Spotlight on Michael Faure
Music unites the nation. Music moves the nation. Music symbolises the nation. Electronic music is certainly the most popular and beloved genre in Germany. Berlin is well known for its hot dancing parties 3 days in a row, for wonderful chill out summer cafes and bars and the great amount of musicians and venues. This week we have decided to share Astray Cow music, which is very atmospheric, melodic and anti-dancing. It is more floating and cosmically unreachable, influenced by great post-rock, ambient and downtempo performers.
Where are you originally from?
I’m coming from the south of France, a city named Perigueux, near to Bordeaux.
How did you start working with music?
I started to play drums when I was 11. I took lessons and got bands in different kind of music. I left home when I was 18 to study and it became difficult to get a drumkit in an 18m² flat! Cause of the space, and of the neighbours! That’s how I started to work with computers, acoustic guitar and keyboard.
Berlin is probably the heart of electronic music, does this put you under the pressure? How do you try to stand out?
I totally don’t feel under pressure about it. It’s true that Berlin is kind of the place for electronic music, which can make it also difficult for bands which are playing other kind of music (I have an ambient rock band as well) to find gigs. For me, “electronic music” is really a general term which designates more a way to make music than a specific kind of music. A lot of styles are the result of it: house, techno, electronica ect ect. Until I came to Berlin, I enjoyed going out on the weekend, partying and dancing on this kind of typical house music, but since I’m here I got kind of fed up in a way. It got really mainstream to come to this city, to party the whole weekend on this house music. That’s why my album is named “What did you expect clubbing sheep?”. This is an electronica album but don’t expect to dance on it, or don’t listen to it if you want to go to a party: that’s not the right moment!! Finally, I’d say my aim isn’t to be the next star of the electronic music! That’s simply the reason why I don’t feel under pressure. My first aim is to take pleasure when I make music, a good way to unwind and then I see what is coming.
What inspires you? How easy does the melody come to you?
My experience as a drummer, and a great teacher, learnt me how much it’s important to be open for all kind of music. There are good points to take everywhere. I love mainly electronica and post-rock music. But hip-hop as well, classical stuffs, singer song writers… I guess the different things I’m listening are inspiring me of course. Then, I’d say, little happenings and the routine as well! I can sit 6h in front of the computer, composing a song. Sometimes I have a melody in mind before I start, sometimes not. I just sit and play keyboard and if something interesting is coming then I go on building on it.
Who are your favourite music artists?
Like A LOT of people I really look up for Thom Yorke (in Berlin July 6&7 in Kindl Bühne Wuhlheide). I was listening to Kid A and Amnesiac again some months ago and was thinking that nothing could be better than it. Björk, Sigur Ros, Bonobo (in Berlin February 9 in Gretchen), Mogwai, Hint, Dälek and a lot of bands from the label “Erased Tapes Records”. There is a lot!!
Why Astray Cow? And why “What did you expect clubbing sheep?” is it sarcasm?
Astray Cow is simply coming from the title of a song of my band. “Astray Cow, Run!”. I liked it, thought it was funny, so I kept Astray Cow for my own music project. Regarding the title, this is not sarcasm but just a kind reference to this dominant Berlin electro house music and the aficionados!
Where can we hear you performing live in the nearest future?
I don’t have a live session yet but I’ll maybe be working on it in the coming times. Always depends on how long I’m going to stay in Berlin. You have more chances to see me perform with my band The Horrible Trees for the moment!