Music came to him as something obvious. Miskeyz is a French artist who broke through in 2015 with his track “Under The Sun”. After releasing his debut album last year, he is back in 2019 with “Stand It”, a new single that took more than a year to see the light of day, and with which he refines his musical signature, which he
What drove you to become the all-round artist you are today?
My first track under this stage name: “Under The Sun”. When I put it up on soundcloud, I had no idea of the impact it could have on listeners. Within a few days, I quickly saw it climb to more than 25,000 plays a day, I couldn’t believe my eyes. That new recognition gave me a huge amount of energy. So I kept writing and releasing tracks, which also did really well on soundcloud.
Miskeyz: Under The Sun (Original Mix)
What place does music have in your life?
Music has always been part of my life, ever since I was a child. I started music theory very young, then guitar and drums. I always have a track in my head, and I’m often tapping out the rhythm on whatever I’m holding, which really annoys the people around me! Today, music is vital to me, whether I’m listening to it or creating it.
How would you describe the music you make?
It’s very hard to put your own music into one style. I’ve recently adopted the term organic electro. That means melodic electronic music, with acoustic instruments and a solid house rhythm section.
Tell us about your latest single, “Stand It”.
Stand It is a track that took me almost a year and a half. It was made in several stages. I first started by laying down the harmonic foundations with the guitars and the bassline. Then I looked for a voice to complete the track. That’s how I met Michaela Baranov, aka The Baroness, a talented Australian singer, through soundcloud. Thanks to this collaboration, the track took a new turn, giving it a girly side I didn’t yet have in my repertoire. All the elements come together in a fresh dance cocktail that should be a hit this summer.
Miskeyz: Stand It
How did the collaboration with The Baroness go?
Working with Michaela was really easy. She’s an excellent singer. Because she handled the lyrics and melody on her own, she sent me the recordings I needed very quickly. Another collaboration in the future isn’t out of the question.
This single shows once again how much your musical world has evolved over the last few years. How do you explain that?
I think that like any artist, I spent some time searching for myself. Today, I don’t set myself any limits when I compose: I create what I have in my head, whatever the style. My album released in October is a very good example of how eclectic my repertoire is.
Miskeyz: Memories (Album)
Which French artists inspire you?
My main French source of inspiration is the label Hungry Music, especially Worakls and Joachim Pastor. I also listen to a lot of Rone and The Blaze. But also artists from abroad like David August or Bonobo.
You regularly share videos on social media showing you in the middle of a live performance. How do you go about filming these live sessions?
It’s usually very spontaneous. We head off with the PNE (Party Never End) team to find a location. Sometimes by car, sometimes on foot with the gear on our backs. Once we’ve found the setting, we set up and shoot the sequences one after another from different angles. It’s become very smooth as the shoots have gone on. It’s teamwork!
https://www.facebook.com/miskeyz/videos/2119089268408614/
In your view, what are the 3 essentials for a good live set?
To pull off my live sets, I first need several dozen hours of rehearsal so I feel more comfortable on stage. Then there’s the environment around the stage: the venue, the lighting and the atmosphere all play an important role. And finally, interaction and feedback from the audience. Last but not least, as a video technician, I’ve programmed a standalone video show that follows what I play. When possible, I really like to run it, it adds a lot of energy to the performance.
What are your goals for the coming months?
Over the next few months, I’m going to write lots of new tracks. I’m preparing something for September!
