Photographed By Julien MignotWHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY BASED AND WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I'm based in Paris right now. I grew up in Nice, in the South of France. I also like to spend as much time as possible in L.A. and Warsaw.
WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT YOUR PRESENT-DAY CITY?
Like every capital cities, it's the kind of city where everything happens! I love going to a lot of concerts in so many great venues, get some good craft beers in some nice bars etc...And I'd say Paris has this "human" size like Amsterdam or Copenhagen, I really like this.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
I launched my first post rock band with my friends when we were in high school. We toured Europe in very DIY conditions. This is how I met Anthony from M83. I joined him on their following tour for almost two years. It was my biggest experience as a musician. I created STAL, in 2012, after this.
WHAT IS STAL?
STAL is my first “solo” project, I mean I play with a band but I compose and write everything by myself. It's also the Polish word for steel.
IN WHAT GENRE DO YOU CLASSIFY YOUR SOUND?
Electronic gear with an indie rock spirit.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS AND WHY?
My all-time favorites are, Sigur Ros, Mew, Olafur Arnalds. I could say more artists and even more mainstream acts like Coldplay or Foo Fighters, but these three compose all that I love. The sound is epic, melancholic and deep.
WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I often start playing on my keyboard or my guitar before I start writing music with my computer, and finish the track with the vocals. There are no rules to my process. It differs time to time. I'm inspired by different musical universes, and my travels. My everyday life, with its ups and downs definitely influences my way of working, too.
YOU’RE AN “OFFICIAL REMIXER” AS WELL HOW DO THESE RECORDINGS COME ABOUT?
I try to remix artists I really love. Sometimes I contact them myself, at other times I get contacted through my manager or Sony Music (my label). It's a very interesting progression. I keep the essential things of the original track, mostly vocals, keyboards or guitars hooks. Then I try to make a completely new song at the opposite of the original's intention. You can turn a pop song into something cinematic and vice versa. That's the power of remixes.
WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU’RE NOT DROPPING THE BEATS?
First thing of a good day is coffee. I'm a coffee addict. Then I take a walk with my dog. I love taking pictures and spending time with my friends and my family. Towards the end of the day, I never refuse a good beer on a typical Parisian terrasse.
IS YOUR GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
Half full! Always.
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