Kid Francescoli – Sunset Blue

By starrymag | May 24, 2024

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would say electro-pop: pop because the main ingredient of my music is melodies, which is for me the definition of pop music, and electro because I use a lot of synthesizers, sequencers and drum-machines sounds to produce it.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) There are a lot of artists that I went with along the way, from Brit-pop and grunge when I was a teenager, to soundtracks, hip-hop, French touch and electronic later. If I have to keep the ones that still inspire me today, I would say Ennio Morricone, Serge Gainsbourg and Air.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Sweet and Sour.”

 

A) I’ve always dreamed about making a rap-R&B song, but after some solo attempts I gave up. It’s a music that I love to listen to, probably one of my favorites, but sometimes you have to admit that you don’t have it in your bones, you know that flow, that groove. Then one day I received this message from Bamby H2O on Instagram that asked me for a collaboration. I go to his profile and check his style and that was exactly what I was looking for – he has it. So, I sent him some of the loops I was working on, he sent me back vocal tracks and that was it! The song was done. I’m so happy with it because it’s a style I wanted to have on album for years and now it feels like it makes the whole picture wider, it adds a new layer to it.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) Just a nice vibe, you know sometimes you go out and for some reason you can’t explain there is something in the air that makes you feel good. I hope this is what people feel when they listen to the song

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) I wanted to recreate the process of the writing because the story was already here. So, like I said it’s basically me working on loops in Marseille then we go to New-York through the phone and messages, and we create the song. That’s one of the good things about internet, collaborating with people from all over the world. That’s new way to create, a lot of musicians do it everywhere, so I thought it was cool to put it in images

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) There is absolutely no rule. I could start with beat you build the song around and then get rid of, a guitar melody could turn into a vocal, two different songs could become one, there could be six months between you find the verse and the chorus, you can work a whole day without founding nothing and then as soon as you leave the studio a melody hits you in the street, the list goes on…

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I always have the final cut. Some songs I do by myself from A to Z, like “Nopalitos.” When you hear other vocalists on song it’s usually that I made the music and they made the vocals, that I edit sometimes or not. Same for the production, I have several directions and I choose the ones that I love. The most important is that in the end, I can sit and listen to the whole album and assume each second of it.

 

Q) Your LP Sunset Blue is out now. What are some themes you explore on it?

 

A) The scenery is the mediterranean sea, and the story is the different stages of my life around it: living in Marseille, my roots in Algeria, childhood in Corsica, teenager-hood holidays in Spain or Italy, then shows in Egypt, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey, etc. It’s all about my memories and emotions in all those places through the years

 

Q) Which track(s) hold a special significance for you and what makes it such a standout?

 

A) It’s an impossible question to answer because finishing a track for me means that the track means something important. So, there is a story and something strong behind all of them.

 

Q) What song on the LP challenged you the most creatively?

 

A) I would say “Casino Soul,” “Sweet and Sour” and “Corsica” because they made me explore territories that I didn’t have before, you know like expand boundaries. It’s a very nice feeling when you create, it makes you feel like you elevate

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away as a message or emotion from listening to your new LP as a whole?

 

A) I hope that they have this feeling of everything around you turning into a movie when you put on your headphones and look around because that’s the magic of music for me, that’s what I love about it. Also, that they feel safe and comfortable, that the album is like a friendly place you are always happy to come back to.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) Like the songs, that’s an impossible question to answer because there is something behind each show, the audiences all have their own charm so I really couldn’t pick one. Touring North America is obviously a childhood dream coming true so that’s a lot of emotions, but playing in front of my family and friends in Olympia (one of Paris most prestigious places) was too, crowds in Europe, Istanbul and Mexico were crazy… I don’t know there really are too much.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Rihanna, Julian Casablancas, Frank Ocean, Kevin Parker, Caribou and Lana Del Rey. But sincerely I don’t know if it’s to collaborate or more to witness their creative process.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) Victoria Monet and Kali Uchis are great. I love their albums, the production and the fresh and cool vibes that glows from them. Still a fan of Pusha T rap – he has my favorite flow by far. Also, I discover (little by little because his art is a continent) the music of Caetano Veloso, the Brazilian legend.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I like to post things when there are things to post, like touring or announce new dates or show the creative process once the song is done. I’m a little more uncomfortable when you have to post to fill blanks.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) That I’m working hard so we can keep this relationship through the music that we have for years now, on albums or live shows, because I love it so much.