Neo-sul artist Guerre has just released his debut EP Darker My Love through indie record label Yes Please Records. Ripe Community caught up with him before he headed off to Europe on tour.
Why Guerre?
Initially, it just looked good on paper. It means “war” in French. I guess its about the struggle and hustle you have to face everyday inside yourself.
What inspires you, musically or otherwise?
Being hated, hating, then being loved, cared for. And loneliness in the city- as well as narcotics.
Your debut EP Darker My Love samples a range of different sounds. Tell us a little bit about the writing process.
It usually starts off with a feeling or vibe, a colour for an emotion, and I build on that, and sample and add sounds, and take away sounds. I don’t really know how it works- its just me reaching my hands in the dark and trying to find a body.
I noticed you made use of a loop machine at the launch. What other equipment or instruments do you use to create your music?
I use an sp404 live as well, its just a simple sampler machine. I use the technology to facilitate my sounds; I don’t want the tech to be the main focus.
You’ve collaborated with local indie acts Collarbones and The Townhouses. How did these relationships come about?
Both those guys are great. Everyone on the remix EP is absolutely gorgeous. I met Russell from Fishing, he got me my first show, I owe it all to him. And from then on I started meeting more people, going to more shows. I met Marcus at an Oscar+Martin single launch party (namedrop) and he’s just a lil’ bundle of joy. And I met Leigh from Townhouses in Melbourne and it was rad. Such a great guy. But seriously, Sydney has a mad beat-making/future music community and it’s growing, hopefully we can take over the world.
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Darker My Love Remix EP launch. There was a disproportionate amount of square-spectacled, bearded, boot wearing men. Is that your target market?
Haha, true, there were. My target audience is fat sassy black women, heartbroken gay men and gaysians. I just wanna cater to the lovers, really.
Your sound is distinctly chilled. What do you do to unwind?
I like to smoke kush. Or watch movies in bed, and eat cereal. And snuggle.
Your Facebook bio describes your sound as “Neo Soul/Dancehall Shoegaze”. Translation?
I call my style neosul just because it’s a combination of all these things I find are actually soul music. I mean neosul in the purest sense, not “neo-soul” as in Lauryn Hill or India.Arie but artists like Bjork, Jeff Buckley and Arthur Russell. The new soul, the new beat. A generation that can groove to more than just 4/4.
You’re heading off on tour to Germany, Belgium, France and the UK tomorrow!
Yeah, its a little tour I’m doing over there and it should be pretty hectic. Basically a show a day, super keen to see what Europe will feel like. Europe is my wet-dream, and this time, its not me in bed alone.
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
A dead Marvin Gaye, but he’s come back from the dead. And we make avant-soul abstract-beat cuts with an MPC and a reverb pedal
Thank you so much for your time Guerre. Have an amazing time on tour! Any last words?
Thanks, this was fun. Keep hustlin’
Website: http://guerreguerre.tumblr.com/
