A moment five years in the making, Kidswaste’s sophomore EP Colors Of Your Heart is out now via noted tastemaker imprint Counter Records. Bouncing between dreamy, cinematic shades of electronica, the introspective yet upbeat EP showcases his fluidity and ingenuity as a songwriter, and evolution from self-taught bedroom producer to treasured, internationally touring artist. The release precedes his highly-anticipated, month-long US headlining tour, kicking off on the West Coast in August.
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Hey Quentin, tell us about the inspirations behind your new upcoming EP.
Hi! For this EP I really wanted to create a strong cohesive universe that we would get to visit both visually and musically, so I had to go back to the drawing board for what Kidswasteas as a whole actually meant. Visually, I think I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from old pop art, symbolism, and video games like Gris or Journey. Musically, it would be a bit harder to say — I’ve worked on this EP for about 5 years, as I started it while Spleen was being released. Since then, a lot has changed, and so have my inspirations. From Jon Hopkins, to Tourist or Lane 8 STRFKR or Sam Gellaitry…
If you could describe the music in three words, what would you use?
”Carefully put together”. Is that cheating? Alright then, here: energetic, new, improved.
What’s the significance behind your upcoming new music in terms of how you’re developing as an artist?
A lot! This EP is about evolution to me. Some songs were started as long as five years ago while some were finished days before the due date. I’ve always been really critical of my own craft and try to only put out my absolute best, and I worked really hard to up my production game for this EP. I think this is a more mature presentation of what I am able to do as an artist and songwriter.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment to date as an artist?
I would say the upcoming headline tour in the US! I still can’t really believe it. If we’re speaking past tense though, I am really proud of the early self-releases on Kidswaste, like Free. We released that song on my birthday kind of as a no-brainer and to this day it’s still one of my most listened to and appreciated songs.
The pandemic was obviously tough on everyone, especially touring artists. What was the biggest lesson you learned?
I think my experience with the pandemic was fortunate as it did not impact my lifestyle too much aside from touring. I don’t go outside a lot, nor do I travel a lot either! The only times I tend to go out is for shows, ironically. I won’t say it was all good and I did have a few low points, But I think this also served as a wake-up call, to use this time as a reset and try new things, which gave birth to the Kiddy era we’re now entering.
In an oversaturated market of music, what do you think sets you apart from your peers?
I think Kidswaste always had this unique songwriting that I can’t really explain or sum up. I sound different, even when I try to replicate others. A lot of it probably comes from the fact that I’m self-taught. I had one year of guitar lessons, and that is it. No classical training, just MIDI chords, my guitar, and my voice. I started doing this all when I was 17, I’ve accumulated a lot of habits (surely good and bad) along the way that all contribute to “my sound”, it’s really those nuances and samples that are anchored in my writing.
What are some things fans can expect on your upcoming tour?
Everything will be new! I can’t say it will be 100% original music, but the plan is to have as much as I can fit in. I’ll be re-working all my old tracks with a fresher sound, making lots of live edits, even playing some Beauvois songs, and overall everything will be more upbeat and dynamic. I really want this to be the most elaborate set I’ve ever worked on. I’m also excited to be more active online! I tend to be pretty discrete when I’m working at home but I’m excited to share more from the road and to see everyone, follow me on my socials so you don’t miss anything!!
If you weren’t pursuing music, what would you be doing with your life (tell me about your other passions/projects)?
Some people might know that I really like playing video games at a decent (or competitive) level, and streaming that, so I’d probably be doing something related to those activities. I’ve done well with streaming games in both French and English, and in various contexts. It’s still something I think I’d like to do more of eventually, but I still have a lot of things to write about and do before I attempt that transition.
