I can imagine most of us remember the first time we came across French pop duo Air. Whether it was raiding a sibling's record collection, tuning into a well-curated radio station, viewing Sophia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, or watching the flyers fall in 10 Things I Hate About You, Air has created a unique and definitive sound that captured a moment; their 1998 debut studio album Moon Safari being their magnum opus.
Marking their era-defining debut, the French pop duo are making their return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall this week to play the classic album for the first time, live, in its entirety. Described by the band as a ‘perfect’ record, RUSSH spoke to Nicolas Godin ahead of Air’s performance at Vivid LIVE about romantic theatres, the innocence of music and the importance of good books in fighting the anxiety of death.
Godin is excited to leave Paris when we speak, the upcoming Olympic Games are disrupting the tranquillity and making the city a little uncomfortable. Fortunately, he has managed to avoid a lot of the Parisian business as he and his bandmate, Jean-Benoît Dunckel, took Air on tour through Europe throughout February and March.
"It's very funny, but honestly, after all these years, I feel like the album doesn't belong to me anymore. Sometimes it's like playing someone else’s music. Very, very strange".
"It was kind of the first time we had toured for a long time, so I was surprised that things have changed a little bit. The technology, the organisation... it's kind of fun," Godin tells me. However, as Air played in old beautiful theatres with "pretty cool" audiences, Godin found the whole experience to be "kind of romantic, in a way".
I was curious to know more about what it would be like to revisit such a cult classic record, and Godin explains that there are songs that they never used to play, which gives a sense of "freshness" to the experience. He explains that, remarkably, the album never lost its innocence. "When we did it, it was a little gift, and after we did the soundtrack for Virgins [The Virgin Suicides], we never did this music again in our lives."
Godin still marvels at how Air found the ideas, and can’t quite explain where the divine inspiration came from, concluding, "It's very funny, but honestly, after all these years, I feel like the album doesn't belong to me anymore. Sometimes it's like playing someone else’s music. Very, very strange".
At this point in the conversation, the line breaks up a little and Godin has to relocate to his library for better signal. I am immediately envious, and instantly charmed, and permitted to one of my favourite pastimes, rifling through peoples bookcases.
Unsurprisingly, he reveals that there are books on architecture, music, design, art and decoration. With the tone of a philosopher, Godin tells me: "I think books are a disguise for us to fight against the anxiety of death. When you buy a book, it means you buy a piece of life-time. So it's like, you buy a month of life, you know?".
His theory develops further, Godin explaining that our fear is offset by seeing the books we have bought, but that we haven’t yet had time to read, but presume we will be able to, as we’ve invested in a bit more time on Earth. Godin’s theory may have been more complex than that, but that is what I could ascertain from a shaky phone line in his library.
"I think books are a disguise for us to fight against the anxiety of death. When you buy a book, it means you buy a piece of life-time. So it's like, you buy a month of life, you know?"
When it comes to touring, Godin used to lug a big suitcase of books around with him in the 90s – "because my big fear was to be in the middle of tour and having nothing to read anymore". So whilst not promoting it, Godin admits he does carry a Kindle on tour these days. However, when reaching for books of the traditional medium, Godin laments that in Paris they tend to only stock paperbacks, and he wishes that France had more hardbacks. "It’s not in our [French] culture. I don’t understand why we do that."
However, if one is shopping for book in Paris (which obviously one should) Librairie Galignani comes highly recommended by the musician. "It’s a very cool bookstore."
Leaving Paris for Sydney, I wonder how it will feel for Air to return to Australia. Fortunately, Godin reveals: "I just think the Opera House is one of my favourite places in the world. I don't say that to to be polite or to be charming. This building is just magic for me". Such is his awe for the place, that the 24-hour flight is worth it.
I ask Godin about the experience of working with Sofia Coppola, and of creating the score for her debut feature film The Virgin Suicides back in 2000. He tells me, "We were both newcomers: it was her first movie, and it was our first strike after our debut album. We all were the same generation. We tried to be completely easy to work with – basically, we made a lot of music and Sofia chose what to put in the film. But there was no fighting or arguing, nothing. It was the smoothest experience. When I would go to see her on set, she had a very smooth way to direct too, like there's no stress, no shots. Everybody was relaxed, and she’s got a very cool way of working. Her process is very virtuous."
"I just think the Opera House is one of my favourite places in the world. I don't say that to to be polite or to be charming. This building is just magic for me".
But are Air as virtuous in their process? Godin thinks perhaps not, because they don’t think of the consequences. They are very involved with the work and it can be stressful. "Because you know your duty as an artist, and your duty and your commitment towards your art, is to try to make a masterpiece."
Godin explains that whenever Air have gone into the studio, it was always with the intention of making something amazing, which can put a lot of pressure on – pressure that is not necessarily seen or heard by the audience or which influences their reception of the record.
When Godin turns to music for listening rather than writing, he confesses that he leans into more classical music now. "I think I'm 54 years old. I'm an old person. I realise my tastes have changed and I need something very strong."
"I think classical composers give me that rush. I go to see concerts twice a week with a Philharmonic Orchestra – that’s my lifestyle. I try to protect my ears when I go to modern concerts, so I put earplugs in. It kills all the sexiness, so I’d rather just go to see classical music." Fortunately for us, Moon Safari has become a classic.
