BIO:
The so funky duo Masomenos is a productive partnership between Joan Costes, graphic designer and DJ, and Adrien de Maublanc, music producer and AD. When they met in 2006, they almost immediately started working together, expressing themselves throughout different medias such as image, videos, and sound, finding in Masomenos a great playground for their creativity.
Bon Voyage was the perfect first project as it was a combination of both their specialty (half selection/half production). It ended up being a one hour bootlegged musical journey that brought them enough positive feedback to keep on this path.
Though, they both kept on doing what they were doing before they met: As Joan was digging records and spending time behind the decks, Adrien was building up his studio, and defining his production style.
The next step was to create their own label, as they understood it would be the best way to fully express themselves musically to the universe, but also visually, as this was also important part of their work. They continue to develop this side of their musical activities.
Eventually, Masomenos began getting requests for gigs, and naturally they proposed 2 acts under the same name, Joan doing a dj set, and Adrien playing live.
Though it was a bit complicated in the beginning, they insisted, as it was for them the only way to present what Masomenos IS: 2 individual personalities, inspiring each other with their work, and looking in the same direction.
This duo has given birth to 3 albums, and over 25 eps, opened a shop, and made lots of design collaborations, but that's another part of the story...
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Interview: (by Omar Diouf + Alexander Leblanc)
DUKES: When and how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today?Joan: i was working as a graphic designer, doing artwork for a label. Bettino, who owned the label, also owned a record shop, and payed my work with vinyls…i eventually got some decks home and started to play around with my few records. took a while before i could start sharing it. When i met Adrien, we both got in a more clubby direction with our sound. We are now very lucky to play in really great place, and this is what keep us motivated also. When you have the first time this communion with the crowd it becomes pretty addictiv :)
Adrien: I bought my first sampler in 1999. music then was just like going to sport or a psy :)
DUKES: Who were your early musical influences?
Joan: The first tape i bought was a double motown collection. I guess this was pretty influencial. Then as a dj, i started playing disco and funk, and was really into that NY scene from the 80's that was really mixing genre (disco, rock, dub, hip hop and then house) Blondie, Esg, Larry Levan, Gwen Guthrie, Quincy Jones… Then i climbed back to nowadays sound, starting buying old deep house, kerry chandler & friends, and then discovered the work of minimal artist such as Villalobos, and got also more into techno sound. It's the nice thing with electronic music cause you can feel all this influences. Even if i don't play so much disco anymore, i'm still feeling playing disco.
Adrien: My father was playing some Bach very loud in the living room all week-end.
DUKES: Which upcoming artist would you say is an inspiration nowadays in electronic music? Who do you think we should keep an eye on?J&A: Don't know if we can say upcoming cause he is already a producer since long time, but we're both super admirative of Lemos work. We're going to release his new album on our "Costes Presente…" serie, and we're really happy about this album. Last year was the one from Seuil, that we're really into also. As a young artist, Vadim svoboda has really interesting and personal style also. One album from Kenny Glasgow really blowed our mind, also, Nina Kraviz, as producer but also as a DJ, wao.
DUKES: What is the perfect setting for your music to come to life? In other words, whats your ideal spot for producing?
Adrien: none ideas can pop up anywhere. Then of course building a studio is a life process...
DUKES: Have you ever been to Montreal before ? If so, how does it compare to other cities? If not, what have you heard about our scene here?
J&A: Yes, we came last year, for Nadir also, and really loved it.
Adrien: i lived in montreal for a year in 1994. It was my first work experience and I was amazed to realize how easy going and friendly people were...
J&A: don't believe the hype
DUKES: What is your favorite city or country to play in?
J&A: germany, romania, the states also
DUKES: What are the top 3 most-played tracks/artists on your iPod at the moment?
J&A:
Masomenos/la dit squaw
Julio Bashmore / World Peace
Kenny Larkin / Fake French (Merci detroit mix)
DUKES: Describe yourself in one word.
J&A: Playful.
DUKES: What should we expect from your set on March 18th?
J&A: funky weird and happy music.
DUKES: Any new projects coming up?
J&A: For the label, we're lauching now the technolocolor serie. We're also planning on organizing a little bit the brand, on the side from the label.
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Facebook Event: 13 Percent - The Return of Masomenos @ Club UN, March 18th
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Links:
www.welcometomasomenos.com
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