1. Hello Fursy. How are you? You are getting ready for the tour with ALCEST, where you play bass guitar. Are you looking forward for the tour? Do you like playing live?

Hi ! We’re actually just back from Romania where we played our very first gig. It was a truly great experience and I am very happy to finally have participated to Alcest live music ! Wednesday, we’re leaving France and making our first show of the tour (The Vision Bleak, Alcest, Fjoergyn) in Berlin. We are very excited, and touring gis a big chance, as you can see so many different countries, enjoy a bit of each, and each night, playing in front of fans !!

2. Try to tell us something more, about the project LES DISCRETS. When did it start, whose idea it was and so on. Is this supposed to be some kind of “soundtrack” to your visual art?

It started in 2003 beside my first band Phest. The idea was to put in music my fears, angst and feelings related to my life and our world. Actually, both are usefull for the other one, I mean that my music takes all its sense if you look at the pictures and watch the film (Tir Nan Og), and my film is fully understood if you read the lyrics and play the music. It’s a kind of soundtrack yes.

3. If it’s a “soundtrack”, then booklet is very important part of "Septembre et ses dernières pensées". Can you tell us something more about it? About the cover and so on? What does it symbols?

The main concept of this album is Death and Love. Everything deal with that. The cover represent the passage of two lovers into Death. But they’re not affraid and still together in front of what is supposed to tear them apart. They know that they’ve lived together, and that they will die together, and restart another life together as well. The concept of a new life after Death is very important in this album. Many pictures of the booklet are dealing with that, and I tried to explain with drawings what neither the music and lyrics explained.

4. Music of LES DISCRETS is also linked to the short animated film "Tir Nan Og". It is beautiful, but I’m not quite sure, if I understood it well :). A raven guy from the booklet, who suddenly appears also figures here. Can you explain us the whole story?

The most has been explained above, but there is a slight difference between what the crow represent in my film and in the cover art. Basically, to my eyes, the crow / bird represents Death. Not necessary the bad death, but mainly the fact of dying. It could be a kind of god of Death. In the film, the crow is the dead grandpa (the lover) who comes to take his wife for the final trip of her life. He came to take her away so that they can have a new life beyond clouds. In the cover art, the crow has the role of God of Death/Nature, and two lovers are standing in front of him to take their trip together. I just notice, writing these lines, that the album unconsciously speaks of Death acceptance.


5. What is behind the lyrics on "Septembre et ses dernières pensées"? How much do you insist/accentuate on lyrics part of your music?

I think they just point a little bit more what the music, pictures and film already do. With them, I can give nuances, and more details. I can also play and emphasize a bit my purpose, so that it’s extended not only to humans related stuff, but also nature etc.

6. Can you tell us more about the 56-page art book edition also containing short film "Tir Nan Og" on DVD?

That is, above all, a fantastic gift Prophecy offer me. The label proposed me to do a 56 pages booklet including a DVD because they wanted I to gather all my work into a single Artbook. I would not have even asked for such a wonderful object if they did not propose to me. I have so many different editions for a first album…. That’s incredible. Bands !! SIGN WITH PROPHECY !

7. How are you satisfied with the record? Did it meet your expectations, when considering a lot of aspects, for example sound, feeling and so on?

I am very very happy and I think I have done my best for it. It has taken quite a long to make it finished (7years of composition) and the choice of the Drudenhaus Studio and Neb Xort as engineer was just perfect. I have signed a 5album deal with Prophecy, I’ll sign a 5album deal with this studio ha ha. That was just perfect to me and I am highly satisfied by the overall production, mix and mastering. I think we made an original sound that sounds a bit 90’s and that’s really good. Winterhalter recorded the drums in less than 2 days, I sent him the songs 2 weeks before and we had 3 days rehearshal. He improvised a lot of breaks etc, and I am very happy, because it sounds powerfull, elegant and well done ! He is truly very talented, you’ll see in the Alcest shows as we’re also sharing the stage with him.

8. Where do you get inspiration for the visual art and also for your music? Can you name some of your favorite painters, painting styles and music interprets?

I’m very inspired by artists such as John Bauer, Theodor Kittelsen, Kay Nielsen etc. And a lot by Romantiscism with artists such as Friedrich, Turner etc. Music related, I am a big fan of Anathema, Primordial, Tiamat, Katatonia, Ravel, Debussy, Henryk Gorecki and indeed, Arvo Part. I also have discovered recently new bands such as Nightpray, Kill The Thrill (fantastic by the way) and I truly advice you to listen to the masterpiece Herbst made with his new Lantlôs album « .neon ».

9. How long do you know Neige and Winterhalter and when did you start working together? You helped Neige with cover of his latest ALCEST album, did he participate in any way with something on "Septembre et ses dernières pensées"?

Ha ! Neige and me are best friends for 15 years now, so he actually participated at Les Discrets since the beginning. To be honest, in studio I was very tired after 3 weeks of recordings etc and he helped me to record some short stuffs, especially a few bass lines. I was lying on the sofa and had some rest. Haha. Winterhalter and I met with Amesoeurs, before going to germany in studio. He is a great guy.


10. What are your plans for the future? Is there any chance for us to see LES DISCRETS live?

Yes but not for now, as we’re too busy with Alcest, and I have a lot of work besides. I’ll wait for the second album to be released so that I have a good setlist to play. I can’t wait !!!

11. Thanks for your time and a beautiful album. Last words traditionally belongs to the person being interviewed. Here’s your space.

Thanks a lot for the interview ! I am very glad you liked the album !!!! :)