When not surfing the Australian waves, the musician Møme (aka Jérémy Souillart) likes nothing better than composing. He has converted his van into a studio-on-wheels and, driving from coast to coast, he composes as he goes. Jérémy was raised in Nice and his ‘chillwave’ sound is proving a great hit back in his native France. Nevertheless, Møme’s latest EP, Aloha, owes much to artists like Flume and Chet Faker on the AustralianFuture Classic label.
Before releasing his first EP (Eclipse, 2014), the 26-year-old musician used to play the guitar in a rock band. He still plays, though he has gravitated towards the computer- and synthesizer-produced software that inspired the expanding Møme project. The new sound lay behind the track ‘Cyclope’ on his second EP (Cosmopolitan, 2015) which, along with the clip, got him noticed by the musical press.
The same creative dynamic is apparent in Aloha. Møme and the van started touring Australia last November, a venture that brought him into contact with other producers and with the singers who feature on his recordings. The sheer size of the country, coupled with exile from his European comfort zone, proved really inspiring. Some of Møme’s chillwave pays tribute to Diplo and Aloha which incorporates the Australian soul singer Merryn Jeann well testifies to its aerial and beat soul.
It’s not all life on the road. This fall (southern-hemisphere-style), Møme is taking time out to develop his next album, ready for studio work and a French tour in May 2016 when he readily abandons his material and musical comfort.
Jérémy’s musical experience ranges across jazz, to the French Touch and guitarists like John Butler. This breadth undoubtedly owes much to his love for the guitar and his formal piano training at Nice’s Academy of Music. From a composer with such a background, the neat yet startling sound of the Møme Project is hardly surprising. Starting out from the Soundcloud Community and now supported by the DDM Recordings label, Jérémy’s unique contribution to the world of music is on the road and destined, like his van, to go far.
