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Parisian songstress Jain emerges with “Come” and new ‘Hope’ EP

Jon Berrien
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French songstress Jain is on the move with sonic goodness, her fresh new track “Come” is a playful delight that is leading the way for her recently released ‘Hope‘ EP. The Parisian recently talked with GroundSounds about the success of her latest single, musical inspirations, new album and more, check out the exclusive interview below.

 

For those just discovering your music can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got your start on this journey?

I’m from Toulouse, a city in  the south west of France. At the age of 9, me and my family moved to Dubai, where I began an Arabic percussion, called “tabla”. Percussions was my first real contact with music. there was always music at home, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker or Fela Kuti. I think it taught me to like different kinds of music. after 4 years in Dubai, we moved to Pointe-Noire, on the south coast of Congo Brazzaville, that’s where I began to write my first songs. I met a congolese beatmaker, Mister Flash. He gave me my first software to work on my music at home. I wanted to write what I felt. I met my agent and then my producer thanks to MySpace, and my musical adventure began there in Congo.

What was it like growing up in Toulouse, France? What is one thing every visitor should see or do in Toulouse?

I spent the first 3 years of my life in Toulouse before I moved two hours  away from the City. So the real souvenir I have of Toulouse is “le jardin des plantes”, a beautiful park. I really love the south west of France, because it’s very peaceful and sunny, I was an hour away from the mountains and the ocean. I would recommend it to everyone!!!

JAIN-HOPE-cover-EP-front-webCan you tell us about working on your ‘Hope’ EP and bringing it fruition?

This EP really grew up with me, because I wrote it between Congo, Abu Dhabi and Paris. For example I wrote “Come” when I was 16, but I made “Makeba” just last year. I wanted to make something eclectic , and something with my own experiences. I’m really happy that people can listen to it. The most important thing for me was to mix all the influences, to make a sort of “melting pop”.

What made you decide on the EP title Hope?

This EP and the Futur album are very hopeful , I really feel  that music is also about making people feel good, and forget their troubles. We need music more than ever, so this title “hope” was actually quite obvious for me…

Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your latest track “Come?”

I wrote “Come” in Congo, when I was 16…The story of this song comes from the fact that a lot of my friends moved away when I was living there. I wanted to bring them back by my side. So I worked with Mr Flash, and he taught me how to record myself. Once I had the song, I put it on Myspace, and  I met my producer , in Paris, he made this track sound way more professional. “Come” was my first “finished” song . And thanks to that I found theta way to express myself..

The music video for “Come” is awesome, what was it like filming it and how did the idea and concept come about?

On stage I’m alone, with a loop station and a APC, so I draw the silhouette with six arms because I wanted to create a kind of multitasking super hero. The idea  “multiplication” and the “visual game” was the main idea I wanted to see in the music video. The video makers are Greg and Lio, they are very talented, and they came up with a lot of very cool and clever ideas, they have  a great  esthetic sense . We spend two days in “la mason Louis Carré” designed by Alvar Aalto, it was an amazing experience! 

Can you tell us about the inspiration for your track “Makeba?”

It’s about Miriam Makeba. I find her very inspiring, there is something that I find incredible emanating from her…

What musicians/bands are you currently listening to?

Right now the latest album of Tame Impala, Foals, Dr Dre and Method Man

What’s next for Jain? What can fans look forward to?

My album!

Stay in touch with Jain: FACEBOOK | WEBSITE