I wasn’t born happy.
Sebastien Tellier talks about kiss the beastwhy after 25 years he decided to stop working alone and how he learned, step by step, to be happy.
Sébastiin Tellier it’s been a quarter of a century building one of the most universes pop singularities French: a mixture of exuberance, melancholy and kitsch that rarely find its equivalent in another place. kiss the beasthis eighth album, is also the first in which open genuinely the door to others: Nile Rodgers, Kid Cudithe singer Slater. 25 years after having it done almost everything alone, Tellier found that happiness was not in the study, but in the people who surround. On September 30th presents in the Pavilion of the Palace of Sports with a completely show live: without computers, with band real and possibly a tribute to Kavinsky.
Indie Rocks!: Congratulations for the new disk, kiss the beast. It’s your eighth album and this time there are very collaborations specials. Where does that change come from?
ST: Because I love collaborating, for me it is very important. This year my 25th birthday career, and I have done almost all of my discs alone. Just one, sexualityI did it with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of daft Punkwho produced it. All I did the rest alone. and that loneliness It was too much for me. Too much alone, alone, alone in the studio in the tomorrow, in the late, at night. Working alone, no in silence because there was music, but yes a certain silence around me. So now I don’t want to live anymore that loneliness I really like to work with people like Slaterthe singer american that has become a real pop star in the United States. And of course Nile Rodgerswhat is a god of music. AND Kid Cudi. I found some friends with whom play and I am very happy. Feel much more comfortable working with people who alone in my studio. For me it is a question of happiness: I have to be happy working.
GO!: From when are you happy?
ST: since a long time already. My life totally changed when I had two children. I have my son and my daughter, and my children were the seed perfect to become one happy person Before them He was kind of a sad person. But through my children I discovered the beauty of life, the magic of life. and step to step I learned to be happy. For me it is a long road, both as a person and professionally. I have to learn to be happy. I was not born being happy.
And I think that shows in this album. I think it is a happy album, with its moments. And when you talk about collaborations and have colleagues who are no longer with us, that reminds you that you have to be happy every day.
GO!: Kavinsky made a remix yours, you made one of him. They were close friends.
ST: We did so many things together. We have a fantastic French film director called Quentin Dupieux, Mr. Oizo. Quentin Dupieux made my first music video, and Kavinsky I was acting in that first video, I was running around forest. That’s how I met him, because he was an actor in my first video via Quentin Dupieux. We became very friends quickly, very quickly. we were like punks, like people a little crazy Then we made music together, we acted together in a movie Quentin Dupieux we share so many things for so long.
AND now it’s gone. But he left us a lot music. Beautiful music. a spirit, with that vibe synthwave and that pleasure of live. I’m very sad. But Now when I’m on stage I say: tonight I play for Kavinskymy friend who lives in heaven.
GO!: The last time you were in Mexico was in 2019. How do you feel about this country?
ST: I love Mexico. Everyone loves Mexico, it is a fantastic country. What I like most about Mexico are the people: they love parties. For me, Mexico is a huge party, full of colors, full of joy. I love Mexican food, like everyone else. My specialty, when I go to my country house in France, is preparing fajitas for the children, for me, for my wife. And they love it. It is the family’s favorite dish. Tellier.
And my son’s middle name is Pepitoand my daughter’s middle name is Nugget. A little Mexican perfume. Also, I did my biggest festival in Mexico. It was huge. It was a festival with a brand of cigarettes but no smoke, free cigarettes but no one I smoked. I think it was 2008 or something. So. It’s been a long time.
GO!: Now you return in September. Why do you think there is that connection between French music and Mexican?
ST: Don’t know exactly, but there is a connection. No We are the United Kingdom, we are not States Joined. Have that Latin connection, a connection deep from the past. And I think it’s a bond strong. The Mexicans and the French we love when inside the music you find a romanticism, a romantic side. A kind of poetry. Even if it’s dance music, we I like that romantic nostalgia. I think that It is a deep connection between us.
GO!: How is the show going to be? Will there be anything from Kavinsky?
ST: Maybe I can touch “Nightcall”because I sang in that song. I did the vocals and was there when the song was born. And I feel that song is mine. It’s not mine, it’s the song Kavinskyof course. But I feel part of it. I also made another song with Kavinsky what is called “Goodbye”. It is also very beautiful.
But now when I’m on stage I say I play for Kavinsky. Step by step I have to learn the song on the piano and I think I will be ready for the show in Mexico.
IR!: The show is completely live, right?
ST: It’s the most important thing about my new show: it’s totally live. I reject computers. It is pure music. It is not a live IT. DJs are huge now, the DJing It’s so important, but I’m not a DJ. It’s not my thing. For me it is a pleasure to offer real music to the public: with a bassist who really plays bass, a drummer with real drums. We played all the arpeggios, all that complicated stuff. For me it’s a real performance to play electronic music, but for real, not with a computer. It is a challenge that I propose to the public.
There are five of us on stage: me and four musicians. The drummer plays the drums, of course. But the other musicians exchange instruments. This boy called Coconut He plays the bass and then the keyboards. There’s a fantastic guy called Gerard who sings with me, does all the choirs and vocals. And there is a lot of guitar Adriana very good guitarist. It is a very musical show. It’s really about the music.
GO!: This all reminds me of Daft Punk and Nile Rodgers.
ST: daft punk For me it is a light in the darkness of the world. It’s one of my favorite bands. I love The Beatlesto the Bee Gees, to George Michaelto Culture Clubalready daft punk. and through daft punk I rediscovered Nile Rodgerswhen they did… you know. Memories. Of course.
Later I was an ambassador for Chaneland Nile Rodgers He was also an ambassador for Chanel at the same time. That’s how I met him, many times, at dinners, events, concerts. And when I was doing “Thrill of the Night” for kiss the beast I felt like something was missing. My wife told me: call Nile Rodgers and ask him to play on your record. And I texted him the song, asking him if he wanted to play guitar, and he said yes. He sent me six different guitar tracks and told me to take the bits I liked and create my own part. It was fantastic. I spent days and days listening to the guitar of Nile Rodgers in alone. It was extraordinary.
But now I have to replicate it live and that is much more difficult. It is impossible to do it the same way. I had to change the guitar part because this man is magical, he is such a great guitarist. Create magic with your guitar. I play the part of Nile Rodgers on stage, but transformed, made more mine, because it was impossible for me to do the same as him.
GO!: Thank you very much, Sébastien. Congratulations for the music, for the collaborations, for being a great musician. See you in September.
ST: Thanks to you. Au revoir.
