Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

Sebastien: It's not easy to answer that question. I do not pretend being better than others. I just try to make my music conveying to the listeners something beautiful that resonates somewhere with their deep feelings. Since the day I entered songwriting contests (2 years ago), I know that my music can touch people... I was indeed selected as finalist in a few of them with some very encouraging feedback from industry professionals.

That's also the reason why I keep on writing until now. More generally speaking, for me, a song is a dice roll. Even if this song really satisfies me, I will never be sure of the impact it will have on listeners, how they will interact with my music. That's why their feedback whether negative or positive, is really the key for improving myself, and precisely developing my “it” factor.

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Sebastien: I do not control emotions that listeners can feel when they are listening to my music. Fans feedback always surprises me. Very often, I hear from them feelings that I would never hope to convey: delightful, calming, heartwarming... What more can I expect than that?! It makes me feel “helpful” in some way and gives me a little bit more self-confidence.

A thing that I really miss. More technically speaking, people particularly like my voice, songs harmony, and the way I let space for strings (violins, cellos) in my arrangements, as well as evolving atmospheres.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Sebastien: Actually, I am still feeling that I am in my early beginnings. Nothing really concrete has happened to me since I really began to devote my time to songwriting. I gained some little recognition through several international songwriting contests (the artist forum, billboard, etc.), but on the other hand I know that I need to work more on my branding, imaging and online presence.

Very often, this is the main reason mentioned by magazine promoters when they refuse me a feature. Fans need to identify themselves to the artist they listen to; they need to know more about him beyond music and words. So, I can understand promoters’ position. As I said in my EPK, my dearest wish would be to meet industry leaders to make all my projects a reality. For the moment, I think that submitting online to song contests is a great and best opportunity I have to achieve my dream.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Sebastien: Definitely Coldplay, even if I feel less and less close to their last artistic choices, more, I would say, electro pop. I think they moved away from their debut spare and melancholic universe: simple soft rock arrangements with leading piano, and bright pure echo guitars are less present. However, I don’t really disapprove. I notice this band is just trying out new ideas (sometimes very audacious) again and again… but without losing their precious songwriting talent.

A few years ago, it is definitely when I listened to “A Rush of Blood to the Head” that I thought to myself: “I want to do that!” It was the trigger. Songs like “Politik”, “The Scientist”, “Amsterdam” or “Clocks” (of course) made me realize that we could create some beautiful airy rock creations with a piano-driven tapestry. Since this day, I decided to go one step further in songwriting with the objective of maybe reaching one day this level of sound pureness and beauty. I also think about bands like Keane, Sigur Rós, or Radiohead… They all succeed to create a very attractive sound atmosphere, which deeply resonates in me.

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not? 

 

Sebastien: My vision is quite limited, because I can only talk about the situation of indie music in France. Indie music is still in its infancy in my country. I would even say that the word to qualify this kind of music exists here, but is not very widespread. Majors lay down the law. Like in the US, there are several TV shows meant to promote young “talents”, but the idea is to look for a great performer with a short term marketing vision rather than true songwriters. I don’t know any good radio station dedicated to Indie music, and festivals are very few. In other words, it is quite impossible to earn a descent living here if you’re not affiliated with a major. A lot of work has to be done!

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?

Sebastien: I think music industry should give more “tools” for young songwriters to help them meeting industry leaders by making their work more accessible. I often have the feeling that music industry is split into two very separated worlds: the have (established artists that are over-promoted everywhere in TV shows, music videos, great radios…), and the have not (maybe very talented but unknown songwriters). It is actually not really original to say that, a lot of people observe the same thing. Maybe music industry should be more present in social media network, and organize from the Internet more events to excite isolated songwriters inspiration. 

Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?

Sebastien: To be honest, I have absolutely no idea of what near future will look like. I just notice that we are in a transition time. In one hand, majors are more and more complaining about the damages of piracy, which prevent them from taking risky choices like giving a chance to young unknown artists. On the other hand, music creation has ever been as accessible as today with the ever-growing selection of powerful digital tools offered to songwriters.

With the development of Internet, and particularly social networks, it has also ever been so easy for a musician to get heard from anywhere in the world. So, we come to a point where we have a few established artists who are over-promoted in every radio, every TV-show, and on the other side, a huge number of emerging artists from the Indie world who try to get heard by any means. The offer is so huge, disparate, and fleeting, that consumers get easily lost.

However, among them, a few talented artists, maybe future hit-makers, and no really efficient way to put the light on them, giving them the success they deserve. Once music business will understand that, the transition will be really done, and big record companies more and more limited, I think… unless they try to get their share of indie music market mutation. 

 

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Sebastien: Up to now, and I am the first surprised; almost always very positive, and I think, sincere. When it is not positive on some specific points, it is always constructive, so I take it. Feedbacks come from different backgrounds: family, fans, accomplished musicians, well-known producer, songwriting contests judges, or magazines.

I already partially answered to that question on question #4, but words that have been used to describe my music are often touching, and really encourage me to move forward. I am never fully satisfied with my work, and because sometimes I feel uncertain about myself, this positive energy helps me.

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Sebastien: No hesitation, yes! Simply because making music does make me happy. It helps me to face the things of life. The process of songwriting is definitively like an outlet to clear my mind. Moreover, whatever fame and fortune, as long as my little circle of fans likes my music, I see no reason to stop.

Currently, music is an all-time consuming passion, precisely because I am spending much time on fine-tuning my songs to get a kind of radio-ready sound, with the hope of interesting industry leaders. So, of course, if I knew that I would never gain exposure, I would spend less time on these things, and let more space in my spare time for my other passions, family, and friends.

Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?

Sebastien: It all depends if the negative feedback is constructive, and finally helps me to improve myself, or not. I always said that I prefer sincere feedback rather than nice one… Of course, if I can have both, it is even better. The “Why?” question can be very useful in this case, to find out if, whether negative or positive, the criticism is considered or not.

Not considered, feedback has the same effect on me: positive one means the person lies to me; negative one means the person does not like me. Thus, it sounds very close, and false to me, so I pay no attention to it. But, when the negative feedback is very strong and insulting (meant to hurt), it is never an easy thing to forget it…

Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your quest of a music career?

Sebastien: My father and brother do the dirty work! They are in charge of pointing out every bothering aspect in the mix or in the structure of my brand new songs. I consider them as my most reliable “beta testers” team. I know that their opinion is right and frank, always pertinent (even when we disagree), so I blindly trust them. As long as every bad aspect has not been fixed or compromise been found, I do not release the song; it is as simple as that!

Throughout my childhood until now, my father has also worked as singer/songwriter with some great international class artists on different French pop albums. I enjoyed sharing with him this musically intense time: listening to his new songs, watching him writing them, supporting him through his few concerts. Since this time then, I was dreaming of writing one day my own song. So, without my father I think I would be nothing (musically speaking).

Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…

Sebastien: Nothing to add. Just, because it is really important to me, I would like to address some very special thanks to René, Guillaume, Marianne, Ivan, Dominika, and Sarah for their lovely support!

And, everyone is welcome to follow me on my Facebook page, or on reverbnation:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sebastien-Parentin/167448216644263
http://www.reverbnation.com/sebastienparentin

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