Vitalic: The Electro Icon Returns to His Hometown for VYV Festival

What are your links with Dijon? Do you live there?

” I live in Paris. I have friends and family in Dijon, so I come here regularly, but I no longer live there.

Have you ever been asked to come and play at the VYV Festival?

“I am quite close to the programmer, Christian Allex, who has followed me from the very beginning. He has already invited me to other festivals, to his parties, it’s not the first time we’ve done something together, but this was the right time. »

For you, playing outdoors or indoors, what does that change in the expression of your set?

“I don’t think it really affects the way I play, away or not. What really influences him is the feedback from the public. We often think that the musician makes the concert, in electro it is often the public who makes the concert. I am, as much as possible, the arms and hands of the audience’s energy. »

A recognizable sound

Electro music has evolved a lot over the past thirty years. How do you think you contributed to it?

“It’s not for me to say (laughs)! I don’t think I contributed, I brought my own sound, a musical vocabulary that is specific to me and that could be used, as I can immerse myself in other people’s music, or films… find inspiration in the work of others. I have a recognizable sound, apparently, a little on the sidelines, which does not resemble that of my colleagues, it is my personal touch. And so much the better if there is an audience to receive it. »

The environment having become very structured, is it more difficult to find a place there than when you started?

“I believe there is always room for those who need to get where they need to get. Whatever the era, we manage to break through by playing the game of our era. When I started, electronic musicians weren’t professionalized at all, it was new, we didn’t even have access to Sacem, it took time. We were a bit marginalized, bordering on frowned upon, because the word techno was a bit dirty. At first, it was casual. Now, on my Citizen Records label, when I sign young shoots, we see that they already have a project vision, something very accomplished, very complete, 360 degrees: and the promotion, and the networks, and the physical, the digital… it’s another approach. The best, for me, is a bit of both: a bit of good casual, and a bit of pro. »

We met your young foal, Loman, in Dijon a few weeks ago. It is well planned for the future and very structured.

“Yes, we did some music together for the production of his EP with Citizen, and that’s good. The myth of the tortured and completely decrepit artist doesn’t hold up: this generation knows where it wants to go, and it gives itself the means, with a lot of work. »

About Citizen Records, the label weighs more and more. How do you manage to pull it all together?

“I’m in tandem with my sister Élise, who manages Citizen as a whole, whether it’s my music or the music we release. She does a huge, huge job, and it’s her project as much as mine. […] We get along very well, we are a very tight-knit sibling. »

Formed by John Lord Fonda

Coming back to the VYV, John Lord Fonda is both from Dijon and from Citizen. Is it a coincidence?

“Before I started making music in high school, Cyril had already released records: he was my hero! After the evenings in the small local raves or at the An-Fer club, we went to his house and he let me tame the machines a little. He explained to me how it worked. At the end of the 1990s, the Internet was in its infancy, we did not have access to information like today. Knowledge was transmitted orally, by practicing. Cyril really helped me a lot at the start. »

How come there is a Citizen stage at the VYV Festival?

“It’s Élise’s idea. I don’t play very often in Dijon, and since I was there, I might as well mark the occasion with a little scene with our home team. Thus, we will have Cora Novoa, a Spanish artist who has already released a disc and will release the second, she comes from Barcelona. There is Cyril, of course (John Lord Fonda), and also Nomenklatür. We come to show our work on the local scene. »

Electro has its place at the VYV, is this an observation that you make everywhere?

“I rather have the impression that lately, and especially post-Covid, no. I noticed there are a lot of styles, and rap is very predominant, then an electro artist will close the main stage, or both if there are two. That’s what happens to me, I’m often the only electro artist at the festival – I’m talking about generalist festivals. Whereas, around 2010, electro and rock were predominant and we were in a troop. French rap and pop are currently the most popular. »

What music do you listen to?

“I really like hippie music. It’s funny, but I like the Swedish guitar stuff. I’m a fan of Bertrand Belin, he’s one of my favorite artists, and I listen a lot to Vhinz, who I just signed on Citizen and who released his album on May 26, I find him very, very talented and very elegant. I listen to a bit of everything, old stuff, disco too, but I’m not sensitive to reggae. »

Does it inspire you, does it feed you?

“No, it’s more that it puts in an energy, a mood which can be heard afterwards in my music. »

After the VYV Festival on Friday evening, you play in Luxembourg on Saturday afternoon. The festival season is off to a good start!

“There, it’s fine, it’s by bus. It’s more complicated when you have to take the train, plane, taxi… but by bus, that’s fine. The scenography represents a lot of things to set up and take down, but once that’s done, we’ll be comfortable over that weekend. »

At a festival, before your set, do you listen to the others a little or do you stay focused?

“It really depends on the festival and my form. But there, in Dijon, there will be family and friends, I think I will be on site and I will take advantage of the moment. »

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