Timid Boy is a French DJ/Producer with many years experience in the game and a resume to stand the test of time. He also runs the esteemed Time Has Changed Records label and has his very own Tsugi Monthly radio show. We caught up with him recently to talk about his recent release on Moan Recordings, and his plans for the next few months…
Hey, how are you, how has the last year been for you?
Hello, great to meet you! Well as a lot of people, especially in the event scene, this year was weird & difficult because of authorities’ decisions about covid 19. In France we even had a lockdown and curfew at 6PM for a lot of months. That was very hard. As I did during the first lockdown I focused a lot on new compositions, taking time & perspective to compose a lot of new music that will be released in the next few months.
What is the scene in France like right now, what sounds are popular, are there good underground parties?
Well it’s a bit different in different parts of France but globally techno is absolutely massive everywhere. I mean techno, hardtechno, hardcore, indus… all sub-genres of techno are popular. A lot of young people discover now electronic music with techno and warehouse events, there’s with this music a kind of teenage energy, punk attitude that speaks to young people. The most famous French example is Possession. I won’t complain about it. I started with techno, playing techno in my bedroom at 17 years old, switching my decks to play faster. And I still enjoy going to techno events, when the music is kind of 90’s old school or Berghain style. I mean artists like DVS1, Function, Luke Slater etc.. I love the energy and the people’s attitude in these underground techno events. On the other side, more in music style, micro-house is popular, but it’s more underground, the audience is a bit more eclectic, people from different ages, a bit older. That’s more my musical world nowadays.
Is there a certain sound in France that is unique, a certain take on house and techno that separates it from the rest of the world you think?
Of course. I mean it started with disco, then French touch with Daft Punk, a kind of sexy way to do disco/house. In house/micro house I will say that the french have a kind of sexy & trippy touch. I especially think about Apollonia’s guys who are very important for me since the early days & their first label Freak N’Chic.
Your new “Elia & Leo” EP shows a real stylistic evolution over the last two years – talk us through that, what started it, what influenced it?
Well even if this EP is in deep minimal style I think I’m really influenced by the micro & minimal scene in the way of working with textures, organic & analog sounds creating some background textures, sophisticated background elements. And developing the groove & the deepness with melody into these textures.
There are more sophisticated sounds on the EP – how did you come to craft them? Are you formally trained?
Well I create them playing with the sounds. I can start from simple melody, or simple rhythms that I will totally destroy, transform with filter, reverb, grain effects, noisy effects. It’s really how I start with playing to destroy the “classic sound”, make stuff a bit “troubled” and weird. But not too much, mostly in background.
What gear do you use, is that important to the sounds you achieve?
I compose with Ableton. I have some “classic” stuff as Mini Moog or SH 101 that I use a lot for basses or “simple” sounds. Then it depends on my mood. I’m big fan of the Jupiter’s. Recently I was more into emulation of FM7 and Juno 106.
Do you make music according to the label you are releasing on, so it fits, or do you just do you?
I do it for me. Then I look & think about which label would like it.
Are you really a timid person? Does that come out in music, do you feel awkward on stage?
Actually I took this pseudo because one of the first guys who used to book me had a label called Timid Music. I was his resident so I became Timid Boy. I’m actually a very sociable person, so I don’t seem timid. But when it’s about express feelings or personal stuff then I can be very very very timid!
What’s next, what else you working on?
I’m very happy and excited because I signed a lot of new stuff on labels that I’m a big fan. I just released now on my longtime friend Alessandro’s label Moan, which is years after years still one of the top for deep minimal style. And very happy to get remixes by two of my favourite producers Per Hammar & Nacho Bolognani!
I will release on vinyl on one of my micro house hero io Mulen, on Hoary. Also on Blind Vision Dubs witch is one of my favorite labels for a while for deep style. Also I will release an edit of Radiohead & Eminem on fantastic french label La Chèvre.
I will also restart stuff on my label Time Has Changed, with special stuff to come in 2022 to celebrate our 15 years birthday!
I’m also working on a new label project in partnership with the great Memoria Distribution.
I continue to work on my other project under my name Damien Almira, more ro-minimal, break beat stuff, with releases on Terry’s label Epice Magique & on my friend Ramona Yacef’s label Lescale Recordings.
And I’m still very happy with my Tsugi Radio show where I have invited people that I love in the scene such as Molly, Ben Vedren, Djebali, Abi from Ra+Re, Monile etc…
Timid Boy’s “Elia & Leo” EP is out now on Moan Recordings
Grab it here
Social links:
https://linktr.ee/TimidBoy
https://linktr.ee/damienalmira