This is a translated interview from Startrack Crush who were lucky enough to have a backstage interview with Ron before his show in Paris, France. You will find the original interview in French here.
A huge thank you to my friend Lisa for translating!
I saw on Facebook that you arrived yesterday in Paris. Have you had the time to visit the city a little bit?
You know, when you are on tour, there is not really the time to take advantage of the places you are going. When I arrived I took a nap, and then I went to dinner... But I do intend to come and stay here for two months after this tour. I would like to improve my French. I studied it in secondary school but ,unfortunately I do not remember much of it. It's going to be cool because usually, I do not stay anywhere for more than 5 days, and I am going to be able to enjoy my time
It is you who writes the messages in French?
Yes, some from my memory and some with a little help from the French translator . But it took me at least 25 minutes to compose (laughs). In fact, whenever I speak French, an exclamation or a question, it sounds like a question. I hesitate too much (laughs).
I have the impression that people who live in Europe have all been across their country’s border at least once, and have been faced with a language barrier. While in the United States, it is such a big country with a lot of different States within easy reach, so many Americans remain in the country and don't learn any other language than English.
In fact, I asked you that question because you communicate alot with your audience. You answer to posts on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook...
Yes, but sometimes it is a bit difficult because there are some countries who language I don’t speak, for example in Germany, I could not even say a word... so for the messages from there, I ask help from various translators. And I'm also try to translate them with an application on my phone. But this is a new challenge for me to communicate with fans of these countries.
There have been a few European dates last year, but this is my first real tour of the continent.
Between these exchanges with your fans and the way in which you released your discs only in digital, can you be described as artist 2.0 somehow? What will your position be in this new industry?
It is true that often I have no physical copies of the discs. In the end it depends on if I consider it a true album of long duration.
In the 1990s, there was a certain mystique surrounding the artists. They
did not reveal too much. They made an album, went on tour, and then
disappeared from circulation for two years. Today, has become madness:
Rihanna releases a disc every three weeks! All the really famous
artists, whether it's Taylor Swift, Beyonce or Lady Gaga; they release an
album, followed by a deluxe version with a few more songs and a video,
and then the gold version with even more exclusive tracks. And between
that, they participate in the soundtrack of a film, are in clips,
Twitter, etc... It's really different in the current era of this
industry: there is an interaction between artists and their fans that
wasn’t there before. I think it's a pretty interesting thing... Some
kids are annoyed if one of the guys from One Direction does not respond
to their tweet without realising that these people have some ten million
people who follow them. But they say that if he is not giving a concert
in a stadium, he should answer (laughs). It shows the evolution and
psychological intensity that occurs today. When I was a kid, I did not
even imagine talking to the artists who I was a fan of. You also share the occasions of your songs which can be seen on YouTube, etc...
Yes, I find it cool. It's gratifying that people are taking the time to learn your songs. And it is interesting to see how they interpret them. Sometimes you come across really talented people that translate the title.
Your new Atlanta album is quite different from what you have done before. In my opinion, it is more mature. Can you tell us something about the how you put it together?
Thank you. And well, I wanted to do something that I felt was consistent from the beginning to end. To help me, I took a few weeks where I forced myself to write songs all day from Monday to Friday. Over the course of three or four weeks, I had written more than 20 pieces which I then selected to make sets. Same for the production: a bit like a painter, I had to create a colour palette and I then used these colors to build Atlanta.
I think there is more of an element of reggae such as the violin, the lapsteel or banjo, but also other more rocky elements, all playing together to make my sound which is pretty good. It was very exciting to focus my work on a specific period of time. Most of the time I concentrate on things I have been workign on for a long time
The album has quite a "Southern" vibe. Was it a willingness on your part to return to your roots (Editor's Note: he was born in Atlanta, Georgia), because you are a New Yorker artist now?
Hmm... Yes, it's interesting. It's been twelve years since I have lived in New York, but I think that you don't ever really forget where you came from. Many things that you are as an artist, or at least in my case, dates back to my childhood. The music that surrounds you when you're a teenager, etc... I do not know if it was a conscious effort to get back to my roots, but there was definitely a more "Southern" side to my music... It was something I was prepared to experiment with on this album, and I think that's what gives it this more natural side. In the past, I was trying to set it aside.
Finally, what do you expect from this tour and the European public?
For now, my experience in Europe is limited to shows with my band behind me. There are acoustic concerts, where I'm alone with my guitar.
I find that people here are very respectful, because it's hard to make a room totally silent, and yet it is necessary for this kind of show. I hope that it will last...
But did you notice that there were lots of girls tonight? It is their chance to scream out... (laughs)
If it is between the songs, there's no problem. I like that . It's just during the songs that it can be annoying. (laughs)
