Tell me a few words about your musical path. How did it all start for you musically in general?
That's a long story, it was 12 years ago.
Who influenced you as a young man musically? Who are you listening to now?
At the time, it was Michael Jackson and Madonna, and as you can guess, I don't listening to them anymore. I'm listening to Moodyman.
How quickly did you come to your current sound?
It took me 7 years to do what I'm doing now, to understand that deep house music and rap can collaborate on the same track.
I discovered Moodyman, Metro Area, and I was asking myself "why there is no rap in?"
How do you usually describe your own sound? Perhaps some unusual associations? I read about the Broka music — is it it?
In 2005, we invented a sound we call DEEPKHO. I discovered Moodyman, Metro Area, and I was asking myself "why there is no rap in?". Then we mixed rap (I mean rap, no french rap!) with deep house, and then I invented as you said the broka music, a mix of broken beat and rap (the technique). All of theses mixes and this eclectism take time, it's all about musical culture I think.
Sometimes it seems that Grems it's not just you. We can see a great work — cool videos, original graphics (designes of your releases as well). Will it be fair to say that Grems nowdays — this is not just one person, but a brand, which implies the work of a large creative group?
No, my first job is not rap. It's graphic design. Grems is just me, myself and I. When I work with Swatch, I do my thing you know. When I work with the sncf, they want some Grems. It's my identity, it's me, there's nobody else behind my work. You can check it out here: www.grems.eu
Do you define yourself primarily as a musician, designer or graphic artist?
I'm just an artist.
Tell me about your creative process. How critical do you feel about your own creativity?
Be an artist means "to be sick". You always have to be the best, renew your own style and yourself. Perpetually. But I create primarly thanks to my personnal emotions.
Are there any things in the music (style, sound, creative methods) that you do not accept or just do not like?
I'm open-minded so that's a difficult question. I'm doing music for me, I try to create things. I mean if you start with this state of mind, you don't have limits.
As many people don’t understand French could you tell what are the main themes and motives that you use in your songs?
My daughter. My rage against the system.
I am absolutely impressed with the idea and realization of the Broka Billy release. Can you tell something about this idea and the whole concept?
It's an album with a book which illustrate each tracks with different medium (photos, paints, graphism, writing...). It was like a challenge for me. I had to it, for myself and my first job as graphic designer.
It is interesting to know how you perceived the music business when you first became involved and how your perception of it has changed over time.
I was always be an independant. I'm growing up, step by step. Music buisness for me is like a hobby to help myself for buy my Jordan's pair...So, I don't take it seriously.
Here in Russia your collaboration with the Foreign Beggars (Broka Billy track) became very popular. How did you first meet and begin working together?
It's family. The Foreign Beggars wants us (Rouge à lèvre) in 2007 to collaborate on track project "Gash". Because they liked the Deepkho. Now we're friends, and we got like 10 tracks together.
You’ve performed in many countries! Tell me about your impressions and experience. Any weird stories?
I love foreign public and you know why? Because they listen to the flow, and not automatically what it means.
One time in Switzerland, I was performing with my man Ntek on the scene... There were those girls in the public, totally crazy, like New Kids On The Block's groupies you know? So I wore a baggy short and... They were licking my legs. Yes yes, true story!
As far as I know, you have the experience of living in France and England. Can you give an insight into the diversity of the hip hop, electronic music scene in both of them? What are the main features, differences. By your personal experience.
In England they're very open minded. English people got a largest musical culture than french people. The problem with the french people is that they're very closed, they copy without a real touch (forget about the expression "french touch"...).
How do you see yourself in the future? Which prospects of your own development are the most interesting for you?
I can see me rich haha! But I can't reply to the second question. I'm in search of new projects everyday, I don't have any plans, so...
What would you advise to budding musicians?
Don't believe with the Rap you can make music all your entire life.
Anna Maslennikova
Grems @ website / facebook / soundcloud
