Autist is a french electronic band based in Berlin, consisting of songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Gabriel Santini with best friend and alter ego Julie Bourgeois. Autist covers and mixes a wide range of genres including electropunk, dance music, psychedelic, chanson, electronica. Their recordings aim to expand and connect musical horizons, mixing electronic and acoustic instrumentations, from noisy dance to experimental chanson and soundscapes, with english, french and german lyrics, from spoken words to screaming vocals. The band ‘s live performances are an intense physical and sensory experience, integrating a heavy wall of electronics, drums, razors, guitars and abyssal vocals on top of their own light and video show.
FACTS:
1: I feed my pain with your feelings, You go with the flow, we go with the flow, But, I am the worst of your dreams, I am watching you from your window, You will never be kind again.
2: La seconde, Qui renferme l’éternité, Qui renferme la seconde, Qui renferme l’éternité.
3: I feel bad, But we don’t care, Cos Heaven is here, Hidden in Hell.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
The behaviours in here.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started early with classical music and music theory lessons. As a teenage came the discovery of electric guitar, rock and punk music. Back then I was playing shows and recording with local punk band s, starting to write and sing as well. Electronic music took more space over the time, we then started the band when Julie and I.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
– Diabologum – #3. the all album and especially track 8 “La Maman Et La Putain”. Vocals are taken from the movie La Maman Et La Putain by Jean-Pierre Eustache. I entered a new world watching this movie.
– Nirvana – In Utero. For its production and texture. And the room and space it contains and at the same time doesn’t.
– Alain Bashung – L’Imprudence. One of the darkest albums by Alain Bashung. I very much love its atmosphere, the compositions and the texts which are just sublime.
– The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground and Nico. For the softness, the depth of the melodies and the quality of the lyrics.
– The knife – Deep Cuts. For the richness and inventiveness of the arrangements.
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
The freedom and wildness of a town that lets you live almost like in the country side, in the heart of one of the most culturally active cities.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
My favorite places in town are :
– The café down the road from my house were I read most of the books I read, write most of the lyrics and work on the first steps of songs and arrangements.
– the other is a specific spot on the Spree where I sit and figure out the things to do a few times a week, in the early morning or late at night. The walk there is part of this place being my favorite.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I already enjoy the silence. So I would go on and keep watching.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
I stream music more often. Going through many artists. My music experience as a listener and composer is quite visual and cinematographic, so I am always looking for specific or new images, colors and textures, along the melodies, harmonies and lyrics. For this reason I mostly like to walk with headphones. The last physical records I bought are twelve inches from the Berlin label Springstoff (on which we release our EP MISBEHAVE on may 5th). I got some records featuring one of our Hyenaz remix among other artists, and vinyl of artists of their roster.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I like to collaborate with people with strength, and the ones not wearing a mask. Composing for movies and video pieces is also on the list.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
The last series of shows we did, with new songs and new line up, in Japan, USA, Berlin and Switzerland . I found great energy and amusement with my band mate. And shared a lot of energy with the audience.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
I try to be aware of what’s going on in the market, what’s new, but also what has been done, that is still technology, knowing what is here helps being creative. I own hardware gears, mixing decks etc. but I must say lately I mostly enjoy working on my laptop in different places. I realise how important it is for my creative process to work here and there. I can’t wait to produce on the river when the weather gets better.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
First they were wondering what am I doing. Now I would say they are proud of me,of the recordings, the travels and the shows. I talk quite a lot with them when I am far away, and share my experiences and what I see and go through.
https://soundcloud.com/autist_official/misbehave
