Simon is not your usual guy. After being in the shadow, writing songs for many famous French singers under the pseudonym Siméo, he decided to take the lead with a new project called CHATON. As we see more and more frequently in the music industry the musical genre it’s very hard to define, and is it really necessary? Simon’s debut Possible (Arista/Sony) is clearly one of the most personal records we heard in years. We met him in Paris to discover more and understand how this project became some kind of a post-traumatic cure!

In the music industry, you were mainly known as Siméo, why you decided to come back with the name CHATON?

It’s a pure coincidence, to be honest. When I started this new project, there was a file on my PC called CHATON. My girlfriend Lola was the main reason this album exists and she used to call me CHATON so it was natural to find my new artistic name.

Do you have a cat at yours?

No, *laughs* but I have the cat of my neighbor who comes very often to my balcony. I guess he comes there to send me some secret messages.

So how do you describe your music? As when we listened to your album, we did not get the answer.

I think this album is a fusion of all the music that I listen to. It’s a mix of all my work I did in the past as Siméo. For me, it’s like a big salad where I mix all my favorite ingredients. I can’t describe it but I guess we’ll say it’s French pop music.

How did you deal with coming now as a singer and not just a simple composer for others?

The only thing I wanted, in the beginning, is that my music lives as long as possible. It was normal to come back with a new name as this project is very close to my own personal life. Writing for others is cool but it’s not the same motivation than writing about your own life and feelings.

Tomorrow, do you see yourself wiring for others under the name of CHATON?

Honestly, I did not think about it. All I wanted was to be at 100% in this new project. Siméo, Simon, and CHATON are the same people so everything depends on my creativity. My life goal for the moment is to remain punk even if I’m 34 now!

How much time did you take to make this record?

It’s been in two parts, during two months, I was looking for all the sounds and technical stuff to create something close to music I like. Then all the lyrics came when I knew the direction I wanted for this album. For example, I know when to stop recording as sometimes you realize that some songs don’t fit any more in your mood or creativity.

“My life goal for the moment is to remain punk even if I’m 34 now. “

What were your influences for this album?

I listened non-stop to some reggae and dub music while producing this album I did it alone in my living room. So the principal influence was, to be honest with me while doing it.

When I listened to your album, I realized that you mix both literature and street French in your lyrics…

I’m a great lover of classical French literature. I think that all these writers were super avant-garde even if they were using proper french language. I think nowadays, all the rappers are the most creative artists as they use all kind of words and they are totally free in their way of writing and singing.

So you can say that your music is like a collection of contemporary poems?

I found it classy and I do not see myself describing my music like this, but many thanks. This album… I did it to save my life, you know… I did not expect to release it in such a good way with a record label that supported me from the beginning. This story is funny and unexpected as in the beginning I was supposed to release it by myself, but then a couple of journalists listened to my songs and all of a sudden everyone was talking about it!

Your face doesn’t appear on the visual of the album, why?

I wanted it to be simple and minimalist. All the songs are very personal so I think it’s enough, it’s like an autobiography, all the people and names I mentioned in the songs do really exist!