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With its wild brand of alternative pop, fueled by punk and electro-industrial energy, LE VENIN shot straight into my veins from the very first listen of his new album, released under the Simone Records label. An unmatched energy seems to drive this still little-known artist. PANM 360 set out to make first contact with someone who just might become the new enfant terrible of Québec’s music scene.
PANM: Hi Antoine, congratulations on the release of your album AUTO-CONSTRUCTION MIXTAPE, which positions LE VENIN as one of the most innovative musical projects in recent years. With a striking blend of genres, an incredibly powerful energy, and diverse, captivating productions, your album manages to surprise us at every turn. How do you go about rethinking the codes of québécois pop?
Antoine: By reinventing the production — making it less conventional than what we’re used to hearing. Sometimes it’s worth racking your brain and trying to do something different, even if it totally sucks sometimes — the experiment itself is worth it.
PANM: At times, I can hear shades of Nine Inch Nails and Les Vulgaires Machins — am I wrong? What are your influences when it comes to hip-hop, industrial electro, and rock?
Antoine: I don’t really know Nine Inch Nails, but Les Vulgaires are definitely a big inspiration. I’d say the other influences are Kanye West, Ashnikko, Rammstein, Locked Club, and like… a bunch of random shit.
PANM: What was your experience collaborating with Hubert Lenoir, Robert Robert, and Jérôme 50, and how did those collaborations influence your choices for LE VENIN?
Antoine: Jérôme 50 does way too many takes in the studio — it’s insane. Hubert Lenoir sings ridiculously high, and Robert Robert isn’t even named Robert. Hubert really helped me bring my sound to life, though. He helped me find direction in my creative process, to make sense of all of it.
PANM: What’s on the horizon for LE VENIN? Any shows coming up? What can we wish you for the future?
Antoine: Let’s just say I’m not about to quit my day job. I’ll try to play some decent shows, hopefully not too far from where you live. I’d love to take this project to Europe — the food there is insanely good.
