When I was a child, I was attracted to the sound of musical instruments. I enjoyed listening to the piano, accordion, flute ... anything! I was attracted to the sounds. Music was a part of me, because I was raised in a family, my parents listened to a lot of different things: from Michael Jackson to The Beatles. All this influenced me, because I was very young. Then I began to learn to play the piano. And when I was 15, I turned to metal through Metallica, and it was a real shock. Then my brother and I started playing together, he was 13 years old, and I was 15.
And you quickly became popular in France?
Yes! From the first al
bum. However, by that time we have already released 4 demos and toured with them in France. But when the first album came out, we have to go and play much more. The second album has significantly strengthened our position in France. And then we started looking for a label that could lead us to the world stage. And so we recorded "From Mars to Sirius". It took us about 8 months of hard work to write it. The album is more progressive and even ambient. That is why it is very special for Gojira. It was a breakthrough album, due to it, we became popular in the U.S. and Europe, and before that we were just a French group that played at home.So you got it. And then there was a crossing to "The way of All Flesh". What was it look like?
We started a
lot of touring in the U.S., performed with bands such as Slayer, Lamb of God ... These guys have changed our view of music as a whole, we were playing all the time, always on the stage. So when we returned to France to record "The way of All Flesh" we were much more straight to the point, so I would call the result logical. The way of All Flesh" is darker, more aggressive. But you see, when you're always on stage, you play, play, play ... and so on without stopping for 3-4 years. The new album has been an outlet of these emotions, so it is more aggressive.
And how did you reach such a powerful, aggressive, "fat" sound in technical terms? What instruments and equipment do you use?
Usually we use Jackson guitars and amplifiers
EVHs, it’s Eddie Van Halen own brand. Well, I just wanted to try it in practice. So, once in the studio, I just took EVH, plugged it in, began to play ... and oh, my God! The sound was so fat! This was just what we were striving to "The way of All Flesh". And then, I think that sound like that it is part of the evolution of the group, as well as the result of the influence of those teams that we played with earlier.By the way, what does it look like for such a young band to play on stage with cult groups?
Amazing. It’s fuckin’ amazing. You know, this is a bit strange feeling. You’ve just listened to Metallica and Sepultura, and now you participate in their tour, and I have a project with the guys from Sepultura. And we deal with Slayer. An
d we are friends with Mastodon… Sometimes I ask myself: "Is it dream?" - and even trying to pinch myself. For example, yesterday we were in the restaurant with Metallica. James sat opposite me and told me how he gathered his first band in high school ... It's incredible! And so it changes you. What was once a dream is now becoming a reality.Well, so what else, besides the experience of dealing with such musicians, inspires you? And can you generally describe the creative process in the group?
It depends... Basically feelings, based on experience. For example, how hard it is - to be alive, how stupid humanity's desire to destroy the planet, and how meaningless is competition, because we have to help each other. Such things come with experien
ce. I'm not trying to tell a story, or invent something, I'm just talking about my feelings. Sometimes we're going in the studio with the guys and just start playing, and this feeling is flowing through us, what we want to say. And then I put the text on music. So, first there is an intention, then music, and then the text.By the way, why don’t you write lyrics in French?
But we're talking to all of humanity! (laughs) Well, actually, we start singing in English. My mother is from the States...
So you are bilingual?
Yes, almost! Of course, I wasn’t brought up in an English speaking environment. I was born, resident in France, went to a French school. And my mother spoke French, as my father
did not know English. But our team’s influenced by Metallica, Pantera, Sepultura and other American and British groups. So we started writing in English as something spontaneous. And then, when you speak in English, there is a sense that you’re talking to the whole world.But there is another way to bring your idea to the masses. For example, visual. Tell me in detail about the two videos for songs from "The way of All Flesh": "Vacuity" and "All the Tears". Who comes up with plots for all clips?
I’m working on video myself, and a lot. For "Vacuity", for example, we chose the theme of death. The heroine of this video - a girl, carrying a his coffin. And in the end she opens it and sees herself inside, so it was as a kind of burden. And this
video looks cool, impressive! The guys really liked the idea. As for "All the Tears", we decided to make a cartoon. He tells about how it’s hard to be alone, and how lonely is man. You are born and die alone. And the whole way of life is well. This video is about loneliness and sadness, it is very gloomy. But in the end you can see that it was just a small world, in which the hero has concluded himself, and the reality around much bigger, fuller.Talking about the reality, Gojira actively interact with it, you have so many side projects. For example, participation in the of brothers Cavalera’s project. Tell me more about this experience.
