interview. • Interview: Dewilavine

• Start by introducing yourself.

Hi! I’m Rémy but my stage name is “Dewilavine”. I’m 21 and French, born in Lyon and living near it nowadays. I’ve been making music since I was 14 years old, so since 2016. I have been posting it online since 2018 though and for Dewilavine, my more ambitious project, since 2021.

•  What first got you into music?

I was always curious with everything artistic related. I tried many things, such as drawing, animation, writing etc… but music always had a special place in my heart. I listen to a ton of music and had always wanted to make my own. In my opinion, it is my favourite way to express anything I want to. I’ve always made music for myself but recently started with Dewilavine to have a bigger ambition of sharing it to anyone who’d like to listen to it.

dewilaVibes / by the fireplace

• How would you describe your music?

I would describe my music as pure and true. There’s no cheat code, I do everything myself. It doesn’t belong to a specific genre either, it changes over time as my music tastes, and I do as well. The only common thing it has is the electronic side, as it had a very important influence on me throughout my listening history.

• What are your musical inspirations?

My main ones are Uppermost for the atmosphere and sample side, Yoe Mase and Coldplay for the melodies, Cavetown for the lyrics and instrument choices, and very recently Potsu or Dark Cat for the rhythm/vibe.

• What is your creative process like?

Like for most music producers or composers, I start with a chord progression or an improvisation on my piano that sounds good and that I feel like I can work with. Afterwards I just build step by step everything around it. It sounds hard to start from nothing, but when inspired and turning it into having fun more than working it is very intuitive. I also love to look at art or gifs online while listening to the music I’m currently working on in the background. I don’t know, the drawings or animations help me with the immersion, it’s a little thing I’ve always done haha.

Dewilavine - Flowers

• How did you feel after making your first song? How do you feel now with your latest song out?

I felt very happy because I had made my first thing, but very aware that it was not incredible either haha. It took a long time for me to like what I do. While self-criticism and perfectionism is a great tool for progress, it can easily become overwhelming. It’s a double-edged sword, the hard part is finding the balance. Even today I still struggle and find myself frustrated or knowing that something is missing but not knowing what. Recently I started working on more slowed tempo tracks that I really love and feel more and more comfortable with songwriting or my own voice.

• I see you have 2 albums released, what do they represent for you?

The first one is “Proem” which is a literature term to represent the introduction of a speech or a poem. It basically was my first work under “Dewilavine”, so it represents the beginning of the project. “Lands of Better Hope” is a little story of a relationship, the pun of the “ship”, like a boat being the symbol of a group of people heading to lands representing a stable ground of the relationship you would think of. I did not specify in the lyrics what kind of relationship it was, it could be parents, friends, lovers etc… it’s up to your own interpretation. When listening to albums of other artists I’ve always made up little stories in my head, even when I was a child. It helps a ton with the inspiration as well.

Dewilavine - Lands of Better Hope | Full Album Mix

• I heard you were taking singing lessons recently, how is that coming along?

It’s going great, though very long as any physical activity. I didn’t realize how hard it was but it’s very fun to do too!

dewilaVibes (Live Sessions)

• What are your future projects?

I never plan what I’m about to do. I am currently finishing and releasing a few tracks I’ve made at the beginning of this year and have started working on a new project for 2024, slower tempo and lo-fi/jazz/downtempo inspired, which I wanted to do for a while but never really done. I thought now was the moment, and I absolutely love what I made so far.

• What do you think is the hardest aspect of making music?

Ironically, the hardest part for me was to start. Seeing all those buttons and interface was scary but once you master the software, it just comes to having fun putting melodies you enjoy together. Most artists struggle with how to consider a track finished or what to do after making the chorus or a verse. Personally, I’ve never struggled with that. What I struggle the most with is what comes afterwards: the mixing and mastering part. It takes years of practice and I’m far from mastering it, as working the sound is different than creating it. But the result is worth the struggle.

• Which songs do you recommend for new listeners?

Every song or track I release I consider are good to be shared. I have a ton of unfinished or finished projects that I didn’t like that much in the end. Maybe 20% of what I’ve made is out there, if not less. But if I HAD to recommend some, I’d say: "Back Home”, “Somewhere Ur Here” and “Don’t Be Sad” are my favourite released so far, but I have new favourites that are not out yet from the project I mentioned earlier :)

• What message would you like to share with readers?

I’d like to share that if anyone is reading this and have always wanted to do something creative but was scared to start learning or practicing, then try it out now because making music has changed my life. If Ableton (music software) was on Steam, I would be scared to find out how many hours I’ve poured in it so far haha. I also hope I can one day say “stay true to your dreams, no one else can achieve them but yourself”, because for now I’m still broke and I’m doing sacrifice rituals every night praying to the music lords to bless me (joking by the way, I only do it on Wednesdays).

Follow Dewilavine

 YouTube •  Spotify •  Twitter •  Instagram