Music interview With French Composer Sophie jeannin

1- how did you start making electronic music .

Ans / I think it was in 1997 that I got my first computer for making music. I wanted to create samples with effects. I'd record sounds outside and play around with them in sound-editing software like Cool Edit Pro and Wavelab. I think it was Musik Maker that I had to compose my first track with, then Reason, then Fruity loops... and Reaktor later. In 2000 I think, someone lent me an old Korg MS-20 and its sequencer for 6 months ... I didn't understand anything about it at the time but I spent hours fiddling with the cables and pots. I used to record it with an old dictaphone. It fascinated me.

2- How did you discover your particular sound ?

Ans / I think that by using Reaktor, I realised that I could sculpt my sound. I also started to record myself live, and to stop using automations. What really bothered me about the computer arrangements was the clinical side of the sound and it lacked a sort of grain to it.

3- What inspires you and what makes you want to keep producing music?

Ans / In fact, everything inspires me  everything I see, hear and feel, so emotions for sure! For me, making music is completely therapeutic. It allows me to feel alive, and to put myself in a bubble that transports me ... sound has always fascinated me.

4 - What are a few key lessons you’ve learned about producing that other aspiring musicians and producers could take advice from?

Ans / I'd say it's a bit like photography: use manual mode rather than automatic mode, so that you can create original images: so avoid automatic settings, presets that are already set, and sounds that are already ready-made, and find your own sound.

5- How did you get into music and for how long have you been producing for?

Ans / From the age of 6, I learnt music theory and to play classical music with the flute at the conservatoire. But when I reached adolescence and started listening to grunge and metal music  ... I gave up and picked up a guitar. I wanted to play structures like my idols, Sonic Youth, The Cure, Metallica, Faith no more ... I was never very assiduous in terms of instrumental practice, but I did join a band from Lyon called NED, as a hardcore noise punk guitarist around the age of 18. We played together for two or three years and did about ten concerts. Then I took a break because I had a serious ear problem after a Zeni Geva concert... that's the problem with extreme noise music  So I went back to classical music, but baroque this time, and played the flute for a few years. Then I discovered electronics by tinkering with my computer around 1997. I composed my first demo in the early 2000s, with 5 tracks, and then I composed tracks and broadcast them on Myspace. I really started making live recordings and exploiting them in 2015, with the 'Black Hole' album.

6- Are there any artists that you draw inspiration from — if so who and what sort of music ?

Ans / I really listen to a lot of music from a lot of different artists and styles, from electronica to metal. I think Thom Yorke's music inspires me a lot, as does Alessandro Cortini, Daniel Avery, Boards of Canada, Plaid, Rival Consoles, ... After that I still like metal, but more post-metal like Cult of Luna, or Godflesh, or more psychedelic or 70’s like Kadavar, or soaring stuff like Barn Owl. But I'm still a big fan of Pink Floyd, for example ... at the moment I'm listening to Jaye Jayle's album "Don't let your love life get you down" over and over again.

7- Which approach did you follow

Ans / To create my music? I would say an experimental approach. I just plug in and let the sound inspire me. I never really know exactly what I'm going to do, I leave things to chance and randomness 

8 - What’s next for you as an artist?

Ans / None, I think, because I don't have any particular objective

9 - What gear do you use in studio/live

Ans / My DAW is a Mac with a UA Arrow sound card, and I've been using Logic Pro X as my editor for the last two years, before that I used Pro Tools. For computer music creation, I use Ableton Live, and Native Instruments VSTs, especially Reaktor, but sometimes Kontakt. As far as synthesizers are concerned, I use a Behringer 2600, a Korg mini MS-20, a Moog theremini and reverb-looper pedals. I had an Erica Synths drone Fusion modular system since 2018. But this year I've expanded that modular system with two new cases and lots of new modules to experiment with!

10- Why did you choose to make ambient music? Are you interested in expanding to other genres in the future ?

Ans / I've never thought about what kind of music I want to make. It just happens. I have ideas that I put into practice. I think that with the modular system my sound will evolve, once I've found the right patches 

11- What are your biggest goals in terms of music as of right now ?

Ans / At the moment, I'm mainly working on understanding how the CVs are routed in the modular system, and I'm trying to make more complex patches, studying the modules to try and get to know them. I'm going to connect the modular system to the computer, to create videos of audio-reactive generative visuals that I can programme with Max Msp, or TouchDesigner. You'll be able to 'see' the sound! It's nothing exceptional, but it's also something that's fascinated me for a long time.

12- Any advice for those looking to start producing electronic music? Is there a particular setup or process that may help others?

Ans / I don't really know because it all depends on what you want to do. If it's the same approach as mine, I'd say don't hesitate to create your own sounds and try out lots of things, even if you don't understand anything  I think the possibilities are enormous now compared with before. You have access to mines of information on the net, and advice of all kinds.

13- Describe your sound for us. What do you want people to feel when they hear your music?

Ans / Repetitive Random Distorted Cosmic Dark Disturbing Deep Noisy Resonant

I'd like people to be transported by my sound, that would be ideal! But I once saw a woman who couldn't stand a track of 'Drone from Hell' - she couldn't take it any more, poor thing ... she had to leave the room. Still, it made me smile to see that my sound can be so disturbing 

14- Which 3 artists have influenced you the most growing up?

Ans / Aphex Twin Thom Yorke Alessandro Cortini

thank you so much