Photography © Kopeto
Photography © Kopeto
"I wish I could turn off
my brain sometimes."
Louis Aoda, whose surname stands for ‘Africain Originaire Des Antilles’, which can be translated as 'African Native from the West Indies', is from Montfermeil near central Paris. After a few years break, the Parisian rapper’s recent comeback with the single ‘Je Déteste Aimer’ sees his career taking a new turn.
This humble young rapper remains true to himself in every situation. Down-to-earth, Louis seems ready to tell the truth. Being very close to his fans on social media, he opened his heart to us in this interview.
There is a brutal honesty that emanates from your lyrics. Is it hard to expose yourself through your music?
Actually, it’s not something that I do on purpose. For me, music and art are a way of saying all the things that I don’t dare to say in life. It’s really important to me. I don’t like putting barriers between what I think and what I write down in my lyrics. It also allows me to show my emotional side and to be proud of it.
I noticed that you're responsive on social media and often respond to your fans. Is it important for you to be close to them?
This is important because I have noticed through the messages I receive that most people touched by my music have gone through the exact difficult times as I did. I'm happy to hear that my songs can help them. It’s like a family: the Aoda Gang. Their support means everything to me.
Would you say that nowadays, an artist has to be involved this way with social media to succeed in the music industry?
I don’t know. Everyone has to be true to themselves. Being available to my loved ones and my people is part of my nature; I don’t have to push myself to do it. However, I think that the secret of success is authenticity.
The song ‘Je Déteste Aimer’ was released last January and reached almost 300k views on YouTube. Did you expect such a success?
Definitely not! I wrote this song alone in my room, without even knowing whether it would be released one day or not. I was thinking about my past, my life, my current situation... I sang it acapella to my brother Baloo - founder and writer of The Baloo Show blog - who went crazy about it and posted it online two days later. I’m always surprised and pleased by the people's reactions. I didn’t think that my story would affect so many people.
In the video clip of this song, we can see you burying a heart in a forest. This is a very symbolic act. Was it your idea?
I work with my mates from Swish Films and with Baloo. When it comes down to writing lyrics, I like being alone, but videos need a different approach. We met and tried to find the best way to show who I am and what I feel inside me. The Swish Films collective, which is managed by Ayma l’Ours, helped me a lot with that. As an artist, we usually have an idea of the visual that could join the sound we are making. But of course, it’s easier when professionals are here to help you out.
Is visual creation something you are interested in?
Beyond the video clips and music, there are plenty of things I’d like to try like movies and so on. I have lots of things to share with people.
Who are the people that have helped you grow in your career?
I work a lot with Faly and Neezy N.e.b., they are two beatmakers with who I’m close to. But I’m not narrow-minded. If you send me an instrumental that speaks to me, I’ll rap it. My manager - the Los Angeles-based Adrian Swish - manages a lot of American beatmakers. Thanks to him, I have a wide choice of sounds made in the USA.
"I think that the secret of
success is authenticity."
Your video clips are pretty dark and reflect the melancholy that emanates from your songs. Is it a universe in which you find some comfort?
To be honest, it’s more a need than a comfort. I’m someone who overthinks a lot. I question myself all the time. I wish I could turn off my brain sometimes. Music helps me escape because I can create a universe where I forget my worries.
In your song ‘Je Déteste Aimer’, you say, ‘‘I wanted to know what it feels like to love someone’’. It's quite reflective of a generation that wants to feel love but is afraid of getting attached...
True! We live in a time where temptation is present everywhere in our society. Even more than before. Without any judgment, some people go from relationship to relationship. It’s like a sentimental fast food. Is it the fault of social media? I don’t know. But the fear of abandonment and lack of trust means that many of us don’t want to become attached to anyone anymore. ‘‘I want to love, but I don’t want to suffer because I know we'll break up’’ is the kind of thing I often hear. We have the feeling that it’s inevitable, and it’s this kind of fatality that I wanted to convey in this song.
Your lyrics truly represent the pain that lots of people feel in our society...
It’s not something I was aware of at first, as I use music as a personal therapy. Now, I think of people who listen to me, and I try to give them hope. We must always keep hope.
In your song ‘Apprendre À T'aimer’ you said, "I must learn to love myself’". Would you say that music helps you to accept yourself?
I think self-acceptance is a daily thing I have to do in my life. Music allows me to put my thoughts in something concrete, like a song, but it doesn’t influence who I am. To be honest, it’s the opposite. My identity and my emotions affect my music. You know, I’ve always been a very extreme and emotional person. For a long time, I hid my feelings behind a mask to be 'like everyone else', but I always felt empty in the end. It’s this kind of pain that I'm talking about in this song: "Don't change who you are for others".
On February 23rd, you suddenly released a single called Killmonger, which refers to Black Panther, the last Marvel movie... Can you tell me more about it?
The movie Black Panther touched me a lot. As a young black guy, I never had a superhero with whom I could identify myself when I was a child. I liked the movie, and Killmonger – the character who tries to sit on the Wakanda’s throne - hit me seriously. Like him, I was disappointed by the human race. Anger, suffering and poverty can push people to do stupid things. The guy’s fight was proper; he just wanted to help his people, but he did it the wrong way. Despite the bad choices he has made, he raised awareness of the issues being faced by people. That’s why I like him.
In your single ‘César’, you said, ‘‘I will end up doing it. I have projects, not dreams’’. What are your following projects, then?
The word ‘dream’ is used negatively in our society. For some people, a dream is something impossible to reach. That’s why I use the word ‘project’ because it means I can achieve it. I don’t dream anymore. I really believe in what I’m doing.
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