Biche Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

1. We're Biche, from Reims, France. We started playing as Biche in early 2012, but were both involved in a stoner/garage band before.

2.How would you describe your musical sound and what are some things you are able to do with your current band that you where not able to do with your past band?

2. I would say that we play some kind of sludge, mixed up with hardcore, noise, and anything we find raw enough to be put in. Because we're only two, the production is very "straight. No overdubs, as we play in live. With our past band, we weren't able to play as slow as we do now, and keep the songs "simple", there were always solos, and stupid things like that... The voice as evolved too, not sure i'll sing with a clear voice before a long time ! Our songs are now more personnal, and we compose faster. We're very fusionnal when we play. Also, we just need one car to go play a gig now !

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

3. To be clear, the names of the tracks have (often) nothing in common with the lyrics. We just like funny titles. The lyrics are mostly about end-of-the-world, bad dreams, rapes and other unpleasant and revolting things. There is also a few references to litterature and movies. We try to play an unpleasant music, with dissonances and hurting rythmics, and so are the lyrics.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Biche'?

4. We just find it fun that the name of something sweet, peaceful and pure as a doe can be put on the type of music we play. No big mystery here ! In france, people, and mostly couples, often use it as a cute nickname.

5.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you choose to remain a duo?

5. Actually, we started as a trio, with a friend of us on the bass. But after a month, Meddy and I realized that we wanted to be a duo, which allows us to write songs and play gigs easily. So being a duo is a choice, and things will be like that for a long time. And we both have other bands to play with more people, we even have an other sludge/doom band, called Pluie de Bisous, together with three to six other musicians... We're currently working on some featurings (bass, guitar) on new songs with some friend of us, a duo called Organon (http://organonband.bandcamp.com/).

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

6. I'm not sure it was the best, but one of the funniest show we played was in Cambrai, in the North-East, with some friends called Oruga, who invited us and Tortue Géniale. We had a lot of strong beers and french fries... An other one was near Paris, with a naked woman dancing during our show and a free party in a huge squat after that. We can't forget the show in Meddy's kitchen too.
I would say that our stage performance are loud, raw, intense and go straight to the point : to feel happy in sorrow.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

7. We have just come back from a short tour in the north-west of france, and we have a couple of date in north-east in a few weeks. We're currently trying to book a week in UK for november. We're open to any proposition or help for that !

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

8. For now we don't have received proposition from any label, but of course, we're totally open to anything !

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge?

9. Actually, pretty good for a DIY band like us. The EP has been shared around the world by different bloggers and fans. And we're still getting more reviews from everywhere, even if the EP was released almost a year ago, and there is always a good feedback about the cover.
We had reviews in french, english, spanish, greek, and a news in bulgarian ! It's always funny when you don't understand a word of people talking about your music.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

10. The new songs are not that complex, but we think more about "what we really want to play", not just "what sounds loud and catchy (in a sludge way, of course)". Wer'e having more fun with structures and sounds.
We're planning a split LP with Organon. Meddy play drums in this band since about a year.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

11. We both listen to a lot of sludge, doom, stoner, post-anything... But not only. Meddy listen a huge amount of hip-hop and electronic music. Most of the time with deep bass. His latest hits are the last CunniLinguists mixtape, and the new Conan.
I'm more into cold-wave, noise, hxc, experimental music... These days, I'm really enjoying the new Indian, Hexis, Poino, The Body, Marie Davidson.
In Biche, the more influential bands are : Clutch, Neurosis, Monkey3, Karma To Burn, Isis, Dark Castle, Mares of Thrace...

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

12. We both watch a lot of movies and TV shows, of many genre. Personally, I also read quite a lot of SF and fantasy litterature (very original for a guy playing metal). Meddy is more into party, travel, caps and Katy Perry.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? 

13. First, thanks a lot for this interview ! And sorry for our english... Come to our shows and listen to our songs. We're better at playing music than talking about it !