A multi-faceted musician, Thomas de Pourquery pushes the boundaries between genres, from jazz to psychedelic pop. On the occasion of the closing of the festival “Un Festival C’est Trop Court“, he returns with his daring album “Let The Monster Fall” and reveals the backstage of his creativity and unique journey.
Thomas de Pourquery is an eclectic musician, both a singer, saxophonist, and composer, awarded with two Victoires de la Musique and the Django Reinhardt Prize. Known for his artistic audacity and varied collaborations, he has made a lasting impression with his Supersonic project in tribute to Sun Ra. His latest album “Let The Monster Fall“, created with Yodélice, explores pop-psychedelic sounds inspired by David Bowie and Prince. For the closing of the festival “Un Festival C’est Trop Court“, he returns to the stage and talks to us about his journey, his inspirations, and the evolution of his music.
Your new album “Let The Monster Fall” is described as pop-psychedelic. What inspired you to explore this genre?
“Since my teenage years, I have been in love with all kinds of music, including David Bowie, Deep Purple, you know, psychedelic music among others, so it’s something that is part of my DNA. It can be said that in all the music I create, there is this love of psychedelism. In any case, it’s a sonic comet that inscribes itself into my auditory realms. My music can be quite sunny and quite galactic, it’s a taste that I have had for a very long time.
You cite influences like The Flaming Lips, David Bowie, Prince, and Nina Simone. How have these artists shaped your music?
They have shaped more than my music. They have shaped my existence. They are people who are part of my life! Some songs are truly part of my life! They are love stories as we all have with certain works of art, with songs, with films, with books. I believe the test of art is to accompany us in our lives like partners, like great friends who are always there for us. These people are among the artists who have most moved me and continue to accompany me.
Can you tell us about your collaboration with Yodélice on this album? How did the creative process unfold?
Well, Yodélice is a great and friendly person. He is someone I love tremendously and who has been extremely important to me. He is as brilliant as he is benevolent. He is as genius as he is kind, and these are qualities that are rare when they come together. So he is truly a rare being with whom I had the chance to work on this album. I met him through Manu Baron, who is our manager for both of us. He introduced us, and immediately, it was evident, we understood each other. We listen to the same things, we love the same things, and it was a great pleasure to work with him.
What are the main themes addressed in this album? What does the title “Let The Monster Fall” mean to you?
I chose this title because I think it raises questions. It’s an album that asks more questions than it provides answers. I think the themes explored in these songs are like prayers. In fact, that seems to be a common thread. Every song could be seen as a prayer to find the light. This light can be found either outside, or in more melancholic songs. There’s always this idea of hope, humanity, and faith. However, it’s not about religious faith. On the contrary, it is simply about acknowledging our human condition. We are endowed with a soul and consciousness. This condition is, for me, extraordinary. Every time I look at the stars, I realize that I am alone in seeing this universe. Each one of us observes the rest of the universe alone. At the same time, we are aware that we are just a speck of dust. We almost don’t exist in this immense universe. Thus, we are both everything and nothing. I believe music expresses this consciousness that escapes words. This state of consciousness drives me to create every day. I continue to make music and write songs. In sum, I marvel at our human condition and our existence in the universe.
How does this album differ from your previous projects, especially those with Supersonic?
It’s my first album entirely of songs. That’s what distinguishes it in form. It is not a pop album, but a collection of songs.
During your concerts, you create a truly immersive experience for the audience. What are your intentions when you go on stage, and what do you want your audience to feel?
I wish the audience a beautiful journey every time I get on stage. I include myself in it as well. If there is only one thing I claim, it is the living side of music and the fact of coming to perform songs. But it’s never the same concert for me, that’s something very important, we never play exactly the same repertoire and we never play exactly the same way. That’s why live music is a moment of eternity, a unique moment. Each experience can only be lived once, which makes it very precious, wonderful. So, I try to honor as much as possible the awareness of this live music and the fact that people gather in a place, that a group gathers in a place, and together something is going to happen. For me, that’s very important, and I try to make sure we undertake the journey we have to take together and that every night is different.
You are often on stage with exceptional musicians. How did you form the group that accompanies you for this album, and how would you describe the dynamic between you?
We’re going to name them all: there’s Akemi Fujimori on synthesizer, Élise Blanchard on bass, David Ackmin on drums, and Axel Rigaud on modular synthesizer. I have the chance to play with teams. It’s true they change regularly, but I perform with fabulous musicians, and I chose them because they are people I love and who inspire me. People I admire both musically and humanly. They are people who inspire me and it’s a privilege to make music with them, so I’m really very honored to be their singer, that’s how I see things.
With two Victoires de la Musique and a Django Reinhardt Prize, how do these distinctions influence your career or your approach to musical creation?
Receiving awards is something that encourages you to continue. It’s like someone telling you “it’s cool, I like what you do, keep going, don’t stop.” That’s how I receive them, and in no way is it an accomplishment. I believe they are not intended as an accomplishment by the people who give these awards, but as recognition of our work. I receive it as a gift and as encouragement to continue doing my craziness.
As an artist, how do you see the evolution of the music industry, especially with streaming platforms and changes in music consumption?
Streaming is very recent, so there are still many things to be done to make things fair. I think that in the distribution of the profits from these platforms, there is still a lot to be laid out and adjusted in the sense of justice for the term adjusted so that the artists who are, in this case, the only ones not earning a single penny with this way of consuming music, changes. It seems obvious to me, you know. It’s often compared to milk producers who make negative margins, who lose money to produce milk. It’s an upside-down world, so things need to be reformed, modified, adjusted! We must continue, we must talk about things, but as with all the injustices in this world, there are much more serious ones than these. But the free access to music is a real subject concerning streaming platforms. Today, it’s a reality: 99% of artists earn nothing or just a few pennies with streaming. You should know that when you are a songwriter, you literally get nothing at all from the music streamed on streaming platforms, so it’s a concern because there are still significant financial resources involved, but the creators never see any of it.
What are your upcoming projects, whether musically or in other creative fields?
I always have lots of projects. I continue to make connections. I also hope to continue writing my songs. Indeed, collaborating with artists I adore is essential. For several years, I have been doing this beautiful job. This profession allows me to meet many people. So, we continue our journey together. We make music and intersect with other artists. I love creating projects together with them. “
Find Thomas de Pourquery at the Lino Ventura theater this Friday, October 11 at 8:30 PM. There are still a few tickets available.
