Celebrating the launch of his album ‘Cure’, six months after his first EP ‘Kid’, we met up with Eddy de Pretto – the ghetto child taking the Parisian music scene by storm. Between his show Chanel and his regular appearances on Canal +, the young artist is also curating a sound that combines pop, rap, poetry and French spoken word. An interview that explores Eddy de Pretto’s cultural and artistic vision, he explains all in this sincere yet light-hearted Tete à Tete with L’Exception…
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Listening to your music, it’s hard to define your distinctive sound. How would you explain it?
I don’t really feel it’s necessary to define my sound as people have a tendency to restrict themselves to a certain genre of music – I want people to feel open to new things and unexpected experiences. That’s why I would never define my sound as chanson français, rap, soul etc.
I think it’s great that in the urban section of FNAC, people who would ordinarily only listen to rap can discover new sounds with a more lyrical, emotional and intimate approach …. And who knows, they might even like it!
I get messages from people saying “I usually only listen to rap or heavy metal but there’s something about your music that appeals to me”. It’s a sound that transcends genre barriers – or, at least, I hope it does!
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It has to be said, there is a musical approach akin to chanson française in your lyrics. What artists would you say you have inherited
in terms of musical inspiration?
in terms of musical inspiration?
It was my mother that first introduced me to chanson française, she loved Barbara and Brassens and it was always on repeat at home. Personally, it was artists like Rohff, Sinik and Diams that made up my playlist growing up. I would download different playlists onto my iPod Nano and listen to mainstream radio stations, but I never really had a particular preference and I was always really curious about different styles of music – it’s something I wanted to express in my album. I drew inspiration from different genres, but I didn’t set out to create something that bridged different sounds, I hated listening to Barbara and Brassens
when I was ten years old, but that is part of my DNA today.
when I was ten years old, but that is part of my DNA today.
Do you write your own lyrics? Are you also a composer? Do you do it all yourself, or do you have help?
Yes, I compose but there is also a team. I’d say I do 75% of the work.
Listening to your songs, you get the impression it translates across all age ranges. Your song ‘Fête de trop’ speaks to a younger demographic, but also their parents with deep lyrics concerning manhood in ‘Kid’. Your music is intergenerational
with a wide audience from 20, 40, 60 years old….
with a wide audience from 20, 40, 60 years old….
Yes, it’s pretty eclectic! When I’m on stage I see lots of young kids, older adults, men, women, bisexual, straight, gay, it’s great!
Your album is very different to the EP. The EP seemed more viral whilst the album takes time to sink in – you need to listen to it several times to really appreciate the personal nuances of each song… Did you approach the album differently?
No, it was a continuous process. I had quite a few songs that I wanted to put on the EP and
I was able to add a few more to create the complete album – with the same sense of curiosity, just on different themes and bigger topics.
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Today, your lyrics seem to come from personal experience, notably on the EP with the single ‘Fête de Trop’. Are these your late night tales, or
are you telling someone else’s story?
are you telling someone else’s story?
No, they’re all mine, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to write them! I’ve had lots of requests
from people to recount their stories in my songs but I wouldn’t know how to do it… It’s really me,
‘It’s my life’s work!’*laugh*
‘It’s my life’s work!’*laugh*
‘Kid’ is a really personal piece, you speak about your dad, family and your childhood, isn’t that right?
Yes, this really came from the heart. I always seem to reflect on things, gain perspective and distance myself from real-life events in order to gain objectivity, question and analyse… It’s very therapeutic, I try to extricate the soul of the experience from the human body and see things from another angle that isn’t mega internal.
In ‘Kid’ I’m not necessarily talking about my father, but more about this sense of authority devoid of kindness and without flaws or fragility. I grew up around that. Even my mother possesses some of these qualities; she would never show her weaknesses for fear of breaking family order or control of her unruly son.
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’I hated listening to Barbara & Brassens when I was ten years old,
but that is part of my DNA today’
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And today, do you think your father is proud of you?
