‘We enjoy coming here because of the mood and the atmosphere in the city’

The studio where Stone Roses and Joy Division recorded some of their iconic tracks, is where the ‘melodic pop-rock’ French band DeStijl is currently recording their newest album, which will feature Peter Hook (Joy Division and New Order bassist) and Julie E Gordon, who sang with the Happy Mondays.

The bands five members Fred Vernay (vocals), Pat Robert (guitars), Pascal DeStijl (keyboards and programming), Eric Manchon (drums and percussion) and Maud Saintin (backing vocals and keyboards) are all heavily influenced by Manchester’s music scene and where better to record than the former Cargo and Suite Sixteen studio, now known as Voltalab.

The band’s promoter is infamous prankster Karl Power, aka Fat Neck, who blagged his way onto the podium at the end of the 2002 Grand Prix and photobombed Manchester United’s team photo in 2001.

De Stijl also means style in Dutch and was the name of a group of Dutch artists, including Mondrian, famous for their geometric art. +debut+  – the name of their new album – is a 1962 dark fantasy novel by Ray Bradbury, based on a line from Shakespeare’s MacBeth, which sounds very ominous.

Viva caught up with the band’s namesake Pascal DeStijl, 48, to discuss the new album and recording in Manchester... 

Could you please sum up the band in just a few words for the readers of VIVA?

Hmm…It’s a rock band using electronics with post-punk influence and it tries to make dance rock.

How was the band created?

A friend of mine from Manchester called John Pierre came to France on holiday and we met there. He decided to stay so we formed the band together. A couple, maybe three or four, years later he decided to quit music, so I stopped the band for ten years because I had other things to do. Then I asked my friends will you be happy to join the band and restart the project, under the same name but different musicians and music. That’s it!

How did you settle on the sound that you have?

I think it’s a mix between our main influences that are post-punk bands, 80’s stuff and some more intense rock music like Manchester bands from the 90s and others like Kasabian, something more dance rock music.

Why did you choose Manchester as the place to record your album?

The first thing is we know a lot of bands out from Manchester i.e the Tings Tings, and so we have a special connection with the city. After that, we are also friends and have kept in touch with John all these years after he quit music and have met many others. We enjoy coming here because of the mood and the atmosphere in the city.

What is the creative process surrounding the albums?

We get started with some work I do at home, some keyboard and some bass lines and sometimes guitar riffs and the drums. Then we meet up together and arrange the songs. Most of the time Pat brings alternate riffs on the guitar and we keep what we think is best for the song and then we find the melody. Most of the time the lyrics are written before and we just see which ones fit the song, so we always have some lyrics In advance.

Is there anything difficult about this process?

There’s nothing difficult in particular. Sometimes there are arguments over one option and another but at the end, I have the final decision. I try to listen to all ideas and keep an open mind and always try to keep the best idea for a song. We just put egos aside and try our best.

What is your favourite bit about being in the band?

Being in the studio I think. I’m not sure it’s for everybody in the band but on my part, it is being in the studio. It’s seeing the start of the process and putting things together to get a proper song. I think Fred’s is the creative process more than the studio and Eric and Pat are more keen on the live concert part.

Do you have anything up and coming?

Yes. The album is out on Monday 5 March in the UK. We have a gig on Sunday 18 March 8pm at The Waterloo in Blackpool.

Anything else you want to say?

Just listen to the album and buy it if you like it ha-ha.

Keep up to date with Destijl here. 

Check out their music on their YouTube channel by clicking here.