The Atlas Mountains is the name given to whichever combination of friends is keen to play with me. I write the songs and the arrangements vary according to who I play with and for.
You are currently on Tour, travelling up and down the country in Nov and Dec in support of your new record Plaine Inondable, how has that been going?
Very well, Johnny at Fence, me and Sam 'The Balky Mule'-who is doing the support- tried to organise as many shows as possible. The promoters are all nice people so far and we don't have too much drive to do in between the shows so we're not too tired yet.
It's called 'Plaine Inondable' which means 'flood plain'. It's out in the UK on Fence records on the 7th Dec. It was recorded in my home town in France. I went back there early 2008. We had a lot of time; it's a quiet part of the country. We did it with a local band, Unkle Jelly Fish, they are a young and inspired bunch of musicians. We also had the pleasure to work with a female polyphonic vocal group called Bost Gehio, they are from the Basque Country. It sounds like an album recorded in a place where the water gently submerges everything.
Plaine Inondable is being released on Fence Records – which hosts a wonderful array of artists, so out of interest, how were you introduced to them?
Through Rozi Plain. I play in her band and went to Fife with her to record her first album. I liked the place. Then Johnny Pictish Trail who runs the label saw me playing live and found it interesting.
And can you suggest any fellow Fence artists that I should seek out for nice sounds?
I really like the Pictish Trail and Rozi Plain, Withered Hand, Olo Worms and many more. Have you hear of Love Stop Repeat? If you like soft sounds you will like them.
Now your home town in the UK appears to be Bristol, but I cannot detect a Bristolian accent from you. Where do you hail from sir?
I lived in Bristol 6 years. I have a lot of friends there. My mother lives in the south west of France. I spend time there sometimes. I've got good friends scattered between Paris and Glasgow, Bordeaux and Morocco. I'm in between places most of the time these days. I can't really invite friends to stay at mine because I’m always staying at other people's.
I was fortunate enough to catch your set at The Barron Theatre in St. Andrews just the other week and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. But how does it compare for you to play your own music opposed to playing within a band, as you do?
I like the two experiences. It's easier to be in control of the sound when I'm by myself, but it's easier to play energetic sets with a band.
Do you find it a challenge putting together a live show that replicates the complex sounds of the album?
I don't really try to. Sometimes I take an idea from the recorded version of the song as a starting point, and it grows its own way from there.
Can you talk me through some of your influences as an artist? Or influences you had growing up.
They are numerous. As a teenager I listened to quite a lot of heavy music, Nirvana, Sepultura and the early Korn albums, and the heavy techno music that was played in the rave parties in the countryside. Then my friend Victor Ladybird who I met through skateboarding introduced me to indie-pop music. In the small city where I was it used to be difficult to find out about new music like that. I was really exited when I heard Low and Cat Power for the first time. But I was already 16 by that time. From that I started reading music magazine and really got into the equivalent of indie-pop in France which was represented by the one and only Dominique A., while also getting into electronic music (aphex twin and squarepusher).
I used to think that my mother and step dad didn't have much of a music taste. But then as I got older I realised that all the Bach, Satie, Thelonious Monk... or even Sade that they listened to had gotten into me and my music.
I’d also like to mention your genius watercolour drawings, which feature in a couple of music videos I found on YouTube Francois. Splendide. Is this a medium that you plan to continue to incorporate with your music?
I want to paint more and more. I don't always have the comfort and time to do it when I'm on tour. I'm really looking forward to have a few weeks without music projects so I can really get focused on painting again. I've never been to art school so there is a lot I need to learn through experimenting, which takes a while. If it fits with the music then yes I’ll use it in videos and album artwork. I'm also lucky that bands like Planet Earth and Ray Rumours like my art and asked me to design the artwork for their ep's and albums.
Rude of me to ask Mr. Marry, but it would be a pleasure for you to say something in French for all of my French readers… (all 6 of them)
Turlututu chapeau pointu!
Nearly there, so what is in store for Francois in 2010?
First a trip to Morocco to spend time in a paradisiac place with some of my best friends. And after that lot of touring. The label which is releasing the album in France is planning dates in France, Spain, Belgium...and possibly some other exotic places. We will be at the Fence Homegame in Anstruther in March of course.
And lastly monsieur, what will you be asking Santa for this Christmas?
As much sleeping times and lucid dreams as possible.
Merci!
www.myspace.com/francoisinbristol
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