Near the vibrant heart of Paris, French multi-instrumentalist Pierre Lecarpentier is forging a singular musical path. Having cut his teeth playing in various bands throughout his youth, the 30-year-old musician made the bold decision in 2021 to strike out on his own—taking complete creative control by writing, performing, and recording every single element of his music himself.
In this exclusive interview, we dive deep into Pierre’s artistic journey, exploring how a childhood steeped in classic vinyl collections shaped his passion, the meticulous DIY studio process behind his lush sonic landscapes, and the dreamlike inspirations driving his latest single, ‘Waves’.
First off, thank you so much for joining us today, Pierre! You’ve been involved in music for most of your life. When did you first pick up an instrument, and what originally inspired you to start creating your own songs?
"I started playing music when I was a little kid, maybe 3 years old. As for the songwriting, it’s pretty recent. When I was in bands in my teen years, I wrote riffs and stuff like that, but I was unable to write lyrics, I couldn’t write anything really good. But in 2021 I tried again and this time it worked and that was really cool because it meant I could write my own songs now, and here I am! As for what inspired me, when I grew up, I was raised by my mother, and she had this fantastic records collection. The Beatles, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc., so I listened to those albums during all my childhood; that was great and I immediately knew I wanted to make music when I first heard those records."
Congratulations on the new music! What can you tell us about your latest single, ‘Waves’, and the personal meaning behind it?
"My last single, ‘Waves’ is a song dedicated to someone with who I had the chance to spend some time and that made me really happy at that time so I wrote this song as a thank you."
Were there any particular artists or records on repeat that influenced the atmosphere of "Waves" while you were in the studio?
"I listened a lot to the band Ride when I was recording this song so I think they influenced me, at least for the end of the song, there's a similar vibe I think."
As someone who plays and records every instrument independently, how do you approach the songwriting process from that initial spark to the finished track?
"I usually have the whole song idea in my head: most of the time, it starts with the melody, so I try to transcribe what I hear in my head on a piano or a guitar, and I record it poorly on my phone (so I don’t forget my ideas).”
“About the recording sessions, I always start with an acoustic guitar track, even if the song doesn’t need acoustic guitar: I use it just to build the song’s structure and to see more clearly where I’m going. Then I start adding the other instruments, first of all, the rhythmic part (bass, drums, rhythm guitars), then I add all the keys and organs. I think this is the part I love the most; I can spend hours and hours trying to find the sounds I want by playing with all the presets and the melodic part comes last."
How would you describe the overall vibe of "Waves", and how has your personal style evolved since you began making music solo?
"’Waves’ is very atmospheric, I really like all things psychedelic and ethereal. Whether it’s cinema, literature, or art in general. I think I’m what you may call a dreamer, I tend to get lost in my thoughts most of the time and I really like the idea of getting lost in an atmosphere. That’s why I love psychedelic rock and ethereal music so much, this really is a genre that allows you to take a trip to the moon and back just by closing your eyes and letting the notes and melodies find their way into your brain until they reach your mind to take you on a wonderful journey.”
“As for the evolution since I first began, yes my sound changed through the years and just because of a simple thing, I started adding keyboards, pianos and synths in my songs. I really love the band Air, and they inspired me to do that."
What do you hope listeners take away when they press play on the new track?
"I just want people to be able to close their eyes and have a good moment, I hope it works!"
Now that "Waves" is out in the world, what’s on the horizon for you in terms of upcoming projects or releases?
"Yes! I’m planning to release two EPs this year or one whole album, I don’t know yet. I’m not sure I want to do an album yet, I think the EP and single format work better when you don’t have a real fanbase yet, but who knows? Maybe I’ll turn my two EPs in an album instead. I have to think about that but yeah, I have a lot of songs to release in the next months/years, so stay tuned!"
Finally, do you have a message for the people out there listening to and supporting your music?
"I'm always surprised when I receive messages or comments from people all around the globe saying they liked my songs, this is really amazing, it makes me happy and honestly I'm really grateful so, to the people who listen to my songs, whether I know you or I don't, thank you so much!"
Pierre’s DIY approach is a testament to the power of independent artistry. By channelling his influences into a uniquely dreamlike soundscape, he has crafted a musical space that feels both deeply intimate and expansively cinematic.
As he continues to piece together his upcoming EPs, "Waves" serves as a breathtaking preview of what’s to come. Make sure to stream ‘Waves’ via his on all your favourite platforms, and don't forget to follow Pierre on Instagram to keep up with his latest releases.
