What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
Discovering the music of The Beatles when I was a teenager was a turning point. Coming from a family of classical musicians, I was suddenly thinking, “Wow, we can make great music with electric guitars! “. Obviously, my musical horizons have widened since… And for my artist name “The Arlequeen”, it’s a mix between a tribute to Queen (another of my influences) and a portrait of a child: “Paul en Arlequin” by Picasso, who looked like me when I was little and I thought that was actually me.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
My very last track, “Third Eye”, is an attempt to put some “pop” spirituality in a world that is increasingly lacking in it, especially on social media… It’s just a way of saying “hey, trust yourself, explore your interior instead of following anyone / anything.”
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
Okay, the Beatles, Queen, I already mentioned that. But also classical musicians. I wouldn’t be very original at the level of the composers: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninov. And my favorite performers: Lipatti (an extraordinary pianist), Gould, Furtwängler. I also love RATM, Radiohead, Django Reinhardt, Biréli Lagrène, Kurt Vile… the list would go on! While writing all this, I realize that it is a bit dated! But I’m trying to bring it up to date.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
I always to say that for me, music is the absolute weapon. By that I mean the possibilities for expression are endless. There’s nothing I hate more than an album where the first song is great, and the rest is actually the same. And the music must “drive you crazy”, as Emil Cioran said. So I’m trying at my modest level to transcribe these two ideas: music that is varied, rich and always sincere and passionate.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Abbey Road (The Beatles), The Kid (Chaplin), Beethoven’s 9th Symphony by Furtwängler.
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
I love both, but maybe a little preference for the studio as I love composing and researching sounds for hours on end.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
One of my first concerts was at a campsite where the boss loved my songs. She was pretty drunk and asked everyone who was there to come and ask me for an autograph because she thought I was going to “get famous.” It was very sweet, but in the end I had to sign a hundred autographs for people who didn’t really want them!
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
A song called “Follow the Rabbit”, because the most ambitious, with a whole lot of change of musical styles in the same track.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
I will release one song per month on Youtube (I have already started) for a year. For some, there is a clip made by me;)
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
Do you know the meaning of life?
Yes
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
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Connect with The Arlequeen:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSph8_KyCKoo_wQD6EUPO5Q