Astrobal the missing part i was waiting for

The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 42

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA

ASTROBAL THE MISSING PART I WAS WAITING FOR

[ Interview with Emma Mario from Astrobal by Benjamín York ]

THE MISSING PART I WAS WAITING FOR

At the end of 2017 we discovered a band called Astrobal, which is the solo project of Emmanuel (Emma) Mario, a French musician who just released his ‘Memories of Stars’ EP and has collaborated with numerous notable artists, including Laetitia Sadier, Arnaud Fleurent-Didier, Holden, Institut, Monade, Hyperclean and Iko Chérie. As for Laetitia Sadier, Emma produced several of her albums, as well as contributing drums. Now the tables have turned with Laetitia appearing as a guest on Astrobals's new work. So in a certain way, we continue that Stereolab thread we began with Pablo Müllner’s interview with the band’s long-term keyboardist Morgane Lhote in issue 41.

Hello Emma, thank you for taking the time for this interview. To begin with, we would love to learn from you what it is like working with Laetitia Sadier in the studio?

Salut Benjamin! Well, working with Laetitia is easy because we know each other so well... we've been making music together since 12 years now. I had a band called Momotte and we sent her our cd, because she represents all we love in music. Then she asked us if we can work with her for her Monade project.

Amazing...

Laetitia knows exactly what she wants, she composes the songs and writes the lyrics, do some arrangements and then, gives this material to other musicians and i take back all this and do the rest. It's a unique pleasure to collaborate with her since all this time.

When and how was Astrobal created?

I released my first ep on a cdr in 2004, with no label.

It was called "Viens quand tu peux, mais peux bientôt" (it means Come when you can, but can soon) Why the name Astrobal?

The name of Astrobal came from a dream I had. In the morning, it was clear for me that this name was the missing part I was waiting for. And it gave me the energy to create my own music, and create a world to suit this name.

You released your first work as Astrobal in 2011 – "Poetry & Science-Fiction”. What can you tell us of this initial release?

I was making music for 10 years, playing or recor-

ding for other bands and i loved that. My solo project was not a priority for me at the time. Surely because i was to shy to face it.

I've always been fascinated by the links between infinity of space and intimacy of real life, between nature and technology, eating films and books since i'm a kid. I'm always developing this thematics... Poetry & Science Fiction is my first real album, even if it's called an ep... for this album, i had only my computer and a mic, so it's more electronic than what I.m doing today.

Then came the remix album called "Reworked".

But there was a gap in publishing until 2016. What have you been doing with all that time?

I produced a lot of bands and went on tour, with Institut, Holden, Little Tornados, Orion Rigel Dommisse, Marker Starling, Hyperclean, Iko Chérie, Laetitia, ... so many new experiences.

Actually, "Reworked" is a mix of covers and remixes versions of Poetry & Science Fiction. I asked all my friends to transform and adapt these songs. The result was beyond my hopes...

Your second album "Australasie" was released in 2016. What can you tell us about this album?

For Australasie, i was searching for a far and unknown world to create the songs and i discovered a book about Kerguelen Islands near the Antarctica, in Australasia. This place fascinated me... I composed everything in the mountains, in the south of France, far for the civilisation. From my windows, I only see the mountains, full of thyme, and from my east window, i see the Méditerranée sea. The songs of this album are made of this, a mix of nature and technology, a musical dystopie of experimental happiness.

Now you have released a new EP "Memories of Stars", where you collaborate on the track "Australasie" with Sadier. What can you tell us about this EP? I sent the instrumental track Australasie to Laetitia and she wrote these perfect lyrics about our species, our dna, our civilisation. That was the first time we worked together for Astrobal! The other songs on this ep are unreleased tracks from Australasie.

At the end of November, I noticed you have posted a photo that said "recording sessions with Nina

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Savary at La Bergerie". Is something new coming?

Nina Savary is an actress and singer, and we live together. She sings all the backing vocals on Australasie, and also the beautiful lyrical soprano lead on Trois beaux Oiseaux du Paradis, a Ravel cover. Nina is also a part of the Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble with witch we are just coming back from a 5 months tour.

We live half the year in Paris, and the other part in the south, alone in the mountains, especially during the winter. We are finishing her new album, with original songs from Marker Starling, Laetitia Sadier, Julien Gasc, Nina and I. It's really exciting but it was a long process... as for my album, we have to find the gap between all the other projects we have.

And i'm also working on my new Astrobal album too, a kind of french prog music for the world... which will be released next year on Karaoke Kalk, best label in all the Milky Way. I understand you recently toured as an opening act for The Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble. Can you tell us about your live performances as Astrobal? How do you do it with other musicians or solo?

I had the chance to open for Laetitia on the last tour, in Germany, Spain and in the U.S. And for the Astrobal live performance, i play drums and sing, with Nina (Keys, guitar and voices) and Xavi Munoz (bass guitar and keys) and we are also the Source Ensemble.

We know you have an INSTITUT project, also involving Nina Savary. Can you tell us about this project?

Institut is Arnaud Dumatin's project. He composes and wrote the lyrics, i arrange and produce. Nina sings on it too. We released two albums which was really famous in Romania. Institut is a kind of social cold wave in French...

What are your plans for Astrobal or otherwise in 2018?

I don't know yet what will be the plans... to plan is always a big challenge when you are a musician... but i hope i will make some shows to follow my new album for sure.

Merci!

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The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA