In the labyrinthine expanse of the modern musical cosmos, where frequencies dance and melodies intertwine, one figure emerges as a beacon of innovation and artistic mastery: Antoine Sy. With a career that spans the far-reaching expanses of both physical geography and musical exploration, Antoine Sy stands as a testament to the transformative power of passion and dedication in the realm of electronic music. As the luminary force behind ANTAM Records and co-founder of BinarySound, he navigates the intricate currents of sound with an unparalleled finesse, sculpting immersive auditory experiences that transcend the boundaries of genre and convention.
From the sun-kissed shores of his native Hossegor to the pulsating heart of Parisian nightlife, Antoine Sy’s journey is a tapestry woven with threads of avant-garde music and cultural immersion. A virtuoso of the turntable and a maestro of the mixing desk, he effortlessly blends the ethereal harmonies of Deep House with the driving rhythms of Techno and Minimal, crafting melodic terrains that evoke a myriad of emotions and sensations.
But beyond his prowess as a DJ and producer, Antoine Sy is a true visionary—a custodian of the electronic music scene, dedicated to nurturing emerging talent and fostering a community of creativity and collaboration. Through his labels and collective endeavors, he provides a platform for artists to express themselves freely, pushing the boundaries of sonic expression and reshaping the cultural landscape one beat at a time.
In this exclusive interview with Torture the Artist, we embark on a journey through the inner workings of Antoine Sy’s creative universe, delving deep into the inspirations, motivations, and aspirations that drive his artistry forward. From the genesis of his love affair with electronic music to the intricacies of his studio process, we uncover the essence of Antoine Sy—a visionary artist whose passion knows no bounds and whose sonic explorations know no limits.
Torture the Artist: Hello Antoine, tell us something about your day.
Antoine Sy: Hey Holger, first of all, thanks for this interview! I am currently on the train between my hometown, Hossegor, and Paris, where I have been living for 6 years. I was there this weekend with my fiancée, well-known on the Parisian scene as VJ Lesliebellule, visiting venues to celebrate our wedding next year.
Torture the Artist: Label-owner, co-founder, producer, DJ. How do you structure your day with all those different tasks, which come with the different fields of your work, and how do those different fields complement each other for you?
Antoine Sy: I’ve got quite a busy schedule. I’m trying to juggle my daily job as an account manager in a data analysis start-up with the various disciplines involved in electronic music. Let’s just say that I spend most of my free time (mainly during breaks in the day, at lunchtime, and sometimes in the evening) managing labels and organizing events, and I reserve longer slots in the evening for production or digging. I spend most of my time digging, and I produce from time to time when I feel inspired. I never force myself. I also like to produce on the train between Hossegor and Paris; it’s about a 4-hour session every time!
Torture the Artist: How did you become involved with electronic music and what made you decide to be an active contributor to the scene?
Antoine Sy: When I was studying in Toulouse, two of my classmates, who later became two of the co-founders of BinarySound (Depad & Schauen), took me to my first Techno nights in some of the city’s warehouses. I liked the music and the atmosphere straight away. At the time, I’d been playing guitar for almost ten years, so I wanted to try my hand at mixing and production, which I was immediately passionate about. I then wanted to bring this music and vibes to my hometown, with the help of my mate Fantin, with whom I organized the very first House/Techno night in Hossegor, which was the start of BinarySound. One thing led to another, and this local quartet grew into an 8-person association, exported beyond our borders, and became a podcast channel and a label too.
Torture the Artist: What is the track that reminds you of these early days and what event/situation do you associate with it?
Antoine Sy: I’ll always remember playing DJ Hyperactive – Wide Open at that first BinarySound party in Hossegor, but I don’t know why this one, to be honest. I was amazed at the overall welcoming reaction from the local audience, most of whom had never listened to electronic music before.
Torture the Artist: You are the founder of Antam Records and co-run BinarySound. What made you run two independent labels and what do you enjoy about it?
Antoine Sy: Having chosen to dedicate a large part of my life to music, creating labels was a natural and inevitable step. It’s something I absolutely love! I also have a side project called Arpanet Music, a sub-label of BinarySound dedicated to music from the past. It features repress and unreleased music produced around the 2000s. A new BS-LTD series has also just been launched, to promote young talents via the vinyl medium. The combination of these different projects currently totals more than 20 vinyl releases and around 50 tracks available exclusively on digital series (Bandcamp).
It’s interesting to find the right balance between your own labels and external labels.
Torture the Artist: Your latest EP, “Paris Nightlife“, is out on Australian label Pachinko and comes with three original tracks plus a remix from Smooth Operators (aka Lamalice & Massai) for the track “Elephunk“. How did working with Pachinko come about and why did you not release on either one of your labels Antam Records or BinarySound?
Antoine Sy: I think it’s interesting to find the right balance between your own labels and external labels. The former gives you more flexibility in your choice of music, and the latter allows you to reach an audience that doesn’t yet know your work, thanks to the label’s audience.
Torture the Artist: You are originally from Hossegor but now living in Paris. One of your first EPs released was named ‘H0SS3G0R,’ and this one now draws reference to Paris. Regarding the before-mentioned, is ‘Paris Nightlife’ the follow-up of ‘H0SS3G0R’ or what’s the story behind those geographical EP titles?
