Vacuum was my first experience in terms of composition, recording and mix and today I feel I better master these processes. Grotesque is more mature and looks more like what I’m looking for. I think it is more complex in terms of composition but of concept too. On the one hand Grotesque goes deeper on the “mixing everything” thing and thus is more absurd and ludicrous than Vacuum which is more common if I may say. But on the other hand there are more brutal parts and thus more extreme metal pieces on Grotesque, Vacuum being more into the “Depressive Black Metal” style. So to sum up I would say Grotesque is at the same time less serious and rougher, less righteous and more unhealthy than Vacuum. I think the main improvements between these albums concern the production, the voice and the composition, far more original and complex.

Really hard to say when you know the diversity of what I’m used to listening to. All the more so as, as you can imagine, Grotesque hasn’t been composed overnight. Honestly I didn’t really try to copy a band or a musical style, rather trying to create something really personal. Sure I’m not credulous, Pensées Nocturnes isn’t a revolution and is influenced by what I’m used to listening to but it is not a purpose I try to fulfill when I compose. We can find some references to classical composers in “Grotesque” as well as in “Vacuum” but it is just a modest homage. So I can’t really tell you what artists inspired me, but I can at least tell you what I’m used to listening to: generally speaking I prefer to judge bands on a case by case basis and try to avoid cataloging as far as possible: Black Metal obviously (in all its forms: Symphonic, True, Depressive, Melodic,… ), Death Metal, Classical Music (mainly Romantic Period and the following ones), Blues, Jazz, Post-Rock, French variety…

I don’t think talking about me is really important to understand the project.

Well to take the previous question, I often play with other people and I also play live with other bands which means that PN is a way for me to try something different. I can assure you that running a project alone is quicker than having to deal with a lot of individualities and points of view: it’s more spontaneous and coherent. You don’t have to convince anybody, to agree on something, to rehearse, to deal with the fifth wheel… Sure sometimes you may feel a little impatient because it’s a lot of work but it’s really pleasant to feel you master everything. The other reason is that it’s impossible to innovate when reducing the instruments used to two guitars and a bass. I think that together with only using (often unconsciously) the minor harmonic scale, this is the origin of the fact everybody is doing the same thing again and again. How do you want to do something new if you begin by restricting yourself on the choice of the instruments? What I mean is that you won’t ask for a trumpet player to come to play only a few notes on the whole album, and this is particularly true for a band which plays live. You just do it yourself.

I don’t really see it that way since I put music before side issues (country, musicians, artwork...) and generally speaking I prefer to judge bands on a case by case basis and try to avoid cataloging as far as possible. I think with the development of the Internet this notion of nationality has no signification anymore (in music) so I’m not particularly proud of being French even if indeed it seems we have a strong Black Metal scene (you can add Peste Noire, Reverence, Hyadningar...). I don’t really try to fit to a style and what I’m used to listening to follow the same rules; I’m not led by any kind of chauvinism, only the way I feel the music.

Life doesn’t have a deep meaning, a precise objective, an absolute truth. The fact that human lives rest on their share of illusions and are led by a never-ending hope is undeniable. Nothing we do has an existential foundation aside from spending time. As if life comes down to everything that allows us to forget life… But despite this emptiness we have to “live anyway” and this kind of nihilism makes it possible to see life from a totally different point of view and to try to create something from this absurdity, something that you have chosen, something that don’t have to be conventional or “normal”. It’s a losing battle so we have to make fun of life and laugh at our condition. Grotesque is a little bit of all this things. Nothing political or religious, as least not directly.

I’m often proposed to play live but I don’t know if a concert would be something suitable for this music and I don’t want to know. For the time being the priority is the band’s discography. I’m not convinced being able to share as easily as I’m able to do with an album and that’s why I don’t want to lose time trying to set up a line-up only for promotional interest or to do like everyone. I have other project for that.

Thanks you for your time and all the best for the future.