What’s your musical background? Have you always been into electro?

I was in a rock band when I was 15, then I started an abstract hip-hop duo called A.K.A, which ran from 1999 to 2005. We released three albums, then I released three club albums as Tepr and one with Yelle. So I’ve been into the electro scene for while. My big influences are skateboarding, Daft Punk, Beastie Boys, Dr Dre, Aphex Twin, Queen, Nirvana, Les Rythmes Digitales, but also all the alternative music that came out in the 90's - drum'n’bass, house etc…

Your biggest commercial success so far has been with Yelle. How did you two and (fellow producer) Grand Marnier meet?

We live in the same area on the west coast of France, in Brittany. We met in 2005 as I was writing in a newspaper about his previous band. We had a discussion and discovered that we had a lot in common. Since then we have travelled the world with Yelle…

It’s notoriously difficult for non-English speaking acts to break through in America, are you surprised at how successful the tour has been?

Yes it’s totally incredible. We've done a 25 gig tour in the US and it was sold out. I don’t know what's happening, maybe kids don’t care anymore about the language thing - it's all about loving the sound and dancing. I remember when I was a teen, I was listening to all these English acts and wasn’t able to understand a word. Maybe it’s the same today in an opposite way, English speaking kids listening to French music!

Do you prefer performing as part of the band or our DJ sets?

Both are really exciting and different. Playing live with Yelle is a blast; we like to play together. And DJing alone is more a selfish thing, I spin what I want when I want.

You’ve been touring a lot lately – are you heading back to the studio soon?

We are actually in the studio - Yelle and Grand Marnier, I’m producing a lot, mainly for Yelle and of course for me too.

When can we expect your next release?

I’m not sure! I’m still waiting to make a good track that I will fully love. I don’t want release something just to have a reason to tour again and do promo. I know people want some new beats, I know that tons of other really good young producers are releasing three EPs a month but what can I say? I need time! But there will be something out in 2009, for sure!

I’ve asked this question to a couple of people now but nobody’s been able to give me a straight answer… What is it about that France that makes it the world capital for electro?

Back in 1996, Daft Punk made the perfect album with ‘Homework’, using influences here and there. After them we all tried to do the same (in France and overseas). The ‘French Touch’ movement was huge; maybe people needed new music at this time so it went big... But to me, a lot of UK acts are really important in electro today, like Hervé, Switch, Jesse Rose, Sinden, Jack Beats - they have their own sound, they are not copying French sound or whatever. I have a lot of respect for the music they do.

Finally, what’s the plan for the next 12 months?

Resting/working/making love!

http://www.myspace.com/tepr

By Shortie