parallel MUSIC
PARADIS for PARALLEL MAGAZINE
Simon + Pierre : I have to ask first, why this name : Paradis?
Paradis represents a sort of ideal of happiness and sincerity for us, which is the spirit in which we hope to make our music. One day we saw the word written in big letters and it just made sense. Also, the word plays an important part culturally in terms of our musical influences such as house and disco, genres both infused with this thematic of paradise.
Simon + Pierre : How did you come to make music for the first time? How did you meet each other?
So, we met through a common friend who was throwing a party in Paris, we just chatted about music and although we had different points of view at that point we were very curious to work together and so we tried doing so very quickly, the next day if we recall correctly.
Simon + Pierre : How do you explain the difference between production signed Paradis and you guys on stage?
The most important thing for us in terms of art or music is context. So, in the studio, the music we make is the music we’ve always dreamt of hearing. As dj’s the idea is to have fun, to be able to play any genre of music so long as we love the melodies, the harmonies and the groove. This means the music can be quite a bit harder than our own production. The past month we’ve started to play live and in a sense our live set sort of bridges the gap between the songs and our dj sets.
Simon + Pierre : In two words, how would you describe your style?
That’s always quite tricky, but we just try and make contemporary songs perhaps ?
Simon + Pierre : Still in two words, what inspires you?
Again, to the risk of sounding quite basic, we’re inspired by the music, the places and especially the people we love.
Simon + Pierre : Tell us a bit of your career, favorite project you worked on? What about Tim Sweeney?
The most exciting project for now has been the ongoing creation of our first album which should see the light this year. It’s been a creative trip, an exercise in patience, and generally a lesson for us.
Simon + Pierre : Incoming news?
The next step for us is playing live more and more. It’s been a rollercoaster ride since our first live set for the Acne show at Centre Pompidou back in March, and also following Christine and the Queens on the road as her opening act. We’re starting to be happy with the live set and with people’s reactions and we look forward to sharing these versions of our songs as well as some new material with as many people as possible.
Simon + Pierre : What french music means to you?
Growing up abroad, French music has always had some sort of exotic quality to us. We both have a sort of fascination for French culture, for Paris, in a way we are quite disconnected with the cynicism some French people can have looking at their own culture, we aren’t scared of clichés so long as they are beautiful.
Simon + Pierre : How it feels to be remixed by Superpitcher?
Amazing ! Superpitcher has been one of our strongest musical influences and we’d always dreamed of having him remix one of our songs, we’re really happy with the result. Both him and Tim Goldsworthy offered very long interpretations of our music which we really loved.
Simon + Pierre : Unhealthy curiosity, How to pass a regular working day in your studio? Bump it hard?
Typically we work at night, and we can go for hours if it feels right. The nighttime is the best time for us to work, we feel disconnected with the rest of the city’s rhythm, and also (almost) no-one can bother you with anything else than the music once everyone else is sleeping :)
Simon + Pierre : What is your favorite place to work?
At home, in our studio, in the countryside. Given the choice we would love to have our own little cabin in the park right next to the studio called Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Simon + Pierre : ... What were you doing Saturday night?
Saturday night we played a live show at Midi Festival in the south of France alongside our friends Syracuse, we had an amazing evening ! Our friend Andrea Montano was also there, we’ve asked him to take photographs on tour with us. We all ended up a bit drunk, making special sandwiches in our hotel at sunrise !
Simon + Pierre : ... A last word in french for our readers?
It’s inspired by Arabic but it’s widely used in France : « le kiffe ».
Simon + Pierre : You must be great seducers, do you have a girlfriend?
This is getting a little too private but we wouldn’t be inspired without love !
Photographer : Andrea Montano
Website: http://www.paradis.fm/
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDEacxIyt3lWwJsM27hVvRA
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/paradisfm
LeBRON the Disco Lover W/ PARALLEL MAGAZINE
Tell us a bit of you, who are you LeBRON?
I am LeBRON from Australia! I love disco funk and cats! Im 24 years old and born and raised in Melbourne.
I have been to france many times now and cant wait to return!
How did you come to make music for the first time?
The first time I made music was recording myself singing on a cassette player aged 6 or 7!
Little did I know it would lead to this!