I think so, do you want me to call him so you can ask? *laugh*
I think so, I hope so! I think success makes anyone proud.
I think so, I hope so! I think success makes anyone proud.
And he’s never commented on your lyrics and said, ‘those weren’t the values I wanted to teach you’?
No, he’s not one for words so we’ve never really spoken about it. But he listens to the music, I think…
But he listened to the sounds...
I guess so.
Speaking of ‘Kid’, the music video gives the impression that you’re a bit of a hard man, but in reality, you’re such a warm
and inviting person… Did you create an alter-ego for ‘Kid’ and how did you go about it?
and inviting person… Did you create an alter-ego for ‘Kid’ and how did you go about it?
Yes, it’s all about the idea of protection – visually of course! I never really approached it like creating an alter-ego… I saw it more like conditioning more than a trick, it’s about exploring the layers we use to protect ourselves and the distance we create via notorious imagery of the hard man.
Talking of notoriety, your rise to fame has been crazy ever since you were nominated at the Victoires de la Musique,
how would you explain it? The magic of music?
how would you explain it? The magic of music?
It’s a combination of things I think. It was just the right moment, to work, to show a certain sense of sincerity, something in that order - but I can’t really explain it.
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You’ve gone from citizen to celebrity in two years, people stop you in the street and you’re on the TV.
How has it affected your life?
How has it affected your life?
I know it sounds stupid but, I don’t really go out much and I’m always busy with work so I don’t really feel the impact on my day to day life. I’m like a celebrity hermit! *laugh*
Has success always been important to you?
Growing up in Créteil etc.
Growing up in Créteil etc.
My first memories of wanting to be successful are at my mother’s house. I used to take the
remote control and turn the lamps on to create stage lighting. I wanted to be in the limelight I think,
it always seemed so exciting.
it always seemed so exciting.
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In regard to the limelight, do you still feel the same
when you’re on stage?
when you’re on stage?
Yes, always.
In your live sets, you go on stage with an iPhone and a drum kit. It’s something we’ve never really seen before, can you tell us more?
It’s to help balance the sound from an iPhone and offer a certain simplicity and a minimalist visual aspect. The idea is to focus on the lyrics, the commas, the subject. I want to listen and be listened to, there are lots of nuances on stage and it’s a conversation,
I don’t want any distractions.
I don’t want any distractions.
Let’s talk about fashion. Do you have a go-to item
when you’re in concert for example?
when you’re in concert for example?
My little Chanel angora jumper! *laugh*
No, I don’t really have any must-have items at the moment, but I’m really into this small brand called Sunnei.
I love their throwback shell suits!
No, I don’t really have any must-have items at the moment, but I’m really into this small brand called Sunnei.
I love their throwback shell suits!
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’The idea is to focus on the lyrics, the commas, the subject. I want to listen and be listened to, there are lots of nuances on stage and it’s a conversation, I don’t want any distractions.’
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We see you a lot of the time in jogging pants, but today you’re wearing a shirt – much less streetwear than
most pictures of you!
most pictures of you!
You see, you shouldn’t restrict your appearance ‘he always wears jogging bottoms… not at
all!’ *laugh*
It all depends on how I’m feeling!
It all depends on how I’m feeling!
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To finish up, life is a bit of a fairytale at the moment, wouldn’t you agree?
Yes, totally! Well, without the ballgown and the fairy godmother *laugh* Its a childhood dream come true, its crazy! Even more so when you create something unexpected that turns out exactly how you imagined it in the first place.
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Dive in Eddy’s universe with the song ’Kid’
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People to follow
Photograph :
Sasha Maro
Editing :
Ségolène Barre
Hair :
Cyril Nanino - L’atelier 68
MUA :
Amélie Moutia - Tom Ford
Stylism :
Arnaud Abikanlou
Floral stylist :
Les Jeannes
Production :
Maëva bessis
