“In love with a ghost converts feelings into music”
In love with a ghost is based in Paris. Notoriously reserved, and not one for many words, he chooses to let his music do the the talking. We were lucky enough to squeeze some juice from this ever-elusive artist, as he chats to us about his influences, his songwriting, and his inspirations…
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
—___— ¯_(ツ)_/¯ 
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
It’s like trying to learn how to levitate in your bedroom during a rainy night
What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
Saycet – through the window, Probably my all time favorite electronica album. “15” is literally the track that motivated me to create music
Archive – Londinium, a trip-hop classic, with a lot of elements we can found in the actual lo-fi hip-hop.
Apparat – Walls, everything I like in electronic music is here. Refreshing textures, a unique sound and beautiful melodies.
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue, my dad is a human jukebox, and his heavy knowledge about music made me discover a lot of music when I was young. I found an interesting complexity about Miles Davis’ music, and it’s only until recently I started to put a jazz influence into mine.
Portishead – Third. Portishead was one of my first encounters with electronic music and trip-hop. this album is unique in the way it experiments sounds and it’s my favorite of them.
Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
Dodie, everything about her is aesthetically beautiful, and I relate at many points about her songs.
Snail’s House, it’s hard to describe why, but definitely one of the best electronic producers I know, and maybe something is coming up soon with them, I don’t know.
Kidkanevil, his album “My Little Ghost” has been on repeat for 2 months. I just enjoy all the sounds used and the artwork of the album is one of my favorites.
Olli, he’s just really talented and underrated. he has a very creative way of making music.
Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
The piano. It’s the first instrument I learned to play and I use it in almost all of my music, along with
the use of field recording and natural percs too.
What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
I think there’s 2 ways to make it in music.
You can do it the traditional way, find a label and people to promote your music;
and the independent way, doing everything by yourself.
Building a community around your music takes time and a lot of artists give up before they start getting one, but i think it’s a necessary step, playing at a concert with 3 people, having to struggle to get known, because it will make you improve.
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
It can be anything, scrolling tumblr all night, feeling something about an IRL event, listening to a music and trying to think how you would have made it, experimenting with sounds, instruments, chords and rhythm.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
I don’t really have any rules, I just try to not repeat myself. and I probably fail.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
It was at the Guimet museum, in Paris, I was playing in the middle of all this art and the atmosphere was really contemplative.
And the worst?
During a headphone set, when someone accidently unplugged the sound system and there was a huge moment of silence.
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
Dead!
Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
My wish is to play my music with an orchestra, with the organic sounds combined with electronic sounds, like Lido.
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
My discography 2017 is currently in progress and should be finished soon! Also some very secret projects are on their way.
Soundcloud – Bandcamp – Spotify – Twitter – Facebook – Patreon
mael does prefer neutral pronouns, just a heads up.