Presenting “OILY SNAKE” by Skandy Papaz, from the EP “AND REALITY?”—a track that draws you in with artfully detuned keys, warmly saturated sound design, and a beautifully theatrical vocal performance. Richly atmospheric, it carries a gentle, melancholic vibe. Dive into our conversation with this talented artist below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Eclectic, eccentric, otherworldly.
How did you come up with the name for your track ‘OILY SNAKE’?
OILY SNAKE is part of a 5-track EP, being the most scathing song of the album. The work started in 2021 when I was in Egypt, my home country. Covid just had stopped being a hassle, but it impacted my process and my way of making music. I was at the beach and literally imagined an “Oily snake crawling out from the sea”.
Your music combines rhythms, colors and sounds from diverse cultures. How do these cultural influences come together in your creative process? Is there a place or tradition that resonates most deeply with you?
I like that you picked up on that, it means my music is as honest as it can be. I don’t plan out what cultural influences go in, they’re just a part of me. I grew up in Egypt, being Armenian and also French. While my dad was a classical pianist and my mom a Rolling Stones’ fan, the muezzins were calling outside. There was a lot happening around me as a kid, shaping my influences. Later, I lived between Paris, Cairo and Montreal, always on the move. Each place has left its mark on the four years of work that went into this EP.
Your most honest and personal lyric?
That would be the second track of my album HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN?
My friend Maxime Hollenweger, a talented director, and I initially wanted to make the music video for that song, the flagship piece of the album. The lyrics gave us strong, almost tabloid-like imagery to play with, but due to time and budget constraints, we went with a 70s minimalist aesthetic for ASTRO, the first track of the EP.
Why do you gravitate toward the absurd, and how do you think it helps audiences see the world differently?
I would personally choose the word theatrical, but I understand why you feel the absurdity of it. I messed around in theatre school for years, and being myself on stage never felt very exciting. But when I put on a mask, I was finally able to access a freedom of expression that I couldn’t tap into before, one that played with the absurd- this is where Skandy Papaz’s absurdity comes from.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
Composers from the Romantic era and David Bowie.
If the music of Skandy Papaz was a film, which film would that be?
A David Lynch or Panos Cosmatos film.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
It’s okay if you feel let down. You’re on the right track!
Thank you!
Follow Skandy Papaz
Facebook/Instagram
Follow our Spotify Playlist “Trip into the Hop” feat. Skandy Papaz
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