Varnish La Piscine eludes the kind of confidence on stage that only natural-born musicians can elude. His instinctive ear lends an arresting impulsiveness to his performances that draws the audience into his universe. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Varnish (real name Jephté Mbisi) grew up in a family of music lovers. At home, his ears juggled between the Congolese music of his parents and the ever-evolving sounds of his childhood hero, Pharrell. Signed to Ed Banger records in 2021, the young artist has since curated albums, clips, films, his creativity knowing no bounds. With a sound that blends influences from a vast range of genres from synthetic playful melodies, to the softness of bossa nova, explosive percussions taken from American trap music, and melancholy of old movie soundtracks, his sound is undeniably unique in the French-speaking world, reminiscent perhaps more of his American counterparts Tyler the Creator or Frank Ocean. He took a moment to sit down with Crash in a candid talk about his upbringing in Geneva, his music tastes, his greatest influences and his hopes and dreams for his latest album, This Lake is Successful.

Listen to the album in full now at all streaming platforms via the link below varnishlapiscine.ink

@varnishlapiscine

IMAGES CREDITS: LISWAYA

RB Can you talk about your name, Varnish la piscine? Where did it come from?

VLP So, it’s a scenario from a movie of a girl mixing with varnish in front of a pool. (Laughs)

RB Is it a real film?

VLP No, it’s in my head, I was walking down the street one day, pondering things and then it just started to pan out in my head. 

RB And your nickname, Pink Flamingo?

VLP Well, we were working in a studio somewhere, where they had a pink flamingo, and it just ended up becoming my nickname. Things just tend to happen like that with me…

RB Making movies for you is just as important as the music?

VLP Yeah, I’ve always wanted to make movies since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to tell stories to people. 

RB Did you study film?

VLP I work with a team and they have had training, but otherwise I’d learned it on my own, I’m learning everything on the job so to speak, outside of school. I don’t have this notion of having studied and knowing exactly what order things should be done etc. I just had an idea of something I want to make and I try to find a way to put it out there.

RB Can you tell us about your collective, Super Wak collective? Have you known each other for a long time?

VLP Yeah, we weren’t Super Wak as kids! (Laughs) But yeah, we’ve known each other since we were very, very young. The group works well because everyone does what he wants on the side, we are not a cult (laughs) but let’s say that there are some who are more focused on films, those who are focused on music, there are some who are focused on fashion, we are very eclectic. (laughs) And bringing that all together, and all those creative talents ideas is great. 

RB It’s great because technologie has given us the tools to learn whatever we actually want to learn these days. We see more and more that many artists are  multidisciplinary. So, you’re based in Switzerland, and you don’t like Paris? Why is that?

VLP Because Geneva is chill! The energy is calm. And I grew up there, I’m used to it there.

RB And how was it growing up there?

VLP Geneva is a paradise. For example, in Paris you have buildings all around you that block the views. Don’t get me wrong, it is very beautiful, all the Haussmannian buildings are awe inspiring, but after a while I need to see the mountains, to walk, breathe a little. To be able to get away from it all. Paris can be pretty suffocating. 

RB Could you see yourself living anywhere other than Geneva?

VLP Yeah, when I’m a millionaire I’d like to live in Copenhagen.

RB I think you have to be a millionaire to live there.

VLP Yeah, millionaire and old, when I’m fifty I’m gonna retire there.

RB That’s an early retirement! (Laughs) Fifty is not that old!

VLP Well yes that’s a hot topic right now here!

RB And what is the music scene like in Geneva then?

VLP Well first and foremost, Geneva is family, which is very important for me. After, there is a huge influence on music from the United States, they influence the whole world I think! Very young my idols were musicians like Sade, Phil Collins, Sting, Pharrell so not necessarily the music of the United States, but of the English-speaking world. I listen to all kinds of music, prog-rock, jazz-funk, fusion-jazz, acid-jazz, post-rock, and a lot of rap. French rap is so unique because French is such a beautiful language.

RB That’s true. You mix some English lyrics into your songs as well?

VLP I sing sometimes in English but they are written by someone else because I don’t speak English “like an American”. (Laughs) I sing in English and I am able to speak when everything is at ease. If I’m with people I don’t know, I freeze up a little and I struggle to speak, but I’m very comfortable with music so it’s different.

RB You said that family is very important for you, can you talk to us about your family?

VLP I grew up in a family of musicians, I think like everyone who has origins in the Congo. There was rumba in my house all the time, but my parents listened to everything. That’s how I was rocked as a baby when we took the car, because before we took the car to go on vacation, we didn’t take the plane. We would drive from Geneva to Belgium, and just listen to hours and hours of music. That’s when I discovered Pharrell in 2003/4. Thanks to the holiday car! My parents are definitely music lovers. When you are Congolese, you love music, that’s all! I have a big family, two little brothers, a big sister and a little sister. We all do our own thing, but we also all get along, which is cool.

RB Where’s your favourite holiday spot?

