WAX TAILOR
A Conversation With a Trip-Hop Legend
Wax
Tailor
Blending trip-hop, hip-hop, jazz, and cinematic soundscapes into moody, sample-heavy albums that feel like soundtracks — the French producer on life, pandemic, and the power of sound.
Born and based near Paris, Wax Tailor has sold nearly half a million physical copies and holds millions of streams worldwide. Recognized as one of the leaders of the international hip-hop electro scene and featured in Pitchfork, NME, Rolling Stone, and Mixmag — this is a rare, intimate conversation on the eve of his most personal album yet.
What was your introduction to hip-hop?
Oh, it was a long time ago. I think it was around '86. The first things I heard from that period were Run DMC, UTFO and LL Cool J and stuff like that. I went really into it in '88 with Public Enemy and the first EPMD album.
We always talk about the golden years of remixing, so to me that period from '88 to '93 — that was the most powerful period of hip-hop culture, and that's really when I went into it.
What attracted you to it?
It's hard to answer that. I remember when I was a young teenager, and there were things I didn't understand. I really loved the sound, and I was wondering how it was possible, and I had no intellectual vision about what it looked like or whatever.
That was a period with no internet, so I had to dig and search about how to do that. The two things I learned about that period was that they had a mixing table, and that's maybe how they made the music — and in '90 I decided to buy a mixing table.
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
When we talk about influences or inspirations for artists, most of the people think about art, music or whatever — but I got to say my main influence is everyday life. Waking up, reading about the world we live in. It doesn't mean that everything you do is completely influenced by geo-political events, but I'm a human and a citizen of the world before being an artist, so I use the music to express my feelings.
Of course there are plenty of other inspirations — movies, books, maybe before music itself.
"I'm a human and a citizen of the world before being an artist — so I use the music to express my feelings."
— Wax Tailor
How do you see the world changing from the pandemic moving forward?
The pandemic is just a particle accelerator. It's not a pure emanation — it's a kind of predictable accident on a dangerous road, a result from a process, and just an episode before the next chapter if we don't take back control.
To be honest I'm way more scared about the economic crisis that will impact the weakest populations. But about this pandemic — even if I said it was predictable, I talk about specialists of course. I was in Paris a few weeks ago in a big station, just watching people around me with masks. I've realised that anybody who would have put this scenario on a table one year earlier would have been called a sad collapsologist...
What is your musical creative process like?
I've always been obsessed with sounds and texture. I never compose before making sounds with old samples — I recreate my own instruments and it's really the foundation. I'm really obsessed about some music periods in history, like the late '60s for this reason, because I love the sound and the way they were mixing instruments.
For the same reason it's very difficult for me to enjoy a great composition from most of the '80s, because I hate that sound. I deeply believe in the power of sound evocation, and I take a lot of time working on this part of the music.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I've got a new album — The Shadow Of Their Suns, released January 8th 2021. I'm really proud of this album. I've been working for more than two years on it.
I think the direction of this album, its mood, resonates with everything around us. I was in this process way beyond the pandemic and everything around — but that makes it feel even more relevant at this moment. I'm also working on a new live show, with a tour planned for late 2021. Can't wait to get back on stage.
"The pandemic is just a particle accelerator. An episode before the next chapter — if we don't take back control."
— Wax Tailor, 2020
Latest Single
Misery
ft. Rosemary Standley (Moriarty)
Directed by Berkay Türk, a young 3D motion designer and artist from Istanbul, Turkey — the video for 'Misery' is a haunting, visually immersive companion to one of Wax Tailor's most emotionally direct recordings. Featuring the remarkable vocals of Rosemary Standley, lead singer of Moriarty, it has swept awards circuits on multiple continents.
New York International Film Awards
Oniros Film Awards
Cannes Indie Short Awards
Find Wax Tailor
Photography — Ronan Siri · Interview — Antakly · Published 2020
Cover Photo Ronan Siri