Bird sounds

It’s a head sweater, a sweater for your head

I’m stuck

How did I leave it?

Never mind

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

How can you be kidding me?

This is not good for me only

Mostly sounds and some instruments and also sounds and some instruments. Song titles are things my three year old has said taken out of context

This is not good for me only

Anthonythompson