(by Dawn Reed) As the Stars Fall, a Paris-based project created by Remi Tobbal, was part of the first scene trek we ever did, sought out for the shared love of outer space and awesome music. Regarded as one of the most highly influential French hip-hop producers, ATSF is a whole other spectrum of creativity where Tobbal combines uber atmospheric electronic soundscapes paired with his amazing skill of photography. Here, Remi let's us in on ATSF's upcoming EP, how to captivate a live audience, and composing for unique found footage.
ST: How would you describe the sound and overall project that is As The Stars Fall? Is there a meaning behind the name?
REMI: Coming from the hip hop scene, the As The Stars Fall project is like a haven to me, a place where I can express another side of my music and myself, without boundaries or without thinking all the time I have to make singles, or I have to make this specific kind of beats that I know rapper will like...it is just a musical and visual identity I like to share with the audience. I always was fascinated by space, galaxys, planets, nebulaes so I guess As The Stars Fall was the best name to be the link between this fascination and the melancholy that is always present in my music.
ST: How would you describe the sound and overall project that is As The Stars Fall? Is there a meaning behind the name?
REMI: Coming from the hip hop scene, the As The Stars Fall project is like a haven to me, a place where I can express another side of my music and myself, without boundaries or without thinking all the time I have to make singles, or I have to make this specific kind of beats that I know rapper will like...it is just a musical and visual identity I like to share with the audience. I always was fascinated by space, galaxys, planets, nebulaes so I guess As The Stars Fall was the best name to be the link between this fascination and the melancholy that is always present in my music.
Let's talk about some of the amazing tracks off your last EP, Redux, that came out earlier this year. In the intense title track "Redux" you hear Stephen Hawking answering the question "Do you think we'll survive?" Is it safe to say that this song was inspired by the possibility of the world ending? What was your thought process of relaying such an eerie subject matter into a demanding electronic beat?
I really like to include sample parts from movies or documentaries in my songs, since there is no lyrics on them I use those samples to reinforce the message or the emotional impact I want to give. When I look at the world it really concerns me, the way things are going, I don’t see how it could get better in a short period of time…
The video for "Redux" is crazy cool too. In fact every single video created to mesh with your songs is worthy of being projected onto museum walls. Aside from the music, how much input do you have in these videos?
Thank you! I met Mathieu Sauer who directed "Redux" through a mutual friend and I had this basic idea of using a lot documentary images in split screen. I wanted people to be overwhelmed by this constant flow of images, and Mathieu added his touch with the story of this guy who decides to express is anger/frustration through graffiti, it ends up to be great !! I only help directed our first video which was Untitled, but all the other ones are 100% created by their directors (Pauline Goasmat, Sofia Leal, Johannes Greve Muskat…). I’d really love to direct a video myself in the future…
I really like to include sample parts from movies or documentaries in my songs, since there is no lyrics on them I use those samples to reinforce the message or the emotional impact I want to give. When I look at the world it really concerns me, the way things are going, I don’t see how it could get better in a short period of time…
The video for "Redux" is crazy cool too. In fact every single video created to mesh with your songs is worthy of being projected onto museum walls. Aside from the music, how much input do you have in these videos?
Thank you! I met Mathieu Sauer who directed "Redux" through a mutual friend and I had this basic idea of using a lot documentary images in split screen. I wanted people to be overwhelmed by this constant flow of images, and Mathieu added his touch with the story of this guy who decides to express is anger/frustration through graffiti, it ends up to be great !! I only help directed our first video which was Untitled, but all the other ones are 100% created by their directors (Pauline Goasmat, Sofia Leal, Johannes Greve Muskat…). I’d really love to direct a video myself in the future…
The video for "The Fall" was breathtaking and the music fit perfectly. Can you describe the process of how you created the music after viewing the footage? Will that song be on your next EP?)
The process was a little bit different for this one, I composed the music over the video…I was wandering over the internet trying to find some material for my blog and I found this great footage of Frederic Bellity who send an HD camera into the stratosphere with a meteorological balloon, I really fell in love with the images and I decided to write music on them, and accentuate the tension of it. This song won’t be on my next EP.
