Deep dive to Sirena's exclusive new podcast episode.
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We're thrilled to announce the release of ‘Crows Nest’, and we can't thank you enough for your incredible support. To show our gratitude, we've included a special bonus track with the purchase of the original track. Your support means the world to us, and we hope you enjoy this little extra surprise as much as we enjoyed creating it.
MEET PAUL FRANC
This interview tracks Paul Franc’s journey from rock bands to the electronic scene. Originating in Toronto's vibrant scene and now based on the West Coast, he draws inspiration from the region's landscape. He discusses influences, upcoming projects, thoughts on Vancouver's music scene, and the rise of rominimal music.
Paul Franc and his modular Live setup
How are you?
I'm doing well, thank you for asking. Excited to dive into these questions.
Tell us a little about your beginnings. What got you into electronic music?
Back in high school, I used to perform in hard rock and metal bands. Around 2010 I went to my first rave and instantly fell in love with electronic music. I was fascinated by the endless possibilities of ways you could manipulate sound. After my first rave experience, I began working towards DJing and experimenting with music production software to make my own music. One thing led to another and it gradually grew into a passion for creating beats and melodies and performing at clubs.
Describe how the scene was when you started to DJ or perform your Live show.
I lived in Toronto at the time, which had a massive house and techno music scene. I ended up having the opportunity to perform regularly at notable clubs throughout the city such as the Guvernment, a staple in the Toronto nightlife scene. Since this was one of the first places that I ever fell in love with house music, it was a really special experience for me to be able to perform for thousands of partygoers almost every weekend.
When you're DJing or doing your Live show, where's your inspiration coming from?
The beauty of the West Coast landscape is what inspires me to write the melodies and chord progressions that are ominous in nature. Combining these ideas with my modular synth, the creation process leads to a plethora of serendipitous moments, yielding a blend of atmospheric melodies with hints of glitchy and funky beats.
Which artists have caught your attention lately?
Lately, I’m really digging Niteplan, CHMPLOO, and Lukea. Their boundary-pushing approach to electronic music continues to inspire me and push me to explore new sonic territories.
Which musical projects have you been a part of that have marked a great inspiration in your life?
Making the switch to start performing live was such a rewarding experience for me, learning how to build a set from the ground up of all original music that I could play to the crowd for an hour. That was a pivotal moment for me as it was something I had to just go for and have confidence in, and the response was extremely positive. Being able to perform at venues like The Vault in front of hundreds of people has been a career highlight for me.
How would you describe your sound? Tell us how it has evolved.
I’d say my sound is heavily influenced by the deep tech, minimal, and rominimal genres. To get more specific, I’d characterize it as having obscure textures, abstract percussion, lush chords and melancholy melodies. Back in Toronto I was making all sub-genres of techno but after moving to the West Coast, it’s music culture, my tastes changed.
Have you got any tracks in the pipeline for the coming months that people should be keeping an eye out for?
I have an upcoming Vinyl release coming out this year to keep an eye out for. I’m also in the process of shopping out about 6 more new deep tech/minimal tracks and hope for these to come out sometime this year.
What are your top three tracks at the moment that are getting the best reaction from the crowd?
I’ve been getting a great response from some of my unreleased IDs which I’m thankful for. Any tracks from ENNE, Rendher, Eddy M, and Bassel Darwish also are sure to go off!
In addition to electronic music, what other music genres interest you?
I have a guilty pleasure for chill, electronica, and lo-fi music. I’m also still a metal head at heart.
What do you think and have you experienced of the Vancouver music scene?
From my experience, the laid-back vibe of the West Coast definitely influences the local music scene compared to the harshness of large urban jungles like Toronto. Bass Coast Festival would be a prime example of how unique and curated the West Coast music culture is out here, showcasing our scene’s more psychedelic and funkier sounds.
What do you think is missing for the local electronic music scene?
It would be nice to see more underground international artists booked here.
Any predictions on what kind of music or sounds will be taking hold?
I feel like the rominimal sound is definitely on the rise. I view it as the modern-day deep house that holds lots of untapped potential.