Creating from her own personal and emotional turmoil, Sentimental Rave’s artist name is a reliable advert for what to expect from her music. This French DJ’s music provides a duality to describe the lonely, nocturnal wanderings of the modern youth while also bringing on feelings of great elation. She describes her music as “spontaneous and naïve” and it is exactly that. Outside of music, she is also a self-taught photographer who finds inspiration in her friends and enjoys exploring the concepts of the “other”.

Can you tell us a little about your background? Were you introduced to music early on?
I think, I got into music just like everyone else. It was in the background of my life at many different moments. In some ways, the music evolved at the same time as I did. I don’t think that I have a background really; I tried studying art history when I was younger and failed. So, I started working in a restaurant for some years, all the people around me were really creative. I’m lucky that in my early years in Paris, I found a lot of inspiration in the people I was surrounded by. I started taking photos, and took portraits of them; that was a way to express myself, by being fascinated by the "other". I always wanted to do things, try things, experiment, even if it was hard sometimes, I got bored easily; I think that I needed to keep my mind busy. A few years ago, we organised a party in Paris with a group of friends to put women in the spotlight. At the time, it wasn’t that "fashionable" or trendy to talk about women.

How did you fall into DJing?
One day, I bought a controller out of curiosity and started training at home. By chance, friends of mine asked me to play but since then, I don’t really know how I got to where I am now. I find it very interesting to play with a song, to add modifications to it and to block out my thoughts for a while; this is probably how I got addicted to it.

Could you explain why you chose the name "sentimental rave”?
It’s normally a struggle for me to make decisions so I chose it in a very simple way. I wrote down some words that I liked that I thought defined me and looked at them. When I read both of the words together, it just made sense so I kept it like that. I can be a bit sensitive, going out when I was younger really made me grow up in a way. This makes us more confident, to talk in the dark, to learn how to deal with your own body when you’re dancing, etc… I’m indebted to the night and to the rave. Sentimental is the cheesy side of my music. By cheesy, I mean melodies but also what I find emotional to me. It’s a way to not block myself and not to be ashamed of what I choose to play. I am proud of the artists I choose who made me feel something in the moment.

Your music is quite experimental, where do you draw inspiration?
It’s not really experimental. For what was released, I would say it’s more spontaneous and naive. I wish I could know where I find my inspiration then I could go back there every time. Sometimes, for weeks nothing come’s to mind and I’m blocked on the same loop. That makes me super mad and I’ll make a track for an hour, I think anger is a good combustion for inspiration for sure; it makes me feel alive to be against a lot of things, to be disagreeing with the world but it’s also destructive. People, not all, but my family, my friends, my people are the most beautiful ones. All the artists who fight, all the fascinating people I have met in the last years, all the brave ones, the broken ones, all of them who take risks and at least try.

What does your process when making music look like? Technical process, state of mind and all.
I honestly stay in my bedroom for weeks, maybe more than weeks, putting all the stuff I have on my bed and trying. Sometimes I use plug-ins on Ableton, sometimes I try hardware; drum-box, synth, pedal effects. Sometimes I try using my voice. If it’s not good, i’ll delete everything. I would say this process is pretty alienating; sometimes you have to listen to the same thing for hours, which makes you feel totally disconnected to the world.

What are you currently working on?
I don’t see the future that clearly but what I have in mind would be to organise some nights in Paris like before. I miss getting close to the scene and to my "bubble". Getting back to photography too because that was a time where people weren’t curious about me but were attracted by the people I was shooting. Lastly, I really want to work on live shows; it’s been a year saying that but it will probably come when I’m ready.