The Doug is a young rapper from Clermont-Ferrand. He released his next EP in May. The one we compare to Bashung, it is confided during an Interview for Just Focus at the Chorus Festival.
Just Focus: How do you feel before this concert, since it's the first time you've played in this festival, I think?
The Doug: That's right! I'm glad to be here. I put a little pressure on myself because I struggle with scales. For me when the scales are not good, the concert is not good and I would like to solve this problem as soon as possible
JF: Do you have a goal with this concert?
TD: To seduce an audience that would not know me yet and also to make a good concert. Big dates come after and I would like it to work well
JF: You are compared to Alain Bashung and at the same time you do rap, did he influence you? And more broadly, what are your influences?
TD: It makes me happy, he's an artist I like. I didn't listen to much, a little bit towards the end of his career. The influences… I like the Strokes, that's what I'm thinking about right now but it's not the biggest influence I would say.
JF: Why did you choose rap?
TD: When I started writing I only listened to that for 3 or 4 years. I was doing open live and it stuck with me. Today, even for less rap things, there is still that influence. I can't get rid of it.
JF: Learning to write lyrics in rap, what did it bring you?
TD: It taught me to give meaning to my words, to set benchmarks. It also gave me confidence. What does it mean to learn to write?
JF: Finding your style?
TD: I don't know what that means. I like Alain Bashung but can we say that his texts are better written than those of other people? I don't know, I would say that you have to be happy with what you express in your texts.
JF: Are you happy with your writing?
TD: I write all my texts. I would like to improve. Do more consistent things, use beautiful words and do not write in the pif !
JF: Why the takeover of Brassens?
TD: Originally it is a project "I come from Clermont-Ferrand" launched by the SMAC "Auvergnat sings Brassens" at the time of the centenary of the author. I chose La Mauvais Reputation, it was my mother's favorite song, my grandparents also listened to it. It's super well written, it's crystal clear, it's imagery, you know what it means. It may have been an influence, but it's too far away.
JF: Would you like to make an album of covers of old songs?
TD: No, no, I'm not interested in it at the moment. If it works one day, maybe later I could do a cover of Nekfeu or Damso, something more from my time.
JF: An EP is coming out, how did you conceive it?
TD: This is a project that started a long time ago; This is my presentation for the future and I can't wait to see how the audience will receive it. I put together songs that I liked and that showed a panel of what I could do; I've worked with great people. I hope it will create a real color.
JF: On the last 2 songs I see a difference in the presentation. The cover shows pictures of you which was not the case before. It's a new artistic direction, is it a new way to present yourself?
TD: The song Le Large was put online by the Printemps de Bourges so it was not me who had decided on the presentation. Even before, the EP that was released, it was a friend who had drawn my face and now we will try to show my mouth of C … It's important to recognize the artist.
JF: For you, what is an artist?
TD: Humph… Humph… I don't know, someone who makes art. There is a whole debate around these questions: what is art and what is not? It would take 3000 years and more to answer it. In fact I do not want to ask myself this question because if it happens I am not one (artist).
JF: Do you doubt that?
TD : Yeah like many artists, while being very convinced that I am one.
JF: In your lyrics, you talk a lot about feelings, about yourself, about the problems you encounter, is art a way for you to express your pain?
TD: Basically, that's all it's for. That's what I did when I started. After I tried to broaden the emotional field, not to make albums only about me and my pain but I'm depressed and it's hard to limit myself Thank you very much The Doug for this interview!
