©Photography by Noémie Le Calvez
Rennes is France's capital city of Indie Rock 'n' Roll, where local Indie outfit Born Idiot have just released their début record Afterschool. We sat down with front man Lucas to discover more from their love of Beach Fossils to having a drink with Mac Demarco...
Hello Lucas of Born Idiot, introduce the band for us? Born Idiot are an indie pop band from France. Most compositions go back to my folk-guitar boredom and chaotic moments, throw in with some jazz chords, pop melodies and an ingenuity omnipresent all over the album. Our four other band mates Tiago, Louis, Camille and Clément also bring a certain colour to each arrangement. Simply give it a listen.
Let's talk about Afterschool. Are we hearing Third's favourite Mac DeMarco there? It's always a difficult one to answer because influences are very fleeting in my opinion. I mean, you listen to a song that you really dig and then you forget it. But that very song will stay with you in a certain way and can possibly resurge as an influence when you will be composing in the future. Mac Demarco, as well as lots of Captured Tracks signatures, are clearly bands which inspire me. But I will say it again, when I create music, I rely only on instinct.
Would you call Afterschool a care free record? Or what feel were you going for? Totally, it’s just unbearable to see bands taking themselves too seriously, though we don't do everything carelessly. The whole theme around Afterschool is pretty simple. It depicts some nostalgia of our roaring teenage years and also that time inevitably runs away. Our main goal is to remain dumb and childish as long as possible, because it's certainly easier to live with!
It feels like you made a clear choice with the vocals. "Pure and upfront". Was that a natural choice? That's a good question. There's major development between our first singles and the album. I made the choice to fully assume my voice accepting its drawbacks and other qualities and also singing closer to the microphone. Not to mention pavoiding using loads of effects. We really committed to giving an authentic and live-recording aspect on the record, which kind of breaks away from normal recording methods nowadays.
"We're not doing this by egocentricity, but only
because we need some form of detachment. That's what surely makes us an indie band"
Do you have a favorite track on the record? I'd go for Teenbox because it gathers all our spirits and influences on a 6 minute track. This tune moves from a melancholic waltz to something more binary, tougher, with touches of psychedelia. We really let ourselves go and we are rather proud of this one.
Rennes' current music scene is flying. There's Totorro, HER... How do you fit into this one? Rennes’ music scene is pretty rich, you're right. But we're not actually trying to identify with any movement or whatever. With Born Idiot we're hitting the road and we just don't care what's happening around. We're not doing this by egocentricity, but only because we need some form of detachment. That's what surely makes us an indie band, right? Besides the fact that our album was completely self-produced. Which band or artist would you love to play with the most in the near future? Beach Fossils or Mild High Club. It could just be amazing. But there really are just too many bands we wish we could share the stage with.
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