1. You have been to Taipei for 2007 Formoz Festival, what's your impression of Taiwan?
I was there only for 2 days, including the day of the show, so it's hard to say, but my first impression was that it was really hot and extremely humid - it was late July )) I was also impressed by the size of the festival: so big, with nine different stages, including bands such as Yo La Tengo. Strange feeling to perform outdoors, with the planes flying over our heads at night. Very big memory!
2. To our understanding "0" is a playful percussion ensemble. Sometimes you play guitar like its a small percussion instrument too, that's very interesting to me. We can also feel that even the ensemble is focusing on percussions, and there are a some experimental ideas indeed, meanwhile the music is very melodic. What makes your participant in such band?
Actually we don't see 0 as a percussion group. The truth is that the band evolves for every new project. The core of it is the trio of Stéphane Garin (percussion), Joël Merah (guitar) and me (guitar). But for some concerts it can be only percussion players, or an ensemble with flute and strings and piano. We can be 3 musicians or more: 5, 6, 9... 0 is a space for freedom in music and a real democracy. We can play our own songs, or also decide to perform pieces by Steve Reich, John Cage, Philip Glass, or younger composers. But it's true that there is a special attention for percussion in our group (glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, woodblocks, metals..). Even in the way we use the guitar, there are often percussive effects, yes. And I really love playing in this band because we can go anywhere and be free.
3. We read an very old interview of you that you mentioned Jean-Luc Godard and Robert Bresson has influenced on your music work, we are curious how they can influence you and what is your favorite Godard movie as a big fan of films?
Robert Bresson was a huge influence for me because of his high artistic desires and his incredible sense of restraint. He also wrote about his work and it was very clear and clever. Thoughts like: "Make sure you have tried everything that communicates through immobility and silence". I couldn't agree more... As for Godard, I was touched very much by his radicality, his capacity of not caring about the others will think. My favorite film by Godard would perhaps be Pierrot le Fou.
4. And please describe Ozu Yasujirō? Besides Ozu, are you particularly into the old generation of Japanese culture?
Ozu was one of the biggest japanese filmmakers of the 20th Century. Strangely, he was at the same time very japanese and very influenced by American culture. I am very attracted to Japan since many years. I have a strong connection with the fineness of aesthetics in this country. I like aspects of the ancient culture (the magnificent zen gardens, wabi sabi, tea houses...) and also of the modern culture (cutting edge musicians and artists such as Ikeda, Nakamura...).
5. The original plan for P Festival was that you will perform with Rachel Grimes, (who participant in P Festival last year), even we can't make it through, we still wonder how you first met Rachel, and what is the idea of performing with her?
She wrote an album for her band Rachel's, "Music for Egon Schiele", released in 96, that kind of changed my life as musician. I became a big fan of Rachel's and it made me decide to stop playing with rock'n'roll instruments but with piano and strings. I even wrote to her in 2000 to send some music of mine and she answered me very kindly. And 10 years after we finally met and became friends. And I still follow everything she does as a musicians. We also made a show together last year, and 0 has performed and re-arranged several of her pieces. This idea of touring together was then very logical and natural.
6. Have you every make a count, how many albums have you released or participant in?
As a solo artist I have released 11 records (including long ones and EPs). With 0 we have 5 or 6 releases. And I've also made albums with a duo called On, with a band named Arca, another one named Micro:mega, and my first band was called Watermelon Club. Also one with Felicia Atkinson.
7. Most people still consider you a composer/ multi instrument player, and we are also curios about The Depeche Mode cover album, you have sung it in 2007 Formoz Festival, how do you like your voice?
I am not a trained singer, I don't practice. But I like to sing, since I'm 18 or 19 (now I'm 43). I sing with pleasure, not with technique. On the DM covers (released in 2005) I still had a "young" voice. Now my voice is more experienced, I think. And I like to sing over very experimental musical backgrounds. I think it's more adventurous. I would love to consider myself as a kind experimental crooner )))
8. What is your favorite electronic music?
Abstract things. Almost nothing with a beat (except Autechre, sometimes). I'm much more into Eliane Radigue, Ryoji Ikeda, Alva Noto, Sachiko M, Toshimaru Nakamura, Bernard Parmegiani... Quiet things too.
.png){kind=small}
.jpg)