French mainstays and rock chameleons POSTE 942 have been plying their trade in the heavy underground since 2010, and their latest album sees the five-piece continue to push forward their sound with no signs of slowing down. Released this June, “#chaleurhumaine” radiates its namesake warmth in Virginie D.’s soulful vocals and the pulsing, fuzzed-out riffs, all while maintaining a hard rock edge. Genres across the heavy spectrum are meshed with ease, and the crew are in full stride as masters of their craft on “#chaleurhumaine”.
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I’m Sébastien, I’m guitarist and founder of the band.
We have been rehearsing in my cellar for more than 15 years now
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The Origin & Identity:
How did you all come together as a band, and when did it feel real?
– Since 2010, we have been playing in my cellar and in 2013 we released on CD our first “Demo” with 300 copies with 8 tracks + an intro and an outroWhere did your band name come from, and why does it feel like you?
– The name of my band comes from the door of my boiler, it is stenciled “Poste 942” (cf. photo).
“Why not call himself that?”, said our drummer at the time, Stéphane. It was a very good idea because we are the only reference on GOOGLE!
Did you have a clear vision for your sound from the start, or did it develop naturally?
– At the beginning I was alone on the guitar so I mixed two Orange amps (a Tiny and a Dark terror) coupled with an AB Morley pedal to play in stereo or mono depending on the riffs. That was good! Then came another guitarist and I switched to a Fender Deluxe of 57 handmade by an enthusiast from my village (meric ANGE!), he retrieved original plans from the internet and reproduced them as at the time! Point by point! It sounds hellish!! 40W with lamp I’m not telling you the mess I’m forced to put an attenuator on it so that our ears don’t bleed in repetition !! Whether it’s with my FD Telecaster or my GB Standard, with a few pedals, it keeps a dynamic that I don’t find with other amps I’ve tried! This amp is my GRALL! Almost 10 years already! I can’t part with it.
What should listeners know about your newest album?
– That we went through different line-ups and that we worked hard to close this 12-track album started during the COVID period… We have reached the end of this project, against all odds! That alone makes me happy. We hold the CD of “#chaleurhumaine” in our hands, and we can offer it to whoever we want, it’s huge.
Influences & Creative Process:
Who or what has shaped your sound in ways people might not expect?
– The simple fiat of singing in French, it’s a change from our previous projects! And by a woman it’s not the same as by a man! And the themes addressed too… Women are taking power in rock and that’s good! I love it. The fact that we can play in the studio for as many hours as we want with lots of different guitars, and lots of different effects, in Bruno’s studio is really lucky for us. He is a professional who earns his living as a sound engineer. I wish it to all !!
When creating a song, do you follow a routine or mix it up each time?
– We try not to rest on our laurels of course. It’s not necessarily a desire but we don’t like a track to sound like one of those we’ve already recorded, so we often change our style or artistic direction, we like to go a little in different directions and not to lock ourselves into a particular style even if it has to remain ROCK! You can do pop, indie rock, hard, grunge, stoner… It’s really up to everyone’s desires and will. We remain open to everything! As long as it’s sincere, we work on it.
Are there moods, riffs, or ideas you find yourself returning to?
– Hard Rock, Stoner and Grunge are styles that I listen to regularly so, I offer riffs that are identifiable in these genres even if I would like to move away from them from time to time… experiment with other styles.
How do you make writing decisions — together or does someone usually lead?
– Sur gives our singer complete freedom to write what she wants. If she is in need of a theme, we can offer her some but I just do what I know how to do better, find melodies, create riffs, find good choruses and build bridges! I love it.
Musical Technique / Composition:
When layering sounds, do you focus more on tone or on mood?
– I will say both, Colonel! Depending on the titles, we can work mainly on the atmospheres like on the second part of the FADA FIGHTERS track or take real time to shape a single guitar sound like on LE DIABLE AU CORPS with our guests on harmonica, banjo and Lap-Steel. It was a real experience of working together, this piece.
Do you use alternate tunings, odd meters, or unusual chords to shape your sound?
– On my Lap-Steel in the shape of a skateboard, I am tuned to open G or D it depends. On my guitar too, I have one tuned in D because it sounds fatter, it’s good for the stoner color.
