The rise of emerging artist Banana Mint continues on trend, as the producer hailing from France returns off the back of ‘Bliss’ & the more recent ‘Inkouai’ – with both records shining a light on his varying production style.
Presenting his new single ‘Walk the Distance’ – Banana Mint continues the theme on trend & this time delivers an accessible slice of electronica, with an original sound that sets itself apart. Combining much of his trademark production, along with a fusion of fresh elements & catchy vocal hook – ‘Walk the Distance’ is a fine return for Banana Mint & a single that looks set to pick up a multitude of global airwave love in the coming weeks.
We caught up with Banana Mint and spoke about this new single, and how the name of ‘Banana Mint’ came about. Read our chat below.
Valarie – Welcome, Banana Mint. It’s a pleasure to have you here at The Music Essentials!
Banana Mint – Thank you for taking the time to interview me!
Valarie – You’re a producer from Paris, what’s the music scene like there & what sound is currently dominating?
Banana Mint – Paris is a very diverse city with lots of trends going on at the same time. Every kind of sound is represented here and this allows a lot of different genres to co-exist in the same place, making this city richer and more open than it used to be. The music scene is fantastic and full of energy, totally worth a trip to be experienced!
Valarie – How did you come to decide on the artist name ‘Banana Mint’ & what was the inspiration behind it?
Banana Mint – Through electronic music, I want to create a special vibe that would be refreshing and warm at the same time. I’m not only a mad scientist in the studio but also in my own kitchen! I love to cook as much as I love to compose music and with it comes a great interest in all the analogies between music and food. I combined Banana – with its sweetness, rich flavor and fulfilling texture (it’s so wholesome and it happens to be my favorite fruit) – and Mint – with its delicacy and amazing kick of freshness – with the promise to create delicious and refreshing music!
Valarie – With previous singles like ‘Inkouai’ and ‘Bliss’, it’s clear why you’re fast making a name for yourself & your latest single ‘Walk The Distance’ is no exception. How would you describe your sound as?
Banana Mint – Each single is a different story, so my sound evolves as the releases come. ‘Bliss’ and ‘Inkouai’ were into House vibes, ‘Walk The Distance’ is more pop and chill. We’re talking about my third single here, so this is for me the very beginning of a big journey where I will allow myself plenty of surprises! But overall I’m definitely looking for positive vibes that would bring people together through some hip moves.
Valarie – In terms of release plans, what is next for Banana Mint after ‘Walk The Distance’? And is the eventual aim of an artist album?
Banana Mint – Right now, the plan is to keep experimenting and build my sound, so I will continue releasing various singles until I feel I have enough material to start thinking about an album.
Valarie – Who are your top five artists that have influenced you, past or present?
Banana Mint – Tough one… I have a very diverse spectrum when it comes to the artists that inspire me as a musician. Let me take a moment here… mh… hum… right. Thinking about my first encounters with electronic music, I must say the pioneer experimentation of Jean-Michel Jarre and the energy of Daft Punk really impressed me, as time went by I discovered the groove of Oscar Peterson, the irreverence of Beethoven and more recently the virtuosity of Rone.
Valarie – And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve been offered, by another artist or figure in the music industry?
Banana Mint – Guillaume Connesson, with whom I took an orchestration class some while ago, said: “if you want to write interesting music, you got to live an interesting life”.
Valarie – Thank you, Banana Mint, for taking time out to talk to us here at The Music Essentials. It’s been an absolute pleasure! Good luck with ‘Walk The Distance’ & till next time!
