Tour De Vaap

Traxx, the self-produced chillwave artist from France recently released a new song “Discovery” on his soundcloud.  Filled with dramatic build ups and his usual 80s style synth and guitar parts, “Discovery” is another classic tune.  Traxx recently allowed me to do an exclusive interview with him for Tour De Vaap where we discussed his forthcoming EP, his life and defining his music.  Check it out after the break and listen to his new track “Discovery” on his soundcloud page (see 2:30 for one of the most epic guitar solos I’ve heard in a long time).

-M. Kauf

M. Kauf: So, I hear a lot of 80s style influences in your music.  For example the guitar distortions in “Yesterdays” and of course the synthesizers.  Would you say this decades distinct sounds plays an important role in your recordings?

Thomas Gallicani: Of course, 80′s music inspires me. I’m a big fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan for example, it can be noticed in my guitar playing.
I’m trying to have a vintage/modern sound, and we could say that “Yesterdays” is a mix of different styles: the rhythm guitars are really “chillwave” , the Lead synth in the chorus is really vintage, and the guitar solo is definitely bluesy.

M. Kauf: Yeah, that was exactly the blend I hear in your music.  It’s also pretty impressive that you recorded all of the instrumentals yourself since a lot of chillwave artists use samples at least in some of their songs.  But I also feel like you differ from many chillwave artists in that your music is more “dramatic;” although it features similar instruments, the emotions conveyed seem more multi-dimensional than the usual laid back sounds of chillwave.  Do you think this happens because your music is solely instrumental?

Thomas Gallicani: I don’t really know, in my opinion, my music is inspired by elements of chillwave but in the end, it’s not a pure chillwave music. It’s true that the fact there are no voices in my songs lets you have more interpretations possible. For example, “Yesterdays” is for me a really sad and melancholy song, maybe there are people that think that it’s a joyful song you know. The thing is I don’t have especially a genre , one of my songs will sound chillwave, the other will sound like 80′s electronic music…I didn’t produce a lot for the moment , I’m currently working on an E.P which will feature “Yesterdays” and new stuff.

M. Kauf: I was hoping you’d say that.  Any details on the E.P.?  When can we expect it to come out?  And if you’re not producing it, then who is?

Thomas Gallicani:  I got a lot of ideas for the E.P.  I’m working on several songs which are all different and I’ll produce it myself since I am not produced.  For the moment I think it will be available at bandcamp but we will see when it’s done.  That’s my first E.P. so I’ll try to choose the best tunes that could define who Traxx is, but it’s not gonna be released really soon, I have no idea of when, it depend on many things.  In a general way , This album will be ” chill “, even if some songs are more ” pure electronic ” than the others…

M. Kauf: Yeah I definitely noticed that your work varies a lot.  Like your song “Waves” had a much more electronic feel than “Yesterdays” or your newest track “Discovery” which seemed to have a much stronger chillwave influence.  I can’t wait to see what direction you take on this new EP.  Can we expect a tour to follow the release?

Thomas Gallicani: Haha you know I’m just a 19 years old student who makes music for his pleasure. Nobody knew me before “Yesterdays” and even now, only a
few persons are following me so i won’t be touring before a long time!

M. Kauf: Oh really?  I had no idea.  It’s hard to find out much information about you online.  You just keep getting more impressive.  Amazing musicianship skills, about to release a self-produced EP and only 19!  I think this EP will bring you a lot of new attention.  But back to you, since there isn’t much information online, I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about yourself; the man behind the music.

Thomas Gallicani: Thank you! I hope people are gonna like my EP.  I am currently in my first year of studies in a communication school, and of course I’d love to live with my music, to do it as a job but it’s not really possible for the moment haha.  I began to play the guitar something like 9 years ago, and I was a big fan of metal.  Even now my particularity is to listen a lot of different music styles : I can listen to suicide silence and Boards of Canada in the same day you know what I mean…But I hate fuckfaces like Rihanna Tayo Cruz, Lady gaga and all these wankers.  1 / 2 years ago I began to produce electronic music just to have fun ( I was producing big shits ) thank’s to a friend who introduced me to Fruity Loops, then I realized that I could seriously produce something new by adding guitars in my productions,. It allows me to be “different” from the others “nowadays electro music producers” because not a few of them are playing real instruments in their songs.  I’m now working on ableton live with an arturia synth and my main guitar which is a Fender telecaster Jim root ( Slipknot’s lead guitarist )
I didn’t really find my way in electronic music, but that’s a cool thing cause in the end it’s diversified!

M. Kauf: So let me get this straight.  You’re a eclectic metal fan who plays guitar and found his way into electronic music only to master producing by the age of 19 and release an EP?  Wow.  And back to what you were saying, you definitely created a new niche for yourself by adding some of your own retro sounding guitars to the normal mix of synths and samples in chillwave.  I’m curious to see how people will react to this combination.

Thomas Gallicani: Haha yep, can’t wait for you all to have a listen.  There will be something like 5 or 6 songs and I’ve been working really hard these days on my projects…!  You can check for updates on my facebook

M. Kauf: Neither can I.  It was great to talk with you and to hear about your forthcoming EP.  I’m glad to finally learn about the man behind Traxx.  Be sure to let us know when the EP is coming out and thanks for doing this interview with Tour De Vaap.

Thomas Gallicani: No problem, thank you for being interested in my music.

Traxx – Discovery:

Previously on TDV

Tags: 80s, chillwave, Traxx