Romain Gutsy is a singer-songwriter and musician, crafting amazing little acoustic ditties that mix together both jazz and folk music into one fantastic package. If You Don’t Mind is one such song – you can find it at the end of this interview!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a track titled If You Don’t Mind, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the song?
It’s a song that talks about what it means for me to be a rebel. Not that I believe that we have to be rebels, in fact, but I wanted to express that what has been seen as the features of a ‘good’ rock’n’roll musician – sex, drugs and rock’n’roll is actually crap and does not work. Being bad is not cool and destroying yourself is not very funny. And sometimes, when you express that you want to be a good guy, some people will label you as a bigot or something alike, which is in fact the opposite. So, I had to add “I don’t care, if you don’t mind, I’m free”. It’s also a way to express that I’m not trying to moralise people, I don’t judge. I just hope that a good and alternative example will be somehow attractive. But moreover, whatever you dig from the lyrics, it stays a good and catchy song.
How has the reception been for If You Don’t Mind, and where can it be purchased?
Well, you can find it on every music platform. The reception has been very good amongst my family… Joking. It’s been a good reception. I received a lot of messages from listeners who recognised some truth in it. And a lot of feedback about the jazzy vibe of this folk song, which I think is interesting because I did not plan to infuse any jazz vibe in it.
You’ve just released another song called The Girl From Kerry. What can you tell us about that track?
The Girl from Kerry is a great folk-blues track. I made it with Marc Bentel, a South African multi-award winner now based in Florida, and he really dug the universe of the song. It’s a very sad love story between a French guy and an Irish girl from Kerry, and it’s told with a lot of distance and humor, but that distance and humor are mainly brought about by the music itself. You should try it.
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
Once a month my dear! It keeps us healthy. Next one on December 17 is called Frenchy Boy. Then in January you’ll have Like an Uyghur in China. All co-produced with Marc Bentel. You don’t want to miss that.
Are there any plans to release an EP or album?
Well, I’m not sure but I guess that after a certain number of singles are released, I’ll add a few at once and make them into an album. But for the moment I’m exploring the ‘single once a month’ way of life.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
Not really, as in fact, I had been in a musical pause for almost 20 years before the pandemic, so I was not touring at all when it came. I just came back to the musical scene just after the hard days of the pandemic.
Your music has quite a traditional folk/country sound. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
That’s my most hated question. Not because of you, but I listen to so many different genres that I never know what to answer when someone asks this. As regards what I listen, it can be very different than what I play and compose. As regards what I compose, let’s say that I like real instruments. I need to have an organic basis for my songs. What I like the most is real musicians, those who know how to play their instruments and work hard on it. So, you won’t find too much of an electronic basement in my songs. And to come back to what influences me, as I said or tried to say: everything!
You were born in France. Where are you based now? What is the local music scene like?
Nowadays I’m based in Brussels, Belgium. It’s a pretty lively music scene, like in many big cities around the world. But it’s definitely not the best place in the world for musicians, because while being lively, it’s also limited in terms of venues and opportunities. But it can change.
Do you have any UK tour dates lined up?
I don’t, but I will think about it, because you asked.
Any last words for the fans?
Well, I hope these will not be my last words! But let’s say: I do hope to meet you in person one day, and I do hope you’ll continue to love and support our music. The only reason I’m making it, is for them, honestly (also because my wife does not care very much about it, so I can’t say I’m doing it for her.