Guest of Lightning hosted by Waxx, Thomas Dutroncopened the doors to his musical universe by returning to his first musical crushes. From a very young age, he remembers being marked by titles like The last session d’Eddy Mitchell et Bahia by Véronique Sanson. These pieces, rich in complex chords, left an indelible mark on the artist. “I was crazy about that,” he confides, also evoking his admiration for Alain Souchon and his father’s songs, Jacques Dutronc.
The late discovery of the guitar
Although music has always been part of his family environment, Thomas Dutronc admits to having discovered the guitar late, at the age of 17. He recounts with emotion how his father’s guitars, hidden in a cupboard, aroused his curiosity. “It was mysterious,” he recalls. This budding passion for the guitar led him to explore various styles, from blues to gypsy jazz, including rock and Brazilian music.
Influences et inspirations
Throughout the interview, Thomas Dutronc shares his varied musical influencesranging from Bob Marley has Brassensthrough blues legends like B.B. King et Stevie Ray Vaughan. He also talks about his love for disco and the Motowngenres that continue to stimulate and inspire him. “I love listening to music with friends,” he confides, emphasizing the importance of sharing and collective discovery.
Asked about his method of composition, Thomas Dutronc admits to not having a fixed recipe. Sometimes it’s a guitar riff that sparks inspiration, other times it’s melodies proposed by his collaborators. “There are no rules,” he explains, adding that each project is unique and requires a different approach. For his latest album, he notably collaborated with his long-time friend, David Chiron, to create texts on already existing melodies.
And when Waxx asks him which piece he would choose to be discovered by future generations. Thomas Dutronc chooses his title Sesame to represent his work, a composition that is particularly close to his heart. “I had to fight to impose it,” he remembers, proud of the final result.
A new album
During the show, Thomas Dutronc also took the time to talk about his latest album, a project that is particularly close to his heart. He explains how, after exploring various side projects, he wanted to return to a more personal and spontaneous approach to composition. “I want to perhaps compose more myself, return to more spontaneous things,” he confides. To illustrate this approach, Thomas and Waxx performed together a new two-guitar version of Little Happiness a track taken from this album.
-Conclusion in music
To close this musical encounter, Thomas Dutronc and Waxx shared an acoustic session by resuming an Elvis Presley classic, Love Me. This choice, anchored in Thomas’s childhood memories, testifies to his attachment to timeless icons of music. “It’s a very romantic song,” he emphasizes, moved by Elvis’ depth and humanity.
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