Losless is a French musician, producer & DJ based in Lisbon. Introduced to computers at a young age, they have been a constant presence in his life ever since. Despite his early fascination with technology, Losless initially pursued music in an organic form, as an instrumentalist himself. However, he realised that computers offered him the ability to create sounds and textures that were impossible to achieve through traditional instruments.
The driving force behind Losless’ artistic approach is based on the imperfections of the world around him. He seeks to incorporate these errors into his music, even when working with machines capable of achieving “perfection”. This paradoxical take is reflected in the intentionally misspelt name ‘LOSLESS’.
This word became an artist name, but mostly, a foundation statement from which Benjamin Charrière would explore creation of music with machines.
Drawing inspiration from alternative electronic sub-genres, Losless’ style is recognizable, characterised by its minimalistic yet powerful Techno productions and his unique use of textures in sound designs.
With various releases on record labels such as Siamese, Atlant, Oddity, Upperground, Borders of Light, or Just This, Losless expressed his dark and danceable universe in which he likes to experiment with rave culture elements.
By not limiting himself to a single genre, Losless constantly explores new sounds and pushes the boundaries of electronic music. This willingness to take risks and go where others do not is what sets Losless apart and makes him difficult to classify. He has reached well-established record labels along with some prestige from top artists of his genres, being played by many big names on a regular basis.
We caught up with Losless to talk about his new track “Malfunction”, inspiration, studio setup, and more.
Hey Benjamin! It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How has 2023 been for you so far?
Thanks for having me! I had a great start of 2023 with the release of my track “Deeper” on Artbat’s label Upperground records, which received positive feedback and put me in a good mindset for the year ahead.
Congrats on the release of your latest single «Malfunction». What was your inspiration behind this track?
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact source of inspiration for ‘Malfunction’, as I draw creative influence from a wide range of sources. However, I believe that the sound design played a significant role in guiding the direction of the piece. The particular sound of the main lead played a crucial role in shaping the track, steering it towards a sound that maintains a transcendental and rave-like style.
What was your experience working on this record? Was it an instant success or was it more about experimentation for you?
‘Malfunction’ is one of those tracks that are produced in a short time, once a good idea is unlocked, and it didn’t sound like anything already existing, it was pretty fluid and obvious for me to finish the track. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not always like that: some pieces are created with and out of pain, but “Malfunction” appeared naturally out of my creative process.
You are releasing this track independently – no labels are involved. What was your thought process behind this?
Releasing music can be frustrating at times. Label schedules are often full, meaning that a lot of patience is required. It can take over a year before being able to show my work and when the track is finally out, I often find it weird to promote the “me” from the past. However, with “Malfunction,” I wanted to take control of its release date and artistic direction. Like what ‘Malfunction’ evokes for me, both in the meaning and the style, this piece could not have another story.
Can you mention some musical influences that you believe have shaped your sound?
My musical influences are incredibly diverse, which I think explains the miscellany that emerges from my music. I’ve been impacted by a range of artistic approaches, such as the transgressive aspect of the ‘Pink Floyd’ or ‘Radiohead’ and the regressive notion that characterizes the English music scene in general. Additionally, my music has been greatly influenced by Psychedelic music, which has surely left an indelible mark on my work. I’m also touched by the experimental concepts of Steve Reich, whose work has inspired me greatly. In general, I’m deeply curious about music and find that my inspirations are constantly being fed by my diverse interests, and other art forms.
What does your studio setup look like?
I use Cubase, which doesn’t seem common today in electronic music but it’s the software I’m most comfortable with. I’m using Yamaha HS8 for monitors and I love using some hardware stuff like the Moog Sub37, Roland SH-01, Elektron Analog Rytm II, and other synthesizers… I also use some VSTi
Can you name some of the instruments or plugins that you believe define your sound?
I would say without hesitation the Sylenth1, it is an instrument that follows me from the beginning! It is also the one I master the most, probably the synth we hear the most in my music.
Now that «Malfunction» is out, what is next for Losless?
My next release will be an EP on Siamese, in collaboration with Roman Kyn – a really talented artist, producer, and dear friend of mine. I highly recommend keeping an eye on his work. In addition to this, I have several other releases planned for later this year that I can’t reveal too much about yet.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer our questions, is there anything else you would like to mention before we go?
Yes, expressing my gratitude towards Marlene Mendes, who has been an invaluable collaborator and supporter throughout all of my projects. Without her help, the release of “Malfunction” would not have been possible. It’s important to acknowledge that many people work behind the scenes, so I want to take this opportunity to give a shoutout to all of those who contribute to making my work a reality.
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