Rockcult: Your album Among Noise has turned out to be saturated, harmonious, and contains strong songs. Please tell us how and where it was created.
Jean-Marc Le Droff: It’s been quite a long process that oscillated between home studio and stage. In some way, this album is a panorama of my musical evolution, from a guy playing alone in his home studio to a guy playing in front of more and more people.
As far as the process of composition in itself is concerned, I like the concept of ghost notes and the fact of stressing existing resonances to create new melodies. That’s probably the reason why my music can sometimes turn out to be saturated: I love the interactions between different layers of sounds and the accidents and magic those interactions can produce.
Rockcult: What equipment did you use when recording Among Noise? Is your studio equipment different from the one you use in concerts?
Le Droff: I mostly work with a computer and some hardware synths and drums. Most of the time the guitar comes at the end of the process, as well as the voice which I also record in my home-studio. On stage I only have a guitar, a synth and a sampler.
Russian version
Rockcult: What is the main difference for you between your work in solo project Egoprisme from work in the band Mon Automatique?
Le Droff: The main difference is that in Mon Automatique I only make the music and I rely on David, the singer, for the lyrics and the vocals. In Egoprisme I control the whole process and sing my own words.
Rockcult: Which bands and artists mainly influenced on the sound of Egoprisme, and why?
Le Droff: The main artists that gave me the confidence to make a solo project are John Maus and Jessica 93, which i discovered some years ago. I loved the way they took the stage all by themselves.
But of course, a lot of other artists influenced me: Kraftwerk, Absolute Body Control, Einstürzende Neubauten, David Bowie, Depeche Mode… And more recent bands like Liars, She Past Away, The KVB or Lebanon Hanover. My collaborations with Mode In Gliany and Rula El Bahr also nourished my project.
Rockcult: What are your creative plans for 2018? Are you planning to go on tour with Among Noise? What countries do you want to visit?
Le Droff: Yes, I’m currently working on a tour that would begin on spring and finish at the end of summer. I have played in Berlin last month, but I’d also love to play in the Eastern countries where there seems to be an audience for the kind of music I play, as well as in Latin countries. In the meantime I keep on working on the next album.
Фото - Melanie Le Goff →
Rockcult: What do you know about Russian art? Have you heard any Russian music? Have you ever been in Russia?
Le Droff: I’ve read a few Russian authors but I can’t say I have extensive knowledge of the Russian art, apart from big movements like constructivism. Regarding music, I’ve recently discovered some really good russian projects like Dmitri Distant, Утро or Human Tetris. The further I’ve been to the East is Belorus, and all I can say is that I’m looking forward to go further.
Rockcult: What inspired you to do electronic music? When did you decide to work in it professionally?
Le Droff: I’ve always been playing music and couldn’t tell exactly when I decided to do it more professionally, but even if I would like it a lot, music isn’t my main source of income. Apart from the freedom in creation and the aesthetics electronic instruments induce, one of the main reasons is that it allows me to fulfill my ideas straightforwardly and with little equipment.
Rockcult: Can you identify the music and essence of Egoprisme with one or more sentences?
Le Droff: Hard question… I would say moving layers. The name Egoprisme, — which was given to me by my friend David from Mon Automatique -, is a reminder that whatever you feel or think, it will always have to be considered in regard of your own experience and of a given moment. Thing are always moving and this is one of the directions I try to give to my music: I like when it can be danced, listened to and understood in multiple ways and levels.
Rockcult: What do you like to do in your free from music time?
Le Droff: Well, I have to admit that music is what I love to do whenever I have free time… But apart from music, I’m also keen on things like books, movies, museums or traveling.
Rockcult: Can you advise some best albums you’ve heard lately?
Le Droff: The first ones that comes to my mind are “Convulsive”, by my friend Mode In Gliany, “Of Desire” by the KVB, “Where’s the Revolution?” by Depeche Mode [probably Jean-Marc meant the album «Spirit»] and “Cupio Dissolvi” by Qual.