The Dreamy experience we had at the Petit Biscuit show in Toronto

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By Sinejan Ozaydemir

Last night, Toronto welcomed Petit Biscuit (PB) for his second time performing in the city and he seemed very excited to be in front of his Canadian fans. The concertgoers were all in a chill vibe but also filled with eagerness: they were there for the full Petit Biscuit experience.

The floor was full by the time PB took the stage. The ticket holders in the balcony section were all on their feet as the show started, some sneaking to the edge of the balcony to snap some pics and videos to share with their friends online.

The stage set up was simple with his drum and other pad controllers, as well as his guitar arranged around him on stage. I think it was interesting that he set up one of his controllers facing the audience. It allowed the audience to be in the moment with him and experience the origin of the sound in each moment. Although it must have been more challenging to play the controller upside down. 

The visuals which featured calm colours and landscapes were projected at the back of the stage, adding to the ambiance, while the light set up looked like it was beaming PB up to another dimension.

He started the show off with the first song on his new album, “Creation comes alive”, which was a great introduction to the set. He then threw in a remix of Zedd & Alessia Cara’s “Stay” into the songs to help the Toronto crowd feel right at home and solidified the spirit of EDM in the room. Most of the songs he performed were from his new album Presence but he featured some of his earlier work in the mix as well.

All of the songs were well received but among the most well-known/popular from the new album were “Wake up”, “Waterfall”, “Beam”, and “Oceans”. A great surprise was PB playing two edits of his famous track “Sunset Lover” during the set. It was great to see the live guitar incorporated in the set especially for this track. Just when we thought the highlight track was done, we got to enjoy it again a few songs later.

Overall, the Toronto crowd was quite pleased with the performance as they watched, clapped and danced along in an almost dreamy state. While waiting for coat check, viewers with smiles on their faces discussed how great the vibes were in the room and how they have all become true Petit Biscuit fans by the end of the night.

Montreal fans you are next on the Presence tour this Friday January 19th at IGLOOFEST. If you are a fan of Petit Biscuit and/or dreamy soundscapes in general, don’t miss it!

Win 2 tickets to Petit Biscuit next Wednesday in Toronto!

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Hot off from his brand new album "Presence", the 18-year old French artist will be coming to Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall next Wednesday on January 17th. Recently booked at Coachella, Petit Biscuit is an artist on the rise. 

EDM Canada is giving a chance to a lucky winner to get 2 free tickets to see Petit Biscuit next Wednesday on January 17th. This contest is open to all ages because it is an all ages event. You can enter on Instagram or Twitter. All you have to do is follow EDM Canada on Instagram and tag a friend in the comment section of the contest post which can be found here. 

On Twitter, you must follow @edmtoronto, and retweet the following: 

The contest is now open and will close on Friday at 5 pm EST. Enter now and good luck!

We talk “Presence” : 10 questions with Petit Biscuit

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By Sinejan Ozaydemir

This week, EDM Canada had the pleasure of speaking with Petit Biscuit about his newest album “Presence” and about his experiences on tour. The 18 year-old, French DJ, who is most well known for his hit “Sunset Lover”, released his second album this November. The album contains songs that are “cinematic” and “eclectic”, featuring an enhanced version of his personal style of production and songwriting. 

Here’s what he had to say about it and his journeys on tour: 

Your newest album is titled "Presence", why did you call it Presence? 

One of the tracks in the album is called "Presence" too. For me it sounds very cinematic, but also quite supernatural, somewhat worrying. It is exactly what I wanted to represent in this album: something as beautiful as disturbing. That's why I choose that track name as title of the album, it seemed fitting to the overall atmosphere.

How would you describe the sound of your album? 

This album is very eclectic, there are poetic tracks, soft and full of love, and there are darker tracks, something I hadn't really unveiled in my previous productions.

On this album, you have had the chance to collaborate with other artists. How do you go about choosing which artist/vocalist to work with? 

The stories behind each artist I chose are very different, and it's what gives this unique touch to each and and every collaboration. For Lido, we met in Paris and hit it off instantly. For Møme, we bounded quickly when touring the same festival during the summer. However I knew what I wanted for each collaboration. This is not just a story where everyone comes and bring his touch on a track - it's rather about trying to come together and create something completely new.

How do you feel about the reaction to the vocal clips that you use in your songs that are almost a make believe language of their own? It must be so interesting to hear people sing along! Do you or would you hide any secret messages in these songs or anything like that? 

For all the voice cuts that we often call ‘vocal chops’, there is no secret message but rather an universal language: melody. At the start of my career I was only interested in melodies and their harmonies, and it’s crazy to see how people can sing these wordless melodies during shows. Today, I try to produce around lyrics, hence my collaborations with singers and also the fact that I started to sing on some of my tracks. There are two on the album with my voice!

The song "Follow me" is such a wonderful example of a musical journey. When you have songs without lyrics, how do you go about naming your songs? (By the feeling you get when you listen to them, or the feeling you felt while you created them?) Do you have a story that emerges in your imagination? Like why did you name that track "Follow me" for example?

It’s true, it’s a story that builds alongside the production process in my head. I close my eyes and listen to the music on a loop to try to understand it not only in a pure producer standpoint, but also with a certain distance, imagining what it could make reference to. On ‘Follow Me’, it is precisely an idea of a journey, to take off towards an unknown destination. From the beginning to the end, we discover new elements, hence this idea of unknown. There is something very comforting in this track. And that's why I ask people to follow me.

Do you feel more comfortable on the stage or in the studio? 

The one doesn’t go without the other in my opinion. I enjoy so much the stage and my progression as a live performer that I cannot live without it now. And those moments of loneliness, self-reflection, but extreme serenity when I'm composing are priceless.

For anyone who hasn't seen you live yet, how would you describe what a Petit Biscuit show looks and feels like? 

Petit Biscuit live is a story of balance between a visual show and an instrumental parts, without losing the dynamism of electronic music. I have my guitar, percussion, but also electronic gear on stage. Concerning the tracks, it is a blend of some that people already know and others that are still unreleased. Moreover, some tracks from the album and EP are reworked in a live way, which leads to re-discovery for the audience.

What is your favorite part of being on tour? 

I can’t prefer one moment or another! I have always been passionate about travel, exploring and music. Today, I travel, discover and grow up, while playing music in front of thousand of people. I live the life I've been dreaming of.

Who are your main influences right now?/Who do you find inspiring in the music scene right now (either within electronic music or other genres)? 

What I enjoy is listening to music from artists, not specific genres. Some artists are types of music by themselves, like Flume or Tame Impala - hybrid music between pop, rock and electronic. It gravitates between a lot of different styles and it’s both confusing and captivating.

Do you have a message we could pass along to your fans in Canada? 

The Fairmount Theater, Osheaga and The Velvet Underground in Toronto were three amazing live shows for me. I can’t wait to come back in 2018 for lots of new shows in Canada, as the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto (01/17) as well as Igloofest in Montreal (01/19)! I hope to play in more cities in Canada for this next year. May 2018 be the year of poutine for me! :)

Later this month Petit Biscuit will be at the Danforth Music Hall on Wednesday, January 17th. It will be a big show, well worth checking out an up and coming artist on a weekday. For tickets, click here. 

Petit Biscuit will also be in Montreal to perform at Igloofest on Friday, January 19th - click here for tickets. 

Sinejan is Toronto's correspondent for EDM Canada. You can follow her on twitter: @Sinejantweets.