The Shoes, the French phenomenon of all successes, held a small press conference at the Solidays. A relaxed and funny moment while the Patchwork ceremony was held in the distance, the highlight of the festival.
A burning question: Why The Shoes?
To this legitimate question, we get a rather unusual answer. Initially, the group had a different name. The Shoes is a bit of a "name… although… " And the choice is made on a whim when creating a new project. The shoes would also be the second choice of the Beattles.
They remember their first concert in Japan. At the beginning of their career, they had fun putting on Myspace fake tour dates in Los Angeles, Moscow … No one has ever checked and one day they receive an invitation from a tour operator to come and play in Japan, convinced of the notoriety of the group.
They love festivals because they are not the only ones on stage and the audience is not only there for them. The important thing is to seduce a new audience and rally those who know them around the same stage by giving the best of themselves.
Unfortunately none of the guests of their latest album are present on the Solidays; It's a bit complicated to get everyone to come, but the songs have been rearranged so that they can perform them themselves. The rendering will be different, but not uninteresting.
After the success of their last album, we are entitled to wonder what awaits them for the future. Guillaume Brière and Benjamin Lebeau are always on the lookout for new challenges. Authors, composers, but also producers, they like to discover other artists different from their musical universe… They are already preparing a third album and they are proud to last in time, to have been able to play at the Olympia and the Solidays for their first and second album; He hopes to repeat the performance with the next one.
Another significant challenge: to support each other a little more!
They have just finished a track by Benjamin Biolay, SAGE's first album… They work with Cécile Cassel, Orelsan… Many more things are yet to come!
The Internet culture, very present in their site, came to insert itself into their clips and their lives because of their tumblr, recovery of all the "" found on the Internet and what buzzes on the web. It was the Franco-Quebec collective Dent de Cuir who suggested that they reuse this universe that resembles them and that allows them to break with their other more graphic productions (like Woodkid's), to make something more punk, more fun… more messy like them! Very little in the cult of the person, the goal was also to focus the attention of the public on the videos, even if they end up captivating to the point that we forget to dance.
For the choice of their featuring, they work mainly with their friends. Meetings are spontaneous; They also like to discover new sounds on the internet and sometimes contact an artist to propose a collaboration. The answers are rarely negative because the opportunity is always beautiful, the work interesting and it is the opportunity to get out of their universe. The next album will also offer a lot of new artists. It's also a way not to be vampirized by big artists… Although a big star like Iggy Pop…!?
The shoes will be part of the program of the reopening of the Elysée Montmartre on November 18 that many are looking forward to. They have been to this room a lot and they too are looking forward to going back. Curious and enthusiastic!
He tells us about their experience as a festival programmer since the Eurockéennes de Belfort had given them carte blanche to invite a number of artists on Saturday on the stage of the Beach: Ilovemakonnen, Petite Noire, Sleafors Mods, Mystery Jets, Rae Sremmurd, Forever Poppy… A lot of style without being patchork. Nice experience but which takes time and is sometimes exhausting. The opportunity also to meet artists they admire!
They would like to meet other artists at festivals, but often stay focused before their concert… after they are often stuffed.
They are thinking of reforming G. Vimp : there may be an EP with Brodinski on Bromance. For The Film, maybe a gig to laugh… But Guillaume and Benjamin are still very busy and it will take some time. So not for now!
Recently, they listened to and liked Cats Eyes, the latest EP of the Strokes, a lot of rap… S Crew in French!
Otherwise a day with The Shoes what is it like?
Never twice the same, completely out of phase and messy. They know they have the chance to do this job and they want to have fun. They find it ridiculous the artists who tell it to themselves and make faces.
We finally learn that Chicken Zilla took possession of their facebook the day before. The FBI is on the spot and it could be that he will be present the same evening.
We have a moment of laughter and good humor that is super pleasing.
Photos : Antony GOMES
