After working with French electro group, FORM, on his “Night Time” EP, Japanese/French solo artist Loman finds a new creative rhythm for haunting single, “Home.” Created in the countryside, the track echoes with chilling melodies – making space for reflection. Adding to the eerie mood, its droning sounds are complemented by deep vocals. When listening, Loman invites audiences to close their eyes and see what visuals come up. Check out the video below and learn more about Loman in a following Q&A.
Loman, how did you start collaborating with FORM, and what did that experience bring to your Night Time EP?
I actually met Hausmane in the middle of the street in Paris. We’re both friends with another great artist, Elbi, who was going to a gig with him. I remember she told me something like “as I know you like UK sounds like Radiohead or James Blake, so you should definitely listen to them. You’ll probably like it.”
And she was right, of course. I just thought to myself “I love their bass sounds. I’d like to find a way to get into that direction.”
During the first French lockdown, I wrote and recorded a demo of my EP and was looking for someone to help me push the music production a step further. I contacted them, they liked the demos and this is how we worked together. Basically some tracks are just extra ideas/VSTs added to the original demos. For others, the guys broke/cut/rearranged some parts and we started building new things together. I’ve learned a lot with them.
Will you continue working with FORM, or what should audiences expect for upcoming releases?
Well, for now, I think it’s time for me to try my own stuff and experiment on my side. For my new track, Home, for instance, I wrote and produced the track myself to see how far I could go on my own. I just think that it’s a great way to actually do the work, not avoid some difficulties by asking someone else to think about it and also make something more personal. Moreover, we’re all getting busier and busier, which is a good sign! But we’ll stay close for sure!
What was it like leaving Paris to return to your grandparents house – did escaping the energy of the urban landscape change your creative process?
Strangely enough, I think we believe we need to be close to an urban environment, with many things going on, to get inspired, to stay cool, etc. But for me, finding a creative space in that empty house full of memories was a much better fit. Especially because I can find way more time to work on my stuff than in Paris where you can get easily distracted. There, I would work full time to pay my rent and try to find a couple of hours per week to work on my stuff. As a result, I never managed to release anything.
On the countryside, in 3 months, I wrote a full EP, quit my job and I was ready to just do devote myself to what I had always wanted to do: music and art.
You mention being of Japanese and French origin, how do both these cultures play into your music?
I couldn’t actually say for sure if some of my music has some Japanese origins. I think the poetic aspect I’m trying to give to my songs has something Japanese in it. However, being born between two cultures, two worlds that think very differently, has a definite impact on my work as a whole. I like to say that I like playing with contrasts, black and white, etc. in my music, my videos or my drawings because I think I’m always trying to address myself to my other side.
If there’s one message listeners should get from your songs, what is it?
That’s a tough one…”close your eyes, what do you see ?”
Cover Image – Benjamin Morais