The process was a little bit different for this one, I composed the music over the video…I was wandering over the internet trying to find some material for my blog and I found this great footage of Frederic Bellity who send an HD camera into the stratosphere with a meteorological balloon, I really fell in love with the images and I decided to write music on them, and accentuate the tension of it. This song won’t be on my next EP.
You've announced the completion of some tracks to your upcoming EP on your Facebook page. Are you still working on it? When is this EP expected to come out? How would you compare it to your previous releases?
I’m still working on it, finishing it up here and there, working on the cover also… Hopefully it will come out by the end of October, early November. I try to evolve and test new things every time. The 1st EP had more of an organic/postrock vibe, the 2nd one was a little bit more electronic and “Ghosts” the 3rd one will also be a little bit different. There is this song called “Tears” where for the first time I used a vocal sample, so there is actually singing on it. “Tempus Fugit” and “Redux” were the first two parts of a EP trilogy about the perception of time and reality. “Ghosts” will be the final chapter.
I’m still working on it, finishing it up here and there, working on the cover also… Hopefully it will come out by the end of October, early November. I try to evolve and test new things every time. The 1st EP had more of an organic/postrock vibe, the 2nd one was a little bit more electronic and “Ghosts” the 3rd one will also be a little bit different. There is this song called “Tears” where for the first time I used a vocal sample, so there is actually singing on it. “Tempus Fugit” and “Redux” were the first two parts of a EP trilogy about the perception of time and reality. “Ghosts” will be the final chapter.
by Remi Tobbal
What are your live performances like? Do you combine your photography and videos to create a wide spectrum of live visuals? Do you have plans on touring the world in the near future?
I did my first two shows, last April and March; Mathilde Forget was on stage with me, playing guitars and keyboards. Our live performances were made of one uninterrupted mix of songs and videos, I wanted people to be held hostage by it, lol.
I really want to work more on it because I think we can bring it to another level pushing the experience a little bit further, but between producing in hip hop and making music for As The Stars Fall sometimes I don’t have enough time to get my head completely into the live aspect of ATSF. I think we’ll probably do more shows in Paris for the release of the 3rd EP, but so far there are no other dates booked…
Have you composed scores for any feature length films, or working on any currently?
I’ve composed a few pieces for a play (Les Patients from Jacques Audiberti) and two short films (Spadassins and Surrender).
What are some of your musical influences?
Bands like Massive Attack, Portishead, m83 have a huge influence on me, and of course I listen to a lot of soundtracks…
What are some bands/musicians you've been really into lately?
I’m really into those new Apparat’s songs, I’m looking forward to listen to his new project, I also really like Trentmoller, Washed Out, James Blake…
What is your favorite thing about the music scene of Paris?
The electronic scene is really interesting
What do you want your audience to get out of your music?
I would only use one word: emotions
What ultimately do you want to accomplish as ATSF?
I guess scoring films or documentaries would be the thing I want to do the most at the time being.
I did my first two shows, last April and March; Mathilde Forget was on stage with me, playing guitars and keyboards. Our live performances were made of one uninterrupted mix of songs and videos, I wanted people to be held hostage by it, lol.
I really want to work more on it because I think we can bring it to another level pushing the experience a little bit further, but between producing in hip hop and making music for As The Stars Fall sometimes I don’t have enough time to get my head completely into the live aspect of ATSF. I think we’ll probably do more shows in Paris for the release of the 3rd EP, but so far there are no other dates booked…
Have you composed scores for any feature length films, or working on any currently?
I’ve composed a few pieces for a play (Les Patients from Jacques Audiberti) and two short films (Spadassins and Surrender).
What are some of your musical influences?
Bands like Massive Attack, Portishead, m83 have a huge influence on me, and of course I listen to a lot of soundtracks…
What are some bands/musicians you've been really into lately?
I’m really into those new Apparat’s songs, I’m looking forward to listen to his new project, I also really like Trentmoller, Washed Out, James Blake…
What is your favorite thing about the music scene of Paris?
The electronic scene is really interesting
What do you want your audience to get out of your music?
I would only use one word: emotions
What ultimately do you want to accomplish as ATSF?
I guess scoring films or documentaries would be the thing I want to do the most at the time being.
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