block.fm exclusive. FKJ shares on secrets to his production and his take on sound.

&nbsp;The French Electro scene’s long-awaited first album of FKJ "French Kiwi Juice" was followed by his Japan concert held at Daikanyama’s UNIT. At the “<a href="http://www.unit-tokyo.com/schedule/2017/09/06/170906_fkj.php">UNIT 13th ANNIVERSARY presents “French Kiwi Juice” supported by Carhartt WIP</a>” concert, FKJ performed a brilliant show that had all guests posting clips of the performance onto their social media. The host of block.fm’s bimonthly radio show “<a href="https://block.fm/radios/126">MODERN DISCO</a>”’s TAAR interviewed FKJ moments before the show to ask him on the new album, his production process, and take on the French music industry. 
 
TAAR First of all, congratulations on your debut album “French Kiwi Juice”! What was the message and concept behind your album?

FKJ There’s no general concept for the album. I didn’t make the album in a month, I made it over 2 years while traveling. It’s like 12 stories from those past few years, but from different places and different moments. It’s not one concept, but a compilation of moments. There are messages in some tracks. For example, “Why Are There Boundaries” talks about a personal story. But it’s not a general concept or idea, just 12 stories.
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TAAR&nbsp;Are you feeling anything special after finishing your album?

FKJ&nbsp;I think I’m already passed it. I play my debut album when I play live, but I don’t really listen to it on my own or when I’m home. Because I’m already working on the second album. Once I finish something, I go on to the next thing right away. I just thinking about the videos, because I make them after the album. That’s how I make the meaning of the songs concrete. But musically, I’m already on something else.

TAAR&nbsp;You’ve been working on this album for the past 2 years. Do you think you’ve matured musically? Or at the same time, is there anything that hasn’t changed?

FKJ&nbsp;No, I always evolve. All the time. Every month I learn something new and that’s why my music has changed since the first EP release. I’m going in a different direction because I change all the time. The next album is another thing and it’s different. I’ve learned a lot and I’m going to use that knowledge to go to the next step.
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TAAR&nbsp;Your sounds are very organized and there is a specific FKJ vibe through your music, is there anything that you do in particular?

FKJ&nbsp;I also have some things that you can recognize in my music because I’m trying to not have this feeling wanting to please people. If you’re really doing you, 100%, your music is going to be unique. If you are too afraid of doing you then you’re going to get lost in the mass. There are some things that I love and that are linked to my own character that you can find in my music. Like, I’m really calm and my music is calm too. I like beautiful things such as when the melodies are beautiful.

TAAR&nbsp;What do you do when you’re trying to be yourself 100?

FKJ&nbsp;Just forgetting about every rule, every thing that people think are right. Because you will please somebody even if you feel like you can’t be yourself because you want to be successful and make music. I’m a weird guy so maybe I’ll make weird music. I’m sure people like authenticity and there is somebody in the world who’s going to like what you do.
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TAAR&nbsp;Do you ever fall in a slump when producing music?

FKJ&nbsp;Sometimes I am feeling inspired and sometimes I’ll be in the studio and nothing will happen, but I’m never worried about losing inspiration. There are some moments when I’m really inspired and some not so much. Moments where there are a lot of emotions, I’m inspired. It could be sad, could be happy, could be overwhelmed with something. The best songs, the songs I’m most proud of- I was really emotional at the time. And those emotions could be good or bad. Travel or hang out with friends. Get those emotions. Without emotions, life is boring.&nbsp;

TAAR&nbsp;What’s your take on the French music scene? And who are some artists from Roche that you think we should look out for?

FKJ&nbsp;I don’t really listen to French music, so I don’t really know what the French scene is like right now. It’s super diverse and people are influenced from all over the world. The French touch or French house, but those are not the stars anymore. In Paris, people are really influenced by techno which is based in Berlin. Or when you go to the club, you’ll hear trap which is from Atlanta. So I can’t really say, I don’t know. All my mates from Roche, I love what they do. And I hope that they’re going to be the next French scene. They’re more popular in other countries than France though.

TAAR&nbsp;Lastly, what are your all time top 3 favorite albums?

FKJ Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here / D’ Angelo - Voodoo / The Internet - Ego Death
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Interview by TAAR&nbsp;
Photos by yokoching&nbsp;
Translations by Shiho Watanabe&nbsp;
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日本語版は<a href="https://block.fm/news/fkj_interview">こちら</a>。

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French Electro Right Now: Interview with FKJ

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