FEATURE INTERVIEW
Introducing the immensely talented London-based Belgian singer/songwriter and producer André Tajchman. This emerging self-taught artist creates a timeless sound all his own by combining unique electronic elements and blending abstract beats with soulful melodies and hauntingly beautiful vocals. His music will touch you as you can hear him pour his heart out into each song through his lyrics. He recently released his fourth single "Outbreath" which is a dark yet beautiful work of art. I had the opportunity of interviewing this visionary artist and got to learn about the loss that would become his inspiration. Read about it below:
MHB: How old are you and where are you from?
André: I am 25 years old and originally from Belgium.
MHB: How would you describe the music scene where you're from?
André: I feel like one part of me has a jazz-soul-gospel background, while the other tends to be more electronic and experimental.
MHB: How did you get your start as a songwriter/musician? Did you always want to be a musician? And can you recall your earliest musical memory?
André: I started to get obsessed with piano in my early teens, I learned by myself to play and a few years after I started to sing while I was playing. That's also when I started to write music, I was about 16 years old. I don't know if I always wanted to be a musician, but I've had a artistic mind since I was born, I explored many fields of artistic expression. My oldest musical memory would be when I was a child, singing at school, exploring musical instruments, I used to love that.
MHB: Who have been some your favorite and most influential artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music?
André: The first artists that have influenced me into singing are Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. Then I started exploring a bit more what was out there, especially after moving to London, and I discovered the band that influenced me the most: The xx. I was, and still am, obsessed with their music. Beyond their voices, it was the sounds they used, the way they created their own beats, it was a new world of possibilities to me. And of course, there was James Blake and FKA twigs, who I consider King and Queen of alternative pop music, and two major influences as well.
MHB: If you could choose any artist to able work with, who would you choose and why?
André: I would love to work with Jamie xx, he seems to be a great artist to collaborate with, and I'm also a huge fan of his work.
MHB: How would you characterize YOUR sound to a new listener & what would you say makes your music unique?
André: I would say my music is a crossover between a lot of different styles: classical music, African American music from the 20th century and more modern sounds and percussion. This might be what makes it stand out.
MHB: What can you tell us about your latest single "Outbreath"? What is it about and what was the inspiration behind the song?
André: "Outbreath" was written when I was at my darkest stage of grief, about two years ago, after my mum passed away. I couldn't sleep and I felt like the sky was crumbling upon me, but I had to keep everything together as I was finishing my last year of master in architecture, plus everything else I had to manage at the same time. It was tough, and sometimes it felt like I was running a marathon without knowing where it would end.
MHB: What projects are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the next coming months?
André: As you know, I just released my 4th single, I am now getting started on the next song, but it probably won't be out before early 2017. I will also get back to my YouTube cover channel sometime soon.
MHB: What is the ultimate driving force that gets you up in the morning?
André: The ultimate driving force that gets me up in the morning is the belief that I will achieve what I want to achieve: I want to become an artist, I want to live from my music.
MHB: What do you think the future of music will be like?
André: I feel like the industry has suffered a lot from recession. Producers tend to go for the easy pop song that will make them rich, rather than spending months on creating something new and exciting. At the same time, there are more and more young artists trying to make it, and there's definitely not enough room for everyone of them. I'm not quite sure how this will evolve.
MHB: If we all each had a themesong that played whenever we walked or moved around, what would you choose your theme song to be?
André: I often think of a theme song when I walk or move around, it depends on the context, on my mood. Usually it's something quite soulful and moody, like my own songs
MHB: At the end of the day, what do you ultimately hope listeners take away from your songs?
André: My songs aren't usually the most cheerful, what I want to say is that we all go through dark moments and it's fine to talk or sing about it. People usually avoid talking about their feelings. They prefer dancing on some cheerful pop song rather than facing their own thoughts. I want people to accept those feelings, and to understand they aren't the only one feeling them.
MHB: What does music mean to you?
André: Music to me is one of the purest forms of expression that reaches everyone.
MHB: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself & your music?
André: I'm just going to end by saying a big thank you to everyone who is supporting me and my music. Wishing you all the best!
Listen to his latest single "Outbreath" below:
For more on André Tajchman, visit his Soundcloud page here https://soundcloud.com/andretajchman