Neige discusses ALCEST and more!

by Josh Fleischer

Hello Neige, thanks for taking out the time for this interview! How has the past tour treated you?

Hello ! We just finished our concerts session including two tours and several shows here and there like Romania, Portugal and Wave Gothic Treffen in Germany. The overall experience was very positive, from our side we appreciated a lot to play Alcest’s music live and audience feedbacks was very positive, people were enthusiastic about seeing Alcest on stage.

This was your first, and hopefully not last, tour that included North American stops. Have you noticed any differences between fans over here, and your fans back in Europe?

Not the last for sure As for the difference between the fans, in a way we noticed some yes. Apparently people in the U.S are more open minded than European ones, they can listen to metal at the same time as many other styles of music, rock, independent stuffs, etc… In Europe the musical scenes hardly mix, each person has to stay at his place if you see what I mean.

Clearly, there are many non-metal bands that have influenced Alcest’s sound. What bands and genre’s did you first get into? At what point did you decide to incorporate new influences?

The most I could I always tried to keep Alcest away from musical influences, my inspiration is coming from other kind of things. However there can be exceptions, for “Le Secret” and “Souvenirs…” my biggest influences were Yann Tiersen, Ataraxia, Dead Can Dance and for “Ecailles…” I was influenced by The Chameleons, a fantastic post-punk band, not so famous and very underrated unfortunately. Their guitar riffing is one of my fave ones.

With the large catalog of releases from all the bands you have participated in, it may appear to your fans that you have seemingly endless musical inspiration and song writing talent. Would you say that song writing has always been an easy task?

I never said that writing music was an easy task, this actually can be very complicated and uncertain. I never know when I will be efficient, I can compose a song in one day or in one year depending on the inspiration, or if I can’t find the missing riff/idea that the song needs to be done. The hardest thing is to be objective front of my own work and really know when I am on the good way or not. But I tend to think that generally there is a “little something” that says it and that’s the way I am taking decisions. I am extremely demanding with my work, if I have the slightest doubt I don’t hesitate to throw everything away.

Are there any signs of things slowing down, or do you wish to continue to make music until the end?

I really wish to continue making music as long as I can. Everything is to come!

All your projects seem to have at least one element that is shared with black metal. Have you ever had any interest in writing something completely outside of the metal genre?

You know black metal was my first “musical love” if I can say, and will remain the strongest one. I still remember the huge slap in the face I had when I discovered this style of music. Even if I never play black metal in its traditional form I hardly see my songs without any black metal aspect, I guess this mark will always be here in a way or another. Well maybe I will compose a kind of acoustic album with Alcest one day, this is something I have in my mind.

Over the past few years, we have seen a strong emergence in the underground scene of shoegaze-influenced black metal bands from all over the world, spreading across France, the US, South America, and even China. It seems to me that all of your projects, especially Amesoeurs and Alcest, have played a large role in shaping the sound of these bands. What message would you give to these young bands, who view your works as major inspiration?

I am very glad and touched if people see my works as a major inspiration. You know except from being a composer I am also a listener and a fanatic with the bands that are important for me, so I know what it can represent.

Today, I look at your projects, as well as bands like Deathspell Omega, Anorexia Nervosa, and Blut Aus Nord, and it seems to me that the current French black metal scene has taken a much more artistic and avant-garde approach to black metal music than it did 15 years ago, when the LLN represented the French black metal scene. What would you attribute this change to?

I think the black metal scene in France was always very rich, from avant-garde bands to really extreme ones. Even at the Black Legions period, there were “original approach” bands like Forbidden Site. I guess the big change of the last years is the same as everywhere, black metal evolves and takes new shapes. By the way, if you like the Black Legions I recommend you to listen to the new Darvulia album, it’s sick and ugly as hell, I like it a lot.

Thanks for your time during this interview! I’ll surely be waiting for your next tour. Make sure you tell Fursey to bring the rest of Les Discret with you next time! As closing, list 5 albums that mean a lot to you, that you’d like all of your fans to go out and buy today.

Bfff there would be much more than just 5 albums but let’s go…

- Summoning : “Stronghold”
- The Chameleons : “Script Of The bridge”
- Yann Tiersen : “Rue Des Cascades”
- The Smashing Pumkins : “Siamese Dream”
- Burzum : 4 first albums

www.myspace.com/alcestmusic