When did you first realise that COVID-19 was going to have an effect on your band?
“I think we’ve been waiting until the last moment, something like 1 month and half after the beginning of the quarantine in France. We were supposed to start our European tour at the end of April with shows in Spain. Until 2 weeks before the shows we were still hoping. Then we cancelled everything. For our US tour that was supposed to begin the 19th of August, we waited until the end of May to cancel it as well…
Very quickly I knew that we would have to find new ways to survive as a band, and keep on creating.”
Initially, what was that whole situation like, and how did your band overcome/react to it?
“Initially, I think we all did the same. To hope for better days quickly. But when we understood it would last, I decided to spend the quarantine in our studio with my drummer. We made videos, we did ourselves a music video on a single that I composed during the quarantine, a song called “Escape”, talking about the situation and trying to send the world some hope. We all needed it.”
How has your creative process changed as a band over the last couple of months?
“For us, it didn’t. I’ve always been the main composer and the songwriter. And I always work with my drummer after the structure of the song and melody are made. The only thing that has changed is that usually when the work in studio was done we always meet the other band members and work the Live version of the song… Here, we didn’t, obviously…”
What’s been the hardest part about writing/doing music this way?
“What was hard was to not be able to show what we were creating to the world on stage. We made it through videos, but it’s not the same at all. And there was also the fact that usually we travel a lot, it brings me a lot of inspiration for the writing and the composition. At one point, being in lockdown made the inspiration suffer after a while…”
What bands/artists have you been listening to over the last couple of months?
“I took the time to listen to my old classics like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Hendrix… But also the albums from Placebo, Kings of Leon or The Killers that I like. Oh and also a bit of Rhythm’N’Blues and classical music.”
So, what do you think you’ve learnt the most from being a band through COVID-19?
“It’s not easy but there are other ways to keep on creating. You have to find solutions and not focus on the problems. The lockdown gave me the opportunity to really work, and take time to work things deeply. So, I guess it was the good side.”
What kind of effect do you think that it’s had on the music industry all together, and how excited are you to see it return to normal?
“It had a very negative effect on the industry for sure. I mean, economically speaking it’s a disaster. Producers, venues owners, artists… Everyone is suffering from it. And some have decided to stop to work in the industry and start a completely different life. I am really excited to see things going back to normal. But the “real-real normal” not a bit of normal. And this, I don’t know when it will be.”
What tips/advice would you like to give to other bands who are also going through this?
“Never give up bros!! We will survive it!! Keep on creating as much as you can, survive it, and we will meet again on the road!! Take care!!”
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