Exclusive Interview with Electro-House DJ and Music Producer Malo Bertrand.
After the success of his 2022 debut album Oxymore, Malo Bertrand is back this summer with his new EP Quinte & Sens, released under Groove People Records. This six-track compilation fuses house, funk, groove, brass, and Latin influences, created in collaboration with eight talented artists.
The standout track, “Bailalo” (featuring Mr. Planteur), encapsulates the vibrant energy and eclectic spirit of the project. Perfect for listening from sunset to dawn, Quinte & Sens offers a deeply rich and immersive musical journey.
Listen to “Bailalo” on YouTube
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
“Quinte & Sens” showcases a blend of house, funk, groove, brass sections, and Latin sounds. What was your vision behind combining these diverse genres?
This mix of different sounds comes from my musical influences. I started music with acoustic instruments and discovered electronic music much later, so for me this mix is the best way to federate around groovy, colorful sounds in a contemporary electro context
As an artist who blends various genres, how do you approach the creative process when starting a new project?
I’d say my creative process often starts with an idea for an acoustic melody (from a sample, brass or another instrument). I then construct a more electro or house arrangement to give it a more contemporary dimension.
The track “Bailalo,” featuring Mr. Planteur, has been highlighted as a standout. What was the inspiration behind this track, and how did the collaboration come about?
We composed this track in Cap d’Agde, by the sea, in the sun, in a place immersed in greenery. When we were looking for a sample, we came across this voice, and the brass line came to us straight away, setting the scene!
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced in your career so far, and how have you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me is to bring into existence a project that is neither 100% “commercial” nor 100% “underground”. Indeed, having been immersed in these two cultures, I position myself halfway between the two and it is a real challenge to bring together the elements that link these two worlds, with the aim of making them coexist without dividing the public.
You worked with eight different artists on this EP. Can you share how these collaborations influenced the final sound of “Quinte & Sens”?
I was lucky enough to work with singers, rappers, composers, topliners and instrumentalists, and the challenge for me was to maintain a common thread and real coherence despite the abundant ideas of each artist.
Collaboration plays a big role in your work. What do you look for in a collaborator, and how do you ensure a cohesive sound?
I compose and master certain instruments, but sometimes I have ideas that go beyond my skills, and collaboration allows me to open up my field of possibilities by offering other talents in my creations. Collaboration allows me to evolve and discover very different worlds, it’s a very enriching process both musically and in terms of teamwork. For me, making music with others is the most beautiful form of sharing.
The EP is said to be ideal for listening from sunset to dawn. How did you curate the flow of the tracks to create this immersive experience?
These groovy, summery sounds follow one another in an increasing progression, with the first tracks being fairly mellow, the next more colorful and the last much more rhythmic. The aim was to tell a story that comes to life and moves through different stages, all the while retaining the guiding line of groove and brass.
How do you balance maintaining your unique sound while also evolving as an artist?
I think that when you start a musical project, you draw its contours in order to define an artistic direction, but I also think that these contours are bound to evolve over time. In my particular case, my very diverse entourage didn’t make the task any easier, and it took me a long time to find my musical identity, which is now clear: the contrast between groove (brass, disco-funk…) and electro-house. I think that the evolution of my identity will be largely determined by the people I meet next. For me, people are the best way to discover new cultures, and to draw on each of them to shape my own artistic direction.
How does “Quinte & Sens” connect with or differ from your debut album “Oxymore”? What new elements did you bring into this project?
My first album, “Oxymore”, was based on a thread of contrasting electro and orchestral sounds. Since then, my musical influences have evolved towards a more groovy, colorful, good vibe universe, but one that retains the contrast between electro and brass.
Looking ahead, what are your goals as an artist, and what can fans expect from you in the future?
The “Quinte & Sens” EP has inspired a live project that we’ll be unveiling soon, featuring this good vibe, electro & groove universe that we’ll be playing all over France, which is our main objective at the moment, so look out for the project on stage! The last track on the EP, “Night in Amsterdam”, may well herald a future project…
Malo Bertrand – “Quinte & Sens” EP is out now!
Listen on Spotify
Connect with Malo Bertrand
