Taken from 'Johnny Sais Quoi - Love On Ice' (MFM078)
Buy Vinyl: https://www.musicfrommemory.com/
Buy Digital: https://music-from-memory.bandcamp.com/
© 2025 Music From Memory

B1. Johnny Sais Quoi - Move Off

A2. Johnny Sais Quoi - Mistaken Man

A1. Johnny Sais Quoi - No Guilty Pleasures

New mix made by Paris-based sound artist, radio producer, composer and DJ Elen Huynh (@nowherearu). "A soundscape of shifting emotions, reflecting a reality shaped by joy, sorrow, doubt and hope."

www.musicfrommemory.com

MFM Mix 054: Elen Huynh

Recorded live in bar Lulu in Athens at the end of 2024, Mix 055 is by long time dear friend Petit Bear (@petit_bear) from Greece. 

www.musicfrommemory.com


MFM Mix 055: Petit Bear

Up next in the series is Johnny Sais Quoi (@johnny_sait_quoi) who just released his dancefloor-focused pop debut album 'Love On Ice' with us last month. Interview (excerpt) below.

www.musicfrommemory.com

MFM: So, who is Johnny Sais Quoi and where does he (and it's name) come from?

JSQ: Johnny Sais Quoi is my new French identity, I felt that France needed another Johnny after the passing of Hallyday. I live in Marseille now, but I’m from the UK.

MFM: Your debut LP 'Love On Ice' just got released a few weeks ago. Do you remember the first
steps or moment that eventually led to it becoming a full record?

JSQ: Not so much.. I write quite consistently, so they were made over a long period of time. During that period I was trying to find my ‘sound’ and trying lots of new ideas, so I suppose it was when I had enough tracks that I could make a selection that felt good to me.

MFM: The music on the LP somewhat reminds to the sound of the '80s, like New Wave, Pop and Italo but with it's own new identity. Would you agree? In what way did the '80s have an influence on you as an artist?

JSQ: Yeah I love 80s music. I love the production, emotion and romance of it, it’s always been such an inspiration for me musically and culturally. I love how the production seemed to go a bit crazy and people were really pushing the way music, even pop music, could sound. Also the advent of home recording and the seemingly endless supply of people at home who were trying to be their own variation of Wham! or Depeche Mode. These days I’m really interested in finding ways to borrow from this epoch but still sound contemporary. I find that hard sometimes, but always more rewarding.

MFM: Although the music is all yours, it's easy to imagine a full band on stage. Do you have a
background in playing in bands? And do you have any desire to bring it out on stage at one point, alone or with band?

JSQ: I started playing bass when I was 12 and then in bands from around 18. My history in bands was short and I miss it - I would love to join a band to play bass or synths or drums. Then I was part of a duo with my brother, we had a band for a while but now it’s just me. I’m beginning to work on the live show for this project which I’ll do alone to begin with, then maybe bring in some other instruments as I go, we’ll see.

MFM: Does writing new music come easy to you or...? What comes first, the instrumental part or the lyrics?

JSQ: I say that I’m working on the live show but in reality every time I try to work on it I end up making new songs. Making the music often comes very easy and is normally first. I’ve realised recently that writing lyrics is a very different process for me - the instrumental often comes very fast and I work fast, but I often forget that I need to slow down and work in a different way for the lyrics. I’m still learning how I work.

MFM: Tell us about your mix!

JSQ: I made it in Bretagne whilst I was doing some work there this summer, in the peace of the countryside. I wanted it to be a wide mix of things that I’ve listened to since I wrote Love on Ice. New inspirations and some classics, maybe a taste of what’s to come next. 

MFM Mix 056: Johnny Sais Quoi

For the 57th installment we welcome Berlin-based Courtney Bailey (@courtneyey) who just released her debut album 'In Dream' with us on Second Circle. Interview (excerpt) below.

www.musicfrommemory.com

MFM: Welcome to the series Courtney. Born in Japan, now living in Germany... Can you tell a bit about your upbringing in Japan and what kind of role music played?

CB: I grew up in a small chill seaside city about an hour away from Tokyo by local train. When I was young, skateboarding and surfing was always around. So when I was 17, I got into skateboarding and used to hang out with friends at a local skate shop. That shop had turntables and a mixer, and the owner often played records. l thought that was cool and started to get more into house music playing with the mixer. Then I started to go more parties in Tokyo! And I started organizing parties and started DJing. I really love DJing,  I’d even mix on a DJ app on my phone while riding the train to Tokyo for work, haha. My parents also love all kinds of music, and when I was little, they used to take me to little beach parties during the summer. Sometimes I would jump in and sing at live shows there! 

MFM: Your voice plays an essential role in your songs, mostly singing in Japanese. How did that start and what is the writing and recording process like?

CB: The music from this album came together after I first listened to Dream Dolphin. I was instantly drawn into the dark but hopeful and deep sound. After that I couldn’t stop making music!  I was also inspired by other Japanese new age artists from the ’90s, like Poison Girl Friend, Nav Katze etc. I come up with the lyrics at the same time as making the track or make the track first and then fit the words to it. All the vocals on this album were recorded with my MacBook’s built-in mic. My younger brother joined for one track, and we actually recorded the voice from the phone through computer mic.

MFM: How do you go about writing music in general and where do you get your inspiration from? 

CB: I don’t have a studio, so I work from home. I don’t really have a routine. I am always having new experiences in Berlin and also doing lots of travel. And also enjoying the party scene a little bit haha. So every day feels different! I am glad that I have moments of high productivity and inspiration during these interesting times!

MFM Mix 057: Courtney Bailey

Live at Feast in the East April 7, 2012. With Charlie Murray, Matias Rozenberg, Isla Craig, Dan Vila, Val Uher and Mani Mazinani. 

This recording was made by Mani. 

2003 (#2)

Steve Kado

Related tracks