On the cover of DEMON CLEANER by Kyuss we used a guitar tuned in C for the introduction! Very fat!
How much of your arrangements come from improvisation versus planning?
– Everything is very planned at the time of recording, we know our songs by heart! On the other hand, for solos or certain vocalizations, it remains open to improvisation until the last moment! This can change depending on the atmosphere, the degree of alcohol in the blood or the guitar used with this or that pedal…
Stories & Experiences:
What’s one moment that truly captures what this band is about?
– During the concerts! Unfortunately, we do less and less… After the age of 45, we become more demanding about the reception conditions, the consideration from the organization… I sometimes even get a little lazy to move all my gear for 3 free beers and a cold hot dog! BUT, when the public comes, we tell ourselves that it’s all worth it! It’s really great to see your mates and family watching you play! Who have fun with you, in the same place, at the same time. It’s great.
Does playing live bring out a different side of your music?
– Yes, it’s much rawer, more real, more natural. Authentic.
What’s the quirkiest experiment you’ve done in the studio?
– Apart from the time I threw up my beer all over the console because of a fit of laughter, the craziest thing is a fire that broke out right next to the studio in Marseille on the hill during the summer. I was on the way to the studio with my pack of beers and there was a crazy traffic jam! Helicopters everywhere, firefighters, a real mess! I drank the beers one after the other and after an hour of corkage I had drunk the pack of 6 with a crazy desire to piss. As I wasn’t quite at a standstill but it was progressing a bit, I started to piss in the empty bottles and I filled them all! When we arrived at my friend’s house at the recording studio, just before his gate I was forced to brake in front of a car that was coming in front of me suddenly, the pack spilled with all my beers full of piss lol My friend was laughing to death but I had the smell for a while in my car!
Has a fan ever done or said something that made you see your music differently?
– Yes, the wife of one of our former drummers said that our music made her want to fuck with anyone! ahahh
Current Inspirations & Recommendations:
Any up-and-coming musicians you think deserve more attention?
– I have a friend who is an ‘intermittent performer’ (in France it’s a special status for ‘musicians’ who live only from their music, they have to do at least 43 concert dates a year to be able to keep this status).” RIT” it’s called, it’s a kind of Seasic Steve from the south of the France, he has just released his tenth album “Hobo blues” which you can order on his website: https://rit.band.fm/ Otherwise there is the Marseille band ORNITHORAK who will release their first album in October, their singer Cyril lent us his voice on our cover of DEMON CLEANER for the Kyuss compilation which will be released this month too. You can order their CD on their bandcamp: https://ornithorak.bandcamp.
Vision & Reflection:
Where do you see your sound heading next? Any experiments you’re itching to try?
– Yes of course! I’d love to put keyboards and strings on future tracks. I listened to the last NIN too and I’d like to experiment with electro sounds!
Which track do you feel captures your band best, and what’s the story behind it?
– AU RAS DU SOL is really a type of track that represents the way of working of Poste 942, a lot of proposals around a theme, leaving room for everyone, trying things, exploring paths, and finally cutting into the hard so that the track breathes at its best! It’s sometimes difficult to cut parts but… you can’t put everything !!
What do you hope people feel when they sink into your music?
– A bit like what I feel, personally, when I listen to a good band, in my car or in front of my computer, having a good time that makes us forget the world around us… and all his shits !
Turbo Regime:
Fuzz or distortion?
– Both! My two principal pedals are “El Hombre Overdrive” of JRockett brand, and a “Black Country Customs” of the Monolith brand.
Analog or digital effects?
– Both! Sometimes it is necessary to use the best tools to be quiet in the comfort and safety in your underwear. You feel good when you wear your briefs well!
Sabbath or Zeppelin?
– Both! With the recent death of Ozzy, I listened to a lot of albums again! I love their “Lambda Metal” ! And also I listened to the double album of “Physical Graffiti” for its recent remaster. It’s really great!!! And
Robert Plant’s latest album is really good too when you’re on the southern highway!
Heavy riff or mind-bending solo?
– Both! I love both, really.
Vintage gear or modern kit?
– I’m more Vintage, considering my age! When you have a good tube amp, or a really good guitar, you have it for life. I think that Kemper-style modeling amps are like a gas factory! It’s a lot of lights and noises but you can’t toast your toast on hot lamps! ^^
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