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Interview with Sonic Addictive
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Julie :I started music at 9 years old. As a child, I sang in front of music videos on TV and I never stopped singing. I have always been passionate about astronomy and Egypt, without music I might be an astronomer or an archaeologist.
Florian :I have always loved music since an early age. Someone in my family gave me the virus when I was a kid with classical music and jazz. Later on I discovered hard rock and metal music and began to play guitar, I never stopped since. I am actually an infographist besides being a guitarist with Sonic Addictive. I have actually made the cover artworks since our beginnings, for example.
Fabien : The desire to share good times, to create something with my hands, instead of music otherwise... I don't know but something else from the creative manual
Sylvain : Seeing my father playing piano lead me to make music. Without music, I would like to make something in the audiovisual.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Julie :I take walks in the forest, it helps to think, to think about other things, it allows me to take a break and disconnect from all this crazy news around the world. That's what inspires me in song themes.
Florian :I draw stuff, I listen to music, and I read some books or mangas. Discovering new stuff in music influences my creativity when we are working on songs. I like the link between the graphic stuff and the music we or some bands make.
Fabien : Do-it-yourself or motorcycling, it clears my mind
Sylvain : I like making photo and video.
How long has your band been around?
Florian : Since 2020, but we were doing some projects together before that. We are a group of friends. And Fabien joined us later.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
Florian: We are in the south of France, and as I know, there are not a lot of bands who do the type of music we do. We do what we want to do without boundaries, everything is possible if you think about it, musically speaking. The fact that we are in this area didn't influence us in my opinion. Anyway there are a lot of rock and metal listeners in France and we have some of the biggest metal fests as far as I know.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Florian: Sonic Addictive is a mix of "sound" and "addiction", in a good way, our full logo represents the molecule of adrenaline around the logo. We like to listen to different stuff in the band, and we came up with this name. Our next EP will be in another style by the way.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Julie: As a band, we don't yet have enough perspective for that, but solo, I'm thinking of my first time at the Opéra of Marseille 10 years ago.
Florian: Our first show was in a small town in our region. It was fun.
Fabien: We haven't done a big concert yet
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Julie: I really like the Jas'Rod in our region, very professional. I think that each room has its particularity, wherever it is, and I can't wait to visit some of them.
Florian: I speak for myself, I played in the Roman theater in Orange one time, It would be great to play there again with the band. It would be huge too if one day we could make a big festival like Hellfest or Download, it would be awesome in front of so many people. But we can dream ahah
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Julie :Within Temptation, Epica, Evanescence, Xandria, Delain, Beast in Black, Kamelot, Ad Infinitum, Blackbriar, Amaranthe, Project Renegade, Dust in Mind, Deas by April... wow a big festival :D
Florian : the original lineup of Rhapsody, Beast in Black, Twilight Force.
Fabien : With Epica, Beast in Black, Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borgir, Wolfheart, Demotionnal, Amaranthe, Evanescence, Celestic
Sylvain : here is so many great artists. It’s too hard to choose for me.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Julie :I would say, it will be fine. Go all out, be free and surround yourself with the right people you trust. You will encounter difficulties, you will cry, you will sometimes be disgusted, but you will get up and you will be proud of the path you have traveled because you will have forged a fighting spirit and you will have worked hard to achieve your dream. So, young girl, go for it, the world is changing and you have your place in music as much as a man. Kisses.
Florian :Guitar speaking for new people in bands: don't play too loud and not always full gain. To my younger self : don't play too loud and not always full gain. Generally speaking, I think being patient is important, and don't try to impose your ideas and debate if necessary if you don't agree on something.
Fabien : Do your best and surround yourself with the right people.
Sylvain : To spend the time to find a good team.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Julie : Learn to be patient.
Florian :To not accept some stuff from certain people musically speaking.
Fabien : I would do the same, life gives us experiences, good bad you have to know how to take full advantage of the good times and learn from the bad experiences
Sylvain : I will give the same advice as the previous question.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Julie :For this first EP, there are two. My Winter Storm is about a woman who is insulted, belittled and hit by her spouse. Despite the very rhythmic and positive music, the text is very contrasting. The subject of domestic violence particularly touches me and if through a song we can give the strength to thousands of women to get out of it, then I will be very happy.
And Goodbye City with Clara Beack of course. A voice that I love and which deserves to be better known. I love this girl!Florian :To me, it's My Winter Storm, I like the 80's vibe on the synths, and it's one of the earliest ones we worked on and arranged with Sylvain. The lyrics have a special meaning and I just like this song.
Fabien : My favorite track is What I've Done, for the groove we gave it, the text that talks about a not very enviable future
Sylvain : Maybe Goodbye City, because there is something different in this song for me. The musical structure, the ambience…
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Florian : My Winter Storm, we don't really know yet which one will be request the most for the moment ahah.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Julie :The media give us not very positive news and that inspires me for my texts. As said above, escaping to the countryside allows me to take stock of who we are and what we can do to change things. Then I write down my thoughts and turn them into song lyrics.
Florian : We try to work together while arranging and recording. Most of the time, Sylvain comes up with an idea, and a base demo, and I arrange the guitars on it, I watch for what can and cannot be done, and the most importantly: doable in live. Fabien record principally rythm parts. Julie works on the lyrics during and after the first demos until the final recording.
Fabien : For the moment the songs have been written by Sylvain before I joined the group, then everyone plays it and arranges it if necessary so as to make it sound the best.
Sylvain : My emotions guide me during the composition process.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Julie :Positive messages obviously, I think we all need them.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Julie :Discussion is essential in a band and listening to everyone's ideas is important to move forward together.
Florian :Sometimes, but most of the time we try to weigh the pros and cons and agree on a common point, it's important to say things especially in a band to not create resentment.
Fabien : It happens in all the bands I imagine, it's rare with us that we argue so much, we discuss it and we make sure to move in the right direction.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Julie: We are already working on the universe of our next EP, on its direction and production, designs, videos etc. Can't wait to share more.
Florian : We want to show the world our music, and play it live if we can ! Our EP is gonna be out soon and we also will be selling physical copies, we are fully independant on the production side so it's a journey. Aside from that, we are endorsed by Angel PR Worldwide music promotion for the booking and promo. Our next plan is to make a new album with a different style, you can have a hint with one of our singles already out on streaming platforms.
Fabien : Doing concerts, festivals in the south east of France, all of France, even abroad bordering at first would be great