Antoine Sy: Using Hossegor as my first EP name was an obvious choice for me. It marks the beginning of a long story because Hossegor is the town where I grew up and where my parents currently live. After a nomad student life, I moved to Paris, which enabled me to enrich my electronic music culture and meet a lot of people. I owe a lot to this city and have therefore chosen to dedicate an EP.
Torture the Artist: Noticeable the track titles themselves have no reference to nightlife in Paris. Are they a hint to the multicultural scene in your hometown or a conglomerate of personal influences expressed through music?
Antoine Sy: Missed! Parisians will recognize the name of the first track, “Ligne 13”, which is a Paris metro line known for being pretty intense. As well as representing the mood of this track, it’s the line I use every day because it’s the closest to where I live. The names of the others are references to the samples used. Kung Fu Mania borrows samples from a Bruce Lee fight, and “Elephunk” echoes the vocoded word you hear during the break.
I’m a big fan of Music with a capital M, so above all, I like diversity.
Torture the Artist: Your arrangement of sounds on the EP go from deep chords over to acidic notes and sometimes you are more housey, then you play it a bit rougher and more techno-oriented. Where do those influences come from, and why did you decide to present a varied selection of your works rather than a homogenous one in terms of sounds or genres?
Antoine Sy: As I said earlier, music has been an active part of my life for almost 20 years now. I’m a big fan of Music with a capital M, so above all, I like diversity. Whether it’s in the selection of EPs for my labels or those for my own releases, I like to be able to offer a quite broad palette that represents my vision of this universe.
Torture the Artist: What was your studio set-up for the realization of the ‘Paris Nightlife EP,’ and what equipment did you enjoy most using or working with for this one?
Antoine Sy: I’ve got a whole range of machines in my home studio that I really enjoy. Most of my sounds use the MC505 drums. The bass on “Ligne 13” was made using a Behringer MS-01, which I ran through my old Boss ME70 guitar pedal to create warmth and distortion in this synth, which for me lacks the vintage grain I like in machines as it’s a recent clone of the legendary SH-101. “Elephunk” was the first sound I designed with my Juno106, which I bought at the end of 2021. Almost everything is done with this synth, apart from a few elements of the Casio CZ101. Kung Fu Mania uses a lot of samples found during my dig sessions, and synths from the Prophet VS (VST).
I rarely play my own tracks during my DJ sets.
Torture the Artist: We all have a favorite track due to different reasons, may it be a story that is connected to the track or a situation or simply because we had to put more effort into the finalization of it. What’s the track on the “Paris Nightlife EP” that hits closest to what you want to express musically?
Antoine Sy: I’d definitely say the A1 “Ligne 13“. I rarely play my own tracks during my DJ sets, but I tested this sound for the first time in March 2022 in Paris in a B2B with Bassam under our alias ANTAM. I’ve rarely had such a crazy reaction from the public. I’ve been told about that moment when the snippets came out, and it seems to have left a lasting impression!
Torture the Artist: What’s so special about the Parisian nightlife so that you dedicate an entire EP to it?
Antoine Sy: As a public, there are interesting events every weekend, and sometimes you can even go out from Thursday to Sunday night without a break, with 5-star line-ups at every event. Numerous collectives are working hard to bring in the best artists on the scene, as well as bringing in rising stars who are rarely or never seen in France. As DJs, audiences are receptive and motivated, and generally know how to party responsibly until very, very, very late. What’s more, we’ve got a huge variety of venues to choose from, so you’ll never get bored. So come and have a look!
Torture the Artist: The French scene has become an ambassador for aspiring artists over the last years if not to say for almost one and a half decades while before it was not as vivid as it is now. What does Paris do differently or better to maintain such a musical relevant and strong force in the scene compared to other cities?
Antoine Sy: We have a huge pool of highly motivated, committed, and, above all, close-knit local collectives. In particular, we have a shared Google calendar to avoid competition and ensure that Paris has a constant supply of quality nights throughout the year. We’d also say that we’re a generation of young people who’ve been rocked to the hilt by the Rex and Concrete, and who want to continue to thrill future generations as our elders did for us.
Torture the Artist: What are some events or artists one should definitely go to or check out when visiting Paris?
Antoine Sy: It’s difficult to give a short list because the Parisian scene is extremely active and qualitative. Nevertheless, I can name my close friends who are doing a remarkable job: About events, Automatic Writing, Oremi (Radio Pirate & Delirium), Distrikt Paris, Imagine Family, Café Croissant or any event at the Nodd Club… As for DJs, check out Poggio, Maxime dB, or Wendy if you’re sure to be won over, but there are so many excellent DJs and dedicated diggers that I cannot list them all.
Torture the Artist: What else do you have in the pipeline for 2024 musically?
Antoine Sy: A track on a various artists of the French label Farci Records, a track on Trommel’s free download series, a new mix coming soon, and already quite a few gigs validated in various French cities and abroad.
Torture the Artist: We all have superpowers or special qualities, what are yours and how do you use them?
Antoine Sy: First of all, perseverance, which means that I never give up during digging or producing marathons, or when organizing events that don’t go as planned. Those close to me are also well aware of my rigor, which leaves very little to chance!”
Words by Holger Breuer
Torture the Artist 