Petit Batou // Interview // Tzinah Podcast // October 2017 //

Petit Batou, owner of Stamp Records Paris… Rocked by his father in classical music and jazz music at the age of 6 , learning music theory and playing violin, he began listening to electronic music at college and begins to create some tracks in his bedroom. It is in 2013, at age 22, he began to give a great importance to underground music by signing some tracks on minimal house labels. His style draws on minimalist music and hypnotizing groove and varies according to his personal history and mood.
Very gifted with turntables, he brings something new in the underground electronic music in France.

Petit Batou on Facebook

Tzinah Records: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
Petit Batou: Hello! We can start with Erik Satie – Gymnopédie No.1, well ensconced in a sofa
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

Tzinah Records: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Petit Batou: I’ve listened a lot of rock, disco, funk, jazz and house music when I was in High School and after leaving a classical orchestra in 2011, I discovered underground electronic music through the Rex Club in June 2010 at a Bassculture Night. I fell in love with that groovy music. Repetitive and mesmerizing.

Tzinah Records: Why did you choose to create and play this particular type of music? Are there any artists that touched you deeply while developing your own style?
Petit Batou: I love the emotions transmitted by this music and the public impact. As a dj-producer, we have an important creative freedom, that’s really interesting because we can elaborate new sounds with cultural influences, to create our own unique sound. Then I focused on minimal house that I discovered via pioneers of the kind like Ricardo Villalobos, Audio Werner, Ion Ludwig, Cabanne, Losoul, Thomas Melchior… I really loved romanian stage with Livio & Roby, one of my favourite duo, obviously Arpiar, and some artists like Faster, Arapu, Herck, Cosmjn etc…Detroit, Chicago and Berlin stage which inspires me for producing.

Tzinah Records: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Petit Batou: 6 years ago, there are some good parties at well-knowed clubs in Paris, like Rex Club, Loco, Redlight…then Twsted (ex Concrete) has arrived and there are not many other places I could have gone. Notably through the vinyl market come back for around 4 years, there are a lot of new parties, warehouse parties, new clubs, new music labels, Paris is blazing now !

Tzinah Records: Without giving out too much about your secret weapons, please tell us how does the magic work in your production routine. Software? Analog? What does your DJ set-up imply?
Petit Batou: I use a lot of software, old synth emulators, I have 2 Electribe Drum Machines and 1 MIDI Keyboard. Use certain categories of samples that I modify with several effects and specific VSTs. When I play in club, I use 3 CDJ 2000 and 1 or 2 vinyls turntables, I add various atmospheres over the mix.

Tzinah Records: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Petit Batou: Indeed, I compose in relation to my mood, that depends…and it impacts on the track length, because sometimes there’s a lot that I have to say. Travels and dreams are inspirations for me. Sometimes the track is sad because I’m sad, sometimes the track is funny because I joked about something with a friend. My tracks are occasionally nostalgic, because I like doing my own film from my past.

Tzinah Records: Which underground house DJ or producer would you love to take out for a summer picnic? With which artist (from any music genre) would you spend 24 hours stuck in an elevator?
Petit Batou: Haha, I’d like to picnic with Kerri Chandler at least one time in my life, for some great Atmospheres ! About the elevator…complex for me to answer, but I think that with Joe Hisaishi (Miyazaki movies) will be an incredible elevator “ride” for me (although we are blocked).. Otherwise, a conversation with Villalobos would be surrealist and instructive.

Tzinah Records: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Petit Batou: I didn’t play at Rex Club or Robert Johnson yet, but I’d like soon, I hope, I received some good feedbacks from Frieda’s Buxe in Zurich. FIRE there! I think. Today I’m dj resident at Garage, I’m really happy, this is an amazing venue, kind of warehouse on the edge of the Seine river.

Tzinah Records: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Petit Batou: I wanted to bring my music style & culture in the electronic music. I launched Stamp Records because I was really excited to spotlight new french artists and test new tracks, expanding my own dj sets. And most of all, to share and make our music closer to the crowd.

Tzinah Records: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Petit Batou: Salted! Brunch with bacon and egg, sausages sometimes. Crêpes with Nutella

Tzinah Records: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Petit Batou: I never stop the music….no no, when I’m not listening or making music, I’m playing tennis, watching movies (cinema), visiting museum with my girlfriend, testing some wine or dry sausage, héhé I’m a French guy.

Tzinah Records: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks?
Petit Batou: I recorded this podcast at home, I wanted to share some unreleased projects and some released tracks taking part from my current playlist. But I modify it a lot. I love to keep underground style but to vary tempo and transcend the ages.

Tzinah Records: Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Petit Batou: Newfact Music friends and my label are working on a party in October 27, we invite the frenchman based in London, Robin Ordell. I’m working on some tracks for vinyl and other parties. Paris doesn’t sleep right now! You will be updated soon.

Tzinah Records: Supposing you come back reading this interview in 10 years from now; could you try saying something to your future-self?
Petit Batou: Persevere in your music choices, to be indignant in the face of the lack of originality.

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