A Backstage Interview with M83

M83 is a French/American band with a huge international following. Led by composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Gonzalez…

…the band has found success in both the pop music sphere (with bestselling albums such as the Grammy Award-nominatedHurry Up, We’re Dreaming) and with film soundtracks (for movies such as Tom Cruise’s sci-fi blockbusterOblivion). Their latest album,DSVII (akaDigital Shades, Volume II), effectively demonstrates Gonzalez’s substantial talents as a composer and electronic musician.

In 2011, the magazinesElectronic Musician andKeyboard assigned me to cover Moogfest, as they did the prior and subsequent year. After M83’s performance, Anthony invited me to the band’s dressing room for a brief interview, where I met the other members of his (at the time) trio. He also showed me his compact Synthesizers.com modular system, which had just been pulled offstage.