Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hey there! i’m a french music maker from Paris (France)! i began music as a bass player, and as so, i felt unheard in many of bands i played with… i was kinda down, and decided to make my way to my other passion: Japanese culture. I went to Japan, and music caught me back… i was unable to stop doing it, so i decided to try something different. i made a solo project, where i could be the hero of my story, and soon, Steroman sound would become UNAVOIDABLE HAHAHAHAHA!
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: i listen to as many things as i can, but i have to say that i really love Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak “An evening with Silk Sonic” record.this is the last records i really loved and put on repeat, But i usually listen to many many things, depending on my mood, rock, classical music, jazz… I also love afro rhythms, Burna Boy or Wizkid for exemple or japanese hip hop like Maddy Soma’s “Oke” , but lately, i mostly listen to my own songs, because well… i have to for work you know!
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘steroman’?
A: I’ve always been listening to many artist, from all styles, so my influences come from Led Zeppelin as much as Snoop Dogg or Daft Punk, but i think the strongest Influence are Lenny Kravitz, or Remy Shand, mainly because i like the way they create their music, going solo, deep in their universe, they have a vision, an idea, and they explore it, whatever people may think about it or whatever “genre” it correspond to. I love this idea, they are real music creators for me!
About “Steroman” it is my name “Roman” and my nickname from when i was a kid “Stereo” (a teacher called me that, because i always had huge headfones on) it sounds a bit absurd, perfect for a super hero!
Q: You have just released your new single ‘Go with the Flow’. Is there a story behind it?
A: it is the felling of being powerless, facing these massive changes like climate ones, and we have no choice but to “go with the flow” remaining spectators and doing our best, on our very small level…
Musically speaking, it’s a mix of drum n bass, “the weeknd” some EDM and 80’s sounds, with a fat a** guitar solo! I wanted this song to sound very human AND very robotic, i think it kinda match our era!
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: I wish! I have songs ready for it, and I also have many people asking me about it, now what’s missing is an editor that will believe in this project!
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: key elements are the 80’s synth, groovy bass, robotic voice and funk inspired guitars, i also love mixing the voices like other instruments, wich is something most people avoid nowadays, but this is what i like! I write my songs the “old school” way, like short stories, with variations, but at the same time, i’m a man of our time, i think this dualty is presicely what i am and what my music sounds like, i really love mixed feelings, i think this contrast is a big part of me, if you don’t know me , your first impression will probably be “hey it sound exactly like “xxx” but it’s also very different” the fun part is that, because of my maaaaany influences “xxx” isn’t the same for every listener!
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: If we talk about money, it’s a BIG NO. i basically earn nothing with music, streaming doesnt pay, even after reaching more than 1millions streams and if we talk about digits, i’d say music gave me around 200$ the past 3 years, and probably cost me 10 or 100 times more…Here in France, making music is still not a “job” even if i spend 50hours/week doing it.
Now, if we talk about human fullfilment, as i said, this is what i want to do, and i m blessed, being able to do what i love. every people commenting my songs, or telling me they like it, or coming back to me, with their stories are like candies for my heart, i’m really happy to be able to be a small part of the adventure of these people in life! so…i’m happy, but poor! but happy :p
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: working mainly alone gives me a full freedom in creativity, i usually start with a small melody, often, a few words and the main feeling comes naturally, like “i must go with the flow” for the last one, then i create around this. I also sometime start a song because i heard something i want to “copy”, usually a bass line, or a specific sound in a song, and it gives me the starting point, i usually end up quite far from the first idea when i do that! there also are some happy mistakes in creation, i miss a note, or press the wrong button, but it ends up in an original idea, i always give space to the unexpected (and yes, this is my way to say “noooo i didnt failed, i tried new things.” )
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: You get used to being rejected quite fast, and you have to understand that you wont and cant be loved by everyone, but every rejection still hurts… i think it’s a proof that i’m invested in my creations… But the hardest thing really is the frustration of knowing you have a good song, and knowing people will love it, but not being able to make space for it in this very very crowded space. It’s super hard to find a public that will follow you, when the times change so fast. the hardest thing to me is knowing that at some point, it’s not “in my hands” anymore, i’m completely dependant and wishing for my songs to touch the right people!
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Every song launch is a very strong feeling, being playlisted, watching my songs used or listened by people is a crazy feeling, and seing streams going up is great… just like i said, this feeling of “If i’m put on the right place, it works” is double-edged, when it works, it feels amazing. I think like many artists, we seek for being recognized and loved…
also, i create songs, but when they re out, they re not completely mine anymore! Nothing makes me happier than the idea of very different people around the world, really feeling my music, appropriating it to their own experience, just like i did with many songs before, and that’s what made me want to do music too!