VLP I haven’t been yet but I think I’d like  to go to Norway, I want to see the northern lights. I went to Egypt and that was pretty incredible. I visited Cairo, Luxor, and I went down with my girlfriend to an island by boat and we visited a lot of temples! Egypt is great. I also want to visit Australia! That’s at the top of my list for sure.

RB Countryside or city then?

VLP Both – cities to buy clothes! (Laughs) And then straight to the countryside! On vacation, I want to enjoy the scenery, get some fresh air.

RB You’re into fashion then?

VLP Yes! Like all young people who make music I think! It’s important! (Laughs)

RB Do you work with a stylist?

VLP No, I don’t take it that seriously. I just love clothes, and I like what I like. Having a stylist would be complicated because he’s gonna want to give me clothes I don’t want to wear. And that’s kind of besides the point.

RB What do you think about Pharrell being named the new head of Louis Vuitton?

VLP Flashback to 2005! (Laughs) He’s made collections for Vuitton in the past…

RB And he did Chanel too… I think it’s cool but I know there are a lot of people in fashion who don’t agree… But I wasn’t particularly surprised…

VLP No it’s no wonder! He already has his own brand, Billionaire Boys Club with Nigo, he already worked with Vuitton, Chanel, Moncler. He is already the GOAT you know. He’s already at that level but he’s taken his own course and that’s what people don’t like.

RB Do you see yourself on a similar path, a jack of all trades so to speak?

VLP Personally I would to be an architect in the future. Maybe not to all the studies of seven years and have my own agency, but to really work with a trained architect and bounce ideas of him, learn from him. I think I want to make buildings, I find architecture so fascinating.

RB What kind of architecture are you into?

VLP I love architecture in Como, Italy. The houses they have there are very familial. There’s a lot of color. The buildings are a all different pastel shades. I’m not so into pastel shades personally, but on buildings the colors come out so well. I’m really into construction,

RB Can you talk to us about the construction of this album, This Lake is Successful.

VLP Well, I produced everything myself. I produce the music and then I work with musicians and it all comes from all different places. Like with all my albums I make, I get inspired by so many different things. 

RB You can certainly feel all the different influences in the album.

VLP I am a very nostalgic person, I like to remember, to “throw it back”. I go with the flow, I’m always working, producing. I tend to work until I have seven or eight sounds, and then suddenly it’s an EP. I don’t stress myself out about it. I go to the studio, I do my stuff, I get inspired and it comes together like that. If it works, cool. Otherwise, we start again.

RB Do you prefer to be in the studio or live?

VLP Studio. Literally! (Laughs) Producing is my life. Making beats is my life. I haven’t done many shows yet, so I’m still a little shy. Rumor has it that it doesn’t show, but it’s probably something I still have to work on a bit. But I’m definitely more comfortable in the studio, because in the studio I’m all alone. Just completely stripped back with the music, in my own world, no one is there to disturb me. 

RB I heard you have a perfect ear? 

VLP I think I have a relative ear. An absolute ear means when you talk, I know the notes, even the ones you say. But with the relative ear it means that I know the notes of the music when I hear it. It’s true that I hear well.

RB And do you play instruments?

VLP Just the keyboard, but I didn’t learn with a teacher, I learned with YouTube. I bought a keyboard, and I started to youtube it and that was it!

RB Who are your biggest influences in the world?

VLP Pharrell, Tyler the Creator. Many musicians. But also Silver Surfer, he’s a Marvel superhero, rather an anti-hero, a villain. I love the villains! I love Darth Vader as well. Do you know his story?

RB Not at all. (Laughs)

VLP Well you need to get to know it! It’s something very important. You need to go back home after this and watch all of the Star Wars films! It’s something you need in life, even the philosophy in Star Wars, George Lucas took the story so deep, really to another level. 

RB So what’s your favourite film then?

VLP Right now, it’s No Country For Old Men. It’s a Cohen brothers film. Also Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola, The Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky. I love films and I love cinema. 

RB Can you tell us about your film, This Lake is Successful, that will be released alongside the album?

VLP So it’s the story of the rise of a guy named Abraham. He starts off as a complete random, and he becomes an amazing fisherman. There are fish in the film that are able to provide superpowers. And that’s what the film is about in a nutshell. 

RB And you made the film to go especially alongside the album?

VLP No actually, seen as though I had always wanted to make films and I have been working on these kinds of projects for a while now, the first was called Le regarde qui tue, then there was Twist Amazone, and now we have Ce Lac a du succes. They are really written as “tales” that go alongside the music. And I take small bits from each one and continue the plot. I don’t even know how I come up with them. The first idea I had came to me when I was leaving a fish market, and then it just ran away with itself. When I tried to explain it to my manager the first time he really had to take a seat and digest it slowly! (Rires) 

RB And what are your plans for this album now it’s out?

VLP I’m going to take it on tour for sure. We have concerts lined up, and some festivals too. It’s exciting. We have quite a few lined up in France. I love to go to festivals and this will be my first time ever playing at one – I’m so excited, but nervous at the same time.

RB Next stop, Glastonbury?

VLP Yes, maybe! I would love to go to the festivals in America, Coachella Afrofunk – they look incredible. One day!