes de Belfort – stage named Discomatic V Beach. I love to play in Manchester and curating a stage at such a big festival is a brand new and exciting experience.
