Interview: Grey Satori

Blending shades of new wave, electro, and shoegaze, Grey Satori is a project that emerged from introspection and transformation during the quiet chaos of 2020. Behind it is Nicolas, a French artist whose musical journey took shape during the Covid lockdowns and has since evolved into a deeply textured sound that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. With an upcoming EP on bORDEL Records and a creative approach that extends beyond music into writing and curation, Grey Satori is a name to watch closely. We caught up with Nicolas to learn more about his background, influences, and what lies ahead.

Hi Nicolas, welcome to Chromatic Club? Where about in the world are you right now and what have you been up to today?

Hi! I'm currently in the south of France, where I live. Today, I spent some time mixing new tracks I've been working on.

Your Grey Satori project is something you launched back in 2020. Was this your first musical venture and what inspired it?

I’ve been composing music for a long time, but never with much consistency or ambition. The Covid lockdown was a turning point — it gave me time to take the project seriously, explore the artistic direction I wanted to follow, and develop a few tracks that felt complete. Meeting Laurent Garnier at a festival around that time was also important. He encouraged me to send my demos to labels, and that gave me the push — and the confidence — I needed.

You have an EP coming on the bORDEL label, how did you connect with these guys?

I’d been a fan of Scratch Massive for quite a while, and when I was looking for labels to send my demos to, I found out they’d launched their own — bORDEL Records. I sent them some tracks, they liked what they heard, and that’s how the collaboration started.

What can you tell us about the ‘Fading Lights’ EP release and the writing and production process behind it?

The EP features three of my tracks and a remix by NEWEM. I wanted the songs to reflect some of my key influences — new wave, electro, and shoegaze. My writing process often starts with a sound or texture that sets the tone of the track. Even though the music is mostly electronic, I like to incorporate guitar elements when it fits, like in “No Regrets,” as long as it stays coherent with the overall atmosphere.

We believe you re also a writer and penned a book about the Smith at one stage? What for you is the greatest Smith’s song and why?

It’s really hard to pick just one — the Smiths wrote so many sublime songs. But if I had to choose, I’d go with two: “This Charming Man,” which I think is the perfect pop song, and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” for its beautiful melody and the touch of dark humor that’s so typical of Morrissey’s lyrics.

Who are some of your musical heroes and why?

There are many, but a few who have been with me for a long time include Robert Smith — a composer with immense talent and emotional depth — Kraftwerk, for being pioneers in blending electronic music with pop structures, and Kevin Shields, whose production style helped define the shoegaze sound.

Away from the studio, what do you do with your time?

Actually, my main job isn’t related to music at all. But alongside the Grey Satori project, I also run a webzine where I interview people from the music world — musicians, writers, label owners, and more.

What do you have ahead for the rest of this year?

The EP is set to be released on September 20th. In the meantime, I’m working on new tracks that I hope will make it onto a future EP.

Thank !

bordelrec.bandcamp.com