Timothé Faure, better known as Meti, is a key figure in the French electronic music scene. As the co-founder of Kumquat, an event series and record label, he has been instrumental in bringing together some of the most exciting names in underground music. Running the project alongside his friends Jeremy and Julien (Jem&Juice), Meti has successfully built a reputation for curating outstanding line-ups and delivering high-quality vinyl releases. In addition to his work with Kumquat, he is also a member of the DJ and production trio One Tough Cookie.
What started as a passion project in 2016 has since grown into a thriving platform for both established and emerging artists, with Kumquat’s events becoming known for their meticulous curation and immersive atmospheres. The label, which launched in early 2024, has already begun making waves with its carefully selected releases, blending deep grooves and intricate sound design. With the second vinyl release now out and an ever-growing presence in the European electronic music scene, Kumquat continues to expand its reach while staying true to its roots.
We caught up with Meti to discuss his journey, inspirations, and what the future holds for Kumquat, One Tough Cookie, and his own artistic endeavors.
The exotic-sounding name “Kumquat” is a nod to the project’s origins.
Torture the Artist: Hey Timothé, tell us something about your day? Where are you right now, and what are you up to?
Meti: Hey guys, I am enjoying some quiet time in a cabin with my family not far from Montreal. A walk in the forest, a good meal, and a good beer made my day.
Torture the Artist: You used to live in Paris, a city with such a strong electronic music culture. How is the scene there at the moment, both in terms of clubs/events and producers based in the city?
Meti: Yes, I left Paris three years ago, but I go back every month as we are still very active there with Kumquat. Our scene is booming and constantly reinventing itself. We have an incredible pool of great producers and DJs like nowhere else. In fact, quite a few Parisians have made their mark internationally in recent years, and we couldn’t be more proud. On the promoter side, it’s flourishing, and things have never been so vibrant. Not a weekend goes by without a stellar lineup, and both established and emerging promoters are extremely proactive.
Torture the Artist: What and who were your initial inspirations for getting into electronic music?
Meti: Definitely Gilles Peterson and his Worldwide Festival, which completely shaped my love for music and parties. He also curated an event series in Paris every month that I couldn’t miss!
Torture the Artist: What was the electronic music track that made you want more?
Meti: “Sigh of Relief” by the mighty Brett Johnson.
If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be working in this field, I wouldn’t have believed you!
Torture the Artist: As head of the Kumquat events group, which you started in 2016, can you give us a little background on how this came about and what your intentions were when you started?
Meti: At that time, I was working for a venue in Paris, going out a lot to open-air events, clubs, and festivals. I loved music and had a growing desire to launch my own projects, so we eventually took the plunge. Initially, the idea was simply to have fun with friends by organizing events that reflected who we were. If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be working in this field, I wouldn’t have believed you!
Torture the Artist: Your events are predominantly in France, but you recently ventured outside with your gig at 303 in Barcelona. Is this something you would like to do more often, and if so, where do you have in mind?
Meti: Yes, it’s something we’re eager to develop, but we’re not going to chase it at all costs. We’ve made some great connections that naturally open doors for collaborations between us and other international promoters across Europe.
Torture the Artist: What’s everyone’s role at Kumquat, and what exactly is your working field?
Meti: We have quite a big team behind Kumquat, but only a few of us work on it daily. I work with Malo on the overall development of the project and the day-to-day management of the company. Almost two years ago, my longtime friends Jeremy and Julien (Jem&Juice) joined us. Jeremy and I collaborate on programming and developing the label, while Julien is in charge of communication and social media.
Torture the Artist: For your December event in Marseille, artists like DJ Pipe and Legram VG shared the decks. In the past, you’ve hosted a lot of well-known as well as aspiring artists. What was your personal highlight, and why?
Meti: Hmm… difficult to choose, as we’ve hosted so many great artists. If I had to pick one, I’d go for Truly Madly—an excellent DJ and a very inspiring person.
Torture the Artist: What’s a lineup you’d love to see on a Kumquat flyer in the future?
Meti: Wait and see what’s coming next summer.
Torture the Artist: Earlier in 2024, you launched the Kumquat Records label with Atree’s Happy Bout That EP. What made you decide to kick things off with Atree, and how did that come about?
Meti: We had been planning the label for a while. We had plenty of ideas and ambitions, but with all the work as promoters, it was difficult to be everywhere. We met Ollie at an event we organized in September 2023, and we instantly clicked. It quickly became obvious that we wanted to move forward with the first record together—he was amazing!
Torture the Artist: What are your plans for future releases on the label, and what is your philosophy?
Meti: We already have four releases planned. No particular philosophy—we just want to work with artists and friends who inspire us, and most importantly, ensure that the releases reflect Kumquat’s identity and the music that resonates with us.
Torture the Artist: You’re also part of the One Tough Cookie trio. How did this start, and what are your plans for the act going forward?
Meti: Jeremy and Julien are my oldest friends—we’ve known each other for almost 25 years and started making music together ten years ago. We’ve been inseparable for years, so it was only natural that we ended up creating this trio, which allows us to express our passion together. Playing with those two is where I enjoy performing the most! We have a few exciting events coming up, and we hope to keep things rolling.
In clubs, I don’t like planning—it never works as expected.
Torture the Artist: Let’s talk about your art:cast. What was your approach to planning the mix? Are you someone who carefully selects tracks and plans an order, or do you prefer a “let’s start and see what happens” approach?
Meti: It depends on the situation. In clubs, I don’t like planning—it never works as expected, so I’d rather go with the flow. For the recording of the mix, I selected a few tracks that I thought would fit well together but didn’t meticulously plan the order.
Torture the Artist: Where and when is the art:cast best listened to?
Meti: Anywhere outside of a club.
Torture the Artist: Finally, we can’t go without asking—why “Kumquat”? Is there a story behind the name? We’re intrigued!
Meti: In the early days of Kumquat, we didn’t limit ourselves to electronic music—we also programmed world music and always had tropical-themed scenography and decor. The exotic-sounding name “Kumquat” is a nod to the project’s origins.
Words by Al Bradley & Holger Breuer
Pictures by Leviet Photography
Torture the Artist 