Devoted To Pop: Interview with Bastien Rayno

Hello Bastien! Where are you from originally and what was your first experience with music? 

Hi guys, I am from Paris. I had my first experience with music via cinema, which to this day is still a big passion of mine. When I was very young I wanted to make it my job. I grew up on films and trailers and I compiled the songs that came with them. Then I would listen to this catalogue of artists on repeat and imagine the scenes or atmospheres for my next videos. For me it was impossible envision without the help of music. 

Tell us about your various projects. What is your main one and who should come check it out? 

I currently write for the very nice Parisien webzine Pause Musicale, I make a weekly playlist for 3eme Gauche and I share music for the excellent international site Turntable Kitchen. But the project that is most dear to my heart is an independent platform (smooth and soulful electro/nu-RnB/dipped in pop) dedicated to emerging music called Pop In Devotion. It addresses curious music lovers but I hope to touch new people with this art too! 

From your experience, what is the role of bloggers and curators, in the world of music today? 

In our time, if a blogger is coherent and regular with their posts, they are recognized in the same way as a journalist. They therefore have the duty to document new music, to move upstream (and work with managers) going to concerts and to help reflect the vision of the artist in the best possible way. The blogger is more free, has a strong style that is unique to them but they don’t have to be limited to that specific style of music. They must - and this is what I try to do with PID - be very reactive and follow the evolutions that can change each movement. 

Do you see specific trends in the domain of pop music? What are the changes that you like the most? 

I am very sensitive and receptive to the mastery of modern pop, well produced, that takes a smooth flow that’s almost R&B. It’s called sexwave. 

For you what is the best aspect of music in general? 

I believe that music is an incredible traveling machine, I love the way that a track can get larger with each listen or contrarily how it can catch me from the first seconds. And when I go back and dive into the classic albums from years gone by, the emotional memories come flooding back. If I was happy, sad, or jealous… still today, music that I listen to is only a reflection of one perception of life. 

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