Jérémy Azoulay, leader of The Black Box Mountain and a child of our beautiful “country,” is releasing his first self-titled EP, recorded in the capital. He shares with us how it all started, here, on his azure lands and talks about this first baby.
Nice Premium: Hello Jérémy. You started strumming in Nice several years ago under the stage name “Sacha.” Can you tell us more about this first persona who seems to be at the origin of your music?
Jérémy Azoulay: In fact, I started even earlier. After taking a few guitar lessons, we formed a rock band with some friends from middle school… We were clearly influenced by Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins, influences I still have. Later, I started writing my lyrics in French, being an admirer of French literature and poetry.
NP: I remember that during an -M- concert at the Palais Nikaïa, you were chosen to go on stage and you even got to play and sing one of your compositions. What memory do you have of that?
J.A.: A huge memory! 8000 people, that’s unforgettable… Especially since it went very well, I remember the audience really supported me without even knowing me!
NP: We regularly saw you in the bars of Old Nice when you were a student, mostly on the small stage of the Oxford where you performed solo with guitar/voice. A good school? Was it a formative experience?
J.A.: The bars of Old Nice were a very good memory for me, it was undoubtedly very formative. I occasionally pick up the guitar when I go back there… The atmosphere is always as cool at the Oxford, the Pompeï, the Wayne’s, the Blue Whales!
NP: At the time, you were writing in French. With The Black Box Mountain, the tracks are in English, why this choice?
J.A.: These choices were linked to the mindset I was in. Indeed, I traveled for a long period and the fact of speaking only English for a while made me naturally write my songs in that language. Also, I felt it better suited the Folk/Pop music style I was composing and that inspired me.
NP: You’ve been living in Paris for some time, did you meet your musicians there? Tell us!
J.A.: Yes, the Parisian scene is very rich, very important, you meet a lot of musicians from all over France. Anne-Sophie, the violinist who sings with me comes from Perpignan, I met her in front of a Parisian bar with her violin when she was busking to buy the same shoes as her friends… She’s changed now, she wears sandals.
NP: Your group is called “The Black Box Mountain,” one can’t help but think of “Brokeback Mountain,” a nod perhaps? If not, where does this name come from?
J.A.: I was working in a company and I felt like I was stuck at the bottom of a black box… hence the “Black Box.” Then, for me, the word “Mountain” really defines escape, space. And finally, the contrast between these two ideas appealed to me enough to name the group as such… No, actually it’s an idea from the drummer; he’s a fan of the movie Brokeback Mountain and gave us an ultimatum if we didn’t name the group that way.
NP: How would you define your musical universe?
J.A.: I would say our musical universe is rather light Pop with a touch of melancholy…
NP: Do you still write and compose everything?
J.A.: Yes, I compose and write several songs that I then propose to the group. Everyone suggests arrangement ideas. But I always decide in the end, not to overdo it, democracy has its limits.
NP: I really like the cover of your EP. Can you introduce us to the graphic designer?
J.A.: The artwork for the album cover was created by Pierre Thyss. He’s a Nice-based illustrator who has worked a lot for rap and electro artists. I thought it was pretty cool to work with him for a rather pop record.
NP: Where can we get this EP that was released last April 16th?
J.A.: On the web: iTunes, Google Play, Deezer, Spotify… and some discs are also offered during our concerts.
NP: By the way, any upcoming dates?
J.A.: We’re playing at Le 114 bar in Paris on June 15, then we’ll be on Mouv’ on June 24 for an acoustic live + an interview of the group on the occasion of the release of our 1st EP.
NP: Safe travels, Jérémy! Keep us posted when you come back to the south!
J.A.: Thank you! We are preparing a tour of Nice’s bars very soon!
To listen to The Black Box Mountain: soundcloud.com/theblackboxmountain
Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/theblackboxmountain
