Interviews: Moonshine Oversight

We have had the opportunity to interview the Rock/Progressive Metal band Moonshine Oversight from France. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Julien Pivi: We were looking for a name that made sense to us. To be honest, it wasn't easy. Moonshine Oversight sums up our music pretty well.

Julien Ventura: 'Moonshine’ is a word with various meanings: near from ‘moonlight’, it can mean ‘foolishness’ or, of course, be used to describe an illegally made alcohol. We really like this duality between the moon, so poetic, so mysterious, and contraband alcohol, more rock 'n' roll...

Julien Pivi: Oversight is really us. Finally, we are the supervisors of the creation of our moonshine.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Julien VENTURA: “Vanishing Lines” (our debut album) was written in a spontaneous way, without genre constraint. It allowed us to find our identity. Some tunes such as “Beyond the stars” or “Echoes of Asymmetry” were really progressive and we realized that Moonshine Oversight was actually a progressive band. For this second album “The Frame” we wanted to explore this genre so we used atmospheric, melodic colors and progressive like without limitation.

Julien Pivi: It came naturally. Our composition is a mix of riffs brought by Julien, Florent, and myself. Then we all improvise together to test the riffs and ideas. And new ideas come also during this moment of improvisation. Being a fan of this genre, our ideas naturally lead us to that. We don't go in thinking that we're going to make a 7-minute piece of music with a lot of asymmetric bars in the middle. It comes quite spontaneously in the end.

François: Prog is an atypical and interesting genre, it frees itself from many established codes and allows great freedom of play. It is a register that allows the blooming of each instrument

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Julien Pivi: Julien and I were in college together. I met Florent and François when they joined the project.

François: No

Julien VENTURA: François joined forces in early 2020 after the former drummer left the band. Except for him, we all knew each other before the band was formed.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Florent: slipknot, Gojira, tool

François: Porcupine tree, Gojira, silent planet, foo fighters

Julien VENTURA: Tool, Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson, Pink Floyd, Extreme, Animal As Leader, Gojira, Plini, and more... 

Julien PIVI: Difficult... I give Four: Leprous Opeth Devin Townsend Tool

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Julien VENTURA: For “The Frame” we wrote the album synopsis before writing any song, riff, or lyric. This synopsis is divided into 10 themes (one for each song). Each theme definitely inspired us to write the songs.

Julien Pivi: Personally, I like to play quietly on my instrument and the ideas come like that. I listen to a lot of music. I think it feeds my unconscious and it comes out afterward.

6. Where was your last gig?

Julien Pivi: It was a long time ago now before COVID came along.

Julien VENTURA: It was in ‘Monster’s Art’ concert hall at Fréjus, France (French Riviera) in late 2019. So we can’t wait to start “The Frame” tour, probably in 2022.

7. Where would you like to act?

Julien VENTURA: Basically wherever people want to listen to our music. 

Julien Pivi: I’d love to play in Japan.

François: Everywhere!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

François: Klone

Julien VENTURA: Tool!

Julien PIVI: Devin Townsend for sure.

9. Whom not?

Julien Pivi: I think that whatever the style as long as it is well done, it can be interesting.

François: With people sitting

Julien VENTURA: No one, sharing music is always a pleasure!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Julien VENTURA: Of course, stage fright is normal! A good tip is to keep in mind that fright effects on the body (due to adrenaline) generally do not last more than 5-10 minutes. So the first minutes of the gig is the hardest, after that, you just have to enjoy it!

Julien Pivi: Yes, I once had a cramp in my left hand. For the non-guitarists, it is the one that makes the chords. So it was a very delicate moment to manage and painful at the same time. My advice: Always take the time to isolate yourself at least 15 minutes before going on stage to warm up quietly.

François: Alcohol is a bad idea. My tip: Know your parts perfectly, trust your musicians. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

François: Porcupine tree, leprous

Julien Pivi: Metallica in my younger years, now I would say Opeth on their approach to composition.

Julien VENTURA: Pink Floyd, Procupine Tree, Tool.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Julien VENTURA: To enter “The Voice” TV show!

Julien Pivi: To sing happy birthday to him

François: An autograph on the O

13. What do you think of your fans?

François: They are wallets on legs, we only do this for the money

Julien Pivi: More seriously, tey are great, always a kind word at the end of our concerts and attentive to our news. Julien VenturaWe love them all. They are wonderful people. We thank all of them for supporting Moonshine Oversight!

14. What do you think of our site?

Julien VENTURA: Really cool! You already shared some news about Moonshine Oversight at the time we released ‘Vanishing Lines”. It’s important that some media take an interest in semi-professional bands. So, really thanks for your job. 

Julien Pivi: It's great that there are sites like yours to support and highlight underground bands.

François: I didn't watch it.

15. Something to add?

Julien Pivi: You can discover our new single "Ghosts" on your favorite streaming platforms and on youtube. And above all take care of yourself!

Julien VENTURA: We can’t wait to read your future review of “The Frame”. So, see you on November, 5th!

François: Thanks to you for this interview, we hope you will like the album