“Music Needs No Compromises” – Exclusive Interview with Petit Biscuit

Sara Mekinc

May 6, 2020

If you think Petit Biscuit’s music sounds familiar, you’ve probably been on TikTok these past few weeks. In March, his track “You” took the TikTok world by storm thanks to the “POV Soulmate Wrist” challenge, and while the concept is quite baffling (at 16, your soulmate's first words to you will appear on your wrist), the results are not – “You” has already been played over 15M times on YouTube. 

Yet, that’s a whole other interview. In this one, we were interested in Petit Biscuit's feelings about music, the world, and our role in it. 

You can play quite an array of instruments, from piano and cello to guitar. How much do those skills help you when it comes to composing and producing?

Honestly, I see so many guitar or piano prodigies on the internet, I feel jealous sometimes :). I play a lot of different instruments, but in my own way, to my own sensibility. I think that’s what’s charming in my music, the way I’m trying to express myself but without much technicality (which I can’t do anyway because I’m not that good). 

Breaking through and communicating with fans has become easier with social media. You've decided to do a series of vlogs on your YouTube channel, documenting your life on the road, your thoughts, memories and studio time. How do you view the role of social media in your career?

I think social media is just a tool – it can be great, but it just helps you support your own creativity. Each person should try to explore what they can do and what they want to talk about. I went to Iceland to start creating the upcoming album, so I wanted to bring fans along on my adventures and be spontaneous. I love social media as much as I hate being lost in this heap of content.

In March, you also released “Chateau”, a track from the “Songs for Australia” collab album helping Australian organizations rebuild after the bushfire crisis. How important was it for you to be a part of such an initiative, and why did you choose “Chateau”? 

Now that I’m engaged personally in different important projects, it was important to not only do my part, but to talk about it too. When Julia Stone came to me with this project, I was totally down for it. Choosing to cover Angus & Julia’s “Chateau” was a no-brainer. It’s just a very soft song to chill to, and I’m obviously a big fan.

The world is now facing another crisis – the coronavirus. How has the outbreak affected you? Do you think the industry – and the world – will recover?

Nothing has changed that much for me, really, since I’m currently at home and working on my album. But it’s important to use this time to question ourselves about our habits, such as food and general consumption, because it's our “industrial” way of consumerism that's creating this kind of crisis. 

I hope everyone will take a fresh look at themselves and change some of their habits, and not just go back to a “normal” life as if nothing had happened. In any case, I've made a plan to change my habits, also in my touring schedules. Everything just needs a bit more organizing.

What are you focusing on during this time?

New music – because that’s what people need! Entertainment can be good, but nothing heals like music does.

Would you also join the “balcony concert” initiative and play something for your neighbors?

I live in the countryside, so maybe I could play for all the cows out here. 

Despite your success, you’ve remained an independent artist, releasing under your own music label. At first, you were even juggling school work and music. What advice would you give your fellow independent artists in regards to finding your sound and starting a career?

Nothing is more important than what you really want to do. This may sound generic, but once you finally manage to live it, it makes all the sense in the world. Don’t let anyone else decide what you have to create and the way you have to do it. I wish a great deal of luck and success to all the independent artists reading this. Music needs no compromises.


Cover photo: Jonathan Bertin


As Petit Biscuit says, you shouldn’t make compromises on your vision. We're here to support it. If you're a musician, your profile, automatically updated with all your latest stuff, is probably already on Viberate. You can send it to promoters, talent scouts, and A&Rs, and use the time you'd otherwise spend updating your onepager on making music. Check it out and sign-up to claim it.

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