Gentleman Society: the campaign
Can you tell us more about the shooting of the ad campaign? And what about the TV shooting environment?
It was a great experience. Often as an audience we only see the end result of some very hard work. And work is always great when the people you work with share the same passion and are well mannered and considerate. There was a lot to learn from most of the people who contributed to the campaign and a lot to be inspired by.
vision of beauty
What makes a person, man or woman, beautiful in your eyes?
Courage is the most beautiful. Willingness to exceed expectations not to please others but only for oneself.
Do you have a daily beauty routine?
I am naturally beautiful. That’s just another way of saying who I am. My thoughts inspire beautiful ideas and the scent of Gentleman Society perfume has taken me to new heights I never thought possible. I spend most of my time at home, so for days I hardly change anything in my routine. In fact, the only thing that evolves are my thoughts and my work, which is why I like to set the scene every morning with a bit of incense and a cup of tea. I like to take cold showers whatever the weather because I thrive better in shock mode.
A rising trajectory
How did you come to work in music? And more recently in the film industry?
It’s a long story to be honest. It all started when I felt deeply connected to the work of Erik Satie when he was 11 years old. I spent most of my adolescence alone, feeling rejected by other young people. When I decided to leave my family home, I ended up singing in all the streets and metro stations of Paris, until I was lucky enough to be discovered by an agent and finally be able to record my first album. The same goes for the movie industry. During COVID, I didn’t have the ability to tour, so I resorted to performing at the suggestion of my music agent. I was lucky that Denis Villeneuve offered me a role in his film Dune. I am currently working on my second film and it is very interesting to draw comparisons between music and acting. In the end, both are art forms and what matters is how much you want to commit to the idea.
You write and compose your songs, what is your creative process?
During my early years as a professional musician, I used to recite my poems while playing piano chords, until the song became meaningful to me. After doing it for many years, I am now trying different methods through music engineering. I’ve learned a lot about EQ and compression and how they enrich every song I record. Writing music has become more complicated but in the end it’s worth it.
How can this process be compared to creating a fragrance?
In music there are different chord progressions, playing styles, techniques. And then there are major and minor frequencies, either unknown or known. For me, the perfume is very similar: several months of testing are required to find the right fragrance chord. Acquiring and achieving the desired fragrance is very similar to how I make music.
What are your sources of inspiration? Is there a theme or artist that particularly inspires you?
I am often inspired by Erik Satie and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Personally, Satie was my first musical inspiration. I learned a lot from him about how to use simple techniques to bring something very abstract to life. In my world, and perhaps in Satie’s world, less is more. As for Jean-Michel Basquiat, I discovered him through a great friend I met in the 2010s, Julian Schnabel Basquiat’s painting speaks for itself, but what I find fascinating is his obsession with history. I find him very conscious of the importance of history.
What is your first musical memory?
I stole a toy piano at the age of 5 from school because I was totally fascinated with it. Obviously I returned the little instrument but it was a key moment in my life.
What is the first album you bought/listened to? And which ones are you currently listening to?
I never really searched for music to listen to. Music has always come naturally to me, but when I moved to Paris the first album I bought was Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. Currently I listen to all the works of Isao Tomita.
What are your current and future projects?
I’m working on a movie, but unfortunately I can’t reveal anything about it yet. But I fell in love with the director’s works a while ago. In fact, he was the one who first approached me and asked if he would act, about seven years ago. I also just released my third album, And I Have Beenso there will be a lot of touring next year.
As an artist and more generally as a person, what is your greatest ambition?
My greatest ambition is to love.