- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, and let’s get started. ”Septembre et ses dernières Pensées” is comprised of songs from 2003 and 2009, how do you think people can listen to and appreciate the band’s musical evolution within the songs?
Fursy Teyssier: Hello! You're right, the songs were composed spanning the latest 7 years. But what I did when I decided to make this album was to gather all the songs (out of approx 50) that had common vibes and atmospheres. Obviously, in 7 years, my music evolved and changed a lot, but I chosen songs that were already fitting together. Then, when I recorded the album in studio, I arranged the songs with similar things. So, in the end, the songs are different but linked together by something. I'm happy of the result and I'm glad with them.
What are the main topics (lyrically) of this songs? Where you surprised on how much (or little) your views on things have changed over the years? How do you think they all come together to form this release?
FT: The lyrics weren’t written and I wrote almost all of them one year before I entered the studio. So, musically the songs have common vibes, and for the lyrics, they are perfectly fitting together. I trust that the music can fight the time and it's a painting of my self personality that didn't really change over the years. But for he lyrics, my vision of life changed a lot, so it was important that they were written at the same period.
The band’s sound is very unique, featuring a mixture of shoegaze with gothic elements and post-rock influences. As somebody sitting on the driver’s seat of this band, how would you describe it and who would you quote as your influences?
FT: I listen to a lot of Postrock these last years, but now I'm done with that. So had been and will be indeed a great influence to me even in the future. I would say that my inspiration comes from bands such as Primordial, Summoning, Arvo Part, Ulver (Kvelsfanger - I didn't know Bergtatt when I composed the album, but now I do!!), Arctic Plateau and indeed Anathema. I'm also listening a lot of French singers, such as Dominique A. The band that really changed my way of composing music was Epic45. This is THE band that "changed my life".
Being a director of animated films, how would you say this helps you / hinders you in making music? Do you think that having a director’s vision of things helps when piecing together songs?
FT: I don't know how it helps me, but when I'm composing music, pictures come to my mind. And that helps a lot. If I do not have any pictures in mind, it means that the song is bad. Pictures help composing music, music helps creating pictures.
Can you tell us more about the amazing art book packaging the special edition of the album features? We understand that it includes some of your illustrations.
FT: First, I am really happy with this artbook. Prophecy is the BEST label I could have found. they understood, support and trust in Les Discrets and it's an honour for me to be signed on such an artistic and clever label. The artbook is made of 56 pages booklet, double disc (album and DVD of my Tir Nan Og film). the booklet is full of illustrations I painted especially for the songs, and we added a lot of band pictures taken by the famous fashion photographer Andy Julia, who is a very close friend by the way).
Have you guys started thinking about the next album? Or we will have to wait for another 6-7 years for Les Discrets to gather songs and put them together for an album?
FT: No no... I am actually finishing the composition of the next album. From now on I'll start writing lyrics. I booked the studio (Drudenhaus Studio - FR) for January, so hopefully the album will be released 4/5 months later. It's a very different album, with less acoustic guitars, more powerful and a little bit in the Amesoeurs style. I am very very happy with it, and it sounds even stronger than the first one to me, as I added less old songs than "Septembre...". I can't wait to record it. I also decided to let Winterhater compose his drums pattern. I also want to point something I said in previous interviews. I thought that composing the drums meant to say "I want a 4/4 with double kick there and then a slow tempo after it". But I actually noticed that this is not composing drums at all! So I want that to be clear, because Winterhalter actually composed 70% of the drums (breaks and nuances which is composition of course...) based on the ideas I had. We rehearsed 4 days before entering the studio and he recorded the drums in 2 days... He is really a talented drummer and I had to clear this point because he played very well considering the short time we had. I really don’t want people to think that he was just a robot who played what I want. We discussed about it, and my mistake was to think that I composed drums, and it was not true.
Is there any touring planned to support ”Septembre et ses dernières Pensées”? Maybe some shows in North America in the next few years?
FT: No. Not to support this album but we'll try to play next year to support the next one. North America? ... hum.... why not! I would love! The US Alcest tour was fantastic. I would rather prefer to tour on the West coast that time, to see new things. But yes. I would like a lot!
If you had 10 words to promote this release, what would you say about it?
FT: Love. Death. Life. Existence. Questions. Thoughts. Autumn. Winter. Crows. Eternal.
How do you think Les Discrets is different from other bands with similar sound and musical influences?
FT: That's not a question I can answer! Sorry. But I can tell you that today is the Music Day in France, so many bands are playing in the streets tonight. And right now, an awful punk band is playing next to my building... I promise to you that Les Discrets is much more melodic than this band... ha ha.
Is there anything else you want to add for your American fans and our readers?
Yes... I'm sorry for the big delay with this interview. The Alcest tours (I left Alcest a few weelks ago by the way) and my work took me so much time and I was not able to answer the interviews... Sorry for this delay again... Thanks for the interview and good luck with the new album! Thank you very much! Fursy.
More info: http://www.lesdiscrets.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/lesdiscrets
