After spending the last few years building and developing his sound, French producer Oxygen is now ready to introduce himself to the wider world with his stunning debut single 'Fuel'.
Capturing a wonderfully broad and innovative electronic aesthetic for his initial offering, 'Fuel' makes for a rousing introduction to his sound so far. Set to appear on his forthcoming debut EP 'Freequation', which is due out in January, he is quickly cementing himself as one of the more adventurous names emerging right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Piano… I started this instrument at the age of 5, and haven't left it since. The ability you have to play everything you hear, and the connection with your body is, to me, incomparable.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
It varied a lot, but mostly classical and jazz. It’s my root for sure, and the root of every music we’re listening to.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I think it was a live album of Oscar Peterson where he plays « Bach suite ». This is actually the album that made me want to do music in the first place.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
That has to be « Ratio » by the master Floating points. The vibe in that piece is just unbelievable. I could listen to it over and over. But making good music to me is really about being true to yourself, and in a way, if I had written that song, I couldn’t write my own.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I just try to be very focused on what I'm doing, I try to stay away from my phone and too many distractions during the day/week of composition. But I also learned that it’s really important to follow the first idea you get, I try to not think too much and just follow the vibe and finish something during the time of work, this is really important for me.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I listened carefully to Leon Vynehall lately, he’s a really talented artist and very creative, inspiring. Also Daphni, very surprising and creative.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
That's a tough question, I think I would say Fred again, just because the energy of him live is crazy.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I think it's the ability to inject all your emotions in your art, all your life in your playing or composition. It’s really just a reflection of my life and feelings, this is the only way I find to push my limits.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Well, it might sound silly, but the agenda sometimes is really really tricky, travels, waiting times etc.. You gotta find ways to enjoy all this part, it’s fun at first, but it’s boring very quickly.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Be productive. Not in the meaning of doing many things, but just achieve what you started, and do it again. This is the only way to progress in your artistic path to me, this is how you can see what you like and don’t like, what you want, what you’ll do different etc.. Now, I'm not trying to create something perfect, I see further.
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Oxy's debut single 'Fuel' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.