Do you remember the first song you listened and really loved as a DJ?
Energetic and Analogue...
In two words, how would you describe your style?
Movements, harmonies!
Tell us a bit of your career, favorite project you worked on?
Playing and producing since I was 16. Began Djing in clubs round Australia playing French house and disco. Other genres of music became more popular so I stopped playing and concentrated on making music and making mixtapes. I made a mixtape for my idol Breakbot who reposted it from there and things took off. Got many request for mixtapes and then that translated into live gigs. And now im being booked all over the world. Some of the exciting things have been playing in front of thousands of people at really cool venues round the world and meeting some incredible people. We plan on making a track with Sister Sledge when things settle down and have some time in the studio.
What funk music means to you?
It's truly the most interesting genre for me because it was an era of where the musicians didn’t have the most pleasant up bringings yet the made up for their hardship with beautiful soul and funk music. My goal with funk music is to expose it to as many people as I can to appreciate how talented these guys were. In the 80's they had new technology in instruments. These artists would combine flexing the new parameters of these instruments with traditional playing creating something so unique and warm.
Unhealthy curiosity, How to pass a regular working day in your studio? Bump it hard?
To pass the time here in Australia, I sit in the studio for hours and hours but never finish work. Most of the stuff I make doesn’t get put out until after a year. But I play a lot of sport back here which is good to relieve some stress from sitting inside for hours.
What is your favorite place to work?
My most favorite place to work is in my apartment in Melbourne. But most interesting place to make a track was in a car ride in france. I have tried on a plane before but the volume of the hum is too loud and I sleep anyway.
... What were you doing Saturday night?
Saturday I had some friends round and drank beer and chatted while we played a mixtape by the Zdar from Cassius.
... A last word in french for our readers?
My French is very bad! Infact it doesn’t exist! I think when I was in Paris last time, I was yelling “Ca va, ca va” at everyone. I got a lot of weird looks...
Incoming news?
Im in the process of compiling a little album. Just with afew short tracks ive made over the passed 2 years.
LISTEN TO PARALLEL MIXTAPE for PARALLEL MAGAZINE by LeBRON:
https://soundcloud.com/parallelmagazine/lebron-parallel-mixtape
Photographer : Elliot Yeatman
MUNK (GOMMA REC) W/ PARALLEL MAGAZINE
Manuel (MANUEL KIM) told me you lived in France? Yes. Since 3 Years I live between Marseille and Berlin. I discovered Marseille a few years ago and was fascinated by this very special city. It’s more like a noth african city than central Europe. 50% African immigrants create a very non european atmosphere. And at the moment there are many international artists starting to live there. It’s also a very intersting music scene. Not only arabic but also for the New House scene. They have a very own way to produce Funky House music there. Full of Funk. The parties and clubs are very cool too. So it’s great to hang out there. Like Barcelona before the big hype in the 90’s...
When did you first start working as a professional DJ? Around when I was fifteen. But my first money with Djing at twenty two years old...
Do you remember the first song you listened and really loved as a DJ? My first love was Funk and Hip-Hop... Hum, I guess it was something like «A Tribe Called Quest» or James Brown maybe...
How do you choose GOMMA artists? They have to be people with a strong personal vision of how they can add somthing to today’s music universe. We dont want people that make obvious sound. It has to be somehow different, strange or also futuristic... A mix of unexpected stlyes. The guy needs to be interesting; with concrete ideas about music, art, all that stuff...
Extracted from the Parallel Magazine Volume II
Photographer : Laurent Grino
HERE THEY COME AGAIN, THE TALENTED AUSTRALIAN DUO "THE SWISS" (Kitsuné)
The fabolous australian duo "The Swiss" is back after the success of his latest EP around their track "Eloisa". The latest "Kiss To Kiss EP" is an album created around two original tracks, an extended version three and above three remixes by Breakbot, Pyramid and Amtrac. The Swiss is a duo of Luke Godson and Tony Mitolo. Both Australians have had great success there a few years ago with their awesome hit "Bubble Bath". Signed on Kitsuné, they're taking more and more space on the label. For sure, their synthwave disco make us dance all night long.
Extracted from the Parallel Magazine Volume III, Courtesy of The Swiss & Kitsuné