文章基本信息

标题：Music to Know About—Cassius - French musician - Brief Article - Interview
作者：Sean Kennedy
期刊名称：Interview
出版年度：2001
卷号：Oct 2001

Music to Know About��Cassius - French musician - Brief Article - Interview

Sean Kennedy

HOUSE MUSIC SERVED SUNNY-SIDE UP

SEAN KENNEDY: You two have been making influential music with groups like Motorbass and MC Solaar for years. Then you put out your own record, 1999 [Astralwerks/Virgin], as the duo Cassius. How would you describe your sound?

PHILIPPE ZDAR: It's house music from various scenes, Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Detroit--all mixed together with Al Green, good soul music, the blues and jazz, too.

SK: Is Al Green your favorite musician?

HUBERT BLANC-FRANCARD: No. I would say Sly Stone and James Brown--and Aretha Franklin. I cried the first time I heard a Sly Stone record. [laughs]

SK: What about French influences?

PZ: Serge Gainsbourg is a very big inspiration for us. Forget about all the other artists. He is the all-time genius.

SK: The French house sound is identifiable around the world now. How did this vital scene develop in Paris?

PZ: In Paris, a lot of people who understand house love the Chicago sound and a lot of producers were doing similar things. And when people talk about the French sound, it is, in fact, a very deeply Chicago-oriented sound.

SK: American music obviously had a major impact on you.

HBF: In France, 70 percent of the music you hear growing up is American or English, so it's a big inspiration for us.

SK: But now the reverse is happening: your music is inspiring American kids.

HBF: French music was almost never exported, which was a frustration for us, since most of our heroes are American or English. What started as a small house scene has traveled outside the country, and it's really exciting to know that people are dancing to our music in clubs in America and Japan.

SK: What's your all-time favorite record?

BOTH: Thriller by Michael Jackson.

Sean Kennedy is an editorial assistant at Interview. Above: Hubert Blanc-Francard (left) wears a top by TOM FORD FOR YVES SAINT LAURENT RIVE GAUCHE, Philippe Zdar wears a jacket by EMPORIO ARMANI.