Interview Notre-Dame of Tokyo

Dive into the vibrant world of Notre-Dame of Tokyo as they reveal the secrets behind their eclectic sound, the coin-toss decision that led them to London, and the creation of their upcoming album 'Weightlessness.' Uncover the stories, challenges, and ambitions of this French duo making waves in the London music scene.

1. "1p Game" has a unique blend of influences, from Rage Against The Machine to Muse and Nine Inch Nails. How did these diverse inspirations come together to shape the sound of this single?
_ Anthuan: Salut, thank you for your interest. I think to have a unique blend as you say, you need not just to listen but also appreciate a lot of different types of music and that’s what we do. We love a lot of stuff. For those bands you named, we know their hits but they aren’t bands that we really listen to a lot.

2. Your upcoming album, 'Weightlessness,' is set to release on December 15. Can you share some insights into the creative process behind the album and the themes it explores?
_ Anthuan: We tossed a coin and ended up in London. From no English to writing our own lyrics (in English..), from trying to find a singer to learning singing (no more dealing with drama queens!), add a big zest of London nightlife and voila ! Notre-Dame of Tokyo is born, and Weightlessness is there to tell the story.
_ Adrien: Went through way up high and f***ing down low.. Floating in the middle from one to another gives you this feeling of Weightlessness.

3. The lyrics of "1p Game" include the line "The amber at my lips, I smile to my misery." What's the story behind this particular lyric, and how does it tie into the overall narrative of the song?
_ Anthuan: Today you’re on the throne having a dump scrolling through Lelahel blog reading some good interviews and tomorrow you’re pushing up daisies for an intoxication to crustaceans… I mean we are miserable, sometimes you think about it while drinking your whisky alone, and it makes you smile.
_ Adrien: Haven’t written that one, reminds me of Takeshi Kovacs!

4. Notre-Dame of Tokyo's sound is described as a fusion of classic UK punk with European rock. How do you navigate and merge these different musical influences to create a cohesive and distinctive style?
_ Anthuan: Before London we were trying to be so different from all that Swedish/Finnish melodic death metal we grew up with, but we weren't. Then you arrive here (in London) and learn how not to give a f**** about a note out of tune, a missed hit hat...it has to be alive. That's what UK punk teaches you, and you incorporate that to your European influences.
_ Adrien: Couldn’t say it better. Cheers!

5. Having moved from Agen in the south of France to London, how has the change in environment and culture influenced your music, especially in the context of '1p Game' and 'Weightlessness'?
_ Adrien: It’s like we never lived before. The city is like a double shot of everything taken without your consent, you only realise when you’re fucked up. For me “1P Game” is the part where you feel there’s only you facing the rest of the world and its heaviness. But you’re in weightlessness..

6. The decision to move to London was made by tossing a coin. Looking back, how has this seemingly random decision impacted the trajectory of Notre-Dame of Tokyo and your musical journey?
_ Adrien: Tossing a coin is very simple, as long as you don’t bet your life on it, like we did. We were stuck, and it made everything moving somewhere forward. Just try it when you’re stuck.

7. "1p Game" is the third release from 'Weightlessness.' How does this track fit into the broader narrative or concept of the album, and why did you choose it as a single?
_ Adrien: Had to choose one, tossed a coin(again..) but didn’t fall on 1P Game, but still went for it. In the end it doesn’t really matter, it’s purely us following modern promoting ways. The album is meant to be a whole thing.

8. Your journey involved overcoming language barriers and stepping into the role of a singer. How has this transformation affected the dynamics of the band and the way you approach songwriting?
_ Anthuan: When you have 3 years of singing at the age of 30 and you pissed off neighbors (it’s loud to practice), at some point you have to realize it’s not gonna sound like Corey Taylor…this is where UK punk helped a lot, you’re like f*** it! I'll sing it my way !
For the lyrics, it’s more difficult. We have no idea how it really sounds for English native speakers. We just try to be entertaining instead of trying to do great literature.

9. The band's live shows are known for connecting with the audience. How do you translate the energy of your recorded music into a live performance, and what can fans expect from your upcoming shows?
_ Anthuan: We have seen some of our favorite bands live and were disappointed..we learnt from that. Don’t expect to hear the album version, we change them in order to make whoever comes to see us participate in the show. We interact a lot with the people and we love it. You might see our tits as well.
_ Adrien: Expect 2 french motherfuckers and a robot.

10. The video for your 2021 single 'X or Y' showcases your live performance. How important is the visual element to Notre-Dame of Tokyo's music, and what role does it play in conveying the essence of your sound?
_ Anthuan: This video is old, I hope we are better now
Our sound is organic with electro-mechanic parts, so we try to show that in our outfit. We also bring some lights on stage and traffic cones…
_ Adrien: You guys did your homework!

11. You've been compared to iconic bands like Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Black Sabbath, and Muse. How do you feel about these comparisons, and are there specific bands that you consider major influences on your musical journey?
_ Adrien: Alice In Chains picked us up on the floor many times. Black Sabbath well.. can’t make any violent/dark/heavy stuff if you don’t know them, and it doesn't matter how many strings you have on your electric guitar. Muse might come from J-34N, fuckin I.A.. or maybe that secret person that work with us behind this, who knows.

12. The title 'Weightlessness' suggests a certain theme or feeling. Can you elaborate on the significance of the album's title and how it relates to the overall concept of the music?
_ Anthuan: We are far from where we come from, far from where we want to be. We are weightless, spinning slowly in this big mess (the world). Millions of songs are released everyday and you still believe yours is going to make a difference but yeah, we’re all sick, we keep trying.
_ Adrien: See answer 2 above.

13. As French musicians in the London music scene, what unique perspectives or challenges have you encountered, and how has this cultural blend influenced your music?
_ Anthuan: You have to share the stage with too many Indie rock bulls**** I feel like the foreigners are bringing a new wave of sex drugs and rock n roll, and we are part of it, but we do it our way, because we have different influences, culture etc.
14. The single '1p Game' is described as having a sense of ambition and energy. How do you channel this ambition into your music, and what drives the energy behind Notre-Dame of Tokyo's creative process?
_ Anthuan: Wow this a complicated question
_ Adrien: I can’t avoid to think of the elitist nature of some of the questions here but.. J’ai rien compris non plus. Next!..

15. Beyond the upcoming album release, what are some future goals and aspirations for Notre-Dame of Tokyo? Any dream collaborations or venues you hope to conquer?
_ Anthuan: We want to play at the 02 arena, it’s our goal. After that we can retire and go cut some wood in the middle of nowhere…and play video games haha f**** this life
_ Adrien: Another revolution.

16. For those discovering Notre-Dame of Tokyo for the first time, what message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from your music, particularly '1p Game' and the 'Weightlessness' album?
_ Anthuan:
If it’s your first time listening use the instructions below:
1- Pour yourself a beer or your favorite alcoholic beverage, and down it.
2- Pour yourself another one
3- Play 1P Game or any song from the album “Weightlesssness”
4- Volume up up up !
5- Sip your second drink, enjoy!
_ Adrien: Toss a coin tomorrow, tell your boss to f*** off and Adieu to your partner. Start a new life!

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