Oh, it was great! Three weeks before start, Max had invited us to the studio, but we had no idea about wh
at’d going to happen. And there he announced that they needed a bass player for the new project. Our bass player Jean-Michel just could not do this - some personal problems. And then I offered myself, because I play bas. Max agreed and said that I not only play but sing. I also can participate in the creative process. So it was ... you know, I wasn’t just going to have a beer with him. And it was not just another tour with Sepultura, where Gojira would play as the opening act. I created music, worked with the brothers Cavalera! That’s why, it was so interesting and exciting. I must say that they are very open-minded and it was an exciting adventure!But you have your own side-project with your brother - Empalot. You have recorded a demo, one album and one live-
play. What's next? Empalot consists of 9 persons. My closest friends, with whom we grew up together. We are like one family, like brothers. And we started playing together just for fun, we have tones of ideas, we’re laughing all the time and just enjoying ourselves, so then we have had no grandiose plans.
And stylistic frames?..
Exactly! We played everything that came on our mind and as we wanted. We just enjoyed the process. But a couple of years ago, we have stopped our activity as everyone has his own project. But even since that we constantly think about how could we meet again and play, even maybe in some bar, it does not matter ... We just want to see each other and enjoy this feeling. This is a real friendship.
Meanwhile, Gojira’s preparing something new for their fans. Tell me about a new project for the Sea Shepherd. You said that you invited some metal-musicians...
I’m working on that, nothing’s confirmed yet. Randy Blythe from Lamb of God will be honored, and Max Cavalera will be honored, Anders from In Flames, David Thompson…
And what's the idea?
It’s gonna be 4 or 5 songs, that you can buy on the internet. We want to avoid iTunes, if it’s possible, because they charge us. So we probably will find a way to put it on our site for example and all the benefits of the sellings and all the copyrights too will go to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society . We really care about the ocean. And these guys from
Sea Shepherd are the only fighting to protect the ocean, sharks, whales etc. from pirates.Whales are appearing all the time in your work. Does this animal mean to you something special?
I don’t know why, but since the beginnig we have like their presence in our albums. "From Mars to Sirius", there was a whale…
And how was recorded the effect of "whale’s cry" for one of the tracks?
We found it on the internet. Seriously! I didn’t record it myself. I wish I could but… We just found it. In general, the whale is the symbol of intelligence, no human intelligence. They’re huge, they’re graceful, beautiful to watch and intelligent. They don’t hurt each other, they don’t kill each other, they just live on this
planet. And we destroy them, so it’s a big symbol of the madness of humanity. And it also matches with our music, we try to play a big, fat sound, and whales are just like thatHowever, very soon you will play again on stage with Metallica. This is your second experience of playing the opening act for these legendary guys. What do you feel?
Oh, it’s very challenging. Because we get on stage and everybody wants to see Metallica. They have M-shirts and they’re like: "Show me something, I don’t care anyway! " So we do our best every night to catch them and grab the attention of the crowd. At first it’s mostly to share our energy. But eventually we have something to sell, it’s our music, because we must sell our CDs or we won’t have a possibility to write a new album and tour. But it is the same for Metallica. So that’s the point, and it’s very challenging for both of us.
And how do you like the Russian public?
I was a little overwhelmed. Usually when I talk to the crowd, I’ m more confident. Yesterday it was 26 000 crowd, and the arena is so impressive. It’s full of history here and you can feel like a lot of things coming out of this walls. Faces of the people are quite different from anywhere else. I was impressed yesterday a little bit. That’s why I was less confident.
Does it his mean that Gojira will return to Russia?
Definitely! We had a glimpse on what’s happening, but I think we should spend more time here. So we will come back to Russia for sure.
Ok, but for the present, few words to your fans in Russia and our readers.
I would like to say that life is a miracle. And it’s beautiful. We should enjoy ourselves. So believe in your dreams even if it seems impossible, I’m telling you: it’s possible. Everything is possible!
Thank you! Good luck and great show!
Interview by Kristina Sarkhanyants
Questions by alpokus.
© Russian DarkSide E-Zine
10 èþí 2010
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